The next morning we enjoyed a fairly simple but good breakfast. Then we headed to Mooselookmeguntic Lake. The drive there took about 2 hours and took us through places like Belfast, Belgrade, Fryeburg and Rome. Americans weren't very imaginative when it came to finding place names. The landscape was all the more beautiful! It's just amazing how much the Indian Summer intensifies when you drive inland from the coast. It's very funny that while some trees look really purple, others are still completely green.
As we stopped to stretch our legs at one of the many lakes here, we noticed a man at the jetty getting his seaplane ready for take off. So we stayed a little longer and watched as he took off, crossed the lake and then took off. We would have loved to just get in and fly with them. We stopped briefly in Rangley for a little relief, but it has to be said, even in the smallest town here, there is a public toilet. The German places should take an example from that!
Mooselookmeguntic Lake: Bald Mountain Trail
Arriving at Mooselookmeguntic Lake we stopped at the designated trail parking lot. Quickly put on your hiking boots, packed a drink and a little something to eat and off you went on the 4.2 km long Bald Mountain Trail.
The beginning of the trail was a beautiful forest trail with grit and gravel. Then it slowly went into forest soil and stones, as if from a river bed. We found that quite ok, the website said it was a trail with a “moderate” rating. People came towards us in simple sneakers and normal tracksuits. We thought then that we would have to be up there soon and that the path couldn't get any more difficult. That would turn out to be wrong! We continued through the forest, always uphill, but absolutely leisurely ... until it suddenly got really rocky.
The second half of the ascent is very steep and leads over rocks, some of which are washed over by the water. It's really slippery, so you need good shoes, preferably proper hiking boots. The path then became quite narrow, almost like in a gorge. We didn't expect that, above all we ask ourselves how the people who came towards us at the beginning got up there. They never made it in their sneakers. They probably turned back when it got rocky!
It took us about an hour to climb up. Once at the top, however, there is a view that you will never forget. A small steel frame tower takes you even higher above the treetops. Here you have a 360 degree view of all the surrounding lakes and mountains. Everything was so wonderfully colorful, really great. Then we dared the descent again, which took about 45 minutes. Going down over the rocks was almost more difficult than going up, but you're still a bit faster.
Grafton Notch State Park
Arriving at the car we took a short break and then drove around the lake with the unpronounceable name (Mooselookmeguntic Lake) to Grafton Notch State Park. We could have hiked wonderfully here, I had already picked out a nice route, but we didn't have the time. The Bald Mountain Trail took up more of it than we thought. Besides, after two days of hiking, we were pretty exhausted. So we just drove along the state park and stopped at a magnificent waterfall. Really amazing what water can do, first it falls very gently over stone terraces and then all of a sudden into a hollowed-out little gorge.
On the drive along Mooselookmeguntic Lake we often realized how remote we are from civilization. A village is 5 km long, but consists of only 3 farms, a church and 5 houses. Cell phone reception is rare and gas stations are rare. So fill up beforehand! The people have chosen a lonely but beautiful residential area.
Sunday River Coverd Bridge
Before we arrived in North Conway, today's destination, we stopped at the Sunday River Covered Bridge. One of those covered bridges typical of this region. This one was made entirely of wood, so even the “nails” were made of wood. A few steel reinforcements were installed later, since this bridge is already very old. Here you also slowly notice that you are immersing yourself in the ski regions of the USA. Everywhere signs for hotels and ski lifts.
We are accommodated for the next two nights in private accommodation, booked throughairbnb. The nice landlords gave us a very friendly welcome late in the evening. The room is very comfortably furnished. We have to share the bathroom with another couple, but that's not a problem.
- Mooselookmeguntic Lake: Bald Mountain Trail
- Grafton Notch State Park
- Sunday River Coverd Bridge
