Finally...

We got back from our trip to Pittsburg a week ago Friday,and it seems like each day since there has been something that has hindered me from posting. So here it is,finally!

For some reason,the first photos I posted are the last,so I apologise for the mix up in pics.

We left at 9:00 AM on Monday,and our first stop was at the Miss Wakefield Diner for breakfast. After we filled up on their good food,we hit the road.The ride up was uneventful and relaxing. Instead of taking our usual route (Rt 2 through Jefferson to Littleton,get on Rt 3 through Colebrook to Pittsburg) we decided to take the "road less travelled" and followed Rt 16 through Berlin,Milan,Success,and Errol,then hooked up with Rt 126 through  Dixville Notch to Colebrook.Beautiful scenery,lovely rivers.

We got to Pittsburg at 2:00 PM. We stayed at Ramblewood Campground. They have sites for tents,campers,and down the hill on Rt 3 they have cabins,across from First CT Lake and one right on First CT.The first thing I noticed at the site was the smell. What was it...? It was balsam.There are so many balsam pine trees that it's all you could smell.It was like being in a balsam pillow!It was in the 90's while we set up camp,but the sun was just below the trees in our camp,so we had quite a bit of shade. It was still pretty hot,though,so we put on our bathing suits and drove down to the lake for a swim to cool down.It was cooler by the water,because there was a breeze.After our swim,we did what one does up in Pittsburg-drive the dirt roads and check things out. Rick wanted to get a look at the spots he wanted to fish:

Scott's Bog

Among the places was Scott's Bog and East Inlet (photo of East Inlet is at the end). While he didn't wind up fishing East Inlet,he did fly fish Scott's Bog,and wound up catching 3 three fish (limit is 5 fish or 5 pounds,whichever comes first). He was catching them right and left. We also saw some nice wildlife:

Deer by the road

That night we had a good rain storm,and we woke to more humidity and heat. We wanted to try out the canoe,so we went to Second CT Lake.No one lives on that lake. It's all very pristine.

North view into Canada



The three of us attempted the canoe. Rick had been in it fishing before,but it has been about 13 years since I was in a canoe,and it seemed quite tippy to me. Rick assured me that it because I had to get used to it.We paddled close to shore,to get the feel of it. Zach was getting hot and grumpy and wanted to go swimming,so we packed up and went back to camp. I didn't blame him. It was uncomfortable. Just standing would make sweat roll down your back.  Back at camp, we got into our swim suits and headed back down the hill to the lake.The owner was going to come down to show Rick how to work the motorboat that we rented (Rick knows how to work one,they just have to demonstrate it before they let anyone take it out). While we were in the water,Rick came up to me and asked me what I thought about renting a cabin instead."It's so hot up there compared to down here,"he said,"plus,Zach could just swim whenever he wanted.It's not much fun doing things in the heat to just go back to the camp site where it's even hotter." I admitted I would prefer a cabin. I guess I'm getting old!! Rick decided to drive up and talk to the owner,to surprise Zach. He came back about 15 minutes later,and pulled up to our new digs:



Our nice,cool cabin on the water!

Zach was so excited! The owner was so nice that he took $80 off a day for the cabin (plus,he is making more money having us rent it out at $110 a day compared to $25 a day at the campsite).The cabin had a nice,big general area with a TV area with lots of windows,so we had a lovely cross breeze,and a dining table.The kitchen had a big table with windows overlooking the lake. There was a 3/4 bathroom,a bedroom downstairs with a queen bed,and upstairs had three bedrooms. We had our own private dock,outdoor seating,charcoal grill,and picnic table. All for $110  a night. We decided to stay an extra day.

The boat we rented and dock

Our first morning in the cabin,I awoke to the sound of a crow. The window was right behind me,so I rolled over and just looked at the water.How nice to have that be the first view of the day! Rick and I decided to have our coffee outside,so we plopped in the Adirondack chairs and enjoyed this view:

Our first morning on First CT Lake

We had some friends visit us each morning: loon and duck families

Our loon friends and their two babies

It had rained overnight,so the boat  had water in it.Zach was in charge of scooping it out before we went out in it.

Zach bailing out the boat

The boys trolled for a while,but the fish did not seem to be biting. While they were fishing,I read "Eat,Pray,Love." We then decided to go around the lake. First CT Lake encompasses over 2,000 acres.There are only camps/homes on one side of the lake,with the exception of one lonely cabin with no water or bathroom on the opposite side. We only a saw two other boats on the 1ake at the same time the whole time we were there.That's one of the beautiful things about Pittsburg. There aren't alot of people,and the area is mostly undeveloped. After a while,Zach wanted to drive the boat,so Rick let him,though he gave him a hand.

Driving the boat

First CT Lake is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

It was a very relaxing time. I read at the cabin while the boys went fishing later,and I wound up falling asleep!

That night,we did what I call the "Moose Crawl." Pittsburg is famous for moose. In fact,there is a section of RT 3 dubbed "Moose Alley." There are signs warning folks that it's an active moose crossing. We saw two moose while we were there. The "Moose Crawl"occurs at dusk. Folks get in their cars,and drive the 12 mile stretch to see if they can see moose. In most places,the trees are so close together that no one could get through them,but after a bit your eyes get trained to notice animal trails in the openings. No one does the 50 MPH speed limit. Everyone is doing 35 MPH. We drove up to 3rd CT Lake,but never went further since we didn't have passports!

Third CT Lake,the last turn around before Canada

Moose Crawl sunset

Our last full day we went towards Lake Francis and found this old bridge which is open to fly fishing:

Zach looks like he has alien eyes,he's wearing sunglasses!

Water is so clear!

That night,we took the boat out one last time and had a lovely cruise of the lake. The sun set was glorious!

First CT at sunset

One of our duck friends came to say goodbye

Another pretty sky on our last Moose Crawl

The sky was so pretty our last night,that I had to take a picture of the moon over the  lake.I kept my fingers crossed that the photo would come out,and it did!

Moonlight on First CT

We completely enjoyed ourselves,but I do admit I was ready to get back home. Now those first photos that came out last:

Our campsite on Tuesday morning

East Inlet

East Inlet on the dam

After breakfast on Monday at Miss Wakefield Diner

The only moose I could get a photo of-in Pinkham Notch,near Mt Washington (about two hours from Pittsburg)

Tonight Rick and I are going to his class reunion.He has never been to one. This is a combined class of 79,80,and 81.It's suppose to be his 30th,but it's really his 31st,since he graduated in 1980. Should be a fun time!!!!!