After our stay at Nadia's farm, we drove across Vermont and into New Hampshire. The leaves became brighter the higher we drove. We stopped for a short lunch break on the shores of Sunapee Lake. We relaxed as we listened to the waves lap the shore, the soft chatter of the British family at the next picnick table and watched two kayaks glide into the water. Too soon it was time to hit the road again. Our next stop was at the Canterbury Shaker Village, where we met my dad and stepmom who had flown out from the west coast to spend time with us in New England.

I had purpously chosen Canterbury since I have always been interested in Shaker arts and crafts. This open air museum is very infomative about the way Shakers lived together and functioned as a community. They were surprisingly modern in their way of thinking. At a time when men and women were not considered equals, the Shakers did, and for example gave boys and girls the same education and had "elders" and "eldresses". The buildings and the surroundings were beautiful and we were delighted that the weather was warm and the leaves colored.

The next few days were spent on Squam Lake with walks in Franconia Notch and an evening boat ride on Squam Lake to see the loons. Driving back from Franconia Notch my dad called from the backseat: So, do you think the view could be better? We all had to chuckle.

We have a joke in my family about views and them possibly being better than the one we are currently looking at. It all started a few years ago, when my dad came to visit us in Switzerland and as we stood on top of a mountain he said "what a wonderful view". My husband answered, "It could be better". Over the years I've noticed that that is the standard Swiss answer when a non-Swiss comments on the view. Swiss don't mean it in a bad way, it's just that for them the perfect view is when it is absolutely clear. Since the Swiss spend a lot of time in and on the mountains, they do know when it is best and freely tell everyone that "the view could better", even if the view looks perfectly fine to everyone else.

When my dad commented from the backseat we all had to laugh. At the same time we also had to admit, that the view could not be better. We had perfect weather and the leaves were vibrant. Better than any of us had dared hope for.

Can Autumn be a more beautiful time?

After our stay at Squam, we drove along the Kancamaugus Highway and through Crawford Notch, staying in Glen.

As for covered bridges, I think I started to drive my husband nuts. I would look at the map and say "There is another coming up. Can we stop?", and he'd roll his eyes and sigh. I'll devote a post entirely to them.

I admit to being a leaf peeper, and I had a delightful time doing it. We had the best of weather and the leaves were perfect. It could not have been better!

*To the foodies out there, don't worry. I will also have a post up about all the delicious places we ate at.