Christmas Celebrations at Settler's Green

We left camp early Saturday morning (around 9AM) to head up to Settler's Green Outlet mall in North Conway, NH for some light shopping and some adverstised seasonal activities.



Cranmore Mountain was there and setup a mini-tubbing slide for the kids. The kids only went on two runs because it was too cold. It was REALLY cold (19 high / 4 low that evening). Then we had some hot chocolate and went on a horse pulled carriage ride with Santa! I thought I took a picture of the horse stables but it didn't come out. I'll try to get the name of this establishment.

Did some light shopping and returned to camp to pack up for the season. Springmaid is going out of business and we found curtains for $5 each window!

Yankee Smoke House

Our family enjoyed a nice dinner with a new seasonal friend of ours at the popular Yankee Smokehouse in West Ossipee, NH.

I shared a whole rack of ribs (~$20) with my company which in my opinions was enough food for 3 hungry men or a family of 4. The ribs were good, tender, and tasty and was served with a warm bottle of extra bbq sauce. However, during this visit, I realized that I'm not exactly a ribs lover and politely offered the left overs to our guest. I also had ordered a side of cole slaw and a side of steak fries which was really too big for me to eat. The cole slaw was very good and had a light mustard season to it and the fries were excellent as well.

The kids enjoyed their chicken fingers ($5.99) and mozerella sticks ($6.99) but I thought the prices for the kids meal were a little bit steep. While I thought my meal was just good, Patty on the other hand really enjoyed her Smoked BBQ chicken dinner ($10.99). For sides she had the baked beans, 1/2 ear of corn, and some french fries. Each meal was served with delicious Texas Toast. Patty really enjoyed this and she knows her breads!

We visited in the offseason and found the service to be excellent (especially after compared to our last visit to another local establishment). Service was good not only to us but to the couple sitting across from us. Very accomodating!

As expected, this is NOT a fancy resturant (i.e., jeans recommended) but is very clean and warm (both for a cold night and to enjoy a pleasant evening with your family or friends). The decor is nearly decorated with cute little piggies everywhere: ornaments, wallpaper, curtains, etc. This place is EXTREMELY popular during motorcycle season and the summer season.

If you want tasty food with BIG portions, the Yankee Smokehouse won't disappoint! Just driving by and experiencing the aroma from your car makes you want to stop in. We did tonight and everyone wanted to stop in but already had dinner planned. We will definately go back! I would like to try some of their beef and chicken dishes.

If I could change something, I wish they would shake up the sides dishes and offer some new items (e.g., fresh veggies, mashed or baked potatoes, squash, seasonal items, etc.).

Overall a great experience and meal!

Winter is on the way!

Winter is definately on its way!

Had snow showers on the way up to Danforth Bay on Friday. Tempartures were down in the teens last night here at Danforth Bay in Freedom, NH. I saw ice plates on the stream running through the campground.

Even the Mt. Cranmore Resort had snow on the South Slope (testing the snow guns???)

Snow on top of Mt. Washington and other Northern Mountains Veteran's Day picture portrays. We also met up with a seasonal friend to hear about his Winter adventure climbing the Mt. Washington area. Un-real!!!

Off-Season Camping

Off Season camping in an RV is a lot like "tent" camping at a national park during the regular
* No activities
* No running water
* Really cold at night

This weekend at Danforth Bay was great! We arrived late Friday night and got the camper warm.

We celebrated Austin's 13th birthday by ordering too much pizza from Pizza Hut. The Leftovers worked out great for dinner (which resulted in NO dishes).

Today was AWESOME... the weather was great! I was warm in just a sweater and jeans (no jacket)... we took a nice LONG walk throughout Danforth Bay... The lake has dropped so much that we were able to walk on the shore from Brookside Beach to Cove Beach!

We then headed up to the Bluffs. It was a ghost town as we didn't see a soul. Glad to see things are filling in and loved how people have naturally decorate their sites. The puppies then ran loose and played at the ballfield and wore themselves out chasing each other.

Having no water was NO PROBLEM! We planned meals accordingly. I did miss my eggs and bacon this morning though! Have to find a microwave solution. We had minimal dishes to wash (which I did this morning at the depot).

Can't wait for next weekend!!!

Danforth Bay's 2007 Scariest Pumpkin Winner

After winning a top category in Danforth Bay's site decorating contest for the past three years, Patty decided to step back and relax and enjoy the weekend. Who knew that she had plans to design and decorate the scariest pumpkin the next weekend.

This is her first win in the pumpkin contest!

Many thanks to Sharlene from activities (she has been doing an EXCELLENT job!!!)

Danforth Bay 2007 Silliest Pumpkin Winner

Cameron, quite by our surprise won the silliest pumpkin. It was kit that Patty bought at CVS for about $4. He has a face on both sides of the pumpkin. Thanks for the Danforth Bay camping mug Cam!

Danforth RV Show

Danforth Bay is having their 3rd Annual RV show this year. Last year it was a big hit!

Some of the dealers in the past include:

* Cold Springs RV, Weare, NH
* Stateline RV, Lebanon, ME
* White Mt. RV, Ossipee, NH

From Danforth Bay's site:

Preview Friday evening 5 - 7 pm Saturday 9 - 5 & Sunday 9 - noon On display will be Park Models, Boats, RV from a variety of vendors. Admission to the park for the RV Show is $5 per car load! Food Tent provided by the Madison Snowmobile Club the Scrub Oaks Scramblers

I'm sure Danforth Bay will have plenty of camping sites available this weekend!

