A back country highway intersects between the considerable property owned by our hosts where we have for years rented a cottage in the Waterville Valley and the property opposite, a wide field with the mountains for background that was once used as a horse pasturage. When the riding school and horse-boarding operation was still there, we used to throw apples from a small, productive apple tree standing close by the cottage, to the horses.

Now, the field is unused, awaiting someone's opportunity to use it in a similar fashion or to develop it for other purposes. There had been rumours several years ago that property developers were interested in investing in parcelling the land for condominiums; they've become a popular institution in the area, given the proximity to the mountains and skiing opportunities in the winter, hiking in other seasons, but there was resistance from some local businesses and the idea was shelved.

When we got up the third morning of our stay at the cottage and meandered out to walk about on the greensward with our little dogs, an overnight temperature inversion had created morning fog in the field, and mist rising from the valleys and mountain slopes beyond. An utterly bewitching landscape, with the sun burning through an otherwise clear sky.

Later we decided we'd go off to one of our favourite viewing spots, Sabbaday Falls. The brilliant fall scenery along the Kancamagus Highway was spectacular. As evanescently beautiful the morning scene on the field had been, the ephemeral glory of the autumn colours alongside the highway was equally spell-binding.

The mountains loom on either side of the highway, and there was an ocean of clear periwinkle blue above, the sun sailing along brilliantly, the forest below us and up the slopes of the mountainsides virtually vibrating with bright shades of orange, gold, copper and red. Because of the unusually warm and clear fall weather that week in the White Mountain National forest there were greater numbers of sight-seers than is usual at this time of year, along with more intrepid adventurers stopping at trailheads and venturing off for a day's hiking.

And then, when we arrived at the parking lot for the Sabbaday Falls spectacular, we were utterly dismayed. The entrances were barricaded, and 'closed' signs prevailed. It was evident that work was being carried out in the area, and we later learned that the elevated wooden stairs and walkways leading to and from the falls were being rebuilt, so no one was permitted entry for obvious safety reasons.

No matter, we sighed and continued on the highway, heading to the Rocky Gorge state park, a half-hour's driving distance.

When we were at Sabbaday Falls in June we had feasted on the sight of the falls; that memory would have to do us until the next time we'd approach the site.