It Had to Come Eventually

This summer we’ve had two Dana’s here, and one day they will have the same last name, too. But for now, (for lack of a better differentiation) we have been referring to them as ‘Big Dana’ and ‘Little Dana’. Big Dana is my husband, and at 6’2” you can see why. ‘Little Dana’, a full foot less in stature, is our son Noah’s fiancé , and she has been everything to me this summer: co-worker, kindred spirit, daughter and friend. Today was the day I’ve been dreading since she arrived: it is the day she had to leave! Dana left to attend her nephew Timothy’s first birthday party in southern NH, but from there she will head back home to NY for a few days. On Tuesday she will start soccer practice at Patrick Henry College in Virginia, where she will be a Junior this year. Ahhhh …it is definitely re-adjustment time here at The Lodge. Who would have thought such a ‘little’ Dana could leave such a ‘big’ hole?! Sniff …

We Were Here First!!

Dana was taking a reservation over the phone this afternoon. It was for tonight. All seemed to be going well … until a look of confusion came over his face. Now, hearing only one side of the conversation, I couldn’t exactly tell you what was being said, but intuition told me that the person on the other end of the phone was a bit befuddled too. “Where exactly do you think you’re calling?” Dana asked her. “We’re in Jackson, New Hampshire”. And then, of course, I knew what was coming next. The caller thought she was booking a room in Jackson Hole, Wyoming! It happens at least once a year, and some of the scenarios are really funny. Fortunately for my husband, it happened to him today, because we actually had no rooms left to book for tonight … we were full! Whew … that was a close call.

The funniest story ever regarding the Jackson NH/WY mix-up, actually happened a few years ago at our front desk. Judy was still working here, it was a Sunday evening, and she and I were waiting for one last check-in to arrive. It was getting pretty late, and finally the phone rang. We both intuitively knew it was our long lost guest, calling for last minute directions.

Good, they’re close,” Judy whispered to me. “They can see the “Welcome to Jackson sign.”

Where are you exactly?” Judy continued to ask the caller. “Describe what you see around you.” From what I could tell, the woman said she was on Route 32. “You must mean “302” Judy told her. “which means that you’re still in North Conway. You’ve got a few more miles to go.” All was still right on track until the guest said she was in the Staples parking lot, looking across the street at the Wendy’s drive-thru.

“Hmmm … even in North Conway, there isn’t a Wendys across from Staples. Where are you again?”

“I’m looking right at the sign that says ‘Welcome to Jackson Hole’!”
Oops. An online reservation gone amuck.  Guess we’ll have to leave the light on for ya’!  Needless to say, they didn't make it.

(P.S. Jackson, New Hampshire was settled in 1778, 29 whole years before Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We were here first!! :-)

The "149" Special

I love history … and this weekend we would like to invite you to come celebrate 149 years of living history! The Mount Washington Auto Road is celebrating 149 years of continuous operation on Sunday, August 8th ... and in honor of this big event, we are offering a limited number of specific rooms for one night only at $149!! Call to check availability and to book this one-night-only special. Any vehicle that arrives with the famous "This Car Climbed Mt. Washington" Bumper Sticker already affixed to it will receive free passage up the Auto Road.
Since first opening in 1861, the Mt. Washington Auto Road has continued to offer the same, yet amazing, journey to the summit of Mt. Washington. I don’t care what type of weather you make the journey in, it is an unforgettable experience. Throughout history, whether guests have either taken a Guided Tour or chosen to drive themselves, no two trips on the Northeast's highest peak have ever been the same. Immerse yourself in that history this weekend ... and get great savings on your 1-night only stay here at The Lodge.

The Auto Road is open 7:30am - 6:00pm, weather permitting. (This special is for a limited number of specific rooms which are available between the dates of August 4-8 only, and the offer is not retroactive to previously made reservations or combinable with other specials or offers).

Discovering Weather (Firsthand!)