Its also pumpkin carving contest this weekend.

Columbus Day Weekend at Danforth Bay

Wow! What a great long holiday weekend at Danforth Bay. We started off the weekend by arriving fairly early and having some delicious steak tips that we purchased previously at Butcher Boy Maket in N. Andover. This is about a 15 minute "well worth it" diversion off of I495 (Wards Hill) in Mass. on your way up to Danforth Bay.

On Saturday morning we visited Four you Paws Only in North Conway to pick up two adorable costumes for the puppies. We originally picked up a skunk outfit and a spider but Patty found a Pirate costume that matched Cameron's outfit. We also tried to stop at the Moat Mountain Brewery to fill up our growler beer jug but we found this to be closed at 11AM and didn't have time to wait around. Good selection and beer but this is quite a distance from Danforth Bay.

Sunday evening we went site-to-site trick-or-treating with several of our new seasonal friends! What a great time! Patty wasn't site decorating this year (too much) so she even went with us. We even took Bailey and Mowgli out (in their costumes). They had a ball and the skunk costume was a real big hit with everyone at camp.

We also found out that Nick from Activities has moved along to bigger and better oppurtunities. While we are sad to see him go, will certaintly miss him, we are happy for him! He was an asset to the campground!

During the Halloween activities, the RV.net forum group went all OUT again this year. The truly best costume was the LIFE SIZE spider and spraying human size "Off Can". I certaintly hope that Danforth Bay got pictures.

The weather was truely a mixed bag. Good Friday night and Saturday morning/early afternoon. Wet on Saturday evening and murky on Sunday morning. Great Sunday night for trick-or-treating and wet again late Sunday night / Monday morning.

The RV show is next weekend at Danforth Bay! Two years ago it was a washout and looks like it might REPEAT again.

Columbus Day Weekend at Danforth Bay!

This is probably one of my favorite weekends at Danforth Bay. Fall air, site decorations, activities, site trick or treating, local fairs, apple pie, pumpkins, etc.

To bring in the fall season, for the past 3 years Patty has gone ALL OUT and has decorated our camp site! In fact she has won the TOP prize 3 years in a row at the following sites:

2004 -(site E33) weather was good one day bad the next
2005 - (Site K1) weekend was totally WET
2006 - (our seasonal site) was absolutely gorgeous and we met new transient friends (hope they are up this weekend)

This year we are taking a break from decorating but joining in the fun! Bring your decos!

Shawtown Campground Postcard

Patty found this link on ebay... Post card of Danforth Bay as Shawtown Campground....

Interesting!!!


http://cgi.ebay.com/NH-Shawtown-Campground-FREEDOM-NEW-HAMPSHIRE-POSTCARD_W0QQitemZ120165541148QQcmdZViewItem

NH Tolls are going up!

I heard on the radio today that NH tolls are going up!

$1.50 now on I95 (Hampton Tolls)
$1.o0 now at I93 Hookset
$.75 now at Rochester tolls (NH16)
$.75 now at Dover tolls (NH16)

The I95 toll is way too expensive (but NH you voted for this)! I would whole-heartdly support the Rochester/Dover toll increase if the 4 lane hi-way was expanded through the city and into Farmington.

My round trip to Danforth Bay now just more costly! $6.00 vs. $4.00 per car (with out towing). However, I really feel bad for those that travel this way daily back and forth to work! Especially with gas prices as high as they are!

For those of you looking for NEW routes to Danforth Bay:

* I93 to NH 28 to NH 16
-- Pros: shorter mileage; scenic drive; FREE
-- Cons: 20 minutes extra traveling time; get behind someone driving slow and your doomed; Towing a little bit more difficult

* I93 to NH 101 to NH 125 to NH 16
-- Pros: FREE; Better for towing!
-- Cons: 20-30 minutes extra traveling time; no passing lanes on NH125

Hunting Season in New Hampshire!

This Saturday morning the kids, some seasonal friends, and I took a fall hike up to Mt. Mary (at Danforth Bay). On our way up we noticed a herd of dogs barking. We thought, "Wow those dogs are really loud and close by. I was wondering what neighbor would put up with that racket. When we got to the top we heard a LOUD single gunshot noise that seem to echo throughout the valley.

Our seasonal friend quickly pointed out that it was probably a hunter. I of course thought, "It must be something else of they wouldn't hike so close to a popular campground". We proceeded down the mountain and I didn't give it a second thought for the rest of the morning.

Later when I caught up with my seasonal friend again, I found out that the dogs that we heard were hunting dogs which chased a black bear up the tree, off the logging road, not too far from the Mt. Mary trail. In fact I immediately recalled a truck at the bottom of the hill with one of the dogs in the back. The hunter shot the bear in the tree and later "prepared the kill" (e.g., pulled out heart, skinned, etc.).

I further learend that my kids who were out with their friends saw the dead bear and the hunters. Now I'm neither pro hunting nor anti hunting (in fact some species are over populated and need to be controlled) but I find it kind of concerning that hunting would be happening on the doorstep of a popular campground? This type of hunting is legal due to they are killing the bear in the tree vs. in the woods.

