New Hampshire – Page 18 – New England's Narrow Road

Photos and Friends By The Lake

bridge at the lake — A favorite spot for photos.

I used to live near Gregg Lake in New Hampshire and I had the opportunity to go back there a few days ago to take some photos from some of my favorite spots. The little bridge on Craig Road always offers a nice view looking off either side, and the wildlife didn’t disappoint me. The heron was on the far side of the swampy area, just off to the left in this picture, and I took a photo of him but it didn’t come out very well. I didn’t see any snapping turtles or snakes sunning, but I almost stepped on a big frog at the edge of the water. He didn’t move even though I was very close, so I took his picture.

The blueberries are plentiful, but still green of course. I’ll have to get back there in a month or so to pick some. It was quiet and peaceful and although some people were using the public beach, the water is still too cold for many I assume.

I saw an old friend drive by and met a new one. Tina was walking and asked me what I was photographing and I said, “just nature”. So we struck up a conversation and she told me that she had been coming to the lake each summer for over 50 years. Her family owns one of the few houses along the road.

I asked if she’d seen a lot of changes to the Lake area, but she said no, not really. That is the nice thing about living in a quiet small town, things don’t change too quickly. One of the things that makes Gregg Lake a nice place to kayak, swim or fish is that not many big, noisy boats want to bother with such a small lake. We had a nice talk and she told me about how she had come across a loon while out in her kayak and how it stayed right close by for about 45 minutes. She said it was so close that she could have touched it had she wanted to.

I love the water, and that is why. It’s always interesting and so full of life. I love having my own home now, but I miss my time spent walking around the lake area. Fortunately I am not too far away to visit, and I will again soon.

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Summer at The Lakes In New Hampshire (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)
My Trip to Holderness and The Manor on Golden Pond (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)
Pictures of the Manor at Squam Lake, NH (newenglandsnarrowroad.wordpress.com)

Our Pack Monadnock Hike in June

Towers at mountaintop — At the Top of Pack Monadnock

Ever since I moved to this area of New Hampshire I’ve been driving over Temple Mountain and past Miller State Park where Pack Monadnock is located. It’s the smaller mountain with big, Mount Monadnock in the distance and I live so close that it was ridiculous not to hike the trails there.

Yesterday was sunny and gorgeous. With temps near 70 and clear skies, my teenage son and I drove about 10 minutes to the parking area of Pack Monadnock and then had to choose a trail to climb.
Knowing nothing except that there was a yellow trail – the Wapack Trail, and a blue trail, we chose the blue one and began our 1.4 mile trek to the top.

Now, 1.4 miles doesn’t sound like much, but to someone who doesn’t hike much, it turned out to be a strenuous little hike for me. All together it took us about 2 hours, with a short stop at the top. However, coming back down was not easy either as we chose the other trail – yellow – which turned out to be very rocky, but with great views of Mount Monadnock. The yellow trail seemed to be very well worn and I assume it is the most used. The blue trail was narrower and in the woods, without views. Next time I would hike the opposite way – go up on yellow and down on blue. Live and learn.

Don’t expect great views from the top either – unless you still have energy to climb the tower! There are probably great views from up there. There is a sign that points to “Boston views” and I got a photo, but the trees partially covered the view.
The top of Pack Monadnock has a road and parking area, with picnic tables and a bathroom, but it does not have a clear 360 degree view like other mountains I’ve climbed. One spot has a nice view of Mount Monadnock as you can see in my photo below. And you’ll get other views like this on the yellow trail. There is an Auto Road to the top so you don’t have to climb the trails, and it costs money to use it, but it was closed yesterday. Read more at the Miller State Park site.

Here are some of my photos of what you will see on the Pack Monadnock hike.

View of mount monadnock from pack monadnock — Heading Down The Yellow Trail from the Top, View of Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey

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hiking {mt. monadnock} (delightfullyteal.wordpress.com)
Monadnock Music kicks off 2012 season with an American classic (thetipsheet.typepad.com)
Up! A Mother and Daughter’s Peakbagging Adventure {with Giveaway} (5minutesformom.com)

My Encounter With The Turd Bug

turd bug on tomato leaf — Little “turd bug” on my tomatoes.

As I was checking on my newly planted tomato plants the other day, I noticed this black spot on a leaf. I thought at first it was just a bird turd because that is what it looked like. The bluejays and chickadees like to perch on the wire cages that are around the tomatoes and I almost didn’t look further, but then I saw another one – and it looked exactly the same.

Upon closer inspection I saw that it was a bug! I picked it up and it had a hard shell that split in half to reveal wings and it flew away. Like a ladybug, but not as cute. I noticed quite a few of them and began to pick them off the leaves because I noticed that they were chewing holes. I call it a turd bug because I have no idea what it is, but it looks like bird poop.

I’ve never encountered this bug before. If you know what it is, please leave me a message.

Update: They are now on my potato plants too.
12-11-12 …. Also…. Thank you to the reader who said they may be the Clavate Tortoise beetle or Plagiometiona clavata. I think so…!!! Many thanks.

See more photos on my Hydrangeas Blue blog where I wrote again about this bug when it showed up again.

Thanks Cornell and Best of Luck Baby Hawks

Okay, this is my last hawk posting.

Off and on during the day for the past couple of months my eyes have been diverted to the live cam and the nesting hawk family at Cornell University in New York state. From laying eggs in a snowstorm and then the hatching of the three eggs, to the first flight, I have seen it live with many other viewers. Now the baby hawks are grown and fledging – leaving the nest.

Two of them have already left and then returned. This screenshot is #2 baby who stood on that metal ledge with his wings wide-stretched just enjoying the breeze it seemed. He stood like that a good long time and I loved the moment.

I will never look at hawks the same way again. I am watching less and less now Continue reading “Thanks Cornell and Best of Luck Baby Hawks”