Jeanine and Rudy shared a canoe with good friend Gabe (in the middle – even though you can not see her). I had Maya and Julie with me. I love these girls more than words can express, but when they persistantly dragged their paddles in the water thus thwarting my attempts at propulsion, I was prepared to put their swimming ability to the test.

Maya would have taken the lamb home with her if she could have gotten it in the canoe.

For reasons that are not all together clear to me, there was a lamb at the Old Manse and Maya wasted little time introducing herself.

Today we were visited by Rudy Albachten, one of Jeanine’s childhood friends. We rented canoes and paddled down to the old North Bridge where we put ashore for a while. Here, the two pose in front of the Old Manse.

As the sun went down, we stopped along the Kancamangus highway at a scenic overview where we renewed our marriage vows. For those of you who attended our wedding you will recall that it was set in fall color as well.

Another view on the way down.

Mountains covered in fall foliage as far as the eye could see in almost every direction.

Later we took the gondolla to the top of Cannon Mountain (4100 ft above sea level) and enjoyed views of Canada, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Click the photo for a larger view. Jeanine is the little orange spec standing on the bridge near the top of the flume.

Visitors can make their way up the flume on this walkway which takes you all the way to the top.

This covered bridge takes you to the entrance of the Flume, a spectacular slot canyon cut into the rock by water. Because pedestrians are not allowed on this road, I had to hike through the woods and down a very steep embankment to get this photo. The shuttle bus goes over the bridge once every five minutes so I had to hide in the brush and then jump out for a few shots and then dive back in for cover. It was really a lot of fun and nothing was going to deny me this classic vista.

Jeanine and I celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary today. I took the day off and we traveled to the Franconia Notch of the White Mountains of New Hampshire. There is nothing in this world I know that can compare to fall in New England. We were treated to a pefect day and peak color.

Minuteman National Park on the way home from work this evening.

Nanna reads with Maya in her own canopy bed.