However, my kids run though the forest playing manhunt and exploring (in fact they had a bug project due this week for school and were in the woods looking for bugs). I personally think campgrounds should not allow hunting near their property (if at all legally possible). Accidents could happen. It also makes sense to dress in BRIGHT colors and have your kids stay close to site at this time.

Decorating for Fall

Happy Fall!

Even though there was summer like temperatures this weekend we got into the Fall spirit by not only apple picking (and baking) but decorating for fall at our seasonal site.

We stopped by the Mountain Greenery in Ossipee NH and picked up some mums, corn stalks, gords, pumpkins, and a bale of hay. Along with some halloween lights and fall lights we are all set for the upcoming fall season at Danforth Bay.

Apple Picking at Ward's Orchard, Madison, NH

Patty came up with the wonderful idea to go apple picking this weekend. I asked the Danforth Bay office information about a local apple orchard and they immediately told me about Ward's Orchard in Madison, NH. This should have been a 10-15 minute drive from Danforth Bay but due to no signs in the direction that we were coming from (King Pine) it took us more like 30 minutes.

Parking was very limited but they had lots and lots of apples. This place was bigger than I thought it would be. Apples were very good as well. Picking on 9/22 they had Macintosh and Cortlands. Next week they will have red and golden delicious.

A 1/2 bushel of apples cost only $12. We had a good time picking apples. Ward's Orchard is definately recommended if you stay in the local Conway, Freedom, Tamworth area.

They had some pumpkins for sale but that was about it.,

Gettysburg, PA Pictures

We visited Gettysburg, PA for our 1st homeschool field trip.
Check out the pictures!

http://travel.webshots.com/album/560755287MZVyzp

Resturant Review: Avoid Sammy's Paw Print

After a bad thunder, windstorm at Danforth Bay. Several trees down near the Brookside beach (almost hit a tent) we decided just to go out for a late dinner. We had company up so we decided to treat them to Pizza Barn for some good-local Pizza.

However we found out that Pizza Barn was closed due to the POWER outage from the storm.

This led us to Sammy's Paw Print in Tamworth, NH (which had power) - BIG MISTAKE!!!Here are our observations:

Extremely Poor Service:

• Got snickers from the Waitress when our niece was ordering a drink because she didn't know right away.
• No hostess - The one waitress in the entire resturant was very unfriendly and UN-Professional
• Bartender was not friendly either nor did she try to help the waitress out.
• The bar area was not busy at all. - Order for 2 pizzas, fries, onion rings, took well over 1 hour before we got the Pizza. Not fun with a whiny 3 year old.
• Our 2nd round of drinks was not filled for our main course. We had to ask for them to refilled and it took about 10 MORE minutes for them to be brought to us.
• By this time my wife went to the car with our 3 year old who had enough!
• 18% Tip automatically added to our bill because our party was 7 people. (This was a Saturday summer night and they only had 1 waitress!!!)

Confusing Menus

• We were given 2 to 3 menus per person yet there was no drinks listed on any of the menus

Food

• Onion rings were really good.
• French Fries were good.
• Pizza was OK; They advertise as the "Best Pizza in Town". Don't believe it! The pizza is slightly better than White Lakes Pizza but not nearly as good as Pizza Barn. They beat them hands down.

Facilities

• Bathrooms were down right scary. They were dark, ugly yellow tiles 1960s era on the walls.
• Dining room was average but their was paint pealing in places and dust
• Out table was sticky (not properly cleaned) - It makes you think what does the kitchen look like? My wife didn't feel well after eating there the next day

Overall:

• This place has potential but needs a refurbishment (new bathrooms and facelift for dining room)
• They need new waitstaff, hostess, and a new bartender as well as an upgrade on their facilities. The tip should have been more like 5 to 10% but I didn't argue this.

Avoid this place if you are staying at Danforth Bay or the Ossipee area.

Ossipee Lake Trip

We rented a small Pontoon Boat at Ossipee Lake Marina for 1/2 day. We could not have picked a better day!!!

If you stay at Danforth Bay you can get a 15% discount off of rentals from the booklet!

The boat however was quite disappointing. It was 25HP and very slow and tipsy but we had a good time anyways. We stopped off at Long Sands.

See full pictures here.

Transportation Week at Danforth Bay

Its Transportation Week at Danforth Bay! On Sunday they had Freedom, NH fire department visit. Cameron loves firetrucks so this was a big BONUS for him!

My public summer pictures of Danforth Bay (and local area) are kept here. I'll be adding more as the summer goes along.

NH Boating Education Course

Patty and I took the NH Boating Course this past Saturday at St. Joseph's Hospital in Nashua (exit 5 off of Rt. 3)

Here is the highlights:

Logisitics:

• Basement of St. Joseph's Hospital with about 40-50 other people. Get there early for best seating.
• Plenty of FREE parking
• Bring your own lunch! Only 1/2 hour and the food at St. Joseph's is not that good!

Course Overview:

• Sponsored by the US Coast Guard and the NH Marine Patrol
• Course is a SOLID 6 hours 9-12, 12x-3x with 1/2 hour for lunch
• The first hour was fluff
• The last 2.5 hours was intense (no breaks)
• The slides need updating they are the OLD transparency slides
• The instructor jumped around chapter to chapter
• The instructor was very humorous but most people in the class didn't appreciate this.