Yesterday was a really rainy day. Actually, we very much needed the water, as the cool, crisp dry air we enjoyed all last week had dried out the flower beds. Up on the summit of Mount Washington a cold front rolled through bringing impressively low temps of 33 degrees on Friday. Hard to imagine, given the sweltering heat we’d been experiencing down here days prior. Mount Washington continues to impress everyone this week with awesome thunderstorms, warmer temps and a thick, gray fog. Observer and meteorologist Stacey Kawecki explains that a high pressure system centered to our southeast is responsible for the warm, moist air which combines with daytime heating to create the signature summer thunderstorms. We had a doozey here; it knocked out the Direct TV temporarily.

I always look up the Summit Conditions and the extended Mount Washington Valley forecast each morning, to help our guests to plan their activities for the day. Yesterday we suggested many indoor things to check out, such as the Mount Washington Observatory Museum, called the Weather discovery Center. Personally, I love weather, and think that this museum is a superb place to spend part of a day for any age group, toddler to senior citizen. I’ve written about it before. I’ve been many times, and just love the opportunity to go back time and again. (I also love the meteorological gift shop). The Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center is an interactive science museum that brings the wonder of the atmosphere right to your fingertips! Explore the science of climate and weather through fun, interactive exhibits like our air cannon, flow tank and wind room. Plus, meet and interact with the hardy observers living and working at the summit weather station through a twice daily live video link.

And now, for the 3rd year in a row, the Discovery Center is offering a program called “Science in the Mountains: A Passport to Science”, a virtual lecture series. Through videoconferencing technology, you can journey to exciting science centers around the world to learn about endangered species, the Grand Canyon, dinosaurs and more.This free series is held at the Mount Washington Observatory Weather Discovery Center in North Conway on six successive Wednesdays in July and August. All programs begin at 7pm, (though you should arrive early to claim your seat).

The next program is on August 11 – from International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota where you can explore the world of the wolf! Using the wolf as a fascinating case study, they will examine the important roles that predators, prey and scavengers play in the ecosystems where wolves live. Best of all--meet the International Wolf Center's ambassador wolves!

Then on August 18 – ‘visit’ the Grand Canyon National Park at Grand Canyon, Arizona. Visit one of America's first national parks and certainly one of its most popular. Park rangers will share their knowledge of the Grand Canyon's ecosystems, as well as discuss some of the environmental issues confronting the park today. A visit to the Grand Canyon is definitely on my “To Do” list someday, but until then, I think I’m going to put this on my calendar.

The Princess and the Pea

“What’s it like to live in such a tiny house?” … is a question I am always getting asked when people see Jay Shafer’s Tumbleweed “Fencl” parked here at The Lodge … and honestly, until about a week ago, I couldn’t exactly have told you the answer. I actually spend my spare minutes (ha!) sitting out there with my laptop, and also talking to folks about Tumbleweeds in general on a daily basis. Each time I’m out there I am more and more convinced that for one person this is a viable (and brilliant) option. But then one night last week I just couldn’t stand it anymore … I HAD to stay overnight in it … and be the FIRST here in NH to do so (in this one, at least). I had worked very late at the front desk at The Lodge, and I dragged myself out to the Fencl and locked the door. Inside, I got so excited! The lighting inside it in the evening is beautiful. The moon was rising, the crickets were chirping, and I just sat inside, imagining what it would be like to call this “home” … no mortgage, little upkeep, a tiny budget needed to pay for living expenses. After that I was actually too revved up to sleep, so I plugged in my laptop; so civilized!! Eventually I got sleepy, so I climbed the ladder up to the loft – not a tough climb, but you need to be limber – and I lay down on the futon. Within minutes I was asleep.

When I ordered this futon a few weeks ago, I didn’t realize that I was getting a ‘deluxe’ model … I had pictured one about 4” thick, like the kind we had in college. Frankly, I can sleep comfortably on a bare wooden floor, so when this one arrived and it appeared to be a foot thick, I was rather dismayed. There is not a lot of headroom up in the loft to begin with, and the height of the one that they delivered and installed there was just too much. I was certain that I would give it to my daughter for college and try to find a thinner one. But the deep, refreshing sleep I got on it – actually twice now by this writing – was just delicious! I am now torn by wanting more headroom, and sleeping like a queen in such comfort. I think comfort has won out; sorry Zia.

