Nomad Life - Day 291

Up and at 'em!  After waking up at 0615 this morning, I started my telework day.  At 0800, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Econolodge (Manchester) and then returned to my room for more telework.  Following the pattern of the last few days, I skipped lunch but did have some snacks at around noon.  Other than that, I teleworked until 1600 - honestly, it was a relatively boring day "at the office"...  With my work day completed, I did some reading, worked on puzzles and caught up on blog entries.  Hoping to maintain my streak of paddling, I left the hotel at 1700 and drove through Manchester on surface streets (including Queen City Avenue to cross Merrimack River) so I could reach the Massabesic Lake area.  On the way, I decided to continue my pursuit of the New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge.  Since I wasn't exactly sure where the sections of my 2026 and 2024 hikes on the Rockingham Recreational Trail connected, I decided to park near a trail crossing I passed on Candia Road (this was after I'd already explored some nearby neighborhoods in a futile attempt to get find a parking spot).  By 1725, I was walking west in the sun (temp 88 F).  The gravely path wasn't too wide and there was mud in places.  Before long, I started to get a very strong sense of Deja Vu.  This was especially true by the time I reached the I-93 crossing (about half a mile into the section) - it was then that I realized I'd definitely been there before (I later confirmed that I'd hiked the same section back in 2024).  Confident that I didn't need to go farther (while also kicking myself for re-hiking a section I'd already done), I turned around at Page Street and was back at my car again by 1755 (hiked 1.5 miles during this stop).  Since I knew I was very close to Front Park at Lake Massabesic (I'd parked there in 2024), I drove the rest of the way there and parked at 1800.  There were a lot of people parked there - I think they were all just enjoying the lakefront views.  Without much delay, I started walking east.  The tree covered (gravel) trail was very busy with walkers and bikers.  There were, as usual, a lot of bugs but I was grateful to be in the shade while the heat of the day still raged.  I wasn't sure of the exact place where I wanted to start my backtrack but I had a limit in my head of only 45 minutes before I needed to be done (so I could paddle before the park closed at 2000).  So, when I reached the far eastern end of a swamp area just over a mile from my car, I turned around and walked west.  My (second) hike was over at 1845 (2.5 more miles) and I quickly transitioned to paddling mode.  By this point, the signage and lack of other boaters had made me wonder whether I was allowed to put Tequila Sunrise in the water here.  Throwing caution to the wind, I practically ran to the water's edge, pushed off of the shore and was kayaking by 1850.  It was only then that I took stock of the last time I'd paddled in Massabesic Lake (also in 2024) and realized that I should head north and east to continue my attempt to paddle the entire edge of the huge lake.  This took me away from the crowds and other watercraft, most of which were sailboats.  In the west, I saw large thunderclouds and it even started to rain at times.  Undeterred, I kept paddling...  There were lots of birds, the water was mostly flat and I enjoyed having shade along the edge of the lake.  Overall, it was a pretty environment.  I made it all the way to the farthest northeast corner of the main lake before turning around.  The paddle back was much more urgent because the weather started to include lightning...  I reached Front Park at 1950 and, almost as quickly as I'd launched, I exited the water.  Despite this, some people were looking at me oddly (perhaps because of all the Watershed signs about not wading, etc.).  I managed to get my kayak on the car before the park closed and headed back towards Manchester.  With my active day complete, I turned my attention to having some fun.  Last night, I'd noticed that my Untapped App had a special badge called "Bar Crawler" and that I only had to try a beer at three establishments in order to earn it.  With this in mind, I made my first stop at the nearby Candia Road Brewing Company.  When I went inside, I found they were in the middle of a comedy night.  The bartender also told me that the venue didn't offer flights so I only ordered one of their selections (standing room only at the bar).  While tasting this new (to me) brew, I was struck by the absolutely raunchy and unfunny material being spewed by the comedians (both men and women).  It was a huge turnoff, actually, and I was eager to get out of the bar from nearly the moment I took my first sip.  Somehow, I skulked out without having to answer any questions about my quick in/out (2015).  One thing that perked me back up, though, was seeing that I was parked right next to a Wendy's.  Feeling a bit hungry, I headed over there to get dinner.  There were no customers so the order delivery was very fast (2020.  Taking my warm food along with me, I drove back to Downtown Manchester (via Candia Road and Hanover Street).  Hoping to find parking near a few more bars near the City Hall, I looked around on streets close to the Merrimack River and found a good spot near the Strange Brew Tavern (2045).  This venue was much more crowded and it took a lot of work to even order.  Fortunately, the Untapped App provided some ideas for my order because I couldn't hear a single thing the bartender lady told me.  As a result, I once again only had one beer..  On the plus side, though, the bar had very good music.  Along the way, I talked to some guys that had just run a 5K (that's why there were so many people in the bar).  The Red Sox game was on all the TVs and it was clear they were playing well (lots of back and forth scoring.  With my second drink complete, I walked to the Thirsty Moose Taproom.  When I entered (2100), the bar was mostly empty and I decided to stay for a while.  As I had during the previous visit, I decided to try more of the 100 taps they had.  The bartender told me that many of them had "kicked" - when I gave my four selections, though, I was four-for-four on my choices!  Since the evening had already been going for a little while, I asked the bartender to keep the cold water flowing; she graciously complied (and I kept hydrated).  Meanwhile, the Red Sox game seemed to get much more exciting by the minute...  Outside, I kept checking the weather and was relieved that it hadn't started pouring.  Even after my "Bar Crawler" badge was earned, I stayed in the bar until 2145.  Walking back to my car, I had to contend with light drizzle but managed to make it to my car without too much trouble.  In the distance, the sky spiderwebbed (more than once) with lightning...  Fortunately, it was a quick drive to my hotel (arrived at 2155) and I spent the rest of the evening reading and watching YouTube videos before going to bed at 2245.  What a great day/night in the Queen City!