Course (six chapters):

• 1 - There are 6 chapters in the Course booklet - Know Your Boat (types of boats, personal water crafts (i.e., jet skis))
• 2 - Before You Get Underway (trailering, maximum capacity plate, float plan)
• 3 - Operating Your boat (navigation, buoys, anchoring)
• 4 - The Legal Requirements of Boating (life jackets)
• 5 - Boating Emergencies (fire extinguishers)
• 6 - Enjoy Water Sports with your Boat (towing skiiers)

Test:

• The big part was life jackets, buoys, and navigation
• A 60 Question "closed-book" multiple choice test given between 3:30 to 4:30 (corrected on site)
• There was about 5-10 things that were on the test that was not mentioned in the class (or that I didn't catch)
• Corrected on site in about 2 minutes!
• A grade of 80 is required (70 was passable in 2006)
• After you pass the course you mail in a portion of the certificate with $10 to get a real Boater's Education Safety card. The card is NOT valid in the state of Conneticut. I guess they do things differently down there! If you fail you need to take the course again.

Intertesting Notes:

• A 3 seater Jet Ski is consider a Class A boat
• You can loose your driver's license if you are caught intoxicated (.08 BAL) operating a boat
• Let the ventilation fan run 4 minutes after fueling
• Only 2 people outside the boat (while in motion)
• 150 feet is the maximum you can be from shore (unless you are at headway speed)

For those that are considering taking the course, I strongly recommend that you get a copy of the Boating Manual (we got one from Ossipee Lake Marina) if you are not familar with boating safety

And yes... Patty and I passed!

Coleman SeaPine Review

Here is a review of the Coleman SeaPine that I got recently.

RV Manufacturer: Coleman
Model: SeaPine
Year: 2002
Type: Pop-up
Aquired: New
Slide-Outs: 0
Dealership
Buy From Manufacturer?: Yes
Comments: Very nice, reliable. No problems or leaks

Chocura Hike 2007

My youngest daugher, oldest son and I took a nice hike up the Piper Trail last Monday - July 2nd to the summit of Mt. Chocura with some new seasonal friends.

The Piper Trail is about 4.5 miles - one way to the summit. Most of the climbing is near the last mile and 1/2. I found this trail to be less exciting than the Champney falls trail that we did last year.

On the summit it was VERY windy that day. I was a little bit concerned that my daughter would be blown over the mountain. However the views were gorgeous!

This year it seemed like a much tougher climb, especially on the way back.

Hoping to hit Mt. Washington in August!

Found a good church!

We'll I found a great church to attend when we are up at camp this summer and fall. A couple weeks back I attended the First Congregational Church of Ossipee in Ossipee, NH and haven't looked back!

It is a bible-beliveing Christian Church which preaches the gospel and has a contemporary worship format. They have children's church for grades K-3 and a well supervised day care. My kids have even signed up for Vacation Bible School this week!

Its only 10 miles from Danforth Bay!

During the summer they up the number of services from 2 to 3!

Tom Johnson's Camping Center Review

Tom Johnson's Camping Center
City: Concord
State: North Carolina
Dealership: Tom Johnson's Camping Center
Department: Sales/Service
Sales Comments: I traveled over 600 miles to see a used Hilo at Tom Johnson's Camping Center. I was able to purchase a newer model due to their honest pricing and was totally satisfied with Salesman Timothy Hood, and Manager Bob White. They were honest and upfront, and very knowledgeable. I felt my dealings with them exceeded my expectations and I based this upon being in Professional Sales for over 30 years. I would highly recommend dealing with them on any RV purchase.
Sales Grade: A+
Service Comments: The Service Department worked past closing to make sure all equipment was in proper working condition prior to me testing the camper in their nearby campsite for Free. Everything worked perfectly and we were on our way to a happy vacation.
Service Grade: A+
Buy Before Yes
Buy Again Yes
Grade A+

Pinewood Derby Race Weekend at Danforth Bay

It's Pinewood Derby race weekend! Its also NH Bike weekend at Danforth Bay.
We came up early and are sitting by the fire working on our cars. Patty is sanding while Austin is whittling away! Hopefully I'll take some pictures and post it to my picture web site.

Pets Weekend at Danforth Bay

Friday night was a little big soggy and Sunday was very wet! But Saturday was pretty good (or at least better than expected) for Pet's weekend at Danforth Bay.

Check out some pictures here:

http://community.webshots.com/user/newenglandcamper

Seasonal Landscaping -- Part I

Check out the wall that Patty made up at Danforth Bay on our site... She did this in one day and more is planned...

This picture my daughther is posing pretty for the picture

Seasonal Landscaping!!!

See comentary above

Going Seasonal... Canoe Rack!

I haven't posted lately because we have been extremely busy working on projects at our seasonal site at Danforth Bay.

Take a look at the canoe rack that I built. I think the arms are a little bit long. Thanks to the Flintstones (from DBCR/That's Camping) where I got the idea (and the instructions!!!)

Last weekend, we also did the sewer piping with help from SEVERAL seasonal neighbors and comppleted golf cart maintenance from seasonal neighbors.

So yes, we got to practice my non-existent carpentery, plumbing, and electrical skills which I don't have! LOL! Thank you seasonal neighbors!

