Back in 2016 I had to pick between staying in Concord with easy access to everything or buying a cheap fixer upper way up near Rumney. I went with the fixer upper because the land was half the price and I wanted quiet. Now I spend 45 minutes just getting to a real grocery store and the internet is still spotty. But I can see the stars at night and my nearest neighbor is a quarter mile away. Anyone else make a move like that and end up feeling both ways about it?
Bought a Jackery 500 last summer thinking I'd run my CPAP and charge my phone for a week at a time. First night out it died after 6 hours because the panels need direct sun all day, which you don't get under the trees. Now I'm stuck with a $400 paperweight that can't even keep my cooler fan going. Did I just pick the wrong brand or is off-grid power a scam for most of us?
I went back to Lincoln's Diner in Lebanon last Saturday after not going for like 5 years. It used to be this greasy spoon where you'd get a massive plate of home fries for like 6 bucks and the waitress knew your order. Now it's all renovated with exposed brick and charging 14 dollars for a tiny avocado toast. What happened to the old crew who actually cooked stuff with butter and love? Has anyone else seen their favorite local spot get ruined by a makeover?
She said I always get them with butter and syrup on top but the trick is to ask for butter on the side and pour the syrup first so it doesn't slide off, anyone else get handed a pro tip like that from a local?
I was supposed to close on a house in Hooksett that day, but the septic inspection failed because the tank hadn't been pumped in over 10 years. Then my truck threw a rod on Route 3 on the way back to Manchester, and I had to wait two hours for a tow from Jake's Auto. Has anyone else dealt with a septic surprise right before closing? I'm wondering how common that is around here.
I was grabbing breakfast at the Red Arrow Diner a few months back, and this older dude next to me starts chatting about the waitress's coffee pour. Turns out he's been hiking in the Whites since the 80s, and he gave me this whole list of trails I'd never heard of, like the one up Mount Osceola that avoids the crazy crowds. He said the key is to start at 5 a.m. and bring a paper map because your phone dies in the cold. I asked him about a trail guidebook I was thinking of buying, and he laughed and said the best info comes from talking to locals at the trailhead. That conversation saved me from buying three books I didn't need. Has anyone else gotten better tips from a random stranger than from a website?
Took his advice back in February and took I-93 instead (boring but safe). Ended up passing 3 spin-outs near Lincoln on my way to North Conway anyway, so I can only imagine how bad that highway would have been. Anybody else got a local tip that actually saved them time or trouble?
Did it last Tuesday and had the summit almost to myself for 20 minutes, while my coworker who went on Saturday said it was a conga line of people the whole way up, anyone else prefer off-peak times for the popular hikes?
I was reading through some state well reports the other day, and it hit me hard. The average depth for a new drilled well in Rockingham County went from about 350 feet back in 2000 to nearly 500 feet now, but the gallons per minute they're pulling is actually lower. I saw one figure that said about 30% of new wells tested under 3 gallons per minute last year. That's barely enough for a normal family home with sprinklers. I talked to a well driller over in Raymond who said he's going deeper and deeper because the shallow aquifers are getting tapped out from all the new developments. Makes me wonder how long before towns start limiting new construction based on water availability out here. Anyone else seen these state reports or heard from their local driller about what the actual numbers look like in your area?
I was out on the lake last weekend near Wolfeboro and watched three boats in a row get yelled at by some guy on a dock for throwing too big a wake. But here's the thing, the town put the 'no wake' buoy like 50 feet past the actual shallow zone where it matters. I've been boating here 12 years and that buoy has been in the same spot since I started. Shouldn't someone from the town come move it so people actually know where to slow down? Has anyone else noticed this kind of thing on their local lake?
Moved to Nashua 3 years ago and everyone raved about The Friendly Toast. I kept ordering their hot coffee and wondering why I was never impressed. Then my buddy from Manchester dragged me there for breakfast and laughed when I ordered the drip. He made me get an iced coffee instead, even though it was like 20 degrees out. Took one sip and it clicked - their iced coffee is roasted darker and doesn't get that watery taste. Been kicking myself for wasting like 30 morning trips on the wrong order. Anyone else stuck on a menu item somewhere for years before someone set them straight?
