Dwight & Leslie's Horse Barn, Lee, New Hampshire

Friday, 8/5/11 - Last week we were parked in a driveway, today we are parked right next to a horse barn where 10 horses are being boarded.......and the view is GREAT. We found Dwight, Leslie & Julia's house in Lee, N.H. (this is Greg & Andy's friend & they shipped us off to them) We arrived around 2 pm and no one was home so we parked and took a nap while waiting for them to return. After we woke up, they still weren't home so Dwight had said we could park between the red & grey barn, so that's what we did. Found a spot right next to the gray barn and with a fabulous view of the horses when they are in the pasture or close up at the stables eating PLUS a gorgeous view of the their house. when they live. It is absolutely picturesque here. The gray barn is where the horses live & eat and the red barn is where they give lessons in bad weather...hot or cold. There is also an outdoor ring and several pastures for the horses and then acres in the "back" where they grow & bale hay. The official name on the barn is http://www.riversidefarmstables.com/. It seems that people board their horses here as well as take lessons. A fascinating place.

While we were awaiting them to arrive home we met 2 ladies that board horses there, one lady, I don't remember her name just her horse, Derby and Stephanie who boards 8 or 9 horses. Stephanie gives riding lessons and shows horses so hers is a business. Both nice ladies and they showed us around the barn & introduced us to the horses. We have a front row seat, you can sit in the driver and navigator seats and watch the horses come up to the barn, eat or graze in the pasture. At one point they were all running towards the barn and that was quite a sight.

Eventually, Dwight, Leslie & Julia got home and we introduced ourselves to them as their new tenants for two days. Such nice people and very gracious especially with not even knowing who we are. After our dinner we went up to their house and got the tour of the place and visited for part of the evening. We sat outside which was a mistake on my part as it was my first mosquito bite(s) of the trip and boy did they hit me on the legs....ouch!

Saturday, 8/6/11 - Dwight came over early this morning to draw us a map of things to see and do in this area of New Hampshire. With his trusty map and our girlfriend, GPS we took off for our first stop Exeter, NH. It is a wonderful, small but very busy and touristy town and we wanted to see the American Independence Museum www.independencemuseum.org The museum is located in the Ladd Gilman House (1721) that was home to a signer of the U.S. Constitution, a Governor's mansion and also on the property is the Folsom Tavern (1775) a site for political discussions during the Revolution. It was a wonderful place to visit and read the documents and see the pictures and memorabilia of George Washington and other early leaders and founders. We also walked around the Exeter Prep School that is located behind the museum. We were told the tuition there is $40,000 a year and they come from all over the world to attend. Many Presidents and such have attended this 9 thru 12 school. We then walked up and down the main street and had lunch at the Loaf & Ladle that Dwight had recommended. Will had a bowl of their delicious soup, a sandwich and even a slice of pecan pie........a huge lunch for Will. I had their fabulous salad bar....that would be a BIG salad for caw. By now we have spent way to much time here and have to get going to our next stop, Portsmouth, NH.

Well we managed to get lost even with the map and girlfriend, GPS but we found the perfect young man to ask directions of how to find the downtown area and waterfront. He even told us exactly where to go and park & we did and we were right in the middle of everything. We headed first to the waterfront to walk over the bridge that is closed to vehicle traffic. We saw lots of pleasure boats, sailboats, tugs and even one humongous yacht. At the other end of the bridge you are entering Kittery, Maine. On our way back to the NH side, the bells start ringing and all foot traffic is stopped as the bridge is going up to let a large passenger ferry boat and sailboats with tall masts go through. That was very exciting to see. Also on the water/NH side their was a country music concert playing in the park going on so we or I should say me, had some great music to listen to.

After we left the bridge we walked back into town and get some cold water, found a table and did some great people watching. I picked up some brochures of the town and we discovered the John Paul Jone House/Museum was just a couple blocks away and Will really wanted to see it. We had about an hour or so on our meter left so headed over there. www.PortsmouthHistory.org It was filled with wonderful furniture, clothing of the era and lots of information and documents. We spent most of the hour there and got back to our car just in time. There was so much more to see on Dwight's map but the day was gone and we were dead tired so we pointed girlfriends nose toward the barn.....this time a real barn, to take us home, which she did.

Sunday, 8/7/11 - It's moving day today but before we get going Dwight & Leslie come over to hear about our travels on Saturday and were impressed with how much we saw and did. Then Leslie and I took two of the dogs, Gracie and Bowie on a walk down by a river that goes along their property. Leslie said we got in about 2 miles and that was after my 3 mile walk earlier this morning. This is will be a big "step day" on my step counter I wear each day. Dwight & Will stayed at the house drinking coffee and talking. It was a wonderful morning for all of us and we were so glad to meet them and thank them for their wonderful hospitality. We bid our goodbyes to Dwight & Leslie, the horses and hitched up the car and drove the RV off into the east heading for Maine. Much love to all our family and friends.