Nomad Life - Day 10

After sleeping much better than the previous night, I got up early (0600) and got ready to leave Massachusetts.  This has been one of the longest periods I've been "home" since I graduated from college in the early 1990s and it felt a bit sad to be heading out on the road "for real".  Before loading my bags in the car, I made a reservation for a hotel and then did some reading, puzzles and Duolingo - after that, I checked that I hadn't forgotten any items, said goodbye to Katie and John (Johnny was still sleeping) and got on the road.  I made a quick stop at the nearby Irving (in Pembroke) for a gas fillup (0830) and then got on MA-3 for my drive to the New Hampshire Sea Coast.  Entertaining myself with some audiobooks, I made great time (via I-93) through Boston and was at the I-95 junction before 0900.  From there, I headed north on the Interstate for the first time in many years (probably since my trip to climb Mount Katahdin in 2014).  Once again, the weather was beautiful (70s, sunny, clear) and I eagerly anticipated some outdoor activity when I got across the MA/NH line.  Stopping at the New Hampshire Welcome Center (0940), I checked on some maps and found a nearby rail trail where I hoped to get some exercise - after leaving I-95 at Exit 1 and driving south on US-1 (back into Massachusetts briefly), I was parked at the trailhead (Seabrook Bingo Hall) for the Seabrook-Salisbury Connector Trail by 1015.  My goal was to continue the New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge and this involved hiking on an unimproved section of the old railroad bed where it crosses through town near NH-286.  This was easier said than done (and probably prohibited) because all the focus is on the section south of the MA/NH border; the connector was a pretty cinder path and it led to a beautifully straight (and paved!) bike-path that headed off towards the town of Salisbury (MA).  I spent almost half an hour looking for access to the unimproved section - I eventually found it to the north of a huge patch of poison ivy at the end of the Old Eastern Marsh Trail (the paved section).  Usually, I hike in long pants but I was sporting some shorts today - dang...  Gingerly trying to avoid ticks and a rash, I skirted the greenery and soon found myself in a muddy railbed.  It was pretty easy to follow - at first - because of the direct route it took under NH-286.  As I continued, I dodged all kinds of bushes and clambered over fallen trees that were scattered over the two dark rails of the tracks.  After about half a mile of this kind of bushwhacking, I came to an impassable area of vegetation.  Seeing a clearing on the opposite side of a (full) drainage ditch, I leaped across (getting one boot incredibly muddy above my boot) to an easier trail.  For the next mile or so, I was able to walk on a better pathway that paralleled the tracks and ditch.  The mosquitos in this area were merciless - even with some bug spray, I felt like I was being eaten alive...  After passing one road where the old railroad bridge had been removed (I had to clamber down an embankment, cross the road and then climb back up to the grade), I decided to turn around at the next opportunity.  Reaching the Seacoast Shopping Center (just shy of Railroad Avenue), I veered east towards the Seabrook Police/Fire Complex and then walked back (surface streets) to my car.  I was done with my "hike" (4ish miles in about 90 minutes) by 1145 and, after carefully taking off the (extremely) muddy boot, drove a few miles to reach Red's Kitchen & Tavern, where I planned to meet one of my Navy friends, Dwight A., for lunch.  I arrived at 1200 and he got there about 15 minutes later.  For the next hour, we shared great memories of our time together in Naval Aviation, talked about family and life-goals and generally had a great time during a nice meal (Cuban sandwich, broccoli).  I also tried the house beer "Red's Brew" (it was good too) before we departed (1315).  After saying goodbye to Dwight, I took his advice and avoided the crowded beaches between Salisbury and Portsmouth (e.g., Hampton) and drove straight to the northeastern corner of the town of Rye in search of the Odiorne Point State Park entrance.  When I arrived (1400), I was pleased to find that my entrance fee was waived for disabled veterans - after that, it was only a matter of finding a parking spot.  This was easier said than done, though - the part turned out to be quite crowded because of the easy ocean access, interesting military ruins, plentiful picnic areas and the Seacoast Science Center that were all on the property.  I spent an hour walking throughout the park and enjoyed some solitude in a few places.  There were views of the Isles of Shoals, anchored shipping traffic (huge tanker ship), rocky ledges covered in birds and interesting pill boxes and revetments from the time when the US Coast needed to be protected from assault.  At one point, I stumbled across an interesting monument to the first settlers in New Hampshire, who arrived at Odiorne Point in 1623.  Overall, this park was a pleasant diversion from driving and helped me avoid the massive traffic generated by vacationers on US-1 and I-95.  At 1500, I got back in my car and drove a short distance (about 15 minutes) to the hotel I'd reserved for the next week of my Nomad Life.  The Motel 6 Portsmouth was located near the old Pease AFB (now Portsmouth International Airport) but was out of the way from the hustle and bustle.  I was able to get a quiet room and spent the next hour getting set up for a week of working.  Fortunately, I've had practice in this kind of thing and felt good about the "office".  Feeling like a nap, I fell asleep for almost 90 minutes.  Waking up just after 1800, I ate a light dinner (snacks), filled out my eBird report (the 10th in as many days) and caught up on my travel blogging.  During this time, I figured out that I'd been in this exact area of Portsmouth when I got lunch at the Texas Roadhouse in the Mall at Fox Run (across the street from my hotel) in JAN 2022.  I spent the rest of the evening watching movies (using my tablet and a USB to HDMI chord) and bedtime was at 2215.  Excited to explore the Portsmouth area during the coming week!