Driving with DaddyMom

Sunday we traveled north through Franconia Notch into the North Country. Today, we drove through Crawford Notch into the Mount Washington Valley.

The descent through Crawford Notch is far more dramatic than the drive through Franconia. The high-point for John was seeing the historic train that runs between North Conway and a station at the top of Crawford Notch.

When we spotted the station while passing through North Conway, John and I just naturally had to stop for a quick look-see. Aside from an impressive collection of engines, cars, and cabooses, the station was also home to a model railroad club.

No matter how old he gets, the little boy who loves trains still chugs along deep inside John. I love that about him.

Any doubts I had about shuffling the schedule to visit the top of Mount Washington yesterday were vanquished when I saw this. The Mount Washington Hotel sits at the foot of the mountain; those train tracks lead to the summit. Notice how they vanish into the clouds? We would have too.

Harold Burns has been a friend to my family ever since we landed in Whitefield years ago. Aside from being the first man ever willing to write a car insurance policy on yours truly, Harold was a long-time state legislator and Speaker of The New Hampshire House of Representatives. When I was about John’s age, Harold took me to Concord where I saw the legislature in action. I actually got to sit on the House floor during debate and voting. Can’t do that anymore, he tells me. As if that weren’t enough, when the RNC held its convention in Houston, Harold got me a floor pass to sit with the New Hampshire delegation down in front. There are other stories, but, today was all about meeting the kids and catching up. Zuzu was fascinated by the long-time slogan of the Burns insurance agency. I was surprised to learn from Harold that the phrase didn’t originate with him. Instead, it came from a friend and customer. It’s just like Harold not to take credit for someone else’s idea.

My step-father, Selwyn Lane, still lives in Whitefield. These days he calls The Morrison Care Facility his home. The kids and I stopped by for a visit today. It’s the first time he’s met Zuzu and probably the first time Kate and Stella will remember having met him. It was a meeting of two worlds for me: the one I grew up in and the one I live with.

Pa, as we often called him, taught me important lessons over the years; some directly, some I gathered by extrapolation. He’s a good man who doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. It’s one reason it’s impossible for anyone to say his name with anything but a smile. I’m glad my kids and I got to see his happy smile today. Of course, to him, I’ll always be Patches…. a story for another time.

It will be tough to find nicer hosts than the Cape family at the Barron Brook Inn. Our time in Whitefield was so much better because of their hospitality.

Beth and Jason Cape moved here from Georgia to open this place. It’s their first go at being inn-keepers, but you wouldn’t know it. Our experience was less like staying at an inn than visiting with friends. You can tell they’re good sports: one of Zuzu’s two art masterpieces now hangs next to the sign in the lobby. If your travels bring you this way, the kids and I would recommend this place without hesitation.