Nomad Life - Day 290

Time to move again...  Even though I'm making the most of hotel rewards this week, it still makes for some unsettled Nomad Life!  This morning, I was awake at 0545 (after another restless sleep) and started teleworking immediately.  At 0745, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Garner Hotel (Londonderry) and then went back to work.  Later in the morning, I made a reservation at another hotel in Manchester so I'd have somewhere to go when the time on this reward stay ended.  Along the way, I  skipped lunch (but ate some snacks).  Meanwhile, outside, it was partly sunny, with temperatures in the low 80s.  Morning was very productive and I stayed online until the time of my late checkout arrived (1200).  Taking a break from my work day, I then left the hotel and drove back to the Depot Road Trailhead in Windham (where I'd walked the day before).  After parking there (1220), I was walking within five minutes.  During the next 75 minutes, I logged about 3.8 miles on the Windham Rail Trail.  The main reason I was there was to make sure I completed this trail on the New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge - I'd been frustrated to learn last night that I still had one mile left after I "marooned" it yesterday...  After re-hiking the same mm 0.25 to mm 1 (paved) section again, I was able to walk on the subsequent mile - in this way, I reached the turnaround point (mm 2) I'd last visited in 2021.  During some of the walk, I listened to a work telcon (for situational awareness only).  There were fewer people out (due to the heat and being the middle of the day) and I only had to contend with a few bugs.  Overall, the walk wasn't too strenuous but I had the satisfaction of tying together some legs of the Granite State Rail Trail - I've now walked all the way from Salem to the middle of Manchester!  Back at my car again (1335), I drove north (via back roads) towards my new hotel.  Along the way, I noticed a gas station with the cheapest gas prices I'd ever seen in the area.  Not surprisingly, I stopped to fill up my tank at the Irving in Derry (1350).  After taking a look at my outdoor options, I decided to go to Backyard Brewery for a late lunch.  Starting at 1415, I ordered a chicken sandwich (side of broccoli) and also sampled four beers (taster sizes).  The bar was quieter and I had a nice conversation with the bartender.  At 1500, I departed and continued driving north on NH-28.  This choice took me through the area where the Mall of New Hampshire was located (very busy).  My goal was to reach Precourt Park and, hopefully, to paddle in Nutt Pond.  After arriving at 1515, I examined my options) - after determining they had a boat ramp, I launched Tequila Sunrise into the waters of the definitely urban body of water.  A few days before, I'd walked along the South Manchester Rail Trail on the opposite edge of the pond - it seemed bigger than it actually was.  As a result, I had to do multiple laps (3.5) just to make some real distance.  Along the way, I talked to several people (fishermen mostly) and got friendly waves from more kids.  One of the youngsters actually asked me to help him get his fishing line out towards the middle of the lake because he said he'd seen a huge pike jumping there.  Happy to oblige, I towed his line and lure out as far as it would run and then watched while the boy tried his luck (nothing caught).  The wind was calm, the sun wasn't too unbearable and (best of all) no one hassled my car.  By 1625, I'd finished my one hour (2 miles) paddle and, after loading up my kayak, I continued on NH-28 until I was able to get on Queen City Avenue.  Soon after that, I crossed the Merrimack River (close to the Elliot Medical Center).  At 1700, I arrived at my hotel, the Econolodge (Manchester).  It didn't take long for me to check into my room and I quickly resumed teleworking.  Because of my late lunch, I skipped dinner and didn't get off my work computer until just after 1930.  For the rest of the evening, I worked on genealogy research and watched movies.  Bed time at 2315.  Glad to be settled in my new Nomad Life lodging for at least four more days!

Nomad Life - Day 289

Despite the lateness of my falling asleep, I still somehow woke up at 0645 and started teleworking.  Due to the rareness of the restless sleep (despite the quiet hotel), I'm starting to wonder if the temperature control panel (and strange instances of hot air coming out of the wall unit) might be to blame.  At 0745, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Garner Hotel (Londonderry) - it was amazing to see how great the spread was!  Afterwards, I went to the Fitness Center and logged 20 minutes (4 miles) on the stationary bike (spinning machine).  By 0845, I was back online for more telework.  Strangely, though, all meetings suddenly got canceled.  Meanwhile, outside, it was a very sunny day (temps were at 82 F).  I ate "lunch" (snacks) in my room and continued working (on small projects) until 1600.  After that, I worked on my travel blog and did some planning for next few days in hotel.  Trying to assemble points for the most number of nights, I got very creative and was ultimately successful in generating enough for four rewards!  At 1730, I decided to leave my hotel and try to find some outdoor activities.  By then, it was 85 F (one of the hottest days I've had this summer) so I decided to start small with a visit to the Robert Frost Farm Historic Site in Derry.  When I arrived, the visitor center had already closed but there were walking trails, pretty views and historical signs.  In one area, I passed through a huge swarm of dragonflies - interesting!  Once I'd had my fill of the history, I made my way to the Depot Trailhead (corner of Frost Road and Windham Depot Road) for the Windham Rail Trail - I arrived there at 1800.  Nearby, there was a lot of old railroad stuff but I didn't tarry long.  Instead, I walked west to the Derry Town Line, where I'd been a few days ago (southern terminus of the Derry Rail Trail).  After turning around, I made my way east towards the place where I'd turned around in 2021.  Sadly, I hadn't researched my own notes in this regard so I just walked until I saw the 1.0 mile marker - I figured I had a lot longer to walk on the Windham Rail Trail and there was no need to overdo it today (famous last words...).  Along the way, I passed a farm field full of cows and had to dodge lots of bikers and fast walkers.  By the time I reached my car again, I figured out that I'd walked about two miles on foot.  Only later did I figure out that I could have finished the entire trail if I'd simply walked to the 2.0 mile marker - dang...  Oh well - on to the next adventure!  After driving a few miles north from the rail trail, I arrived at the closest paddling venue I could find: yes, it was Beaver Lake again.  I hurried through the launching process because I had less time than I thought I needed.  Along the way, I saw a young man getting his jetski ready for launch.  Trying to be helpful, I pointed out the sign that prohibited them in the body of water.  He ignored me and I went on with my planned kayak session.  By 1905, I was paddling (clockwise) around the lake again.  There were some special treats today, in the birding department, and I ended up seeing one of the resident eagles.  Some of the friendly residents who were working in their yards or tidying up their boats, told me proudly about a new eaglet that had been born recently.  They also explained how much they liked living in Derry and on Beaver Lake.  I had to agree that the neighborhood was wonderful!  I kept paddling, even though there was a lot more boating activity (and, subsequently, wakes).  On this topic, the jetski rider (with his girlfriend sitting behind him) seemed to get the brunt of an angry man who used all sorts of strong language to register his displeasure at their presence.  I should note, though, that I saw several similar watercraft docked in various places around the lake...  As the sun set in the distance (clear sky tonight), I managed to make it back to the boat launch.  At around that time, I ended up talking to a few young kids who (like many I've seen in the Manchester area) waved to me as I passed.  I was done paddling at 1905 and quickly packed up my kayak after dodging a motor b oat that had just been towed out of the water.  To get back to my hotel, I used the same route as previous night.  I was in my room by 2020 and spent the evening working on Duolingo exercises, completing lecture related to a second Hillsdale College course I've started during the Nomad Life and watching YouTube videos.  I ultimately went to bed at 2345 but was not feeling good about the upcoming evening (restless again).  Hopefully, the fatigue of another very active day will help me sleep!

