Prose Poem and Photo Gallery of our Anniversary Trip to New Hampshire

On the Road

It started with a 3 hour journey north

to rustic North Conway, New Hampshire,

to celebrate 10 years of marriage,

and 7 years of parenthood,

deep in the misty White Mountains.

A promise we made between the two of us on our honeymoon

became a dream come true for a family of three.

A second honeymoon we all took together,

full of wonder and fun,

even better than the first,

during our stay at Stonehurst Manor.

A stone castle up in the clouds

welcomed us to find its treasures within:

intimate bedrooms, kitchens, and nooks,

and a library guarded by a couple of griffyns.

In the library was a secret room, for reading, tea, and play,

just the size for a young person to quietly hide away.

Outside were wishing fountains and a covered promenade,

and down a set of mossy stone steps,

were gardens filled with flowers and butterflies,

where the garden fairies trod.

At the bottom of the mountain was a carriage house

with tree stumps to sit on and a swing shaped like a horse.

Then there were stables to visit

where some beautiful horses live,

and a pond full of rainbow trout

to feed before we set our course

back to the manor for the night.

The next day our adventures held

a train ride along a scenic railroad,

departing from North Conway station.

A storyteller and train music entertained us,

with the history of the places we saw

through the giant picture windows,

as we peered at nature, backyards, houses, and bridges.

Then on we ventured to climb rocks and roots

to the waterfalls named Diana's Baths :

a waterfall that ran over rocks, craters, and cliffs,

gurgling and giggling into heart-shaped puddles,

welcoming our company there.

We collected leaves and floated them,

and climbed upon the flat rocks to touch the water.

It was a magical place we didn't want to leave,

truly blessed by the Goddess Diana.

Winding our way up the misty White Mountains on a chilly, rainy day

along the Kancamangis Highway,

brought the magical autumn foliage closer to our hearts.

Vibrant, warm colors we saw across panoramic vistas,

along with stony waterfalls, and trees with roots that grew between rocks.

Then, back down the mountain we descended,

to browse our favorite shops downtown.

This sunny day we visited a magical stone bridge

in back of the small book store,

said our "goodbyes" and waved farewell to this gorgeous piece of paradise,

until our next return visit

in 5 or 10 years.

I hope that you enjoyed this photo gallery of my family's trip to New Hampshire as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I hope that it has inspired you to visit the state and to enjoy the many national treasures that our country holds in the form of parks and historic sites.

Here's wishing you safe and happy journeys ~

Namaste!