Day 187 to 192: New England meanderings

From New York, a bus and a rental car journey brought us to Newport, Rhode Island, where we spent a day strolling around the opulent mansions of the Gilded Age. I thought the impressive B&B we stayed at was large enough to be a mansion, with seven bedrooms and an apartment, but the Vanderbilts and their wealthy set built their houses to ridiculous proportions. Newport's coastal setting was perfect for finishing the day with clam chowder, lobster roll, and an enormous dessert at a lively pub.

The next morning we headed up country to New Hampshire. En-route we drove through Providence's pretty 'Mile of History' and wandered around the fascinating Canterbury Shaker Village, where Shakers (an offset of the Quakers) once lived simple lives and produced goods of impeccable quality. As we approached Bethlehem, New Hampshire, we came over a rise to a peaceful lake and thunderous sky. We were treated with a brilliant rainbow and the rare sight of a beaver diligently swimming toward his dam. Moments later a downpour started, and we felt lucky to have come upon the scene at the right moment.

Arriving at our B&B in Bethlehem, the owner Mary came out to our car in the pouring rain with a massive umbrella to help us inside, and we knew we'd come to a good place! We'd booked the smallest (and cheapest) room and she upgraded us to a larger once. Fresh baking and awesome breakfasts went down a treat, and Mary even did all our washing for us; a great help after a couple of weeks on the road! We spent our time leisurely exploring the picturesque New Hampshire landscape, visiting the impressive Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods (where the IMF and the World Bank were created), and headed into neighbouring Vermont, where we drove through the Green Mountain National Park. Sparkling clear mountain streams, quaint villages, covered bridges, and barns that looked just like the typical red toy barn made for a delightful roadtrip. We completed our road tour by taking America's original scenic route, The Mohawk Trail, toward Boston.