Nomad Life - Day 288

With a new work week starting and another hotel move on the agenda, I was pleasantly surprised to wake up this morning at 0530 (long before my alarm).  Of course, I started teleworking immediately.  Meanwhile, it was pouring rain outside, just as the forecast had predicted.  At 0715, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Best Western Plus Executive Court Inn & Conference Center (Manchester).  Unlike the Super 8 (from the previous week), the dining area had a very good selection and wasn't too busy yet.  After getting done with my meal, I went to the Fitness Center and rode on the stationary bike (spinning machine) for 20 minutes (4.5 miles).  Next (0755), I raced to my room and changed into my swimsuit so I could do some laps (30 minutes, half a mile) in the indoor pool.  The lights were off in the pool area but a sign said it was open (and my key worked).  By 0830, I had finished my half mile swimming workout and quickly returned to my room for a meeting that I had scheduled at 0845.  For the rest of the morning, I worked online, counting on the late checkout (noon) I'd requested.  For some reason, the cleaning staff missed the memo but I was able to convince them to let me stay.  After packing up my car, I checked out of my room (1155) - fortunately, it had stopped raining briefly.  Hoping to wrap up my telework day before going out for some kind of adventure, I went back into the hotel and set up my computers in the breakfast dining area for almost three hours.  Meanwhile, it started raining again.  At 1450, I left the Best Western and drove to my next hotel.  During the mad shuffle, I ate "lunch" (snacks).  I arrived at the Garner Hotel by IHG in Londonderry at 1455.  This was the first time I've used this brand of IHG and it was all the sweeter because I had enough points for two reward nights!  I was in my room by 1505 and resumed teleworking - I stayed online until I reached my full working hours (1600).  Since it was still raining outside, I did some more Nomad Life research and worked on some Thanksgiving stuff.  Even better, though, I had some good communications with my daughters, especially after I bought school supplies for Mollie's classroom (it was her first day back at work).  At around the same time, I took care of some finances.  Suddenly, I noticed that the sun was shining brightly outside - after that, the urgency to get some outdoor exercise kicked in quickly!  I ate a few more snacks ("dinner") and departed the hotel at 1845.  This time, I was headed for nearby Beaver Lake in Derry - this was another place that the staff at the Manchester Distillery recommended.  I found the boat launch easily and, from 1905 to 2005, I paddled a full counterclockwise circuit around the entire lake (2.5 miles in one hour).  Along the way, I passed lots of pretty vacation homes.  No one else out on the water for most of the paddle (I did see one boat at the end).  About halfway through the paddle, the wind picked up a lot and the water got rough.  Fortunately, my kayaking arms are getting more conditioned...  After getting my boat out of the water (2010), I learned that my friend, Ed, had just lost his sister to cancer.  We talked on the phone for a little while and this seemed to confirm that I should stay in New Hampshire (and, especially, the Keene area) during the coming week.  While driving home, Google Maps suggested I take a longer route but, being sensitive to mileage on my car, I ignored the App and used the reverse route from the afternoon).  I talked to Mollie on the way and after I arrived at the hotel (2025).  For my "dinner" tonight, I had several cookies that were available in the lobby of the Garner Hotel.  Back in my room again, I caught up on my travel blog and did some Duolingo exercises.  I capped off the evening by doing some reading and watching movies.  During this time, I became quite frustrated with the air conditioning system - it had the habit of resetting the temperature repeatedly and blowing hot air out of the wall unit.  This could have impacted what happened next but, when I tried to go to sleep at 2345, I felt much more restless than I normally do.  I ended up watching YouTube videos until about 0100, hoping to get more tired.  We'll see if it works!

