Page 11 - APRIL2025

April 2025
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM
Life on the Backroads
Page 11
Community
Rivers are raging in the ad- vent of spring and, short of any flood conditions, they can be fas- cinating. Just look out for flooded roads and never try to cross them.
This time of year, wildlife is on the move again, too, and I have spotted many deer (on the paved) back roads. A few even stop and pose for a photo as I whisper to them from my car. Caution however – do not approach any wildlife you encounter, however, no matter how docile they may appear.
Hungry bears are also on the prowl now, so take in those winter bird feeders and clean up your property. As wildlife experts remind us each spring, “A fed bear is a dead bear,” and they will soon become a safety issue if they know where to find seeds, grease from a grill, outside pet food, and trash.
On the sunny side of April, however, the rivers are running once again, songbirds are filling the air with their music, and their migrating “cousins” are heading back to New Hampshire. Expect hummingbirds to return in the first two weeks of May.
And, best yet, it won’t be long before early flowers pop up through the ground and li- lacs, the State Flower, come into bloom!
So my advice is to get out and explore. Spring is truly a magical time here in rural New Hamp- shire, so make the most of it!
By Donna RhoDes
Hello everyone! I’m pleased to have the chance to start shar- ing my outdoor adventures here, which I call “Life on the Back Roads.” It’s a way of life I know very well, as my family and friends can confirm. I take pride in knowing how to get to destina- tions such as Plymouth, Rumney, Wentworth, and Warren, over to Campton and Waterville Valley, south to Sanbornton, Laconia, Gilford, and beyond, while rarely hitting a speed limit over 35 mph. It’s wonderful! And there is so much for me to say and share on the topic!
For those who don’t know me, I grew up fishing as soon as I could hold a pole and accom- panied my dad on a couple of hunting excursions. We lived in a 1,000-acre state park with bears, bobcats, and multitudes of deer (even a few albinos) literally in my backyard.
In college, I majored in biol- ogy at a time when females were only supposed to teach sciences, not work out in the field. What- ever.
I changed my goals to work in pharmacy, then writing, but my love for nature and the outdoors lived on. When my son was in elementary school, I was known as the “Mom in charge of creepy things.” We would go to ponds to collect leeches and other aquatic life so his class could “get to know them.” Catch and release was my
mandate, though. After a day or two, I’d haul them all back to whence they came.
Now that he and my daugh- ter are grown, most people now know me for my “Critter Patrol” posts on social media. Many are surprised at what I see on the back roads, but it’s as easy
as keeping your eyes open
as you roam.
I’ll get to that in later columns, but to start, I want to discuss the won- derful friendliness of the humans who live on those same back roads and why that friendliness can mean a lot to us “backroaders.”
Over the past few years
New Hampshire has wel- comed a lot of people
who moved north to be-
come our new neighbors.
Some arrived with eyes wide open, soaking in rural living. A few, however, have found they may still have things to learn about their change in lifestyle. Therefore I submit a brief but well-meaning tutorial for them, beginning with a hearty “Wel- come!”
To start, I’ve become ac- quainted with a “back roader” who retired from a Massachu- setts police department and moved to Alexandria about 15 years ago. He said the biggest and best thing he discovered after his move was how friendly peo- ple were; a far cry from life in a bustling city. He told me when
working in his yard, he began noticing passersby who waved to him. He was stunned -- no one waves in the city. One day a man even stopped to offer help when he saw my friend’s lawnmower had bogged down in a low, wet area of his lawn.
Mud season gets a few new homeowners upset when that scenic dirt road they bought property on last summer is now a muddy nightmare. They struggle to get home, get stuck, and don’t always understand why the road department won’t do anything
Back roads driving has a few signs some folks may have never seen. Be on the lookout! Photo Donna Rhodes
“I couldn’t believe it,” he said, “I had no idea who he was, but he stopped and helped. That was incredible!”
Nope, I told him, that’s rural New Hampshire. We wave a lot and help when we see a need.
So when someone waves, my first tip is to wave back! And, when you come to a one-lane bridge (there’s a lot of them!), wait your turn, then share a wave with either the driver who flagged you across first or the car you pulled over to let cross before you did. It’s just country courtesy.
about the conditions. Truth is, they can’t. Mother Nature is a fierce competitor, and the more crews try to fix the mud, the more underground frost rises to the surface, making the situation worse. As another tip, when pos- sible four-wheel drive is always a benefit. It doesn’t last long though – hang in there!
In the meantime, if you can’t flee the state for a sunny vacation during the mud season, there are still sights to enjoy that might take your mind off the mud back home for a while.
We would like to invite you to try the Bridgewater Inn Experience and Discover everything that we have to offer.
Our Dining Room has American and Japanese appetizers, homemade Italian pasta dishes, gourmet wood-fired brick oven pizza’s, Black Angus flamed grilled steaks, the freshest seafood, our famous Japanese Fried Rice, the chef’s specialty, “Bulgogi”...wraps, burgers, salads and so much more. All prepared by a father & son team (Soon Jin & Justin). Our Out Door Deck is a beautiful farmer’s style porch with a roof to help protect from the sun or the rain, flamed deck heaters and mosquito magnets to help keep those pesky mosquitoes at bay. Whatever you’re looking for we’ve got you covered. We look forward to serving you at The Bridgewater Inn where we’re proud to say we’ve been serving great food since November of 2000.
We open at 4pm on Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, 11:30 am on Saturday & Sunday, Closed on Monday & Tuesday.
367 Mayhew Turnpike, Bridgewater (603) 744-3518 • www.bridgewater-inn.com
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