Hidden treasures (Bedford, Amherst, Hollis: 2009, house, wedding)

[CrazyDave]

Hidden Treasures

I bet you ride by hidden gems everyday, I know I have, Today however we sampled some.
The local Meeting House breakfest
We were a few miles into our journey to nowhere when we deicded we were hundry. . On 101 in Bedford we happened on a sign on the road similar to the one below

Now usually we look for some local diner or something but hey, five bucks a person, all you can eat..why not?
Well it turned out to be a great little breakfest ( caveat..eveything but the baked beans were great, they however were toxic )
Chances are good that the is a local town hall or church in your area that does something like this, many of them do it on a weekly or monthly
basis



This building is the third on the site


After eating and snapping a few picks we continued on 101 the took 122 toward Amherst.



Now we have been in this area many times in the past, and even ridden 122 a few times, but we were completele unaware of the picturesque Amherst Village that was just waiting for us, in the local cemetery we found two graves together, one had the death date as Feb 10th around 1831..my birthday and the other died on Oct 9th around the same year, a day later then our wedding aniversary..kinda a weird /cool thing don't ya think?




Continuing on 122 and passing Silver lake we came across Woodmont Orchards , a working apple orhcard and a trail system, with some neat dilapitated buildings admidst the apple trees


When I got up this morning I didn't know for sure where I would end up but this was one of my possibilities



This is Monson Center, or Monson Village, a genuine NH ghost town. Telling the tale of citizens who tried, and failed to make a go here. Monson it is said was plagued with both Indian raids and poor crop growing potential. Afte sticking it out the best the could the residents moved far away or were absorbed into Milfod NH's population.

Monson Center is comprised of stone wall encircled fields, with a few spots for sitting and contemplation



This is the main road



with two others branching off to the left

The bare bones remains of what was an early homestead







All and all an interesting and fun filled day of food and exploring.. and anyone can do it!

[jakiedoodle]

Sounds like you had a GREAT day and those pics are terrific! : ) I wanted to do the same thing today, but unfortunately, had to do Easter shopping, etc. : ( Maybe next weekend I'll get the chance. I love to just drive around, explore, take pictures. It's so relaxing.

[CaseyB]

Dave, some of those pictures are nice enough to enter into one of the photo contests that C-D has. I see the camera in the breakfast pic - what kind is it?

[BF66389]

Nice. Thank you Dave, I think we may be motivated to try some more of the community activities.

[WannaComeHome]

So, you made it into Hollis, eh? nice. Looks like the top of the Hollis congregational church?

[lisa g]

Thank you for sharing your very real experiences and terrific photos! You were in my neck o' the woods and I am now inspired to find Monson - 'ghost towns' like that are wonderous places to explore - there is one in CT I am determined to see as well as Dog Town in Mass. The Woodmont orchard area was even more picturesque before the old ice house was torn down last year and the very contrived film-prop type new structure built in its place. The orchard is being sold off in fact, and part was already sold to a Mass. developer