A few staff are bidding goodbye now that the summer is ending, and we can't help but look back on a few of the good memories that BDH has left us with. The air quality in Rumney might be foggy, but our memories are not. Despite the rocky weather, Barn Door Hostels' foundation remains rock solid enough to continue to dispense dreams Daily. While there are many things that BDH has taught the folks that walk through its doors, living life slowly and deliberately is the most important takeaway. The rain has allowed all staff members to realize that traditions as ritualistic as waking up to do the 8 am dip in our beloved brook to as random as attending every Thursday night Karaoke are memories we cannot take for granted. Days might feel long, but the weeks are very short, and you must enjoy every moment this magical place offers. As much as we have hated the frequent rain storms, it has made us love the sunny moments all the more.
One favorite sunny memory is the staff rafting from Livermore Falls to downtown Plymouth. What should have been a slow/deliberate trip downstream quickly turned into a speedy 45-minute sail. The wild and rambunctious current was so high from all the rain that our tubes and blow-up mattress whizzed down without snag. With snacks in hand and drinks in our cooler, our staff had every reason to want to go down the river just one more time (that quickly turned into three more times).
Our staff can flip a bed like a beast, but we also have the voices of angels. A local pizza restaurant in downtown Plymouth, The Grotto, has the best Karaoke in New Hampshire. From singing It's Tricky by Run DMC to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero's hit Home, our staff covered every genre you could think of and blessed all of Rumney with our lovely voices. If you're looking for a good slice of pizza and some entertainment, the Grotto is the place you need to be.
On a sincere note, we (Izzy and Gwen) have enjoyed every morning waking up here at the hostel, and care dearly for all the people we've formed this makeshift family with. Thanks BDH and Dave for an amazing summer. Live free or die.
—Gwen and Izzy