New Hampshire

Saturday is a day off in America - a weekend.
And we with our friends drove out of town to the lake.
"Golden Autumn" is coming to this region at the end of September and our friends decided to show us this beauty.

- "Where is the lake, far away?"
- "No, next..."
Distances are great in America and we have already understood in the West that people can go to drink coffee for 100-200 kilometers, that's fine.
Here, in the East of America, it was about the same.
"Not far away" - The lake turned in an another state, just 2 hours away.

So, we started from Boston (Cambridge) September 27, 2014 and drove to New Hampshire by HWY 93.

New Hampshire - it is a small state in the northeastern of United States.
The population - about 1.5 million people.
It was the first state in the country, which declared an independence from Great Britain.
There are many rivers and lakes in New Hampshire and we went to one of them.
*New Hampshire*

After 40 minutes, we were on the border of New Hampshire.
GPS-coordinates: 42°45'17.8"N, 71°13'13.1"W

The beauty of nature and a great wine shop attracted tourists...

We bought a few souvenirs-magnets with the image of the state and went on our way.

We have driven to the north of Boston and the green trees around the road changed its color.

Here, a "Golden Autumn" was very different from a similar autumn in northern Europe.
The weather was dry, no rain, hot.
People were in T-shirts and shorts, they swam and sunbathed.
And around - colorful trees and shrubs...

Hills were in front.

We pulled off the road, left the car on the parking lot and went for a walk in the forest.

The breath of autumn was stronger here...

- "There is a waterfall in the forest".
- "We go there".

And here is the creek, we go with him.

Only spruce trees were green, the other trees were colorful...

The creek brought us to the bridge with the inscription "Do not swim."

I wonder who bathes here among the spruce trees?
Our trail is going on near a creek.

And suddenly, a small waterfall!

Around - the trees, the stones and the "Golden Autumn"!

The water was very cold in the creek, probably from the spring.

The water was crystal clear...

We washed our face and hands, made a halt and returned to the car by other way .

Golden trail.

One more a creek...

It was great here.
The nature was ready to fall asleep, was very quiet.

We drove on the road 93 to the lake.

Rocks and mountains were ahead...

Wow, how many people came, all parking were busy.

But our friends experienced tourists, they have been here many times.
We turned onto the road 302, and came to the lake.

That's a "secret" place for parking.
GPS-coordinates: 44°10'40.1"N, 71°41'45.7"W

The lake is called "Echo Lake".
*Echo Lake*

Let's go ahead!

Echo Lake is located in the park of the same name.
The lake area - 6.4 hectares.
Cliffs with beautiful names: White Horse Ledge and Cathedral Ledge are close to the lake.
This is rocky ridge of White Mountains, in the state of New Hampshire.
*Echo Lakes State Park*

Echo Lake was like Tenaya Lake in Yosemite Park, California.
The both lakes were formed during the ice age, the shore of lakes are very beautiful - rocks, overgrown with trees.

The differences were also.
There - the heat of California, and here - the golden autumn.

The visitors were very comfortable here - there are bridges and roads around the lake, you can sit on the benches.

You can have a meal at the tables and to sunbathe and to swim on the small sandy beach.
We have done so.
The water was not cold...

Also, you can take a catamaran and swim across the lake.

When we returned to the parking lot, we saw the such fantastic vehicle.

The day of Saturday was in full swing and the drive home was still early.

When we had driven to the lake by the road 302, we saw a very beautiful building.
We decided to go back and see...

There are many view points near the road 302, where you can drop the car and walk in the autumn forest.

A beautiful building here...
There is a viewing area not far from the building.
GPS-coordinates: 44°15'14.8"N, 71°26'59.9"W

The building - is Mount Washington Hotel, as evidenced by a commemorative plaque on the view point.

Mount Washington Hotel is located close to a mount Washington in the White Mountains.
The hotel has a rich history.
It was opened July 28, 1902.
Approximately 44.6 million dollars in today's prices were spent on the construction of the hotel.
This is the latest luxury hotel in White Mountains today.
The hotel became a National Historic Landmark in 1986.
*Mount Washington Hotel*

The hotel is also famous that the Bretton woods monetary conference took place here.
*Bretton woods monetary conference*

This Monetary and Financial Conference was in the state of New Hampshire, in the Mount Washington Hotel, in July 1944.
730 delegates from 44 countries attended the conference.
The aim of the conference was the settlement of the international monetary and financial relations after the Second World War.
After the conference, agreements were signed on the establishment of the World Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Monetary Fund.
*The Bretton Woods system of monetary management*

Then we headed to the city of Conway, NH through White Mountain National Forest and Crawford Notch State Park by HWY 302.

Saco River flows near with a winding road.

The road winds between the rocks...

You can stop and rest...

Let's go...

An Amazing day and a stunning beauty all around.

In some places, Saco River flows through canyons with rocky shores.
Dropping the car at the rest area, we went down to the river.

We go down to the water...

How beautiful next to the river.

We drive up to the Conway city along the forest road.

The town is small.
About 10 thousand people live here.
A few centuries ago, this area was inhabited by Indians, who lived in wigwams, hunted and fished in the Saco River.
Then there were conflicts between the settlers and the native people.
The city of Conway was founded in 1765 to protect farmers from the Indians.
*Conway, NH*

The city is located near the White Mountain National Forest, so there is a lot of tourists, both in summer and winter.
The tourism plays an important role in the city's economy.
Therefore, there are many hotels, motels, restaurants and cafes here.

But we did not see the sights of the city, because we wanted to eat.
Our friends were already here and knew a restaurant where we could have lunch..

It was a nice hotel with a restaurant...
*Eastern Slope Inn*
GPS-coordinates: 44°03'16.5"N, 71°07'45.3"W

Pumpkins were ready for Halloween...

Inside the restaurant was just great...
It was a real tavern...

After lunch we drove towards our house.
We turn off from the road 302 to the road 13.
Well, we used the road 12 and then HWY 93 to our home.

No wonder, tourists are so fond of the neighborhood of the town of Conway.
Saco River flowing behind the trees...
We stopped near a small beach...

Wow! Beauty!
Trees are displayed in the water as in a mirror.

A huge rock was behind the river...

The school building was left behind, and we turned on the road 12.

Here we have seen "locals", who came to hunt in the evening.

The setting sun lights up the neighborhood quite differently.

We had to take a picture of such beauty!

At one rest area, we saw a group of guys on motorbikes "Ural"...
--"How is the vehicle works, guys?"
--"Excellent, but the engine is not powerful".
This miracle of technology make in Russia and delivered to Boston.
There are those who want to buy.

The sun was setting very fast.
On one of the lookouts points we decided to "catch" the sunset.

The forest sparkled in the setting sun like a golden...

And then the darkness came...

We also had to go home to rest.