A ten day road trip with just my husband, the GPS unit and a radio that sometimes worked.
My husband relishes the thought of a road trip the way young children get excited with anticipation about visiting Disney World. Maybe it's the memories of his childhood, when family car trips were the norm, or perhaps it's the thrill of the unknown adventure that lay before you on the open road. Not to sound sexist, but there is definitely something about a man, a map and his car that causes a glaze to form over their eyes.
My husband has been on many trips - some very exotic, like Malaysia and Switzerland; but the thought of our recent car trip to New Hampshire and Maine from New York City inspired a sense of youthful adventure I had not seen in quite a while. First of all, this would be the first time my husband would have his "new toy"- a GPS unit. For days and weeks, he planned what we would be bringing in the car - snacks, water, and a pillow for me- exciting things like that. He talked about packing up the car as if we were heading off to the outbacks of Australia.
Perhaps he was trying to rouse some enthusiasm on my part - considering that I usually HATE car trips. Give me a nice plane ride any day. Yes, I might face terrorism plots, but at least I don't seem to get car sick on a plane.
After 35 years of marriage, my husband Donald and I are still total opposites. So, he with glee and I with trepidation, set off on our road trip. For me, this trip would be the longest car ride I have ever been on - a graduation of sorts. If I can do this I can do anything.
Our GPS unit proudly and stoically announced our estimated time of arrival as seven and a half hours away. I wiled away the time by sleeping, reading and listening to Broadway show tunes, as the monotone GPS unit ticked off the miles to each turning point. My husband smiled at me proudly, as if the voice in the box was a dog that he had trained himself.
Finally, we saw signs that we were indeed in New Hampshire. Yeah!!!! We made it! Again, my dear husband had the look of pride, as if he had just single-handedly guided us across some dangerous foreign land to safety.
We checked into the Christmas Farm Inn in Mt. Washington Valley, set up like a Christmas village with cottages dotting the hillside. Here it is Christmas all year long, from decorations to signs.
Our room was a welcome relief after being in the car all day. I made a mental note as I eyed the whirlpool tub. Besides being stiff, I was also hungry, so we headed off a short distance away to the Eagle Mountain House for dinner.
As we turned the bend in the road leading up to the hotel, I could see that this is one of the last "grand" hotels. Built in 1879, the main building is white with a tin roof and green shutters as well as dozens of American flags and hanging floral baskets, lining the rocking chair laden porch. Wild flowers formed pockets of rainbows around the property. This "Grand Dame" has 95 rooms and 375 windows, all with fans, none of which were turned on due to the cool night breeze up in the mountains.
We took a quick tour of the hotel and the grounds before eating. The hotel was packed with families enjoying tennis, golf, the heated pool, the game room, the lively bar area and the peaceful grounds in general. Clusters of family groups, encompassing every generation, were seated on chairs and rockers, as young kids played by. Memories of my childhood in the Catskill Mountains, kept surfacing.
Christmas Farm Inn
Time to eat! We were hungry after a long day of traveling. I just had to start with the "clam chowdah" which was as tasty as I imagined clam chowder in New England to taste. Don tried the "Mac and Lobster", a combination of macaroni, cheese and lobster, that I never envisioned, but it was delicious. The menu here features good, simple home cooking.
Food is food but let’s get back to The Christmas Farm Inn and that enticing whirlpool bath. I can't believe I'm in New Hampshire - I always thought it was so very far away. And to think I lasted that long in the car, without killing Don or that beeping GPS unit.
