A Trip to Alstead

Originally submitted July 17, 2006 (without photo):

We went exploring again yesterday. I went online and found the description of a "swimming hole" in Alstead that sparked our interest. We decided that the drive out to Alstead would be worth it since we could also stop and visit relatives who live in Alstead. The spot was an old mica quarry, privately owned, but the online description assured us the owner allowed public access.

After an hour and a half drive we reached the turn off onto a dirt road. The next dirt road we needed to look for was really only two tire ruts leading through dense woods. Bumping and sloshing our way through the woods, my boyfriend asked me to listen for banjo music, just in case.

We finally arrived at a locked gate. There were No Trespassing signs everywhere, including on the gate. Seeing a group of people standing near the gate, we asked if we were in the right place. Seems we were, although we later found out our informants had never been to this place before either. Seeing that the mile hike the rest of the way involved billy goat capabilities, we opted to leave the cooler and chairs behind. Good thing, because there would have been no place to put them anyway.

The quarry is a beautiful sight, and, in my opinion, worth the hike. There is only one small pathway leading to the waters edge. The rest of the swimming hole is surrounded by cliffs, and although the website had described a spot 200 feet deep, nobody seemed willing to attempt a jump from any of the cliffs. There were already about a half dozen people there, all of us trying to find a small spot to claim for ourselves. There is no beach and the bottom of the pool is full of sharp rocks and slippery stones. It is also full of curious little fish, who had no fear of us and poked at our toes thinking us dinner. The quarry was also home to quite a few horseflies, who were not as hospitable.

Since we were in such tight surroundings with the other people there, banter among us ensued. I was a bit surprised to find out that everybody there that day had never been before. Some had come as far away as Exeter and Boston. I thought it curious that we had all come to this remote, relatively unknown place as newcomers on the same day.

Then I found out that only last week, Fritz Weatherbee had done a piece on TV about "swimming holes" and this place had been featured. Mystery solved. I just happened to have picked the wrong week to go on this particular jaunt.

On our way out, we encountered more newcomers, some lugging huge coolers and wearing only flimsy flip-flops on their feet. We forewarned them of the climb ahead, but they seemed to think themselves better suited as they were.

We spent the rest of the afternoon having a wonderful visit on our relatives' beautiful farm, where we came away with full bellies and a dozen fresh eggs.

All in all, a good day.