Nomad Life - Day 287

Once again, it's Nomad Life "moving day"...  In anticipation of the change of venue, I was awake at 0605 and spent time reading, doing Duolingo exercises and finishing up some puzzles.  At 0800, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Super 8 (Manchester Airport).  After getting done with my meal, I started packing up my car.  With some time left before I wanted to go, I worked on catching up on my travel blog and researched more reward night reservations in Manchester I might be able to take advantage of during the coming week.  If I'm creative, I can avoid paying for a hotel for the entire week!  At 1005, I left my hotel for the last time and drove north into Downtown Manchester.  Hoping to work more on the Granite State Rail Trail and New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge, I started looking for Arms Park, where I knew there was a fully completed section of the (Manchester) Heritage Trail.  I arrived there at 1025 and was was immediately faced with a warmer day (temps in mid 80s).  Still, it was sunny and pleasant again - can't complain about that!  I parked along the edge of the Merrimack River, right where it passed through the middle of the city.  To the west, I could see lots of old bridge abutments and there was one high (modern) bridge passing overhead.  Initially, I walked south to where the trail ended (just as I entered the campus of University of New Hampshire).  Hoping to connect with the other sections I'd walked for this trail, I walked on streets through the campus, crossed Granite Steet (near the Notre Dame Bridge) and walked on Commercial Street until I reached the Hilton Garden Inn (used for overnight visits to Manchester when I used to live in Hanover).  As I mentioned a few days ago, this area will likely see the junction of about four rail trails if the city can ever make the necessary improvements... Backtracking from the hotel, I walked all the way back to where my car was parked and then continued north on the remaining brick/pavement of the Heritage Trail.  It ended suddenly at an old industrial building (north of Bridge Street) and I chalked up another rail trail as complete.  It looks to me like there will need to be a LOT of work done to connect this little section with the rest of the Granite State Rail Trail...  By this point, I'd reached the two mile mark for exercise and planned to leave the area when I reached my car.  Suddenly (1100), though, I realized that I was very close to the Stark Brewing Company and it might be possible to do some beer tasting.  Fortunately, they had just opened and I ended up being one of the only customers for a little while (the place gradually filled up).  During my visit, I tried eight beers (all small tasters) and enjoyed them.  Along the way, I noticed that the brewery had several brews that were inspired by "Game of Thrones".  I guess I was being very dense (tired ?) at the time because it took an long conversation with the bartender for me to connect the dots.  Eventually, though, I realized that the bar had taken on new meaning during the last few years because of the natural connection between John Stark (the Revolutionary War General) and John Stark (nee Snow, Bastard and heir to the Iron Throne).  As the bartender told me "we just decided to lean into this" - what a great idea!  The venue had a great feel and I stayed there until about 1150.  Returning to my car, I decided to try to walk some more and thought it might be good to check out the nearby western end of the Rockingham Recreational Trail (Portsmouth Branch) before heading to my new hotel.  With very little difficulty, I found a trailhead on Mammoth Street at 1215.  I'd last walked on this Rail Trail in 2024 but wasn't sure how far east I needed to go to reach my last turnaround point.  The maps and website said the trail actually continued west from there to Tarrytown Road but that was only true in theory; the unimproved section was very short but hardly constituted a rail trail...  However, the other direction was much nicer, with a wonderfully flat, gravel section heading off in the direction of Lake Massabesic.  Despite these nice features, though, the area seemed very blighted and even a bit dangerous (more than I've usually seen for rail trails).  Added to the negative vibe, the day had gotten much warmer by this point.  But the trail made up for that problem by heading through a long line of tall, shady trees.  After walking (0.8 miles) east to Page Street, I turned around and returned to where I'd left my car (I think it was an old CVS building).  After that, I walked around near my car until I reached four miles total (and 10K steps) for my day.  Finished with my exercise (1300), I decided to try my luck with an early hotel check-in.  Everything went my way at the Best Western Plus Executive Court Inn & Conference Center on NH-28A (southeast of the Airport) and, by 1315, I was in my room!   Even though I was very close to the Super 8 I'd vacated in the morning, the area had a completely different feel.  What a difference a few miles makes in Manchester; there were pretty homes and green fields nearby.  Even better, I figured out that there was a brewery located in the same parking lot with the hotel.  Before jumping at that opportunity, though, I spent a few hours relaxing in my room, catching up on volunteering, making eBird entries and closing out some financial issues.  The room was very comfortable and the amenities in the hotel were very good.  Speaking of these, I was able to do some printing in the Business Center (even though the computer didn't work so I used my own printer cable to print a lot of items).  While in that same area of the expansive hotel complex, I checked out the Fitness Center and, since it was empty, logged 20 minutes (4.4 miles) on the stationary bike (spinning machine).  Sadly, the nearby indoor pool was packed with kids...  At 1710, I walked to the Backyard Brewery. & Kitchen.  Once inside, I sat in the "Legacy Bar" (the oldest part of the restaurant) and ordered the house burger (with broccoli on the side. I also sampled four of their beers (tasters).  Despite the good food and beer, the ambiance of the place was kind of a letdown after visiting the other places in town...  After getting done (1810), I walked back to my hotel.  By then, it was 81 F and partly cloudy.  With the forecast calling for 100% rain for the entire next day, I convinced myself that I should try to go kayaking while I had my chance.  Earlier, I'd noticed that there was a small pond close by and immediately drove there (I used back roads for about two miles).  At 1825, I arrived at Crystal Lake Park and had my kayak launched in about five minutes.  There were a few people swimming in an the enclosed area but they paid me no heed while I paddled through.  For the next hour, I logged two miles by making (3.5) counterclockwise circuits of Crystal Lake.  Along the way, I passed a pretty "kids camp" (Melody Pines) and encountered lots of birds.  Even funnier - I almost hit huge snapping turtle!  The sky was pretty but the incoming weather was already visible.  With the gate to the park closing (the sign said it would be locked) at 2000, I got out of the water at 1930 and restowed my kayak on the roof of my car.  By 1950, I was back in the hotel.  Even though it was still relatively early, I was not in the mood to be productive at that point.  Instead, I watched YouTube movies, did Duolingo exercises, checked out the Thanksgiving Survey results and did some more reading.  By 2200, I was exhausted; I barely made it another 30 minutes before turning out the lights and going to bed.  I had a very busy day in Manchester!

