Home > Blogs > Sharon Tara > Staging New Hampshire

It Rained On My Vacation - And I Don't Mean The Weather

By Sharon Tara

Home Stager with Sharon Tara Transformations

October 11, 2010 04:59 AM

Last week was our first vacation in almost two years. Weather was not great...but we made the best of it. We took the new toy hauler on it's maiden voyage.

Rain...that is ActiveRain...went with us.

We spent a couple nights in the Conway area of New Hampshire and then a couple nights in the Sebago Lake area of Maine. Both places had internet so I was able to play in the Rain...

campfire

camping

The weather was pretty cold, but it did get warm enough on Friday to take the bike out to ride the Kancamagus Highway from Conway to Lincoln.

kancamagus highway, white mtns nh

kancamagus highway

white mountains

Sharon Tara and Steve Loynd

I couldn't ride through the White Mountain area without stopping in to say "hi" to fellow rain member,

Steve Loynd at Alpine Lakes Real Estate.

Steve gave us a great recommendation for lunch, The Gypsy Cafe...it was fabulous! If you are ever in Lincoln, stop in - you won't regret it.

gypsy cafe, lincoln NH

Steve told us where we could find the "heart tree" that he recently shared on his blog, and I was able to get my own photo...

heart tree

The maiden voyage went well...no major problems ( I did forget matches....who goes camping without matches? ) It was awesome getting away and being able to take the bike with us. I think we are going to enjoy the toy hauler and look forward to our next adventure.

While on our trip I checked in to ActiveRain daily, and

I visited a fellow ActiveRain member.

The weather was only rainy one day...but we were in the RAIN the whole trip.

Re-Blog

Comments(26)

Comment

Show All Comments Sort:

Ellen Caruso

Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

What a great photo accompanied story! This bring back memories of my own childhood. With 5 sisters, my mom and dad would take us camping. We had a 30ft trailer but preferred the tent so we could sneak out at night at the camp grounds. Now my sisters and I are not afraid of bugs, or to rough it! Those were the best times.

Oct 11, 2010 06:22 AM

Steve Loynd

Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH

800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Sharon...Thanks for the visit, it's funny that we met face to face at a rain camp event...and the next time we saw each other you were off camping in my neighborhood...somehow it seems poetic. Glad you had a good time in spite of the chill...and I see you found the heart tree too. I think the day I was there was a little brighter...I'll share my shot too.

Oct 11, 2010 06:27 AM

Tammy Lankford,

Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA

Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Wow at the difference of the color of the leaves between the photos. :) When I was reading your post Sharon I remembered Steve's photo, but wanted to compare the two and then bam... there it was. :)

I need to go camping... it's been years.

Oct 11, 2010 07:31 AM

Janice Ankrett

Burlington, ON

Staging Professional

Love the pictures Sharon. The fall colours are great. I can't believe you blogged on your vacation! LOL!

Oct 11, 2010 08:40 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Kathy: We had a great time and it was fun adding the visit to Steve and introducing him to my husband. His lunch recommendation was a great one!

Wendy: Learning about other places and making new friends are just two of the benefits of this community. I'm so glad you enjoyed the pictures!

Janice: Today's technology allows us to do it all! While my husband read his book, I read blog posts!

Nina: I had met my fellow Raindrop once before, at Raincamp, and I couldn't possibly visit his area and not stop in to say hello! It's funny...my husband had three destinations in mind for our trip, and I had a Raindrop I could visit in each of them.

Patsy: Too bad I don't have a pic of me sitting in my Jeep late at night getting my AR fix...I couldn't get online inside the trailer so I went out to the car. Invest in the laptop! Checking in while away means not having to review all the email and play catch-up after getting back home.

Oct 11, 2010 11:11 AM

Laura S. Baker

First Weber Inc - Lake Mills, WI

Realtor (920) 728-4118, First Weber Inc

It sounds like your maiden voyage went very well (other than the matches). Glad the toy hauler worked out so well! The ride on the bike must have been a bit chilly. I love the stream photo. So beautiful! Looks like a post card. I wasn't able to stay away while on my trip to Maine either.

Oct 11, 2010 12:03 PM

Kathleen Emhof

Buffalo, Amherst, Orchard Park and Western New York - Buffalo, NY

Home Staging and Redesign, Experts in Transition

Sharon, Thanks for sharing your vaca with us! Your pics are wonderful and I cannot believe you got wifi while camping!

i felt like I was right along with you!

Enjoy your beautiful (and SAFE!) bike rides! There's nothing better!