It was 5 AM and negative 12 degrees, that old Ariens just coughed once and wouldn't start again no matter how much I yanked the cord, has anyone else had luck with the newer electric models for heavy wet snow?
I've been stacking firewood against my house for years like everyone else around here. Last week this older fella at the Red Blazer saw me loading up my truck and said I was asking for termites and rot. He told me to keep it at least 2 feet from the foundation and off the ground on pallets. I moved it all last weekend and already notice the bottom logs drying out way better. Anyone else store their wood away from the house or am I just late to the game?
I used to just grab my Stihl MS170 for everything, even small branches around my property in Concord. But after a close call two summers ago where the kickback almost got me, I started using an old Silky Zubat for anything under 4 inches. It takes longer but I feel way more in control and I don't scare the dogs. Anyone else ditch the gas for manual work on the small stuff?
Used to go out there every few hours trying to keep up with the snow so it wouldn't pile up. By the end of a big storm I'd be exhausted and my back killing me. A guy from up the road told me to just wait until it stops and do it all at once with the snowblower. I was worried about it getting too heavy but honestly it packs down way less than I thought. Finally tried it during that 18 inch storm back in February near Concord and saved myself like 4 trips outside. Anyone else ditch the multiple shovel approach?
After 3 months here I've found the diner scene is strong too - any recommendations for a good breakfast spot that's not the Noshery?
I've been living in NH for about 5 years, always in small towns. I always told people Manchester was just too busy and not worth visiting. But last weekend I had to drive through for a work thing and saw a map of the city parks online. There's like 22 of them? I stopped at Livingston Park for a hour and it was actually really nice with a lake. Idk, maybe I was wrong about the city vibe. Has anyone else found a hidden gem in Manchester that changed their mind about it?
I stopped into the Littleton Diner last Saturday around 11am for some breakfast, and the place was packed as usual. But what caught me off guard was this woman at the next table who kept staring at me while I ate my eggs and toast. After about ten minutes, she walks over and asks if I'm the one who wrote that angry letter to the town council about the new parking meters. I told her no, I've never written such a letter, and she just nodded and walked away without another word. Has anyone else run into random locals acting like they know you in these small town diners?
Had to dig out my grandfathers old wood stove after the power went out for 3 days, and it reminded me how we used to actually plan for winters around here, anyone else notice storms hitting harder now?
When I moved to Portsmouth last year, every rental wanted $2,000 for a one-bedroom. I drove 15 minutes north to Dover and found the same size place for $1,350. Has anyone else noticed how far you can stretch your money by just skipping the tourist towns?
Everyone told me to go to The Puritan Backroom for brunch, so I dragged my wife there last Saturday. We waited 45 minutes for a table, then my eggs benedict came out with cold hollandaise and the english muffin was soggy. I actually sent it back, which felt awkward, but the server was cool about it and brought a fresh plate that was decent. Has anyone else felt that place is a bit overhyped or did I just hit a bad day?
Ever since the parking lot started filling up by 6 AM and the trail got super rocky from erosion, I can't even get there before 9. Had to carry an extra 2 liters of water last Saturday just to deal with the heat. Anyone else notice the trails are way more trashed than 5 years ago?
I was at my wit's end last spring after a skunk family decided my backyard in Concord was their new favorite hangout. Tried all the usual stuff, cayenne pepper, ammonia soaked rags, even those ultrasonic things that did nothing. Then my old neighbor, guy's lived here 40 years, told me to get a giant bag of mothballs and scatter them around the perimeter every two weeks. Honestly felt stupid doing it but I haven't seen a single skunk since May. Anyone else got a weird, non-chemical trick that worked way better than it should have?
I started composting last June and figured I'd quit after a week. But 100 days in and the bin smells like dirt not garbage, which is wild for June in Manchester.
I was driving through Durham last week and hit this massive pothole on Route 4 near the UNH campus, felt like my whole car lifted off the ground for a second lol. My buddy says the town is responsible for damages if you file a claim, but another guy told me NH towns never pay out for that kind of thing. Anyone actually had success getting reimbursed for pothole damage around here or is it a waste of time?