Saturday, September 16, 2006

A Continued Journey...

I began a quest a short time ago to seek, and hopefully find, covered bridges close to home here in New Hampshire.  I posted one a while back, and visited just one more after that until today.  What was funny about today was that my initial plan had little to do with covered bridges, my newest love...  I REALLY wanted to go apple picking!!  My girls, however were not having it.  So I bargained.  I bribed.  I insisted finally, in the end, that they let ME have a voice for a change and go where I wanted to go!  Okay, so the bribe was convincing enough... but we still didn't go apple picking. 

I took them over the river into Vermont.  I took them to a fancy restaurant and a little shopping along the quaint, small town roads.  Then my turn finally came,  quite unexpectedly. 

I was pulled into a welcoming gift shop, and I lingered around the calendar section while the girls picked out candy and gum.  A Vermont COVERED BRIDGES calendar caught my eye.  I flipped through the pages, admiring all the beautiful, scenic bridges until... WAIT!  There's one here in this town?  OH JOY!  I knew there was a cast iron bridge down the road, made famous by the movie "A Ghost Story", which was filmed in that town back in the 80's, but a covered bridge?  Had I simply forgotten?  At any rate, I eagerly approached the nice lady at the counter who had been engaging my children in a conversation about Mailee's broken arm and asked her about the covered bridge.  She smiled and gave me directions as far as, well, right down the road because there it was for Pete's sake!  But here's the real biggie:  THERE ARE THREE MORE WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF US?!  Sweet rapture...

Okay, so it's not as exciting as all that... but geesh.  I needed a pick me up.  So off we went, my girls and I, on a journey that lasted most of the afternoon.  I will share a few of my personal favorites on this page, but also include photos from throughout the day in the picture box up top.

Hope you are all having a warm and peaceful weekend, and that moments will touch your heart as the beauty of my day touched mine... 

 

Side view of above bridge... a scenic spot found by accident on the ride home!

The following is from my second trip into Meriden, NH a couple weeks ago:

So, those are my newest bridge encounters!  There are many more "scenic" photos up top there...   Please forgive my lack of professionalism in the technical aspects.  This is truly for my own pleasure!  THANKS!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thats quite an interesting thing to do on a beautiful day.  Very different, but yet I wish I would have thought about it. :)
http://journals.aol.com/mrsm711/LatteDah/
Tracy

Anonymous said...

Loved the story!!  It is amazing how sometimes things just all work together to present something so much better than what was originally planned.  I have had only a handful of those moments in my life.  That calender was a wonderful find, and led you to some quaint covered bridges.  My favorite is the one with the bright green vegetation in the forground with the worn and weathered bridge behind.  The interplay is perfect.

Greg

Anonymous said...

That was a great idea! I love the pictures! :o)
Lisa

Anonymous said...

OMG.

I am almost speechless. You took ALL these pics? Are you a professional photographer? If not, girl, go to the newspaper or someone and show them these pics...they are TRULY breathtaking. I mean, i am floored just looking at all of them. I love covered bridges.....i have never seen one in real life.
XO hugs lisa

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful time and great pictures! mmm apple picking, I remember doing that a long time ago. Nothing beats a fresh apple pie with ice cream :)

Gretchen
http://journals.aol.com/ksgal3133/LivinginSavannah2

Anonymous said...

Oh, these pictures were absolutely breathtaking!  So much beautiful scenery.. and I love the old bridge pictures!

You've outdone yourself this time!

Hugs
Jackie

Anonymous said...

wow you have some awesome pics here

Anonymous said...

This is my first visit to your journal.  You have breathtakingly beautiful pictures!  I love the covered bridges!  We don't have them here in California.  
Looking forward to getting to know you better.
Pam

Anonymous said...

Oh WOW Michelle, these photo's are absolutely stunning!!! No wonder you love those bridges so much, beautiful.....I'm so glad you had such a good day :-)
HUGS Debbie ~xxxxxxx~
http://journals.aol.co.uk/debbiewebb4465/TheLifeTimesofanEssexGirl

Anonymous said...

I, too, love covered bridges ... and there aren't any here in Southern California.   Guess I am going to have to make a trip up your way one of these days, and see what I can see.  Beautiful picks ... glad you and the girls had a good time.  By the way, thanks so much for stopping my my site and leaving a comment ... I do appreciate it !  Tina

Anonymous said...

These are beautiful, brought back memories! :)
Have a good weekend.
Hugs, Sugar

Anonymous said...

Your photos are very nice.  I enjoyed seeing them and your comments.   I got your journal link from TKS333.  Gerry

Anonymous said...

I loved the photos.  Makes me want to go to the mountains.

Anonymous said...

Michelle,
Thank you for stopping by my journal. I thought I would pop over & say thanks.  These pictures...they are wonderful!!  There is nothing....NOTHING like that around here where I live (in west Texas).  Thank you for sharing.  My son was stationed at Ft Devens (MA) in 92 or 93. He loved it up there. He used to go to NH often snowboarding.  I have never been to the East Coast. I would LOVE IT.  
I will try to stop by again somrtime.  I am caring for 2 of our 3 granddaughters (they live with us) their dad is away at a job training school for 3 more weeks.  I  am 52 and it's wearing me out.  LOL (they are 3 and 4). Sigh. So I don't know whether to try to read a few more journals or collapse. LOL
HaVe a wonderful Sunday.
Barb  

Anonymous said...

OH MY!!!
I love these!!!!!
These are beautiful shots~
Again, I love the reflection of the bridge...; )
& the last one is superb! Thanks for sharing~
Marie

Marie
http://photographsmemoriestoo.blogspot.com/
http://journals.aol.co.uk/mariebm56/PhotographsMemoriesToo