After last week’s tour of Holderness, I didn’t think the Lakes region held any more surprises for me. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Next on my list of places to visit was Groton. The combination of history and natural beauty left me in awe. Just for the “Wow factor”, I’m going to start at the last place I visited. Sculptured Rocks Natural Area State Park. I’ve seen many rock formations sculpted by nature, be it wind or water and they are all worth a visit to. Sculptured Rocks in Groton shouldn’t be missed. I went there twice, once in the morning to catch it’s beauty without the masses of people who swim there on hot early summer days…
And again in late afternoon. The temps were in the mid 80’s and I knew others would be enjoying the cool water…
I marveled at the faith these 2 guys had in their ability to miss any of the rocks below. They told me, they had been jumping and swimming here for years, so perhaps it was experience and not faith. When I wasn’t watching them, I looked around at wonders of this area. The warm, woodsy feeling of the mosses, ferns and trees bathed in the late afternoon sun…
The signs that many others had been here, leaving cairns that will surely be washed away during the next heavy rains…
And the serenity of the water washing downstream…
Now, for the humor. As many of you know, I love barns and farm animals. I’d love to know what the folks passing by were thinking as the saw me on the side of the road, with my big lens on a tripod, taking pictures of the cows in the pasture. Maybe they were thinking “Damn city folk never saw a cow before?!”
“Yup, these are all my gals!”
I love the speckled face.
When I wasn’t ogling the farm animals, I was checking out some of the decorations on one of the barns I saw. Actually, I stopped in the middle of the road, put it in reverse and backed up to get a better look…
U-turns, stopping in the middle of the road, driving WAY under the posted limit and being a nuisance driver is par for the course when I am touring a town. I am more likely to get a hazardous driver ticket than a speeding ticket! Hasn’t happened yet, but I bet it will.
Just as the morning fog was lifting, I stopped at Spectacle Pond and caught this gentleman returning from his morning row…
He told me there is a pair of nesting loons on the island. Again, why didn’t I bring the kayak???
For a time, Mary Baker Eddy lived in Groton. She is mostly known for founding the Christian Science Church. Her former home wasn’t open for tours while I was there, But I was able to walk the grounds and admire her former home…
The road the house is on is a ribbon of blacktop worthy of a drive even if the house isn’t open…
A mile or so from her house was another house which had me doing a u-turn…
Snowmobile trails, now gated for the summer, crisscross the road. You can park near the gate and walk the trails. The silence was
welcome as I walked along…
A silence only broken by the rush of water in the river as it narrowed to a small falls…
The farms, rivers and history are not the only reason for a trip to Groton, there is also the breath taking mountain scenery…
I would love to wake up to this every day!
Or perhaps this!
I definitely see a return visit to Groton in the fall. I can only imagine the colors painting the mountains. Have you ever visited Groton in the fall? What did you think?
Touring NH 
I had never heard of Groton, NH so this was really fresh for me. Wonderful shots and narrative, Laura! So glad you are out “touring” again!!
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Thank you Martha, I’m glad to be back! When most people hear the name Groton, they think of Groton, Massachuesettes. Glad I could introduce a new part of NH to you.
The power of the water to create such art is remarkable. I’ve been known to jump off a rock ledge in my time but yikes those rocks look pretty close. A beautiful gallery you have. So peaceful even the cows look relaxed. 🙂
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Many people don’t realize what an amazing power water can be. I would have jumped with them the other day, but, darn, I forgot the water proof case for the camera – hmm – yep, I’ll go with that. 30 years ago, I would have been right there with those guys, laughing, jumping and having fun. The rocks are pretty close, but the current was pretty tame. I love the speckled face cow. See you next week. Thanks for coming by.
I’d love to spend a week or two there. The scenery is really beautiful.
I’ve never seen cows with faces like that. I wonder what they are.
It’s only about and hour and a half from Peterborough Worth the drive.!! Aren’t those cows cute/handsome?!?!
Winderful post. The rocks are amazing and I love that little house on the trail
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Thank you Marie. I spent quite a while at Sculptured Rocks. They really are neat!
Wonderful place…loved the stream/river shots and the huge rocks. I could hang-out there for a while……
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Oh, believe me I did! After those shots, I packed away the camera, went swimming and sat down with a cold beverage! (or 2)