Nomad Life - Day 286

Celebrating one full year of Nomad Life today’!  It’s been a wild ride (almost 23,000 miles) through 38 states (plus DC) and close to 20 countries.  The idea of not having a permanent residence seemed daunting at first but has gradually become “normal”.  I’ve had wonderful reunions with friends & family, immersed myself in many amazing local experiences and gotten daily exercise in many places I only dreamed about.  I would be remiss if I didn't thank everyone who has been a faithful member of my “Pit Crew” - I couldn’t do it without them!  I woke up at 0600 this morning and spent time working on puzzles and Duolingo exercises before starting some serious reading (I've got about five books in my Goodreads queue).  Once I got moving away from my bed, I spent more time reviewing my lodging options for the coming week.  At 0745, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Super 8 (Manchester Airport).  After that, I did some more reading, Thanksgiving prep and blogging.  I finally left the hotel at 1130 and drove towards the southeast (I used I-293, I-93 and NH-102).  It was a beautiful sunny day, with temps in mid 80s - nice!  I arrived at the trailhead for the Derry Rail Trail at 1145 and felt very lucky to get a parking spot.  There were signs about a "two hour limit" and I hoped that would be enough...  I was ready for my walk on the rail trail at 1150 and initially headed north on the paved portion.  The blacktop lasted for less than a mile (I passed the "3 mile" marker) until just after I passed the parking lot for Hoods Pond.  I encountered construction signs and notes about the need for additional funds to continue the pavement to the north.  In that area, I also talked to two young skateboarders - one actually offered to let me try his board but I demurred (not looking to take any big falls).  After crossing a major/busy street, I found myself in an unimproved section of the (future) Derry Rail Trail.  Still, I continued north, through the woods, until I reached NH-28 (the future Northern Terminus).  Along the way, I passed a Remote Controlled Aircraft club (people were flying their aircraft around and I watched for a bit).  Before starting my backtrack, I  walked across NH-28 to connect to the Southern Terminus of the Londonderry Rail Trail (I'd last been in this exact location back in 2021).  With my goal in Derry completed, I returned to my car - I arrived there after walking about three miles at 1255.  I'd already drunk a full bottle of water so I got another one from my car before continuing my walk (on pavement the rest of the way) towards the Southern Terminus of the Derry Rail Trail.  Soon after that, I passed an interesting mural with lots of Derry and New Hampshire history - it turned out that Alan B. Shepard was from the town!  Continuing south, I walked more than 2.7 more miles until I reached the Windham/Derry Town Line.  After completing the Derry Rail Trail, I walked the farthest 0.1 miles of the Windham Rail Trail, which I'd first started walking (from the southern end) in 2021.  After resuming my backtrack, I discovered (near the midpoint of this trail section) that I was passing within a few miles of the Robert Frost Farm Historic Site.  This fact was made more real by the printed text of the "The Road Less Traveled" I found on the rail trail pavement (written south to north).  During my extended walk, I blew past the "two hour limit" of the parking sign.  Fortunately, when I finished at 1445 (after 9 miles of walking), the car was just fine.  By this point, I was very hungry so cleaned up (changed shirts) and then walked over to the nearby Hare of the Dawg Pub (1455).  There was a brewery next door but it was closed (due to short staffing).  But the priority of the moment was to get some (late) lunch!  Since the restaurant featured lots of hot dogs, I decided it would be silly to miss out on one of them - I ordered a "Porky Pig Hawt Dawg", which was covered in macaroni and cheese (mmmm); my side selection was tater tots - a very filling meal.  The ambiance was also interesting but I resisted the urge to get an adult beverage.  Instead, I researched nearby church service options and got lucky to find that there was a Catholic Church within about a five minute drive.  Wrapping up my meal (1530), I walked around a bit more nearby, trying to decide if I should try to squeeze any more outdoor activities out of the afternoon.  Unfortunately, there were a lot of nasty black clouds moving quickly across the sky.  After deciding against a paddle in Hoods Pond, I drove to nearby St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (arrived at 1545) and waited in my Subaru for Mass in the car.  Meanwhile, I noticed a lot of parishioners walking from the main church building and into a nearby brick building.  When I asked one lady who was passing about the situation, I learned that the church uses their school gymnasium during the summer instead of the historic church building (this is because of the availability of air conditioning in the former location).  When I then asked if the main church was open for a visit, I got a tour of the more than 100 year old building from Deacon Joseph and his wife (the lady I'd been talking with).  The sanctuary reminded me of St. Anne's in Berlin but I don't think it was quite as old.  At 1630, I went to Mass (1630) in the gymnasium, which featured folding seats and no kneelers.  The building was pretty crowded; I enjoyed the music and the way the young priest conducted Mass.  Afterwards (1725), I returned to my car and, confirmed that the still ominous weather was going to prevent me from staying outside.  Instead, I decided to head back to Manchester using NH-102, I-93, I-293 and NH-28 - at 1740, I arrived at the Manchester Distillery for my final night with my new "friends."  It's been a fun few days!  Just after I got inside the building and sat down, a whole bus load of folks arrived in a "drinking bus".  Fortunately, I got some immediate help from Emily and ordered a Pulaski Park Peach Mule (free) & Sweetie Chocolate Liqueur (free).  These both tasted great and I enjoyed the ambiance of the busy tasting room.  After everyone else cleared out, though, I got the same quite vibe I'd seen during the previous two days.  Up until this point, my bill was $0 but I didn't want to leave it like that - instead, I asked Cody to make me a bourbon old fashioned and he complied.  I spent the rest of the night visiting and exchanging fun stories with the owners.  Before departing, I explored the grassy area along the fence behind the Distillery.  As I suspected, I found the old railroad bed where the South Manchester Rail Trail extension might go if the city can find a way to overcome the marshy (and unwalkable) conditions someday.  I pointed out (to Cody and his boss) that the Distillery would have a front row seat for customers if the rail trail route is ever completed.  I said goodbye to everyone at1930 and drove back to the Super 8 (without any map).  Back in my room again (1945), I made a hotel reservation for the next night (reward stay!).  Up until this day, I'd been hoping to drive west to Keene - however, the cost of lodging and better availability for using my hotel loyalty points made me decide to stay in the Manchester area.  As usual, I closed out the evening by watching movies.  Bed time was at 2330 - a full day!