Kathie

Oct 11, 2010 12:47 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Toni: The tree is awesome, and I never would have even noticed it if Steve hadn't found it first. I saw other people there who were so busy looking at the beautiful view that they missed the "heart" tree. You really had to be looking for it.

Ellen: My parents took us camping, but we didn't have the option of a trailer...we had a huge tent. The whole family in one tent...no sneaking out for us! Sounds like you had more fun camping than I did as a kid, LOL!

Steve: It was pretty overcast when I was there. It's interesting seeing the difference in the two pics. It's sad to think of those leaves falling off and the heart disappearing. I'm so glad you noticed it because I would not have seen it...and it makes for such a great shot.

Tammy: The leaves won't be there much longer. I wonder if it will still be a heart next year? I hadn't been camping in many years...it was fun and I'm looking forward to going again. We hope to get out once more this year...hope the weather cooperates.

Roger: I had to play in the Rain...if I didn't keep up with your blog for four days, think of all the catching up I would have to do when I got back!

Janice: Thanks! The colors were so much better in person. The pictures just don't do it justice. I really didn't take that many and I was using my cell phone camera. I didn't blog while on vacation...I read some blogs and I commented. Just kept on top of things, that's all.

Laura: It was chilly, it was only in the 60's. Very windy too. I dressed for it, so I was comfortable, only my face was cold. It's hard to stay away, and the hubby had a book so every once in awhile we took some time to read.

Kathie: All the big campgrounds have wifi now...what did we do before all this technology? The ride on the Kanc was really nice...we saw the most fantastic rainbow, but couldn't get a picture...no place to pull over. It was amazing to see a rainbow across the mountains with all the colorful trees...just beautiful.

Oct 11, 2010 02:56 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Roger: It may be too soon...I just introduced him to Steve...one AR man at a time. I can't be hugging up to Steve saying "honey take our picture" one day and then telling him you love me just a few days later!

Oct 11, 2010 03:30 PM

Shar Sitter

Rooms With Style - Minneapolis, MN

Home Staging and Redesign Minneapolis/ St. Paul, M

Love the heart tree! Thanks for sharing your getaway with us. Beautiful photos.

Oct 12, 2010 01:43 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Roger: I'm touched

Michele: It was fun, thanks.

Shar: I loved the heart tree too and knew that I had to see it in person...I'm lucky Steve spotted it!

Oct 12, 2010 02:02 AM

Sheila Kennedy

J29 Project - Rochester, NY

Love that tree - how cool! I recently went on vacation too and the rain came with me a little bit. I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked, but isn't technology amazing? Hope you had a great trip - love the pictures!

Oct 12, 2010 02:15 PM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Sheila: The tree is even better in person! It's great that we have the opportunity to stay in touch and not have to play "catch-up" when we return from a vacation. We did have a great trip. Thanks!

Oct 13, 2010 04:33 AM

Gerry Michaels

Glasswork Media Arts - Gettysburg, PA

GettysburgGerry Social Meida

Sharon, this is an absolutely wonder post. It's funny I have never met Steve but I knew who he was right off. I love reading posts like this, we are such a family whether we like to admit it or not...

Oct 13, 2010 07:59 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Gerry: We are a family...funny how we know each other and really do like each other without ever having met in person. When Steve walked in his office door and saw me there he smiled and we went right for the hug...like old friends at a reunion.

Oct 13, 2010 10:11 AM

Tina Gleisner

Home Tips for Women - Portsmouth, NH

Home Tips for Women

Sharon, Great photos and as always, a wonderful story. Glad you're back to camping as we did it all the time until the last few years. I guess some things get put on hold while you're starting/running a business.

Oct 14, 2010 06:03 AM

Joan Mirantz

Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH

Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Fun post Sharon...Thanks! You got some great shots too!

Oct 14, 2010 11:21 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Tina: I'm excited to be returning to the camping world. We used to have a travel trailer when the kids were young and we really enjoyed it. As they got older...well teens don't really want to camp with their parents, LOL! Now that we have the Harley, it just seemed to be the right time to return to it again.

Joan: Thank you!

Oct 14, 2010 12:51 PM

Inna Ivchenko

Barcode Properties - Encino, CA

Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC • Short Sale • Probate

Any vacation anywhere in the world with a person or people who share your interests is awesome:) Thanks for sharing yours with us.

Oct 20, 2018 01:14 AM

Sharon Tara

Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH

Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Inna Ivchenko Wow EIGHT years ago! Thanks for bringing this memory back for me. I enjoyed reading it. LOL

Oct 20, 2018 06:32 AM