New Hampshire!

Newfound Lake NH at sunset.

We left on Sunday for NH, planning on splitting the trip by stopping halfway in Amherst, MA. You cannot travel long distances with a toddler (why at 4 they are still called toddlers is beyond me, there is NO toddling going on). It started right away, "How much longer Mom?" I had to resort to an old trick we used to use on my little sister (she is ten years my junior). She was a big fan of the the show Fraggle Rock waaaaaaay back when. So if it were an hour more, we would tell her, "two Fraggle shows". For my son, who has no clue what a Fraggle is, as I am sure some of you youngsters don't either, I had to use Dora. Still, it was lost on him. Maybe 4 is too young.

We had a nice stay in Amherst and headed out the next day for Newfound Lake in NH. Of course after we HAD to make a stop at the outdoor shop for some major holiday deals. Once again, "How much longer?" Ugh...

Look how clear this water is! Do I need to tell you how much better than the Hudson this is?!

When we arrived it was a gorgeous day and the rental on the lake was just as lovely, bugs and all! You forget once you leave the big city that there are bugs EVERYWHERE! I'm used to it growing up, but it takes some re-acclimating. My son, on the other hand, is a true city kid. He screamed like a schoolgirl when a mosquito flew by him. You can take the kid out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kid.

We stocked up on groceries and then headed out to check out the bike course and get a bite to eat. Ok, the bike course? HOLY MOTHER OF GOD....It is a really looooong hill. My husband was no help, "Uh, this is a really big hill", "Wow, this hill is huge", "You know you are going to be riding up this hill right?", "Regina, this is a really big hill." Yeah honey, I get it, and you're not helping....

Today was supposed to be a ride on the the bike course and UP that hill, but it rained and rained and just when you thought it would stop it rained some more. So I (we) put it off until tomorrow and I ran today instead. My husband won't let me ride the course either by myself. The shoulders on the road are nonexistent on already narrow roads and there is no cell service on the worst of the hills. There is no talking him out of being my SAG wagon. Onward tomorrow.

Oh, did I mention this is NOT a closed course? A first for me.

The rain finally let up around 6 pm. I had eaten a sandwich at 2 pm that was still sitting like a load in my belly which made my run a bit tough, but I got it done. The reward? A dip in the lake!! Holy crap! How nice was that?! It is a bit chilly, but it felt so good after such a hot and humid run. I also know why I have trouble breathing when swimming; the cold. I tried to take some strokes when I got in and couldn't get a good breath. Still, it felt so good to be in the water. Ahhhhhhh....

Tomorrow....the hill from hell (see, I figure if I expect the absolute worse, I can't be surprised...or disappointed).