I loved this experience through and through. Yes, I actually know I could live like this ... not just once in a while, not just for vacations, but full time. For one solitary person like myself, it is just the thing. "Could it house two people," you ask? I guess it would depend on the people and on the circumstances, but in my personal opinion, “No, it couldn’t; not for me anyway.” But here’s an idea. Maybe I could also build my husband one. And for any stray kids who still haven’t flown our little nest, I could teach them to build themselves one, too. Maybe we could park them in a circle somewhere, around a campfire, like covered wagons on the Oregon Trail, and be completely self-sufficient and self-contained ---- together, but separate. Yes, I could definitely see that working out!

Last night we rented it out to our first ‘official’ guest. He was from Pennsylvania, traveling through, had heard about it and wanted to give it a try. He enjoyed his stay immensely. Reservations from other guests are starting to come in now, too. I think this is going to catch on pretty quickly. It may be tougher to get myself a ‘reservation’ in it pretty soon!

Insanely Crazy Day

Today is so busy and so insanely crazy, that this is all I have time to write.AAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Electric Legs

I’ve started commuting in style. I put my fairly new electric Rayos bike to the test last night as I headed up the mountain to my cabin. WOW! Does that thing have PEP … and thank goodness! After working 16 hours straight at The Lodge yesterday, I  had next to none. Our cabin is only 1.3 miles away, but most of it is steeply uphill, so my legs need a little help on the incline, especially after having been on them all day long. Of course, getting back down to work this morning was a breeze, but for once, it wasn’t too much faster than the ride home, even though today it was all downhill to the Lodge!

I had done some research on bikes two years ago, and originally purchased it for my husband as a Father’s Day gift. I thought we could go riding around town together, using our bikes to go to the post office and get around the village instead of using our cars. He turned out not to be quite as excited about the idea as I was, and so it sat in the shed for a very long time. When the lease was up on my wonderful Mazda, I made the decision not to renew or to trade it in for something else. It was the fanciest car I’ve ever had and I loved it to death, but its mediocre mileage started nagging at me until I was actually anxious for the lease to expire so I could take it back. Come fall I’ll be getting a Smart Car, but ‘til then, this is the way to go!

Rayos bikes are used as rental bikes at many of the National Parks around the country, and are a viable source of reliable transportation. 'They' claim that the electric batteries that power them uphill are good for about 20 miles. (I wonder if they are considering ‘White Mountain Miles’ or ‘on the flat’?). Twenty miles up these hills seems a bit unrealistic to me, but wouldn’t it be great?! Maybe I could get a tiny bumper sticker that says “This Bike Pedalled Itself Up Mount Washington”! Of course bikes do go up it’s 6280’ all the time – hundreds of them several times a year – and all on human powered energy. But I will never be one of them … Gee Whiz, isn’t life hard enough without tackling that?! :-)

My bike is equipped with a battery that needs to be charged after use. I have the cord plugged in out near my bike rack, so it was fully charged when I tried it out last night, and had as much oomph as a motor scooter when I needed its help (which I often did). Unfortunately, I couldn’t get the bike’s headlamp to work (I think it needs batteries), and since the full moon had just passed, it was as dark as midnight. My husband was driving his Prius and lit the way for me, telling me that we would kill our kids if they attempted anything so stupid. Agreed … I’m guilty. (True, I could’ve driven home with him, but I have to leave again by 5:30 am and he doesn’t!). Tonight I’ll have my reflectors, helmet and light ready for action!

Biking, even if using an electric bike, seems like a good fit with my current passion for Tiny Houses and simple living. I’ll elaborate on this more in future blogs … right now, we have another full house and I have to get back to work!