We also have building fences, putting up a deck and skirting to do in the future... Who knew that camping was going to be so labor intensive.

Myspace for dogs....

Our niece recently sent me her dogster page for her little brother Duncan. Its very similar to myspace!

I couldn't resist and made up pages for our new pooches!!! LOL!


Here is my dog Mowgli:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/515277

Patty thought it was dumb but while making Easter eggs for the doggies tonight she asked me to make a page for her dog Bailey:

http://www.dogster.com/dogs/515848

Check it out! LOL!!!

Darn snow!

Global Warming! Bah! I don't believe it... close to a foot of snow up at camp. With cool temps forecasted for the entire looks like we won't be heading up next week even though Danforth Bay is OPENED!

Facing the Giants - Movie Review

I'm not the type that usually reviews movies, I usually just stick to campgrounds and attractions, and believe me I've seen my share of "duds" of both. However, last night I took two of my children to see the movie Facing the Giants at the 15th Annual Merrimack Christian Film festival that is currently being held at the Showcase Cinemas in S. Lawrence, MA and was compelledto write a review.

Without giving too much away Facing the Giants is about a coach, team, and young couple that come fact to face with defeat after defeat and how they finally turn things around when they begin to believe in themselves and put their trust in God!

Facing the Giants is a heart-warming, tear-jerking story that is appropriate for all ages and provides "movie" entertainment for all. Its not just a "football" movie. Thereis a REAL plot and real story. This movie has good acting, drama, as well as a few laughs (most noteably by Chris Willis who plays Coach JT) who reminds me of a young but CLEAN Eddie Murphy.

I highly recommend Facing the Giants and you can see it FREE at the Merrimack Valley ChristianFilm festival playing at the Showcase Cinema's in Lawrence!

Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival - NOW SHO

*** 2009 INFO HERE ****

The Merrimack Christian Film Festival is NOW SHOWING at the Showcase Lawrence cinemas in South Lawrence, MA (right off of I495).

All shows are 100% FREE

Dates: Palm Sunday April 1 Thru Easter Sunday, April 6
Where: Showcase Cinema, South Lawrence, MA
Cost: Free
Schedule: Located Here

Movies include:
* Facing the Giants
* Hidden Secrets
* Jesus
* Holyman Undercover
* The Moment After 2
* Behind the Sun
* Road to Redemption
MORE!

For kids there is two double features of Veggie Tales

Danforth Bay - Live Entertainment Schedule!

Now that the ski season is over the staff is now concentrating on Danforth Bay! Their website has been updated with the 2007 theme schedule found here.

Us seasonals got a heads up on the Live Entertainment Schedule. Here is a list of the current schedule. Please note this is subject to change as the season progresses ;->

Saturday 5/26
Hypnotist Steve Taubman

Sunday 5/27
Pool Party with DJ Ram Jam

Sunday 5/27
Ricky and the Giants- Classic Rock

Saturday 6/16
Roderick Russell- Sword Swallowing & more!

Saturday 6/23
Magician Peter Sosna

Sunday 6/24
Pool Party with DJ Ram Jam

Saturday 6/30
Juggler and Funny Man Randy Judkins

Sunday 7/1
Ricky and the Giants- Classic Rock Band

Saturday 7/7
Country Felix- Country Music Band

Saturday 7/14
Two Show- Extreme Juggling

Saturday 7/21
Hypnotist Steve Taubman

Saturday 7/28
Physical Comedian- Mike Miclon

Saturday 8/4
Juggler and Contortionist Matt Tardy

Saturday 8/11
Magician Peter Sosna

Saturday 8/18
Roderick Russell- Sword Swallowing & more!

Saturday 8/25 TBA

Saturday 9/1
Physical Comedian- Mike Miclon

Sunday 9/2
Pool Party with DJ Ram Jam


Sunday 9/2
Rick and the Giants- Classic Rock Band

Saturday 10/6
Juggler and Contortionist Matt Tardy

Sunday 10/7
TBA

Cranmore Mountain, NH Review

From posting ski-conditions at another resort, I won two ski tickets from RealConditions.com to Cranmore Mountain in North Conway, NH.

However the free tickets were only valid for a Sunday-Friday trip so we postponed the trip.

The month of March flew by and we soon realized that this past Sunday 3/25 was closing day for Cranmore and it was either use or loose these tickets.

We decided to head up bright and early to Cranmore this past Sunday morning from Northern Mass. The drive up Rt 16 was absolutely breath-taking with a new inch or two all over the trees but NONE on the highway.

The conditions in the morning were really good and the crowds that we normally encounter were NON-existent. We headed strait for the high-speed QUAD lift (e.g., Skimobile express). We were in the fog for 3/4 of the way up and then it broke to crystal clear sky. It was kind of like when you take a plane and head up over the clouds.

The trails on the South Side of the Mountain that we usually enjoy such as Gibson and Beginner's Luck were not in good shape. Beginner's Luck was especially bad with lots of icy and even puddles in some spots. Any beginners at this point would have been disappointed.

This forced us on the more difficult trails on the North side of the mountain. I really enjoyed the Rattlesnake and Kanadahar trails. Bandit was really cool and that difficult of a trail but it was REALLY narrow and steep in some places. Austin said that he almost fell off. Arlberg was very difficult and should have been a black diamond (or maybe it was the time of day we hit it).

