Monday 7th September, 2009.

Another day, another covered bridge. This one is one of two near our hotel. Today, we're heading down the Route 153 in search of some breakfast. As usual the road is slow, busy and winding. Not to mention bumpy and surrounded by forest. So, why are bridges covered? To keep the timbers dry, of course! They didn't have that stuff that says it does what it says on the tin back then, obviously.

The Church at Eaton on the shores of The Crystal Lake. The most photographed church in New England, evidently. It'll look even nicer in a couple of weeks time when 'the autumnals' (as we call them) turn russet.

Having had breakfast in Eaton we head further south and stop when we see these proper autumnals on the banks of Purity Lake.

Next, we turn around and head back to North Conway before heading east along Route 302. Pretty soon we have crossed the New Hampshire state border into Maine. We visit the Maine Tourist Centre by the side of the road and are advised that a drive to Portland would be nice. We can't help but agree but, unfortunately, we are still tired from yesterday's four hours behind the wheel. So, thanking the nice lady for her advice, we decide to do a shorter version and head for the town of Bridgton instead. We park up there and stumble into a Lobster Cafe (as you do). David only had his breakfast a couple of hours or so ago but deems it churlish not to have a lobster roll with fries washed down with a coke. Vicky looks on aghast and makes do with just a glass of coke. Thus refreshed we head down the main street into town. It's a lovely little place. Definitely got a different feel to the place. Laid back but not overly quaint.

We walk the length of the main street and back. It's nice to take the time to simply walk rather than drive. We look in various shop windows and visit the nearby Highland Lake.

Here, David is posing for the political record and, furthermore, he would like to state that he has never watched Fox News - not even in the name of research. Republicans? They're nutters, you know.

Howard makes his aquaintance with another furry friend. He's drawn to them. This one's a moose. They live around here. We hope to see one before we leave this part of New England. Apart from the whales we haven't seen a lot of wildlife on this trip. Chipmunks and squirrels, mainly. Oh, and a skunk. And a fox. All in the grounds of the hotel, ironically. Moose only come out after dusk and we hope to go on an organised trip in the next day or so to see some. Oh yes, and little tree frogs hopping along the trails within the forests. Vicky usually spots them first. Which is lucky, 'cos Dave in his cloddhoppers, and with his appalling eyesight, would probably crush 'em. And then the guilt - the terrible guilt.

Sunday 6th September, 2009.

Howard is mightily relieved to be at The New Hampshire Speedway, and so are we. David googled 'New England Motorsports' a few weeks ago and was delighted to find that there was a round of the Loudon Road Race Series being held here when we would be, as he told Vicky, 'just up the road'. Well, it's about 80 miles up the road actually. But who's counting? We set out nice and early but the roads are already full of Bank Holiday traffic. Luckily, most is heading north for the mountains. Car and 'bikes. Well, Harleys. You can spot 'em a mile off. No helmets, big tashes, goatee beards, big bellies - and that's just the wimmin' (these are the jokes, folks). We are heading south-west-ish down the Route 16, the 25, the 3, then the 11A, and finally, the 106. Plenty of chances to go wrong then. There's a number of tricky junctions, but we only miss one turning. The signage is almost non-existent in places. It's enough to make us ponder whether we should turn back, but we press on and arrive at the circuit at about 11:30am. Even spectators have to sign on. Very strange. Mind you, we are a select few. NASCAR is the big sport here and the 'bike races only attract the competing riders and their friends. You can count the number of 'fans' who have ridden here on their sports 'bikes on the fingers of four hands. It'll be sold out for the Stock Car race later this month though, you'll see.

This is Phil Turkington. We got talking to him when David spotted the engine in his 125 Honda and asked him what it was. He explained that it was an 80cc engine from a MX 'bike. Ah, of course, says David. So what class are you racing it in today? I'm not, says Phil. I'm racing it at the Vintage/Classic 'bike meeting here tomorrow. What! Cries David in dismay. There was no mention of that on the website! We'd have come tomorrow if we'd known. David feels betrayed by the internet (he often does) whilst Phil hands him loads of info on the Classic 'bike racing scene in the States. Oh well, modern 'bike stuff it is then. Still, mustn't grumble, eh? We wish Phil all the best for tomorrow. He says we should come back. We'd like to Phil, but there's so much else to see.

Hi y'all, we're Ray Stew. I expect you've seen us before. We always race after Ray Swan (we told you, these are the jokes). Anyway, we are the cream of America's up-and-coming road racers and no way will we barrel into turn one like a bunch of mad things and send one another into the boonies like so many ten pins. No way!

Oh, gosh darn-it!

(NB: all riders made a full recovery and resurfaced later in the day as Ray Sate).

The wonderful thing about the New Hampshire Speedway is that there is a Shaker Village just down the road. So, something for everyone today. Here, Vicky is genning up on the Shakers. A funny bunch of so-and-so who were so fanatical about their religious beliefs that they were considered too puritan even for the Puritans. They got their name from the way they shook when worshipping the Lord, evidently.

Vicky continues our exploration of the Shaker Village. Several families lived here back in the day. Sex was banned, so all the children were adopted from local orphanages and the like.

Look at that sky, by the way.

Now, all we have to do is find our way back to North Conway before dusk and our Prius turns into a pumpkin.

Saturday 5th September, 2009.

We have breakfast in North Conway and then head north on Route 16 towards Pinkham Notch and the start of the Mount Washington Auto Road. However, en route, we take a detour into the charming little town of Jackson. It's got a tiny library but, then again, it's a tiny town.

