I love “Welcome” signs. Some towns use their welcome sign to promote certain highlights in the town while others simply announce you have arrived. I doubt they could make a sign large enough to highlight all Sandwich has to offer! It has been nearly seven weeks since I was there, but Sandwich definitely made an impression on me!
I knew before I left Newfound RV Park one of the first places I wanted to go was Sandwich Notch. While Sandwich Notch Road is not open during the winter, the Meade Base Conservation Center has year round parking and access to several of the trails.
When the road it open, it is an easy drive., high clearance and 4 wheel drive – not necessary. The Sandwich Historical Society has a great web page with the history of the road. It is hard to imagine this road as a major thoroughfare.
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My first stop was Beede Falls. If you’ve read many of my posts, you know I really enjoy waterfalls. Beede Falls is a short walk from the parking area and well worth it!
Upper Beede Falls
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The water is clean and clear. A short walk down a well marked path and you find yourself at the lower falls…
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It was easy to imagine a hot summer day with people picnicking and children frolicking in the water. Their laughter echoing off the granite boulders. Since it was only the first week of June, the black-flies and mosquitoes were feasting on me despite copious amounts of bug repellant. I headed back to the parking area just in time to catch a glimpse of the Warren Fish Hatchery truck. I knew this would mean happy anglers…
I hadn’t been to Warren yet, so I made a mental note to check out the hatchery when I went. (OK, ok, so it was actually a written note, my mental notebook just doesn’t retain as much info as it used to) I detoured to Upper Hall Pond Road to see if perhaps this is where the hatchery truck had gone. It wasn’t, but I did find several people enjoying the fishing just the same…
I met a father and son who were getting ready for a morning of fly fishing. I was curious about the “rafts” they had. The guys decked themselves out with in waders and fins. The rafts are called float tubes and they looked really comfortable to me. It certainly would be easy to hike into a remote lake with one!
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The sun was finally starting to break through the clouds and it gave the entire pond a fresh new look…
There are quite a few trails off of Sandwich Notch Road. I picked one at random and went for a walk. Near the edge of the marsh, I came across several Jack in the Pulpits. The sun really highlighted the colors…
A bit further up the path, the marsh opened up to a small pond.
I crossed paths with a painted turtle who clearly had no intentions of posing for me…
When I finished my walk, I decided it was time to head back towards Center Sandwich to see what else I could find. It wasn’t long before I came to another pond. I don’t know how many ponds/lakes there are in Sandwich but you don’t have to travel very far to find one. As with Upper Hall Pond, fishermen were trying their luck…
By now, the sun had warmed the day and cast its bright reflection on the water…
As I passed the little wagon, I wondered if this was where the anglers had gotten their bait…
I could have stayed by the lake all day, but I set off once again. Another of my favorite things to find is barns and farms. Sandwich had plenty of both. From lovingly restored old barns to wonderful new barns and everything in between…
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When I turned down this road, I knew I was in for a treat.. Meadow after meadow, filled with lupines…
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On the edge of one of the meadows, I saw an old stone cottage. It’s hard to imagine the work it took to build this…
I stopped briefly at the Chapman Wildlife Sanctuary. I knew I wouldn’t have enough time to walk all of the trails, so I added it to my list of places to return to for further exploration…
I always enjoy finding things which make me ask “What the….”
I’d say the table was at least 15′ tall. I’m glad I didn’t run into any of the dinner guests! There was one last place I knew I wanted to visit. before I ran out of daylight. I followed the Cold River until I reached Durgin Bridge. Covered bridges are another favorite of mine!
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If it looks like I was standing in the middle of the river, it is because I was!
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I hope you enjoyed coming along with me on my tour of Sandwich. It truly is a beautiful town, with so much to see and do!
This could be a travel website! Wonderful composition in your photos as always. Fly fishing is on my list to try. Those little rafts are fascinating!
Thank you Sue. I’m seriously considering getting one of those rafts. They appear to be more stable than my kayak.
Most anything is more stable than a kayak in my experience. 🙂
I’ve had mine for several years and this summer was the first time I’ve ever flipped it. Was very glad the camera was in my drybag!
Great post. Thanks for all the information. I love those rafts.
Thank you Robin. I wish I lived closer to Sandwich, so much to do and see there!
I’d like to try one of those rafts too. It looks like you could go just about anywhere in one.
Seeing so many lupines must have been a treat!
The lupines were amazing! Not quite as abundant as in Sugar Hill, but nearly so. I wonder if you can rent those rafts? I’d like to give one a go.
I’ve never seen a raft like it. Without a name for it, it’s hard to Google it.
They’re called float tubes and they’re not cheap! http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/search.cmd?form_state=searchForm&N=0&fsch=true&Ntk=AllProducts&Ntt=float+tubes&x=10&y=6&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products
Beautiful water falls! I love the smooth flat rocks of the first. The lupines were glorious and of course, you always find wonderful barns to photograph. Wish I had been along for this tour!!
There was SO much to see. We need to do a girls weekend up there next year.
Sandwich is a pretty looking place!
Anyway, I just followed the link from the “Travel Tales of Life” site to congratulate you on your quiz win over there. I got 1 out of 10, so I wasn’t much competition for you, I’m afraid.
Sandwich really is a lovely place. Thank you for checking out my link.
You’re very welcome!
It looks fascinating, I’m sure the fishermen here would like those rafts, although they might find themselves floating down river towards the sea. We have a giant table and chairs in West End Copse near my house. These giant things seems to be all the rage lately and I like them but I’m not sure what they are for.
I was reading about the float tubes (rafts) and they aren’t recommended for rivers. I guess it is too easy to get caught up in the current.
What a wonderful trip!
Thank you!