This mountain is much bigger than King Pine but much smaller than Gunstock.

Next Ski Trip: 2008 -- plans to hit King Pine, Gunstock, and Loon

Breaking News: Danforth Bay is now open YEAR ROUND!!!

Breaking News!

Danforth Bay Camping Resort is now open year-round.

Read about it on the front page. Discussion on the That's Camping web page.

Introducing Mowgli!

Mowgli -- the black pug... Our newest addition to our family.

Cold Springs Liquidation & Left Over Sale

Got a card this week announcing Cold Springs RV Liquidation and Leftover Sale.
I really don't have any inside information about this sale.... only what it states on the card.
The card states:

• '06 Must-Move Leftovers
• Freely browse our ACRES of Inventory
• RV Rentals now available
• Free Stay at Cold Springs Resort with RV Purchase
• March 24-25
• New Pop-ups available from $5495
• New travel trailers from $13,900
• Park Models from $32,900
• Class C Motorhmes from $49,900

Introducing Bailey -- newest camper

Gunstock Review

We visited Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, NH Saturdy -- March 10 (home of Soulfest 2007 this summer). Wow! This place is great and easily one of my new favorite places to ski.

When we arrived at 8AM EST it was about 19 degrees but by mid day it was well in the 40s.

Gunstock is an moderate but easy drive from Northern Mass/Southern NH. It took us only about 1 1/2 hours from the Nashua area with a majority of this being highway driving.

This price of a lift ticket is about $56 per adult with teens and juniors being somewhat less. I had won two adult Primetime tickets from RealConditions.com which provides the most up to date ski conditions in the country!

Lifts

After getting our tickets and head to the Panorama High Speed Quad which is in the front of the base. This lift is REALLY easy to get on, moves quickly once it is past the base station and at the top the chair actually stops for a few seconds to allow you to prepare to get off. This may be confusing to some skiiers. I actually rely on the chair to sort of push my fat butt of the chair ;->

We also rode on the Tiger Triple lift. I believe this lift needs to be replaced. It was very wobbly and bouncy and moved very slow. We only rode this once. The Pistol Triple Chair is much better and provides an entertaining view of the freestyle terrain park. It's very interesting to watch the young ones do all types of jumps.

This resort is very popular (especially on weekends) and the lift lines at times were very long. This resort could look into replacing the Tiger Triple with another high speed quad chair in the same location.

One of the big disappointments and a logistical problem was that the immediate trail Derringer was closed for racing the entire time that we were there. This trail is a cross over trail from Flintlock trail which brings you back to the high speed quad. This closure yesterday forced us intermediate skiiers to ski down "Stonebear", which I would consider to be more black diamond than "Blue" intermediate trail since it is very steep and much more challenging than Flintlock. Not only that but it positions you back at the Tiger Triple chair vs. the Panorama High Speed Quad which I prefer.

Trails

Gunstock has some of the longest and most scenic trails that I have been on in a very long time. Trails probably twice as long as Cranmore's average run. On our first run, we headed down Gunsmoke, Gunpowder and Shotgun. Well packed powder and well groomed. Great scenery. I was amazed. Even with it being crowded at the base ... this is a big place you aren't going to have big crowds on the trails.

On our second run we decided to head down the otherside of the mountain down Flintlock. Wow! Was I even more impressed with the scenery. There was a perfect view of Lake Winnipesauke in its entirety and the surrounding towns.

Other activities in the area:

The Tilton Outlets are close by for those families who have members that do not ski. There was lots of snow-mobile trails as well as icefishing in the area as well.

Overall:

This is NOT a mountain for beginner skiiers (although they do have a beginner section but I could see spending $56 to ski there). This is more for the intermediate skiier.

With "Big Mountain" skiing in a fairly close location, spectacular views, wondefully groomed trails in a family atmosphere I'm definately going to be planning a trip to Gunstock in 2008.

If you camp at Gunstock this summer, I would highly recommend taking a hike to the summit on a clear day (if this is allowed) for an absolutely gorgeous view of the Lakes Region and NH Mountains.

Pictures are here.

Golf Cart Batteries

Got the following email from the Golf Cart Guy:
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We will be making deliveries of 6volt & 8volt Trojan Golf Cart Batteries & golf cart tires throughout Central & Southern New England including central Maine, New Hampshire & Vermont next week March 12-16. All orders taken by Friday, March 9th will receive free delivery on each set (6) of batteries as well as any tires you may need. Free delivery of just tires must be a set of four (4). Price for tires are $56.00 for new tire on new rim, white or tan. Please call for battery prices. 508-423-6753 or 603-553-0239.

There is also a great selection or carts available at this time, call for availability & pricing.

Thanks, Tom

15th Annual Merrimack Valley Christian Film Festival

The Merrimack Christian Film Festival is returing to the Showcase Lawrence cinemas again this year for a 15th Anniversary. All shows are 100% FREE

Dates: Palm Sunday April 1 Thru Easter Sunday, April 6
Where: Showcase Cinema, South Lawrence, MA
Cost: Free
Schedule: Located Here

Movies include:
* Facing the Giants
* Hidden Secrets
* Jesus
* Holyman Undercover
* The Moment After 2
* Behind the Sun
* Road to Redemption
MORE!


For kids there is two double features of Veggie Tales

Danforth Bay Winter Trip!

