Journey to New Hampshire

On Sunday I went to visit some friends of my grandparents in Stoddard, New Hampshire. I was very excited to go because I would finally be seeing some people and interacting with others. I had never met them before but my grandma said that they would be super friendly, nice and make me feel right at home. Well they were right because I had the best time!!

My only issue *of course* was getting to their house. I had directions to follow HWY 9 into Keene, NH and then stay on 9 until I got to Junction 123, turn left there and turn right on Treelyn Rd (which is a dirt road). Well I did fine until I got to Keene, NH because then (I did not know it at the time but I had passed a turn to continue on 9) I got to this roundabout that did not have 9 as an option. So I drove in circles a few times then pulled over into a Dunkin Dounuts (they are every where around here) to call them. So I talk to them and get back on the right track.

I am driving and driving and driving and begin to panic that I went to far ..... oh no! So I try to look for places to pull over to look at the map of New England I have (like that would help anyways) or to use my cell phone to call them (but of course I have NO service). I finally pull over in this driveway looking thing and am freaking out that I went way too far. I look up and see a gas station - so I get back on the road and pull into the gas station. I bring my cell phone (to look up the number of my grandparents friends if I need to call them from the gas station's phone --I hope not!--) and the little slip of paper I have with directions on it. I go in and ask the guy working (looks super young, like he is in high school) if I am anywhere near Junction 123. Luckily, I am! He looks at me like I am kind of crazy, because I was in such a panic that I went to far, and tells me it is just a mile or so up the road and to turn left when I get to it.

THANK GOD!!!

So I get back on the road, make my left turn at Junction 123 and then begin to look for Treelyn Road. I of course pass it, so I turn around and make my way onto the dirt/gravel road. I am staying to the right and after I go over the little (and I mean tiny) bridge I start to look for their house. Well I knew they lived in the woods but it was like back woods, no one around, houses very spread apart. So I recall what her house number is so I am driving and looking, looking and driving until I finally get to a tree with their house number and a cute little sign with their names on it and a moose (there are lots of moose here you know? and signs that say MOOSE CROSSING ahead :) ha!). I park and go in the house and am greeted with smiles and hugs, like I have known them forever, only I just met them. Thank you to all the grandparents in the world who are just great!

So we had a nice leisurely Sunday of chatting, taking a walk around the lake, playing with their dog (SO cute), eating, watching TV, and the best part yet -- going into town.

So we are just sitting around chatting and one topic leads to another and 'Grandma' goes, "hey do we need to go to the dump today?" I look up from the newspaper ad I am looking at and then look back down. 'Grandpa' replies that "yes, as a matter of fact we do." I, trying to be smart, go, "I have been just dying to go to the dump!" They both look at me and laugh and then we all pack up the car to go into town to go the dump. What an adventure. We drive through town (which is a general store and a volunteer fire station) and get to the dump, where you literally do your own dumping.

After that we sat down to a nice dinner and had some yummy caramel ice cream to top it off. I left once it started to get dark, so I didn't have to try to find my way through the winding dirt path (aka road) to get back to the main highway. Of course I was packed up full with leftovers and some school supplies :)

How nice. I loved it!

To check out Stoddard, NH: http://www.stoddardnh.org/!