Nomad Life - Day 285

Once again, I was awake early and had started started teleworking by 0600 in my room at the Super 8 (Manchester).  At 0745, I went to breakfast in the Lobby and had the whole place to myself (although other people came and went for coffee).  After about 15 minutes, I went back to teleworking.  I then took care of some projects before my scheduled call with Tyler C at 1000.  We ended up talking for about an hour and it was great to hear the news of his impending fatherhood.  Beyond the call, I did some more teleworking.  At 1145, however, I left the hotel and drove to La Carreta so I could have one of their lunch specials.  This idea had been suggested to me the previous evening by the staff at the Manchester Distillery.  In addition to the opportunity of having some unique and interesting Mexican food, I had planned to meet up with a high school friend, Fylisity.  Even though we've had several social media interactions, we had not seen each other since our graduation in the 1980s.  Still, we were able to pick up easily with our friendship when we met up inside the restaurant at 1200.  As expected, the food was very good and Fylisity told me this was one of her favorite places to eat in the area.  However, she didn't have any appetite (due to some health concerns) so only shared a portion of the food I'd chosen ("Lunch Fajitas").  There was nearly 40 years of catching up to do and we talked for a long time.  Eventually, I realized that I needed to get back to teleworking so we got a photo together before saying goodbye (1350).  It was great to see her! I was back at the hotel by 1400 and, after resuming my telework, I stayed online until 1600 (I didn't have to work a full day because I'd "banked" a few hours earlier in the week).  With my work week completed, I packed up my stuff for some outdoor adventures and departed the hotel (1615).  Hoping to take advantage of another recommendation from Cody and Emily (staff from last night), I drove to the Manchester Distillery and parked in a free spot (up to 10 hours with no meter) right in front of the venue on South Willow Street.  It was sunny and warm (80s) but I decided to walk to the Street Fair that my distillery friends had told me was happening in the Downtown area of Manchester.  Using Willow Street and, later, Elm Street, I walked north for about one mile.  Along the way, I passed through the Gaslight District (1640) and some performance venues.  Before long (1645), I arrived at the intersection of Elm Street and Hanover Street and turned on to the latter, which was set up as a pedestrian only zone.  I walked through the "Final Friday" street fair.  Most of the tents/booths were connected with arts, crafts, etc.  Lots of kids were there, along with their moms (I saw very few men in the crowd).  After walking almost all the way to Chestnut Street, I found the Manchester Distillery tent and met up with Cody and Emily.  They offered free tasting but there was only one drink that I'd never tried before - they gave me a small shot of vodka (it was good) and I visited with them for a little while.  Lots of other people came by, from time to time, to buy bottles of liquor (I learned later that the Distillery had a VERY good day of sales).  When I'd been there for about 10 minutes, Emily gave me a "tasting coupon" (worth $3) that could be used in the tasting room.  Afterwards (1655), I walked around in the area nearby, visiting the City Hall, finding a statue of General Stark, locating my old Digital Mail Service location on Elm Street.  Downtown Manchester seemed to have been quite gentrified since my last visit and there seemed to be a lot of fresh/clean brick work.  By 1715, I began walking south again.  However, I stopped to visit the Thirsty Moose Taproom, the first one I'd seen since August 2025.  There weren't many people inside and I was able to sit at the bar with time to talk to the bartender about my goal to taste several new drinks (using my Untapped App).  He was very helpful and showed me how the bar had 100 taps!  There was no way, obviously, that I could come near trying everything but I ended up ordering a series of six (4 oz) pours of new beers.  Their "flight" concept was very flexible - the smaller pours were priced based on their 12 oz counterparts.  I enjoyed talking to the bartender as I picked different items.  I finished with my beer sampling at about 1750 and then started walking back towards the Manchester Distillery.  Along the way, I got curious about the Valley Cemetery, which was right in the middle of the area where I was walking.  However, every gate I passed was closed.  This made me even more determined to get inside - to do this, though, I had to walk a nearly 270 degree circuit of the boundary fence!  When I finally located an open gate (at Green Street and Pine Street), I enjoyed wandering through the tree lined avenues inside.  Like at the Pine Grove Cemetery a few days earlier, I encountered lots of wild turkeys.  I also found some interesting old stones - one told the story of a 15ish year old boy who died as a Union Soldier in Virginia during the Civil War.  I completed my exploration of the cemetery by 1830 and walked the rest of the way to my car (reached two miles of walking for the day).  Before going inside the Manchester Distillery, I changed shirts (my old one was very sweaty).  When I entered the tasting room, I found that I was the only customer again (the bartender lady was different, though). One of my reasons for returning to the venue tonight was to be able to sample some of the food from the food truck the staff had told me about the night before.  When I sent outside to the parking lot, I found a mobile ramen truck called "Go! Go! 88".  It looked very interesting!  After reviewing their business model, I was impressed by the setup (taxes included in the basic prices, no tipping allowed, basic food with additives, etc.).  At 1900, I ordered a White Miso soup and the owner of the food truck said he'd bring it to me when it was ready.  When he brought the food later, it was quite good.  However, my receipt (emailed to me later) seemed to indicate that he have given me the Shoyu Ramen.  Regardless, I was happy with the quantity and taste.  Meanwhile, I used my digital coupon from the previous evening ($4 off) to order the "Sweetie Special" (the same cocktail made with the chocolate liqueur that I'd had the night before).  For the rest of the evening, only one other person came inside the distillery - I found out from the bartender that I was only the second customer of the day...  After thanking me for my loyalty, she gave me a "wooden nickel" for a free drink - score!  I was done with drink, food and fun evening at 2000 and headed back to the hotel (no map required again).  Once I was in my room again (2015), I worked on Thanksgiving stuff, Notre Dame Alumni Association business and researching the costs of hotels in New Hampshire during the coming weeks.  Before calling it a night, I watched movies and a new streaming service episode ("Stuart Fails to Save the Universe").  My last activity before "lights out" was to do some Duolingo exercises.  Bed time was at 2230.  It is so great that, once again, the locals provided me with Nomad Life ideas - who needs a travel guide when you have friendly locals?