Had a great weekend at Danforth Bay this past weekend.

* Went to King Pine (see my review in previous post)

* Spent quality time with our seasonal "family" who were staying in cabin #2

* Met up with our seasonal neighbors up in North Conway. It was wonderful to see them!

* Snowmobile parade that came down our street. It was cool!!!

* Our camper was surrouned by 2ft of snow.

We stayed in cabin #4:

* Warm cozy cabins

* Patty cooked! She warmed us up after a long day skiing with her home made beef skillet dish! (Jim -- you should of gotten pictures)
* Met and enjoyed a warm fire with new 2006 seasonals who were staying in Cabin 3 -- Mark and Kerry and their family.

* Loved the new additions in the cabins:

- New towel shelf in the bathroom

- New coffee maker

- New hooks for coats

- toaster new??

Cabins are only $86 a night + NH tax

- free cable (bring your own tv)

- free wireless internet (bring your own 'puter)

- access to family room

- also bring your own towels and any extra blankets you like (basics are provided)

Recommendations for next improvements for cabins:

* Replace the futons with REAL pull out sofa!

* New shower heads needed

Want a cabin reservation and it is sold out? Put your name on "waiting list"! Worked out great for our cousins.

2007 King Pine Trip

Last Friday we went to King Pine (KP) at Purity Springs Resort in Madison, NH. This pristine ski resort located just 7 miles south of Conway, NH was completely 100% open and ready to go with lots of natural and man made snow. There wasn't a single trail that was closed. (Remember previously how I reported that Pat's Peak stated they were open 100% when in reality there were several trails closed).

The tubing park which looked great and well groomed was even SOLD OUT for most (if not all of their runs). Even with the big crowds there was hardly a wait on the lift lines. King Pine had ALL lifts going at full speed. There was less stopage on these lifts as well (when compared to other resorts).

I got to try out my new Rossignol Z3 skis that I purchased recently from Ski Haus in Salem, NH. Um... my feet are still a little sore. I hope my boots will "pack in" during the next few trips. Now I just got to find the perfect winter coat to match my skis. LOL!

At King Pine, I really enjoyed the quieter side of the mountain which has the peaceful beginner trails -- Pokey Pine and Slow Pokey Pine. For those who are more advanced... not to worry ... this side of the mountains hosts trails such as Jack Pine and Red Pine. If you are really brave try out KP's new Pine Brule double black diamond trail! My kids did! My eight year old daughter who has only been skiing for 2 trips attempted this and realized her mistake. She ended up sliding down on her bum --- VERY FAST! The new triple chair lift is GREAT with little to NO wait. I have to admit the double chair that was there last year was a little bit scary.

I also love skiing between the trees up near the top of the lifts -- Pine Spills!

I wish Niki was with us (she's on her last week at USCG boot camp) because she would have LOVED the much improved snowboard and terrain park and the brand NEW 1/2 PIPE!!! Wow!!! You got to check this out! I was even inspired to do a small jump. They even had moguls on Pine Board.

Good thing about KP is that you'll probably run into a DB seasonal family. It was nice to meet up with the Flintstones and I could of sworn I saw other DB seasonals there (hard to tell with everyone decked out in winter gear).

This was an extra special trip because we went with our dear Danforth Bay seasonal family/friends (distant family but close friends). This was their first trip EVER for skiing/snowboarding and they couldn't have picked a better place! The rental shop really takes the TIME OUT to make sure the boots fit and you are well outfitted. They even got to see staff members Nick and Craig from Danforth Bay during their training sessions. They had a great time. King Pine puts a new meaning on their theme "It All Starts Here"!

The one thing that King Pine could do to improve is to replace the tow rope in the intermediate beginner's area with a moving platform near the front of the base.

To make things extra special King Pine had a Firework Display on Thursday - Feb. 22nd.

Next ski trip: Gunstock! Niki is coming home from USCG bootcamp and wants to hit the slopes!!!

That's Camping Spring Meetup at Danforth Bay

That's Camping is planning a Spring Meetup at Danforth Bay on June 1-3, 2007.

Check it out!

News from King Pine @ Purity Springs Resort

We are going up next week for some skiing!!!
Here is a message that I got today....
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King Pine and Purity Spring Resort are B U R I E D! Every trail has wall to wall powder and packed powder. Even the glades have plenty of fresh snow!Valentine's Day 2007 will go down in New Hampshire history as a snow-lovers delight!Approximate snowfall from our first Nor'Easter of 2007 is 16-18"! We're expecting a few more inches of snow on Friday, but then blue bird skies and temps in the 20's are predicted for the weekend... perfect for skiing, riding, snowshoeing... or whatever you choose.Now is the perfect time to take advantage of King Pine's KP4 Ticket. Simply buy ANY alpine ticket at King Pine and XC Skiing, Snowshoeing and Ice Skating are always included! Take some morning runs and head out for the woods for some adventure after lunch!
Adult tickets are just $39 and kids $26... everyday, even holidays!This weekend, we're looking forward to the opening of the halfpipe in the Twisted Pine Terrain Park! King Pine will be the only ski area in Mount Washington Valley with a halfpipe!
The snow is deep, fluffy and ready for any adventure! Come on up and experience Winter at Purity Spring! For lodging deals, see our special value packages for the best savings.
Hope to see you on the snow!Dano

Valentines Day at Purity Springs / King Pine

Got the following today from Purity Springs (from the same great folks that bring you Danforth Bay Camping Resort).

