For many years, we've sponsored two sections of road in Franconia & Plymouth NH as part of the Secondary Highway, Sponsor a Highway program through the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. We had two crews out last week, in time for Earth Day! Many bags of trash were collected and everyone had a great time! To learn more about the Sponsor a Highway program, click here.
Left to Right: Elspeth Richardson and Katy Soukup start collecting! |
From our Franconia & Bretton Woods Offices-Left to Right: Andy Smith, Matthew Penner, Elspeth Richardson, Katy Soukup & Steve Gorman pose for a quick photo after clean up! |
From Our Plymouth and Holderness Offices- Left to Right: Front Row: Jude Ruhm and Karen Walsh. Back row: Debbie Engelhardt, Missy Sullivan, Ray Newton, Jackie Elliott & Jerrod Mitchell |
![]() Matthew Penner collecting some great finds! |
Katy Soukup at the start! |
I try to target my ramblings towards the Saturday crowd. If we are expecting a snowstorm, I won't bother talking about how nice and sunny it is as I'm writing. In this particular case, you should be enjoying a "warm-enough" spring day after having just endured a pretty lousy week of weather. We are in mud season after all so it was to be expected. Suffice it to say, spring is on the way. Yes, we all know there is the imminent threat of that April snow, but at this point we can handle it.
Every year the spring season brings with it a new "crop" of homes for sale and this year (we're hoping) will be no different. The
We talked a bit about making the most of your outdoor space last week and I wanted to continue that thread this week. We're back home now and enjoying the seasons changing and the temperatures (slowly) rising. I took the time to scrub the deck, wash the grill and fire-table and power wash the table and chairs last weekend. It felt good to get the deck ready for summer. We have not put the cushions out on the couch yet. We all know there's still a chance of ice or snow yet. We're almost out of the woods.
When you are considering putting some time and effort into your backyard, there are some generally accepted "rules" that most of us tend to follow. Today I want to encourage you to break away from those norms and strike out on your own. It is YOUR backyard after all. Why not make it a little more distinct and perhaps entice tho...
Northern New Hampshire has an amazing recreational resource that you may not know about called the Ammonoosuc Rail Trail. The reclaimed rail line is now a multi-use trail that is about 20 miles one way between Woodsville and Littleton, NH. The trail's surface is stone dust and gravel with occasional sections of chunkier ballast from the now removed train tracks. It's a beautiful scenic route passing through woods, alongside fields, over multiple bridges and repeated views of the Ammonoosuc River. ![]() |
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| The Ammonoosuc River Photo by Joe Viger |
A Section of Great Trail with Route 302 Above Photo by Joe Viger |
Old Railroad Trestle Bridge in Bath Photo by Joe Viger |

A change of scenery is always a good thing. I've noted in past articles that I do enjoy change. At a half-century old I really do enjoy my normal routine, but getting out for adventures is still very high on my list. This week we are in Paonia, Colorado. We have no friends or family here. It's just a place my honey used to live and has always wanted to revisit with me. Aside from the destruction of local businesses due to the pandemic, this is a great little town.
My favorite part so far, besides the chickens wandering around the property, is how dark it is at night. As I type this, we're kicking off International Dark Sky Week. Sitting in the lawn chairs at night is simply sublime. It feels like camping with the lack of light pollution around. The only time I enjoyed darker skies was in the desert in Morocco. It's no secret w...