Return From A Little Jaunt to New Hampshire's Gay Campgrounds and Some Odds Without Ends

View from Mountainside

Have not been blogging much or reading as much.

Spent almost a week camping in New Hampshire - the Holiday weekend at Mountainside, a mens' weekend-only campground in Hinsdale and then a few days at Joe's Hideaway, another men's only camp in Washington, NH. Hiking, sunning, reading, having a few beers, doing pot-luck dinners, watching fireworks. Nice.

Mountainside is more of a tight-knit community than many larger campgrounds perhaps because of its regular clientele, many of whom are seasonal. Others who camp there often and a number of weekenders who are new to the campground make for a good mix of men.  There is no swimming pool, so that is a drawback for some, but a number of activities are usually scheduled (potluck, hikes, drumming) as well as area attractions like the Rock River. The atmosphere is very low-key, and casual and is operated at such.

Joe's Hideaway, a small, membership only campground with an above-ground pool, full hook-ups (water, electricity, sewer) clean restrooms, picnic tables and a pavilion. There are several seasonal campers, a number of transient sites for campers and tents. It is busy on weekends but very quiet during the week when we were there. I would characterize it as somewhat more "cruisey" in comparison to Mountainside.

We are so used to Vermont and find New Hampshire similar but distinctly different. 

Vermont, land of left-over hippies; New Hampshire, land of left over Young Republicans. (See here).Vermont, despite a period of "Take Back Vermont" signs all over - aimed at the Gays and the Flatlanders invading the state, is mostly open to diversity and we feel comfortable there. 

New Hampshire, just across the Connecticut River and very similar in geography seems more Redneck and Tea Party. 

Back in the garden the Red Lily Beetles were attacking the Asian Lilies, so I cut them to the ground and cut off the food supply for the little devils. I can be ruthless. Yet when I mow the lawn, I feel guilty. Yes guilty: for mowing down the clover flowers that the bees like so much. I guess I have my insect prejudices.

 Back in the garden things are looking good. These were taken a few weeks ago.

 The Prickly Pear are not so prolific this year as I cut them back severely last fall. They need year0old growth from which to produce buds.

Hostas are nice for shady areas, and the leaves are pretty - but they have to have the homeliest flowers in the garden. Actually I think Hosta flowers are pretty ugly.

Astilbe are also pretty boring flowers - again a shade loving plant. Here's one putting on a fireworks display for the Fourth of July.

A Deer along the Quinnipiac River

Of course when we got home, the central air conditioner was acting up and so there was the air conditioner repairman who came yesterday. Long story short: air conditioner is no good. The repair guy was a dufus. End of that story.