Wow! Sounds like a great deal!!!
Anyone want to babysit 3 kids. LOL!

---

Purity Spring Resort and King Pine are proud to offer our Snow & Snuggle Package on Valentine's Day for our eNews subscribers!

Listen to this folks... For just $82 per person, you and a loved one can stay in a deluxe room at Purity Spring with the following included:

• Deluxe lodging
• Flowers in your room and at dinner
• Candlelight dinner at The Inn Dining Room
• Horse-drawn Sleigh Ride
• Full Country Breakfast
• Wednesday or Thursday full-day ski tickets
• XC Skiing, Snowshoeing and Ice Skating
• The Mill Indoor Pool/Hot Tub and Fitness Center

Visit http://cl.exct.net/?ffcb10-fe3315717c650478731772-fdf2107376630d7a72147070-fef8107173670d-fe9f15737766007e74-fe0615707162077975117275 for lots of additional information or to see the menu that evening.King Pine is 100% open and is completely covered with snow! Snow conditions are fantastic and all winter activities are available!

The Purity Spring ResortSnow & Snuggle Package$82 pp/do

Does not include tax & gratuityUpgrade to a Luxury Suite for just $14 pp more!To book this 1-night package, simply call 1-800-FREE-SKI

I won ski tickets

I recently won a pair of ski tickets to a major ski resort in NH because I signed up to get the ski and snow reports from

www.skisite.com

They send me an email each and every day with the conditions.

If you are a skiier be sure to check it out (and perhaps win)!!!

Our next trip (and supposed to be our last trip) is going to be at King Pine and we'll be going out again too.

That's Camping Rally!!!

Debbie & Mike from That's Camping is hosting their first Spring Rally / Meet up at Danforth Bay. Check out the forum to vote on which days they should host it. We are planning on attending.

http://www.thatscamping.com/forum/index.php?topic=556.from1170897756;topicseen#msg3995

New England Camping Shows

Usually I post the camping shows on my website. I haven't had much time to prepare and post the list this year.

So I recommend that you look at That's Camping for the latest list of camping shows.

Snow Report from King Pine in Madison, NH

Got the following e-mail from Dano from King Pine:

WOW! This has been the perfect New England winter weekend! The snow and occasional squalls have moved out of the area leaving behind beautifully sunny skies and fantastic conditions for whatever snow activity you choose. Approximate snowfall from yesterdays storm was 5" - 6" of the fluffiest snow you can imagine! Winds and cold temps that were predicted for the weekend never really happened making conditions "picture perfect"!This past Friday was the grand opening of Pine Brule and the Black Bear Triple giving King Pine 100% terrain! Snowmakers have been cranking out tons of snow for the last month and King Pine is completely buried in the "finest quality snow" you'll experience in New England! This upcoming week, we're looking forward to the opening of the halfpipe in the Twisted Pine Terrain Park. King Pine may be the only ski area in the state with a halfpipe! Stay tuned for more info.
The conditions are perfect and King Pine is covered with snow! Come on up! See our special value packages for the most savings!
Hope to see you on the snow!Dano

Pat's Peak Report

We visited Pat's Peak in Henniker, NH yesterday - 2/3/2007. The skiing could not have been any better!!! This one was of our best skiing trips ever. Well... it could have been maybe a tad bit warmer but with our good thick layers of clothing we were warm. This was especially refreshing since we had a very disappointing trip at Cranmore when we visited in mid January.

With it being a sunny Saturday, in the low 30s, with a fresh batch of snow in the area (2-4"), it was sure crowded here. With the new snow being a big deal for us since our area has had no real significant snow at all this year. To alleviate the crowds, Pat's Peak opened up ALL their lifts including the Vortex double (which I rarely see opened). Therefore the lifts lines weren't that bad at all. When the 3-10PM skiiers came in, things got a bit crowded but that was for a short time and the lines were certaintly reasonable.

Some reports on the trails:
Puff/Whisper - Great snow! Small to medium jumps on Whisper. GREAT trails for beginners!!!
Squall Line - Great snow but very cold biting wind. You'll need a scarf. Level in some places. Need to pick up speed.
Zephyr/Glades - Love skiing through the woods. This was 100% snow covered and a lot of fun!
Blast - Lots of cool little jumps. Again 100% snow covered. This is one of my all-time favorite trails.

There were a few trails that were not 100% opened so their advertizement of being 100% was incorrect. Examples: path between Squal Line and Blast, path between Hurricane and Tornado.

Lifts:
- Hurricane Triple -- On this lift when you get near the top, on a very clear day, I believe you can spot a snowy Mt. Washington is the very FAR distance. I wish this lift went a little bit faster.
- They don't force you to go double or triple (like they do at Cranmore)
- The Vortex double and Valley double go somewhat faster to the top than the Hurricane Triple.

Lodge:
- Jammed pack. Eat lunch early to get place to eat. Love the outdoor bench seat (sun keeps you warm).

Other things to note:
- Pat's Peak BLUE trails aren't that too difficult to ski. Pat's Peak's black diamond trails are like Cranmore's BLUE square trails.

Here is a link with some of our pictures (included is two of them from Cranmore).