Here's the nutshell version on getting to our house

If you've got a map book and some patience the only thing that you really need to know is that the address is 716 Wentworth Rd. in Walpole, NH. Or, if you've got a GPS all you need to know is that our mailbox is at N43° 1.742', W72° 25.495' (or within 50 feet or so of that). This page is here to make things a little easier on everybody else.

In case you have no idea at all where we are in the grand scheme of things we're in New Hampshire, over near the Vermont border, about a mile from the Connecticut River. Both states are in New England in the northeast part of the USA. We're nearly 90 miles north of Hartford, Connecticut and about 85 miles west-northwest of Boston, Massachusetts. You can see the general area in this map.

From the Boston/Eastern Massachusetts area

First, get yourself onto Route 2 west somehow. You can take that directly out of Boston or catch up with it where it intersects 128, 495 or 190 (or any of the many other smaller intersections). You'll want to stick with Route 2 until you reach the exit for 140 north (note that there's an exit for 140 south about 2 miles before the exit for 140 north). Take 140 north until it intersects with Route 12 (about 10 miles). If you are feeling particularly adventurous you can just take 12 north from Route 2 in Leominster/Fitchburg but there's a bunch of traffic through the Fitchburg part so I don't recommend it.

Route 12 winds northwest just about all of the way to our house. Follow it through Winchendon, then Fitzwilliam, Troy, Swanzey, and into Keene. In Keene (about 23 miles from the intersection of Route 12 and Route 140) Route 12 hooks up with Route 101 briefly so that Route 12 avoids the center of Keene. You'll need to take a left at the first set of lights, there are signs indicating that 12 bears left so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise. If you miss it and go straight you'll get a look at scenic Keene (a nice little city).

Stay on 101/12, going straight through the lights at the intersection of Route 10, and take a right at the second set of lights where 12 north continues on alone. It's about a mile between the left turn onto 101/12 to the right turn back onto 12 alone. Here's a map to help you visualize what I'm talking about.

After that follow Route 12 north for about 13 miles until you come to BlackJack Crossing Road. It's on the right about 2 miles after you pass the intersection for Route 63. There's a big new sign that says "BensonWood Homes" right at the corner of the intersection so it's probably hard to miss. A quick map of that part of the ride. Take a right onto BlackJack and follow the directions On BlackJack later on the page.

From points south and west of central Massachusetts

Get on to Route 91 north and take it to exit 5 in Vermont (the Westminster, Vermont exit). Bear right at the bottom of the ramp onto the short access road that will take you out to Route 5. Take a right onto Route 5 and head south for about a mile. You will want to bear left onto the tail end of Route 123 to get over the bridge into New Hampshire over the Connecticut River. There is a Mobil gas station with a general store in an old building just before the left turn. Here's a map showing the general approach.

Follow 123 over the bridge to the intersection with Route 12. Take a right onto Route 12 and head south down Route 12 for about 4 miles. Look for BlackJack Crossing Road and take a left onto it. You should notice the large, new "BensonWood Homes" sign at the corner. Now follow the directions for On BlackJack.

From points north and west of central New Hampshire

Basically similar to the 'From points south' route but you'll want to head south down 91. You'll still get off at exit 5 in Westminster, Vermont but you'll take a left at the end of the ramp to head out the access road to Route 5. After that just follow the 'From points south directions'

From points north of Massachusetts and east of central New Hampshire

Well... this one is a bit of a toss-up so if you live in Maine or central New Hampshire (Concord, Manchester or even as far south as Nashua) you might already have a favorite way to get over to this part of the state. Coming down from Maine you might even want to head all the way down into Massachusetts, take Route 495 down to Route 2 and then follow the 'From the Boston/Eastern Massachusetts area' part of the directions.

From the Concord area you would probably want to take Route 9 over to where it intersects Route 12 just north of Keene. You can see it coming in from the upper right on this map. Once you are on 12 just follow it north about 10 miles until you run into BlackJack Crossing on the right. From there follow the On BlackJack part of the directions.

If you're much south of Manchester but still in New Hampshire (Nashua for instance), you'd probably want to take Route 101 all the way over into Keene and then catch up with the 'From the Boston/Eastern Massachusetts area' part of the directions just where 12 intersects 101. See this map where 101 comes in from the lower right.

On BlackJack

Follow BlackJack to the end. A few hundred yards from Route 12 BlackJack takes a hard right and then another few hundred yards down the road it bears slightly left but don't be put off, you're still on BlackJack. At the end of BlackJack you're at the intersection of Wentworth Road and directly across the street from Carolyn's parents house (an old red farmhouse). The last time I checked the street sign was hard to see from BlackJack because of a tree but it's there over on your left. Take a left onto Wentworth road and our driveway is the first one on your left, about a quarter mile up Wentworth Road. Our name is on the mailbox and should be hard to miss. Here's another map showing what BlackJack looks like.

Extra degree of difficulty route for the final stages if you're passing by Keene (also how to get to the hospital)

If you really feel like causing yourself some extra pain and anxiety but you're interested in a nice scenic route, take the back way to our house from Keene. This is in no way any faster, just more interesting and a good deal prettier. If you decide to take this one leave yourself at least an extra 10 minutes.

Instead of taking the left onto 101/12 just keep going straight into the center of Keene. About a mile from the intersection you'll come to the central square of Keene, it's a rotary type affair (incidentally, almost all of the 'in town' shots in the movie Jumanji took place at this square). You'll want to go about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way around and bear right onto Court Street. Follow Court Street for about three miles until you come to a set of lights at the intersection of Maple Avenue, Route 12A, Court Street and Old Walpole Road. Hospital note: Cheshire Medical Center is on Court Street about halfway between the square in Keen and the set of lights. Just a helpful tidbit if you want to come visit us in the hospital. You can see it on this map a little above and to the left of where it says 'Keene'. You want to take Old Walpole Road which is just pretty much straight ahead. Follow Old Walpole Road, it turns into County Road near the end, after you're actually in the southern end of Walpole. About 8 miles after the intersection with the lights you should come to a very rural intersection with Watkins Hill Road bearing right and the road the you're on, County Road, bearing left. Stay on County Road (If you want to go to downtown Walpole bear right onto Watkins Hill Road). Stay on County Road for about three more miles until you come to Graves Road. Take a left onto Graves Road and follow it to the end, where it intersects with Wentworth Road. Take a left onto Wentworth Road and about a mile down the road you'll see our driveway on the right. Here's a map of the whole painful process.