118. On the Road

Week 118  10/3/17

Today we begin our long-anticipated journey to Colorado via rental van to deliver some items to Julia and John. We traveled relatively quickly, leaving Monday evening and arriving in Broomfield on Friday afternoon. We took a mid-continent route which we had never taken before (3 new states!) and with one exception stayed in chain motels. Our route took us through Pennsylvania, Maryland (the looooong way across, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri and Kansas.

Driving through the western narrow handle of Maryland on Routes 70 and 68 was interesting and beautiful. In one spot the state is only a little more than a mile across, between West Virginia and Pennyslvania.  We discovered this marker at a welcome center. The view  from the top of the hill doesn't show in our photo but it was spectacular.

In Kentucky we made a point to stop in Paducah, childhood home of a good friend. We took a photo at the very nice and welcoming public library and sent it to him but have lost track of the photo. The only other photo we took there was this curious sign at a church on a back road. We're not sure if "Guns & Meat" is the title of next Sunday's sermon or an event announcement.

We crossed the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in quick succession with the tiny southern point of Illinois in between at Fort Defiance Park.

I loved the Jetson-esque monument to Lewis and Clark.

The Ohio bridge

The Mississippi bridge

Paul planned one special stop on this long journey, so we'd have something to look forward to. We visited the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. This was a very special spot that I suspect is under-used except by local folks. The rangers were excited that we had come so far. They had severe flooding, so some of their facilities including campgrounds and the lodge are under repair and temporarily unusable. This will be great place to visit later for canoeing, rafting, hiking, fishing and so on.

Echo Bluff State Park in the Ozarks is among the riverways here, and staying at the lodge proved to be a memorable experience. What a find! But you'll need to take a long drive through the mountains to get here. This lodge was built in 2016 and is large and luxurious. There are also group cabins, small cabins, an RV park and a tent camping area. Wild horses roam the land. The lodge provides towels for swimming in the creek. The restaurant has a talented chef who prepared a tasty breakfast and dinner with local fish and wild mushrooms. The service is a bit slow, but for good food, who cares? Our room had a gas fireplace, a king bed, a balcony and a huge luxury bathroom with tub and oversized shower. The price was quite reasonable.

 

121. More wine

Week 121  10/25/17

We enjoyed a wine tasting at Nashoba Valley a while back, so purchased a groupon for another wine tasting and winery tour, this time a Zorvino Vineyards in New Hampshire.

There wasn't much to the tour. We just stood in this one spot and looked around us. The guy in the back does all of the growing and all of the wine-making. Not all of their wines are made from grapes grown here. Some grapes are purchased elsewhere - Italy, South America and California. The tasting was lots of fun. They have a great selection of tasty wines in great variety and we bought a mixed case.

The grounds were neatly tended because a major part of this business is for wedding functions. We could have had a picnic here if we were prepared.

The vineyard is not very big. This shows about a quarter of the vines.

117. Medway Public Spaces

Week 117  9/26/17

Medway is conducting a survey on parks, recreation areas and other public land to see how it can be improved. We decided to visit some of these spots today. There are too many to get a good look in one day.

This spot is behind the Medway Police Station. We parked in their lot and walked a short unmarked path to a nice clearing with benches. The officer we spoke to said it is used mostly for fishing.

By driving through the parking area of the Sanford Mills Condominiums and Apartments, the site of Medway's old amphitheater can be found. At least as far back as 1813 (Medway's centennial) the area was cleared and used for games and recreation. Now it is wooded, but a loop trail has been cleared. Here is where the Charles River flows through. Apparently this rock is a landmark. There are a couple of picnic tables and a trail kiosk with a map.

We have launched our canoe on the Charles River in Medway several times but we didn't realize that a new boat launch had been created. There was another launch spot a couple hundred yards upstream from here that was hard to manage. 

We also went to the dog park on Village Street. I thought I'd taken a photo of the sign and gate but I can't find it.

This memorial area is at the town square near town hall. There are memorials to all US wars and conflicts except the Civil War, with names of those who served.

We found the Civil War monument down the street across from the Police Station. There were no names listed though.

Memorial to Vietnam War MIAs and POWs.

This spot on Rt 109 near the Milford town line memorializes Lawrence Leigh who was Medway's only Vietnam War casualty. 

Oakland Park is across the street from our first house, where we lived when Ben was born. We spent a lot of time at the playground here. The senior center is on this property also.

The Medway Community Farm.

116. Woods and Sea Part 2

Week 116  9/17-20/17

We did a bit of hiking in the main part of Acadia on Mount Desert Island. Paul and Lenny climbed the Beehive and Lucy, Becky and Kathy walked up Sand  Beach a bit and then along the coast to Thunder Hole. When we met the guys afterwards, we took them to Thunder Hole too.

We picked a good day and time for Thunder Hole because it was thundering, but I don't think you can hear it in this video.

We also took the ring road and stopped at a few scenic spots for walks.

Park Headquarters and Visitor's Center. We also checked out a group camping spot. It would be a great place to stay for a while with friends or family!

Our last outing was a canoe/kayak trip on a lake near Kathy's house in Franklin. I'll find out the name of the lake and update here.

115. Woods and Sea Part 1

Week 115  9/16/17

We visited with Kathy in Franklin Maine, joined by Lenny and Lucy. Paul and I haven't been to this property in a long time. A house and cabin replace the trailer now.

Here is the cabin.

I love how this ladder to the loft rolls away to stow against the wall.

Kittery likes to hide in the rafters of the house.

The first

The first day we went to Schoodic Point

I think this indentation in a rock looks like a dolphin.

120. Wall dancing

Week 120  10/17/17

Paul and I had a fun few hours wandering around a section of Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary that we hadn't seen in quite a while due to flooding caused by beaver dams.


After Broadmoor we went to Wellesley to participate in the celebration of the opening of renovated Pendelton West as a studio arts and performance space. We watched a series of performances beginning with Bandaloop, a "vertical dance company."

Next we went inside to a recital hall where we heard a the Parker Quartet, a string quartet, playing several pieces of challenging (to us?) contemporary music, followed by the Wellesley College Chamber Singers performing a piece commissioned for this event.

In a hallway, student cast members from the musical Working, shared excerpts from this upcoming show based on Studs Terkel's book. The musical has been updated with new songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

We walked around the new building a bit to see the studio spaces and charming views of gardens and the campus before going home.