10-2-2025 East Burke, VT

Some of you sticklers out there are going to demand a data qualifier.  To be clear, the wind speed at the acme of Mt. Washington, 231 mph, is the highest in recorded world history NOT including tornadoes, typhoons and hurricanes.  By the way, as far as the high winds are concerned, the older buildings at the tippy top of Mt. Washington are anchored to planet Earth by huge chains.  The newer buildings are designed and built to withstand 300 mph winds.

 

Like Madison County, there are many covered bridges up here.  The reasoning at the time was that the roof protects the timbers from the rain and snow thus retaining their strength.  The old Albany Bridge was constructed in 1858 and was purposed to cut travel time to the marketplace by hours.  The men who built it were woodworkers and craftsmen using axes, adzes, augers and hammers.  No Craftsman power tools in 1858.  The fasteners are treenails, pronounced trunnels, and resemble sections of dowel, made from wood that swells when moistened to provide a tight, strong fit.  There are 2,592 trunnels holding the Albany Bridge together.

The Albany Bridge, now known as
the White Mountain National
Forest Bridge

Beautiful, sturdy construction!

 

East Burke, population 141, is a tiny rural community of friends and family.  Everybody knows everybody.  This time of year, there are squash, pumpkins, cornstalks, wreaths made of colorful leaves and cones and broomsticks on every porch and walk.  It is made extra pretty by the breeze that swirls the leaves about like so many yellow and red snowflakes.  The mountains ablaze with color are the backdrop.  In town at the little café where breakfast is served, there are pumpkin pies, cinnamon cakes and hot spiced apple cider.  The delicious aroma of Fall is in the air.

The view of the ski lift from
our deck.  They were just 
installing the chairs on the
lift.  Snow is on the way.

For those of you who still ski, 
this is what our lodge looks like
in the Winter.

 

The Entertainment Committee (Rob) contrived a 44-mile loop that we could drive to view the colors.  Lake Willoughby was a way point on the route.  It is the prettiest place.  The water is deep blue and the wind created white caps.  All around it is a sea of colors, yellow, gold, orange, red, maroon and purple, all under a canopy of royal blue sky dotted with white, fluffy clouds.  The water gets to 350 feet deep and as it is a glacier lake the temperature doesn’t tempt me, to be sure, but there were a few polar bears out there in kayaks and the occasional swimmer.  Swim?  That’s funny!  I packed a down coat but seem to have forgotten my swim suit!  We drove the length of the lake, 6 miles, and on the north end we found a long sandy beach.  Not expansive by California standards and you won’t find a palm tree for a thousand miles, of course, but pretty and the locals love it.

South side of Lake Willoughby

Sugar Hill, a lookout along the way

Mother Nature's paintbrush

 

There are pretty little churches
by the hundreds.  The headstones
in the little cemeteries date back
to the early 1800s.

North end of Lake Willoughby

The point was to view the colorful foliage and our cups runneth over.  The mountains, trees and bushes seem to compete with each other to see which one can wear the prettiest, most colorful gown.  We lollygagged along and took over 4 hours to drive 44 miles all the while gasping, “Oh my God!” and “Holy buckets!” and “Look at this!  Look at that!”  Our “Leaf-Peeping” trip is a success in spades.  We hit the jackpot and we have two weeks to go!

"Look at this
pretty yellow dress!"

"Gold is better, just
ask DJT."

"Nope.  Maroon
is best."

"I like gold, too,
but I'm prettier!"

"Are you guys kidding?!
Hold my beer and watch this!"