Nomad Life - Day 284

This morning, I was up at 0525 and started teleworking.  I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Super 8 (Manchester Airport) at 0750.  Afterwards (0800), I walked briefly in the parking lot to do some birding.  At right about that time, it started to rain so I went back inside and resumed teleworking in my room.  A bit later, the hotel started doing some fire alarm tests; they were loud but brief.  Not sure if I mentioned it during previous blog entries but the hotel has some significant construction going on (almost all of the first floor is essentially off limits).  I've been affected by the mess this whole week, especially whenever I want to go downstairs.  The third floor, where I've been staying is very nice - no sign of any work.  However, I've mostly had to blow off the rules to avoid using the antiquated elevator for up/down.  Anyway, back to my narrative...  I teleworked through noon and ate "lunch" (snacks) in my room.  Outside, the rain stopped earlier than the forecast had shown and the sun appeared.  Sadly, my meetings continued well into the late afternoon.  By 1545, however, I was able to wrap up my telework day and depart the hotel.  My goal this afternoon was to finish the southern section of the Manchester Heritage Trail.  From Google Maps, it appeared to approach buildings immediately across NH-3A from my hotel.  However, when I checked out that area, I found only closed gates and fences.  After this aborted attempt to get started in my walk, I drove north on NH-3A (Calef Road) until I could turn (west) on Mitchell Street.  When I reached Riverdale Avenue, I followed it to Smyth Ferry Road, where I located a dirt parking lot that was next to a gate that appeared to give me access to what might have been a formal trail into the Smith's Ferry Heritage Park.  At 1600, I started walking south and made it as far as I-293 without any obstacles.  There were many signs of homeless encampments on the way and it occurred to me that maybe I shouldn't be trying to walk in the area...  Regardless, I made it all the way to the exact area where I'd been stymied near my hotel.  After that, I backtracked (same route) and arrived at my car by 1635 (1.5 miles of walking completed).  From there, I drove (still on Riverdale Avenue) all the way to Dunbar Street.  This time, I located a format trailhead near an apartment called "The Edge".  This looked like an upscale place so I went inside the sales office to ask if I could park there.  They said no and only pointed me in vague directions for where it might be OK.  Since I'm very hesitant to have my "home" towed due to incorrect parking decisions, I was very careful to look around on some side streets.  Seeing no indications that leaving my car would be a problem, I left my car in a dirt parking area east of the Sundial Road curve and walked back to the trailhead.  By 1655, I'd reached the entry to the paved trail (along the Merrimack River) and was very excited to make my way towards Delta Dental Stadium.  By this point, the day was quite muggy and the sky was mostly cloudy (temps were 76 F).  Sadly, my euphoria was premature: the Queen City Avenue bridge was under construction and I hit a dead end within a few hundred yards.  Reluctantly (but with no choice), I backtracked to my car.  With all the non-trail walking, I logged another 1.0 miles for my day.  From the makeshift parking lot, I made my way (via Sundial Road) all the way to the Elliot Rivers Edge Medical Center.  There was plenty of parking there and, almost immediately, I noticed a back stairway that appeared to give me access to the River Walk.  I just had to cross an active railroad track...  By 1715, I was taking my chances and ended up being able to walk a section of what could be considered the Manchester Heritage Trail (from the closed trail area under Queen City Avenue Bridge to the north).  By the time I reached the Hands Across the Merrimack Bridge, I'd connected to earlier sections I'd walked and felt satisfied.  I backtrack to the Medical Center and then spent time walking in their parking lot and on the Queen City Bridge.  I reached 10 K steps for the day (logging another 1.5 miles of walking during this stop) by 1755.  Very glad I didn't give up in my quest for steps!  Hoping to find a nearby Brewery, I searched on Google Maps.  Instead of beer, however, I got an interesting result for the nearby Manchester Distillery.  When I arrived (1805), I found a pleasant (but empty) venue.  They had some inexpensive taster glasses so I ordered a flight of four drinks (bourbon, two gins and a chocolate liqueur).  After that, I tried a "Sweetie Special" (cocktail made with the chocolate liqueur).  All of this was bundled in a good package (discounted).  While I was the only customer, I had a great conversation with the bartenders (Cody and Emily).  In addition to several outdoor (trail, paddling) activities that were of interest to me, they told me about a street festival that started the next afternoon - I decided to attend.  Nomad Life always provides!  I was finished with my visit to the Distillery at 1915 and drove back to my hotel without every using any map application.  In my room again (1930), I ate "dinner" (snacks) before starting work on Thanksgiving stuff.  Later, I took care of finances and made plans for the upcoming week (lodging research).  The evening was capped off by movies, reading and Duolingo.  I finally went to bed at 2230.  A great day of exploring, walking and socializing!

