Just the two of us - New Hampshire

 After parting ways with extended family, we used Lake St. George State Park in Maine as a home base to explore more of Maine and reconnect with a friend from high school.  We drove up to Bucksport and visited the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory - advertised as the tallest public bridge observatory in the world.  The elevator rises at a blistering speed of 5 mph (about twice the speed of other elevators) to the observation deck 135 feet above the bridge.  We could not resist the opportunity.

You can see the footings of the old bridge to the left.

If you squint, you might see Cadillac Mountain (Acadia NP) in the distance.

bronze compass rose in the floor of the observation deck

Our white van is in the middle of the photo

Another state capitol visit - State House in Augusta, Maine

looking up into the dome

Maine travel plaza on the interstate

We met Paul for dinner in Augusta and he gave us an autographed copy of his new book.

We stop at covered bridges on occasion.  Here are a few...

We loved the rafters with bark still attached here.

Conway, NH

While we have visited hundreds of scenic locations in the U.S. and Canada, one of the best keeps drawing us back, time and time again.  White Mountains National Forest in New Hampshire, the Kancamagus Scenic Highway in particular.  The "Kanc" runs from Consay to Lincoln, NH. This was our fourth visit in 9 years.  We spent three days in the area, saw Mount Washington on a clearer day, drove through Bear Notch, Crawford Notch, Franconia Notch, and Pinkham Notch.  We hiked to Sabbaday Falls again, too.  I released some of both sisters' cremains into the Swift River at Rocky Gorge early one morning.

clear water and water-smoothed granite boulders

Cool pink granite dike running through the gray granite and into the river

Sabbaday Falls hike - the stream runs over a basalt intrusion that is softer than the granite and makes a 90 degree turn on its way down the mountain.

Brian looked down on me and I looked up at him.

Before leaving, I joined the White Mountains Interpretive Association and was given a great camp mug.

White Mountains of New Hampshire are one of the places I hope to return to again, God willing.

The Family Gathers in Maine

 The Final Destination

One of our first stops in Maine was to view the Nubble Lighthouse and our first view of the Atlantic on this trip.

Just down the road is Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, where we set off on a hike along the estuary.  Very peaceful interlude.

    

"The more clearly we can focus our attention on the wonders and realities

of the universe about us, the less taste we shall have for destruction."

-- Rachel Carson

Without further delay, we arrived in Portland, Maine, picked up our rental car, and checked into our hotel.  Then the issue with Southwest Airlines cropped up.  Because our daughter needed two seats on the flight, we booked them on the phone, not online, to ensure everything would work out.  She had the confirmation number at the gate, but she was not allowed to board without two confirmation numbers - only one number was sent.  One hour on the phone with Southwest, and she was rebooked for 5:30 the next morning.  My cousin from Minnesota arrived on time, late in the evening.

Most of the extended family headed north to Fairfield where my sister's cremains were to be buried.  Brian stayed in Portland until Kim's flight arrived around noon and headed to Fairfield to join us.  By 2:00, all 14 of us were gathered at the gravesite.  We interred the burial urn that had traveled in our van from Houston, next to her husband and mother-in-law. 

My nephew, John, gently placed the urn into the ground.

Each of us sprinkled dirt on top.

Patty's brother-in-law Larry Cowen

I feel privileged to have been with my sister, Patty, during her last days.  My children were able to spend precious moments with her.  A good friend from high school days was there for over a week, and our cousin from Minnesota came for several weeks.  She died in her own bed at her own house, just as she wished.  About 6 of us were in the room with her.  It felt sacred to me, and I am truly grateful to have known my little sister for 69 years.  But the gravesite gathering in Maine was not the final send-off.

The next day, 9 of us drove to New Hampshire to ride the cog railway to the summit of Mount Washington, just as we did two years ago for another sister.  Patty was with us that time.

June 2024 - Patty had the window seat on the Mount Washington Cog Railway

as we went up to disperse the ashes of our younger sister, Kathy.

First time to travel to the summit for my cousin (window seat) and my daughter, Kim, in the middle.

with my daughter at Base Station

Kim at the summit right next to the visitor center building

still winter on the slopes of Mount Washington on May 31

The summit of Mount Washington is known for its wild weather.  I have been up there three times now, but this day was cold (32 degrees), windy, and with low visibility.  The conductor told us not to stray more than 100 feet from the visitor center.  My brother-in-law, Rob, set off into the wind and fog while the rest of us hunkered down inside the building.  He had cremains of both of my sisters (he is Kathy's surviving spouse), Patty's husband, his daughter, and his mother.  He released them into the 52 mph winds, but I did not witness it.  We could not find the summit marker for a group photo as we did in 2024, so one was taken in the lee of the Tip Top House. 

Aren't we a cozy group?

Left to Right:  Kim Kissell, Becky McKay, me (Kris), Kym Lanier,

James (Kym's son), John Lanier (Patty's son), and Rob Kouts.

We managed to fit in a little sightseeing with Kim and my cousin before dropping them off at the airport the next day. (Kim flew back to Houston without incident.)

iconic Portland Head Light, oldest in Maine, 1791

Kim didn't want to leave.  She was only 7 years old the last time she was in Maine.

After returning our rental car, we resumed our travels in our van.  We headed to Boothbay to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to hike some trails and see more Dambo Trolls.

Beautiful rhododendrons and other flowers were wonderful, as well.

I haven't seen bleeding hearts in years.