Riddle: When is Mount Washington not the highest mountain in the Whites?
Answer: When it’s a motor ship on Lake Winnipesaukee.
To celebrate my daughter’s 29th birthday (Happy Birthday, Adi!), we took a two-and-a-half hour cruise on
the Mount Washington ($25/ person -- not bad). That's Adi over there on the right with her boyfriend, Kris. The mighty vessel is in the background.)
We toured the islands, more than 244 habitable ones. Didn’t get to them all. Some of the houses were as big as the islands on which they sat. We saw sail boats, motor boats, and jet skis. Lots of people on docks enjoying the day. They waved. We waved. It was a beautiful, sunny day.The boat has three decks, plenty of seating, food and drink available, and a running intercom commentary from a knowledgeable local on the sights.
Check cruiseNH.com for information on all the special cruises, from dinner and dancing every Thursday evening to a special Family Halloween Party on Oct. 25.
As the fella from away said about Winnipesaukee upon seeing the big lake for the first time: “That’s a lot of water.”
To which the local replied: “Yup, and that’s just the top of it.”
In fact, Winnipesaukee covers 72 square miles and is New Hampshire's biggest lake. The water’s clean. The mountains surround. It’s a gem. Busy in spots (especially at Weirs Beach, where we caught the ship), developed along much of its shoreline, and still beautiful. The mansions on Governor’s Island will make you wonder: Who the heck has so much money they can afford a $12 million summer place?
Nobody I know.
We skipped over to Bristol for an early supper at CuNaMara, one of our favorite restaurants. Real Irish food only better than anything I ever ate in Ireland. My mother-in-law, Lillian, (that's her below with my husband, John Rule) had bangers and mash. Homemade bangers, they seemed to be. And a mountain of mash. Adi’s boyfriend Kris had a pail of beef stew with a swirl of potato on top that looked like the Matterhorn. All the food was yummy, as usual. And the service friendly and efficient.
This Saturday and Sunday CuNaMara hosts its 7th annual Fleadh Ceoil, Irish Music Festival. On Saturday, the music starts at 7 and goes til 1 a.m. On Sunday, it goes from noon til midnight. Among the many groups are Fergus, Johnny Come Latelies, Celtic Odyssey, Ronan Quinn, Reaganta, Paddy Keenan & Shelta, Sunday’s Well and U2 Heaven. How do they come up with these crazy names? Surely there’s Guinness involved.
CuNaMara is on Route 31 in Bristol. Check them out at cunamara.net or call 603-744-6336.
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