I left you on Part One with my capturing images of some of the wonderful cottages. Then it was porch time – surprised. Another great dinner, more reading, and once bedded down it was time for Moose Calls (I compared to a YouTube video). My first night was Loons, and advance reporting, my last night, Thursday, was barking dogs across the lake, great rain fall, then the most perfect silence. Plan for Thursday, my second full day, was to head off after lunch for a BIG adventure.

Remember the planned route map from Part One? I headed off through Center Sandwich and Sandwich to West Ossipee and then north on Route 41 towards Madison. At Silver Lake, I had to stop — how many post offices do you still see operating in a train station?

Yes I stopped, wandered around, and now research to learn more. As I was wandering a fellow pulled into the back, and I of course struck up a conversation. Having seen the post mistress through the window, and his carrying a purse, I was correct in guessing he was bringing his wife’s purse to her.

At the north end of Silver Lake, in Madison, this station was a stop for the Boston and Maine Railroad from 1872 until passenger service ended on the line in 1961. The fellow told me that “snow trains” brought skiers to Conway from Boston through the early 70s, but he may have been mistaken. I asked if this had been a museum, and he said yes. Founded and owned by Neil Underwood, Silver Lake Railroad opened July 7, 2007, operating from Madison Station. renamed Silver Lake Depot. Underwood restored the station which has its original features intact. Chatting with the post mistress she pointed out where the original post office was in the corner of the waiting room. Operating offering rides by donation, the Silver Lake Railroad last operated in 2017 (sorry I missed it). Underwood is selling off some of his property, rolling stock, has a barn of old cars the fellow told me, and has a diner. You may know I have been fascinated by diners since 1957 when I told Bert Parks I wanted to own one when I grew up. Still waiting to “grow up.”

Below a gallery of the 1941 Sterling Diner – Riley Bros. Formerly located in Lynn, Mass., please click on this link for an amazing history of this diner – now refurbished, and sadly unused.

But it was time to get on with my BIG ADVENTURE. Remember I shared with you the BIGGEST ZIPPER in the US, at the end of this post in July 2022? And, in Part One we discovered the Longest Covered Railroad Bridge in the US. See an education trend here for your knowledge edification? If you feel there is something ERRATIC in my behavior, there is – for GLACIAL ERRATICS – stones and boulders that were moved during the ice age, and deposited in new locations when the ice moving them melted. Now, “Did You Know That?” in moments I would be arriving in Madison to see the MADISON BOULDER – Measuring 83 feet long, 37 feet wide and 23 feet high, a rectangular granite boulder that is the largest known glacial erratic in North America. This link will bring you the state’s tri-fold with stats and history.

I turned down the back road, and then onto state property at the above sign. State dirt road not well maintained, I arrived at the parking lot and was saddened not to see two or three charter tour buses there for this BIG attraction. I parked and headed down the trail – with cane my bones advised.

WOW – but where are “250 of my new Japanese friends with their 350 cameras that were all scrambling for a place on the boat for 200” with me on the St. Lawrence on 12 October 2011? How could I show you the size as compared to me without them? My first Glacial Erratic, and my fascination, began with the rock below on Nod Hill Road apposite my grandmother’s property in Wilton, Connecticut. When I visited two years ago at least I have my car there for comparison. As a youngster I need not tell you how many times I parked my bike here trying to figure out how to climb this “little erratic.”

well, if I circle clockwise taking images of all sides, maybe, just maybe you will believe the size.

As luck would have it a man showed up holding about three cameras. Hoping he was not a serial killer out in nowhere with me, I struck up a conversation. “I am from Chicago, and whenever I come to New Hampshire I have to visit the Boulder.” He then began to tell me of an Erratic in Australia that is amazing. Figuring he would not run off with my iPhone looking at his equipment, he took a picture for me – so now you can get a feel for size. Even with removal of stuff from my spine, I am still six feet tall.

It was then different back roads to return to camp, and some reading. I packed up all the books I had brought for research for writing – and now will remember I not bring so much again since I pulled out my left arm moving them back to the car. Thursday night’s sounds were angry barking dogs across the lake, then some rain, and then extreme silence.

Sorry to disappoint you, but my adventure for Friday on the way home was NOT THE ONLY ONE IN THE US. I have been trying to find out how many. The Postal Service has 233,585 delivery routes across the United States, and I cannot find out how many exactly are by boat. Some are USPS, and other deliveries by boat are by contract, but there has been mail boat delivery on Lake Winnipesaukee for over 130 years, and I had to go. I had purchased my ticket for the 11 AM cruise, the first of two each day, each with different stops. GREAT I KEPT SEARCHING — THIS IS THE OLDEST FLOATING POST OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES. I boarded the SOPHIE C for a two hour cruise – again sadly not three hours, and no MaryAnn (nor Ginger).

and off we went pulling away from the dock and M/V MOUNT WASHINGTON.

the captain above, and below Anne, the contract carrier “manning” her post office.

there were four delivery spots – Loon Island, Bear Island, Three Mile Island, and East Bear Island. The first stop was a drive-by to the primitive collapsing dock, and the last stop on Bear (the biggest island in the lake) the boat headed in and made a mail bag swap on a hook like done with old Railway Post Offices.

The map to the left will give you a feel from the start at Weirs Beach – bottom left. The round dot is when I secured this location shot off Bear Island

BELOW – Approaching LOON ISLAND, and the trade off

Then to Bear Island with the “post office” on the dock. A community event, Anne passed mail out and visited with residents.

next onto Three Mile Island Camp which is an outdoor experience owned and run by the Appalachian Mountain Club. There was no mail coming or going, but time to visit, this the next to last delivery day for the season.

on returning, the MOUNT WASHINGTON was heading out for its afternoon cruise.

I have visited Weirs Beach since the early 1970s when camping with the kids just up the road in Holderness. There is much history here, and I thought I would share some of the history panels that are on the pier. First the NH Veterans Association encampment building, and the history of the Laconia Motorcycle Week (Weirs Beach is part of Laconia) – remember to click to enlarge.

Home late Friday afternoon – “work catch-up” and life is good. Had things on the list for the weekend, but stayed in, read, wrote, and planned for the future. And, yes I do have things in the future to share.

Stay safe and well, and thank you for getting this far with me, love, RAY