The Steamboats Are Here!
 

The steamboats have arrived. They kept going by my house all day. There are about 20 different steamboats ( Puffer Bellies ) at Lee's Mills. It's fun to take the boat or drive by car down to Lee's Mills and see all the different steamboats. There are so many differnet shapes and sizes. They wiil be here all week.

Steamboats are here...
 

For the past several years (2-3) I have taken my granddaughter to see the steamboats. Today was the day, and her daddy came with us. What a great time.

All of the people we spoke with were overflowing with information, and more than willing to tell tales and impart their wisdom.

We were there about 1:00 PM today and most of the 35+ boats were preparing for a parade leaving Lee's Mills about 2:00 PM. There were oil cans, bags of split wood, wrenches, rags, and other assorted steamboat "gotta haves" all over the place. And sure enough, between 2:00 PM and 2:30 PM most of these guys shoved off with a haze of smoke, steam, and screaming, blasting, and hooting whistles as they majestically headed for the parade route.

As a stark contrast, at the end of this week, in Wolfeboro, there will be a Classic Boat Regatta with high speed, high octane fueled, and somewhat noisey old racing boats (all in mint condition).

But, today, and through next Sunday, the peaceful, the calm, the somewhat mysterious, maybe cantankerous, but ever so classic and majestic steamboats rule the upper end of Winnipesaukee.

Thank you, Steamboaters.

Steamboat Rally 2009
 

Love those steamboats
 

I have seen them by water but may not be able to this year.Can somebody give me directions to get to the Lees Mills area by car.

From Meredith, follow RT 25 into Moultonboro and go right onto Blake Rd, this is right after the Moultonboro Elementary school. Follow Blake Rd to the end (Lees Mills Rd) and go right. The docks are at the end. On your return, if you follow Lees Mills Rd back to the other end (without turning), you can eat at the Woodshed.

Warning: The elementary school is right in radar alley, the SL is 30.00000000000 or 20.00000000000 during school hours (not necessarily what your speedometer shows either). Put your cup of coffee on the dashboard, it will be heated for you on the way thru :)

Many thanks WiFi.I see it clearly on the map now.Wasn't I in that area last year for the FF?Is the Loon society right there also?

That is correct, its about at the corner of Blake and Lees Mills

Is this a place where you could bring the kids to see the boats?

Sure is! It would be a treat (when the boats are at the docks). These are town docks, btw, so its not like you are on private property. Everyone is prowd to show off their boats, especially to the young and impressionable :)