Category: State Parks

  • The President Time Forgot

    Yesterday we drove an hour and a half to Derry, NH, to see an early home of the American poet, Robert Frost. It was closed. We ate lunch and then we drove all the way back. 3 hours. For nada. Just in case you’re tempted to idealize our existence from time to time. So I’m…

  • Local Side Quests

    We’ve survived two short but sweltering heat domes in The Beangle since arriving in New Hampshire two months ago. And, no, it doesn’t have AC. Yes, it was pretty miserable. The high humidity certainly didn’t help. It made everything feel like they had been dipped in used dishwater. We rated these six or seven days…

  • Mount Monadnock

    We finally did it. Since the weather suddenly became cool again, we hiked the Dublin Trail up to the very rocky and exposed roof of Mount Monadnock (3,165 ft). Surprisingly Monadnock is the most or second most hiked mountain in the world, depending on who you talk to. Its name is also a physical descriptor,…

  • Ives Run and The BOG

    Set your brain in reverse for a moment, back to early May… You can imagine our raised eyebrows when we saw sign after sign for The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Oh, sweetie. After a very good breakfast at the only and somewhat dubious-looking restaurant in Tioga, Pennsylvania, we drove over to see this natural phenomenon.…

  • Southwest Virginia — Lots of photos, a bit of chat, some local history

    Beginning six weeks ago, we met a new nemesis, a very demon from hell sent to test our patience. We fought it valiantly, and I believe we finally have the upper hand. For this spring, at least. Remnants remain, though, in nooks and crannies of the trailer, the truck, and our lungs, eyes, and souls. Both Fairy…

  • Bennett Place

    Our time in Raleigh while interesting enough in its own way was fairly quiet overall. But of all that we did and saw, the biggest draw for me was Bennett Place. For some time now, it had been in my top five list of places to see. In the front room of the Bennett family…

  • Drive it, hike it, bike it

    A lot of people out West like to talk smack about the Appalachians and other eastern mountains, and we admit to it as well. But after spending almost 4 months at or near sea level, it was a little thrilling to see the word Mountain in a campground’s name again. While hiking, biking, and driving…

  • The Rest of the (South Carolina) Story

    First and foremost, I have a grievous error to acknowledge. I have been misleading you all about Longleaf Pines for some time, and for that I apologize. What I often thought was a Longleaf (Pinus palustris) was instead a Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda). I know. I know. It was a careless, but I also learned…

  • Georgia and Henry Ford

    Now you might think those two names don’t go together. And I’d have to agree with you. For better or for worse, Henry Ford was Detroit, and Detroit was Henry Ford. But Henry Ford and Georgia? Just saying that out loud is going to get you some serious side eye. While we were visiting Savannah,…

  • He was in full-on attack mode

    Since there was only one spot available at Crooked River State Park in St Marys, Georgia, we didn’t look too far into the site’s details. ‘Will it fit a pickup truck and 15’ trailer? Yes, ok good thanks.’ One of the deeply fun parts of having a small teardrop trailer is backing into a ridiculously…