Nomad Life - Day 283

Unfortunately, the rain resumed during the night and most of the day was completely washed out, preventing me from getting outside for any significant amount of time.  So, for one of the first times in a long time, I had to accept a full day of working in the hotel room.  It might have been nice to sleep later, since I'd be trapped inside anyway, but I was awake at 0545.  Oh well - I just started teleworking...  At 0750, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Super 8 (Manchester Airport).  When I finished eating, I noticed that the rain had stopped; at around 0800, the day had turned overcast only, with temps in mid 60s.  Somehow, I managed to get about one mile (2.5K steps) of walking during this dry period.  By 0830, I'd resumed teleworking and kept busy for most of the day.  Along the way, I ate lunch (leftovers) in my room.  Meanwhile, outside, it started raining hard again.  By the time my work day was over (1700), I was forced to turn my attention towards some new problems with residency, taxes, insurance and storage.  It is amazing that I've gone so long with only minor disruptions in my general Nomad Life plan but that everything seems to have gotten messy only in the last few weeks.  Fortunately, these issues are all "First World Problems" and I was able to move away from worry almost immediately.  Still, a game plan to resolve each challenge needs to be developed and executed soon...  One thing that sort of helped me get back to "calm" was getting a call with Mollie, who was driving home from her very successful trip to Massachusetts.  After we hung up from our call, I did some more Thanksgiving planning (survey updates after receiving feedback from Erin, Mollie and Shannon).  During another short lull in the rain, which I learned about after some folks gathered in the courtyard under my third floor room, I took a walk near the hotel (1900).  Like before, I got another mile (2.5K steps) of "exercise" before it appeared that the rain was about to resume.  Taking advantage of my location at that point, I stopped for some dinner at McDonalds (1920).  It's been a while since I ordered any fast food and, while eating in the restaurant, I got another glimpse of life in Manchester.  Over the last several years, I have come to the conclusion that the folks in this city (the most populous in the Granite State) have a tough life.  Even though homelessness isn't isolated to this one place in New Hampshire, it seems to be the most visible.  My hotel also shows evidence of a depressed economy - they have all kinds of signs about IDs being required to stay, local addresses being prohibited and people hanging around (and sleeping in their cars?) in the parking lot at all hours.  So there was some interesting "people watching" while I ate...  Finished with my meal, I returned to my room and spent the rest of the evening watching movies in my room.  I also had time for some Duolingo exercises, reading and puzzles.  Bed time was at 2245.  Kind of slow today but I was able to be productive and even get outside a few times.  But I'll be glad when the weather improves!

Nomad Life - Day 282

With rain forecasted for most of the rest of this week, I tried to get an early start (hoping to get outside before I missed my chance).  Things looked good from the beginning: I woke up (before alarm) at 0545 and started teleworking.  At 0755, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Super 8 (Manchester Airport).  As before, the dining area was mostly empty and the food options were good (will need to remember to delay my arrival until close to 0800).  I then resumed teleworking until 1150, when I took a break from my work day and departed from the hotel.  In an attempt to get my walk started, I drove (via some back roads) to the Walmart on Gold Street.  The day was mostly sunny and warm (mid 80s).  After parking on the far edge of their parking lot (1200), I walked a bit to the west and joined the South Manchester Rail Trail.  While walking north, I found a pretty lake (Nutt Pond) that looked like it would be good for kayaking - I started to believe I could fit in a paddle later.  Moments later, however, I noticed a man in a motorized wheel chair take a big spill along the water's edge.  Even from a distance, I could see that he was moving and alert.  As I walked over to him, I asked if I could help him get back into the chair or if he wanted me to call for help.  We ended up having a good conversation and I was able to get the ball rolling (including repositioning him, collecting his gear, etc.).  However, I didn't think I'd be able to lift him all the way into his chair.  Fortunately, I was able to flag down a young man on a bike and request assistance from two older ladies who were passing by.  Working together (though the young man did much of the heavy lifting), we managed to get him back where he needed to be.  He was very grateful but shooed us away when he was able to drive himself again.  As I retreated, I marveled (yet again) about how small decisions in my Nomad Life have led to so many interesting circumstances that would never have occurred otherwise...  Continuing north on the South Manchester Rail Trail (initially with the two older ladies), I walked to the end of the pavement and then crossed a busy street (Queen City Avenue) to follow a gravel drive that took me farther along the old railroad bed.  It was hard to tell from the maps I had but it seemed like I was still on the track of the future Granite State Rail Trail.  Eventually, though, the overgrowth, remains of the tracks and some industrial trash scared me off of the gravel; I ended up having to get off the trail as I approached the Elm Street "flyover" and I walked through the parking lot of Sunbeam Mall to reach a sidewalk.  Later, I crossed Elm Street (to the west side) and walked through the parking lot for the local Market Basket.  On the other side, I located the Manchester Rail Yard, which seemed to be the junction for a lot of the rail trails that meet in the middle of the city (South Manchester, Manchester Heritage, Rockingham, Piscataquog).  Since this area still has an active train track in the middle of it, I'm not sure how much longer the residents will have to wait for such a junction...  Regardless, I walked across the tracks to the Hilton Garden Inn (where I'd stayed during previous visits to Manchester) and Delta Dental Stadium (home of the Fisher Cats Baseball Team).  After realizing there was no chance for any more South Manchester Rail Trail (present or future), I started backtracking (mostly the same route) to my car.  I arrived at Walmart by 1350 - by then, I'd walked four miles and completed the South Manchester Rail Trail.  It was nice to check off another trial on the New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge!  The delay near the beginning and the extra distance I'd explored, however, prevented me from logging any miles in my kayak.  Oh well - hopefully, there will be more time for paddling later in the week.  After I returned to my hotel (arrived at 1400), I resumed teleworking immediately.  Along the way, I also ate lunch (snacks).  Starting at 1530, it started pouring outside - there was LOTS of lightning.  It didn't let up until after I was done with my work day (1800).  By then, though, it was quite wet near the hotel and I wasn't in the mood to go out again.  Instead, I worked on the Thanksgiving plan (developed a survey for participants) and also ate dinner (food I prepared) in my room.  For the rest of the evening, I watched movies & YouTube videos and also did some reading and Duolingo exercises.  Bedtime was at 2230.  Feeling good about the flexibility of my working hours - it really helped me to get some outdoor time on an otherwise nasty day...