Jackson's covered bridge. Our first photo of a covered bridge. There are two bridges near our hotel, on the back road into North Conway, but we haven't stopped to take a photo of those yet. All in good time, eh?

Driving up the 7.6 mile Auto Toll Road to the summit of the 6,618' Mount Washington. Seems like quite a few others have had the same idea. It's a two-way road, by the way.

Going back down. Slowly. Harley riders are everywhere. Seen very few sports 'bikes. Surely that bloke hasn't climbed all 7.6 miles, has he?

Vicky is a big fan of Bill Bryson and re-read his 'Walk in the Woods', which is all about the Apalachian Trail, before coming out to New England. Part of it passes through the slopes and summit of Mount Washington. Now she can say that she's walked some of it.

Most cars we've seen are either Japanese or European. Such American cars as there are look just like their Japanese or European counterparts.

So it's a treat to discover that the place we are eating tonight has a regular Saturday night get-together for owners of classic American cars. Good job we had the compact with us then, eh?

Friday 4th September, 2009.

Our hotel is in a fantastic setting, just to the west of North Conway, and at the foot of a moutain. We have breakfast in the hotel, gazing out at the fabulous scenery, and then set out on foot to explore the countryside nearby. Firstly we follow a short trail to Echo Lake. On the far bank, holidaymakers are already setting up for a hard day of swimming, kayaking, and generally lazing about.

We walk back to the hotel through the coolness of the forest, get in the car and drive back to the far side of Echo Lake, just to see what all the fuss is about. People are picnicing but there's no sign of the lifeguard. He's having the Labor Day weeekend off, obviously.

It's a tranquil setting alright, once you get away from the hordes.

From Echo Lake we drive down a back-road and up a series of hairpin bends to Cathedral Ledge. Somewhere in the forest directly below, lies our hotel. Told you it was a nice setting, eh?

Finally, we finish off the day with a short drive to Diana's Falls. Don't know which particular Diana it was named after, we're afraid. We'll google it one day and let you know. Or not, as the case may be.

Thursday 3rd September, 2009.

We've got a long drive ahead of us today. About 100 miles or so. Not very far, you might think. But, remember, it's all on the wrong side of the road! And the roads are so slow. Either 35, 45, 55 or, on the Interstate, 65mph. It makes driving even more tiring. Anyway, we need a hearty breakfast and so we head for Red's in the heart of Salem. It's not particulary healthy, but it is very atmospheric inside. Kind of like a diner in a New England weatherboard setting. People sat on stools at the counter, that sort of thing. Just the job.

Our route takes us up the 1A to Rowley, where we join the Interstate 95, and head for Portsmouth. This photo was taken as we cruised through Ipswich. Note the double yellow lines. That's the beauty of New England roads. There's no overtaking. Makes it much more simple for simple folks like us new to the country. Just to the west of Portsmouth we join Route 16. The roads thus far have been quiet-ish but the surfaces are shocking. 'Why don't Americans pay their taxes and fix their roads', David cries to Vicky for the umpteenth time, as the Prius judders over yet another pot hole. The 16 takes us directly north and eventually becomes a single carriageway.

We follow Route 16 and take in our first views of the White Mountains, as we make our way to North Conway.

We find our hotel fairly easily and, guess what? That's right, it's time for a kip. It's all this driving, see?

Late afternoon arrives and we venture into town. It's very busy with tourists arriving for the Labor Day Bank Holiday. We have a meal and then take a stroll around town. Parents are encouraging their kids to play something they call 'football'. It doesn't look much like football to us. Fools.

Wednesday 2nd September, 2009.

Back to Newbury-port this morning without a problem. We are now seasoned users of the roads of New England. Nothing fazes us now (oh no). We book our places on the boat and head for the harbour.

We're gonna need a bigger boat, Vic.


Two very experienced whalewatchers on a whalewatching boat on the lookout for whales. Keep 'em peeled, Howard. Keep 'em peeled.

We know what you're thinking: it's two oversized dolphins - not very impressive. Well, if we tell you it's an adult female Finback whale, 75' in length, with its calf and only Blue Whales are bigger, would you be impressed then? We think so.

Shearwaters fly past on the lookout for anything left uneaten by the Finbacks.

Tuesday 1st September, 2009.

We gird our loins and head out of Salem in the Starship Prius for a circular drive around Cape Ann which lies at the eastern end of Boston's North Shore. We drive through Beverley, Manchester-by-the-Sea and then Gloucester. We would have liked to have got out and had a look at the first two towns but, y'know, best to keep going, eh? No need to tempt fate by parking up or doing anything reckless.

We do have a brief stop on Gloucester's sea front and take a few photos (like this one of the swing bridge over the river) just to kid ourselves that we're relaxed and we've got the hang of this driving around America-thing. But we quickly get going again.

We continue along the Route 127 and arrive in Rockport. This is a lovely quaint fishing port as our excellent photo of the local Fire Station clearly illustrates.

Finally, after lingering as long as we dare in Rockport, we take our courage in our hands and head north to Newburyport along Route 1A via Pigeon Cove, Lanesville, Essex, Ipswich and Rowley. Amazingly, we find it. This driving lark is easy-peasy. We like Newburyport. It has nice churches like the one above (er, actually, this one is in Rockport - Photo Ed.) and, better still, you can go whalewatching from here. So we resolve to return on the 'morrow and do just that. We're looking forward to it already. We have some brunch to celebrate and then drive back to Salem down the 1A without incident. Now all we have to do is drive back here tomorrow in time for the whalewatch trip. No problem. Confident. Make that very confident.