well, i finally got around to putting up the photos of my new hampshire trip. i decided that since i was going to do that, i should also at least write a little bit about the experience.

first off, i guess i should explain why new hampshire, of all places. my dad (well, technically stepdad) is originally from new hampshire. looking for a change of pace, he and my mom decided to move there in november of 2000. and that's how i found myself on the opposite side of the country.

so in july 2001, i flew from hilo to honolulu and then to newark and finally into manchester. manchester is about an hour and half drive south from my parents quaint little town. my sister also flew in that day from san fransisco. it was definitely a long-past renunion for us. the family hadn't been together since the summer my sister graduated from u of o.

i regret that i can't recall exactly what we did and when we did it. i know that i have a two week period to play with, but exact days, don't ask. i apologize beforehand if ends up kind of thrown together. i'm just pulling memories out of my butt.

new hampshire's motto is "live free or die". i really can't see how you could live otherwise in such a beautiful place. it offered so much to do and see. and patriotism seems to just ooze out of it.

on one of first days there we hiked along sandwich notch (i think that's what it's called) and saw beede falls and cow cave. there was so much to see, but i forgot to take my camera with me.

we picked a huge amount of blueberries, during my stay. we picked some off a little island located in barvel pound when we visited my dad's grandparents. and also off another little island in the bogs behind my uncle chris's house. i even got to see how cranberries grow. i always thought they grew on bushes like blueberries. :b

barvel pond and the blueberry island.

more photos of new hampshire.

we also took a drive to maine to visit my dad's sister, mom, and uncle. we stayed a night at auntie becky's place in portland and got to see casco bay, the portland head light, and downtown portland. after our visit there, we drove up to lincolnville to catch the ferry to isleboro, where my grandma lives. the island is simply amazing, especially with all those houses owned by movie stars. :)

after our stay on isleboro, we visited uncle buddy (i can't remember in what town) and feasted on lobster and more clams. yum! we took back leftovers and my dad made us homemade lobster rolls.

the days after we returned to new hampshire, were filled with lots of hiking. mom, dad, and i hiked to the top of eagle cliff and we got to see my sister and the rest of our family on uncle chris's platoon boat out on squam lake. we also went hiking on mount israel. from the top, we could see the land that my parents bought for their new house.

my trip to new hampshire concluded with a trip up to mount washington and a visit to the old man of the mountain. mount washington is the highest mountain in the northeastern region of the united states. the weather there is famous for being extreme. we definitely went on a good day, having a clear view for miles and miles in every direction. and did you know that they actually race cars up the mountain?! crazy!!

being a nature-person, i had a really great time in new hampshire. i was a little bummed that i didn't get to see a moose or a bear or fireflies, but i got to see a lot of other animals too. i saw squirrels and chipmunks, hummingbirds, vultures, a doe and her fawn (on isleboro), and even a young bald eagle (while we were on eagle cliff).

owari.