We Hiked to Champney Falls

Today started out with the coffee maker not working.  No coffee today.  All the lights were on, but no coffee was percolating.  (We found a store to buy a new one this afternoon.  We cannot have 2 mornings without coffee).  The weather was cool and overcast before 7 am.  Joe left early because he knew it was going to be a long day.   He started climbing and kept climbing up a mountain road.  The first 30 miles were uphill.  The hardest part was the that last 8 mile climb with a 4-8% grade that finally took him to Kancamagus Pass.  Then he was flying downhill until he made it to Conway, NH.  There were crosswinds and he said it felt dangerous at times, but he kept going.  (I don’t like that dictation as I write this!)

As I was packing up to leave quite a few of the other campers came by to wish us luck on the rest of our trip.  Word must have gotten around about this crazy, almost complete, trip across the U.S.  They were all so kind to check in on us. One of the other campers recommended I take Hwy 302 through Bethlehem as the White Mountain Road “is tough on a trailer”.  I really tried to go that way, but the truck had one route, and I wasn’t able to change it or use my phone for mapping because we were in SOS mode.  So, nothing was happening on my phone.  Except music, of course.   No calls, emails or texts.  Would have liked to have a paper map of New Hampshire this morning!

So I ended up going the same route as Joe.  Which turned out to be not so bad at all.  It was a wonderful route through White Mountain on the Kancamagus Highway (Route 112).  It reminded us of Washington in so many ways.  The trees and mountains and the large amount of day trippers heading up and over the pass and back again.  A lot of areas to pull over with many large enough for an RV. 

Joe and I both made it over Kancamagus Pass with an elevation of 2855 feet!  My trip was much simpler, obviously.    I was able to stop at a couple spots with the RV, which I really appreciated.  I just love the mountains.  Neptune and I stopped at Wangam Grounds Overlook (with Neptune in photo).  And then Sugar Hill Scenic Vista with the mountains all around. 

We caught up with Joe about 5 miles from the end.  We haven’t done that since Montana.  Neptune is always excited to get out of the truck and then to see his biker..!! He’s beside himself with joy.

We are staying at Eastern Slope Campground in Conway, NH.  It is another large, family-friendly park.  They also have a lot of tent sites here and there are quite a few people staying in tents.  It is probably the sandiest place we’ve ever set up in.  We asked the office person if there was a lot of skiing or snowboarding around here in the winter and he said not so much anymore because the amount of snow is so hit or miss lately.  Now the area closes up pretty much right after Labor Day.  But I think it would be worth a trip in the fall to see the colors change.  It has got to be spectacular. 

After Joe’s long and mountainous bike ride he hopped in the truck with Neptune and I and we went for a 3-mile-in-out hike to Champney Falls.  The trail runs along Champney Brook and is a pretty easy hike.  A lot of boulders and tree roots and very quiet and peaceful. We went about 3:00 pm, so I think it was probably busier earlier in the day.   It is one of the National Forest hikes and only about 20 minutes from our campsite.  As you travel through White Mountain and along the highway you can really see that there has been a drought this year.  Even the ferns are drying up.

Tomorrow is 68-mile ride.  One of the last long ones until the end.  We appreciate all the support.  The end is near, but we still really appreciate all the encouragement.  These mountain climbs are tough.  But we’re doing it!  Thank you for checking in on us.  We’re into our final state, Maine, tomorrow 😊