Nomad Life - Day 293

"And now for something completely different..."  Even though it was a weekend day and I'd stayed up late, I was still awake by 0515.  I passed some time by reading, doing Duolingo exercises and puzzles.  There was also come time for cleanup (mostly clothing and paddling gear).  At 0800, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Econolodge (Manchester) and found the same lack of care in the dining area (I didn't bother to check who was working at the front desk).  Like yesterday, though, I got lucky and arrived before the food/drink was gone.  Back in my room room, I did some more reading and got ready for a day away from Manchester.  At 1010, I left the hotel and drove south on back roads until I could access the Everett Turnpike south of the tollbooths.  After getting up to high speeds, I drove all the way to the outskirts of Nashua and exited the highway at NH-111.  To reach the center of town, where I hoped to walk on one of the two rail trails in the area, I had to follow a busy one way street with lots of lights.  Even after I arrived at the place I was searching for, I then had trouble finding free parking.  In the end, I just drive up and down a series of one-way side streets until I was able to find an open spot on Palm Street (next to the "The Arbor" restaurant).  By 1055, I was walking west on the paved surface of the Nashua Heritage Rail Trail.  The day was very sunny and warm (high 80s).  Even worse than some things I'd seen in Manchester, there was nasty graffiti everywhere and the historical/inspirational murals were almost all defaced (it was interesting to see that the ones championing black history had been left alone).  There were also a lot of  homeless on nearly every corner, in every park bench and even in the middle of streets with traffic passing.  About the only sign of civic pride was a well-maintained community garden that lined both sides of the western end of the trail.  When I reached the western terminus (Will Street near Simon Street), I started my backtrack into the center of Nashua.  I found the eastern terminus in just over a mile from where I'd turned around - some white bricks on the sidewalk near the City Clerk's office denoted where the old railroad bed used to cross Main Street.  By then, I wasn't very far from my car and I didn't tarry long.  My walk was finished by 1150 - I'd logged 2.4 miles at this first stop of my day.  Hoping to check out another rail trail, I made my way east, through the city, until I was able to park in a free spot on Temple Street (1200).  Google Maps said that a railroad (and pedestrian) bridge there was called the "Nashua River Rail Trail" but I later researched online and learned that it isn't connected to the main trail that bears that name.  Regardless, I was able to walk for another half mile (including the backtrack) from the south side of the Nashua River to a restaurant called Margaritas on the north side.  Finished with this little jaunt (1220), I decided to go in search of the longer Nashua River Rail Trail.  This required a bunch of driving on more busy city streets (and, later, to cross the Everett Turnpike on NH-111) but I managed to eventually located the trailhead for the northern terminus in Gilson Road.  By 1235, I was walking towards Massachusetts!  The rail trail passed through pretty neighborhoods and crossed several busy streets.  At times, the trail clearly deviated from the old railroad bed because there was a building in the way.  There were LOTS of bikers and, even, some friendly kids on motor bikes - the latter waved to me every time they broke the trail rules and raced by me.  I did like how shady the trail was at times.  At 1300, I arrived at the MA/NH border (Dunstable, MA) and paused to make some birding observations.  After a little while, I turned around and retraced my steps.  The walk back to my car was relatively uneventful and I was back at the New Hampshire trailhead by 1320.  Two more miles of walking and the Nashua River Rail Trail (New Hampshire section) completed.  I took a short break from racing around to each "lunch" (snacks) and try to coordinate a meet up with my local friends, Kevin B (he was out of town), and Fylisity (she said she'd meet me for a drink in the evening).  Next, I drove to nearby Mine Falls Park, which was located just north of the local YMCA.  There was very limited parking and I eventually decided to take my chances with an extra-long spot with the works "boaters only".  From a large kayak/canoe launch chute, I launched Tequila Sunrise into the Nashua River at 1350.  By then, it was overcast and windy.  With the dam to the east of me, my options for paddling were limited to heading upriver to the west.  Along the way, I talked with lots of fishermen.  The wind was definitely a factor, as was the shallowness of the river in some places.  After about 30 minutes, I felt like I'd gone as far as I dared and paddled back towards my car.  Before getting finished (1450), I checked out the barrier in the river near the dam - there was a strong current there.  I'd paddled another 2.5 miles in one hour and felt good about keeping up my kayak street.  During the next 10 minutes, I stowed my boat (difficult because of all the "illegally" parked trucks with boat trailers around me).  Just as I started up my car, I noticed that every one of the half dozen boats I'd passed while paddling had suddenly (and urgently?) raced to the boat launch in an attempt to get out of the water.  I didn't stay to see what caused this ruckus but guessed it might have to do with the rather ominous looking anvil clouds in the distance...  Next, I drove to St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Chuck in preparation for Mass.  I arrived in their parking lot at 1505, changed clothes and read for a little while.  It was still very hot (87 F) but I had found a good spot with shade in the huge parking lot.  At 1530, I went inside the church.  Due to some significant construction (I learned later it was a major renovation), the Parish was using their gymnasium for Mass.  The service began at 1600 and I enjoyed the experience of watching their Deacon in action (he was helping a guest priest).  Similar to last week, there were no kneelers and I was intrigued by the introduction that was read by the lector before all of the readings.  For a lot of the rest, though, I felt a bit left our because the Parish had some “inside baseball” traditions that no guest would expect.  Oh well - it was another chance to see how different churches run things and I liked seeing some more variety.  I was back in my car by 1650 and made my way back to the Everett Turnpike so I could head north to Merrimack.  After I exited on to the Daniel Webster Highway (US-3), I passed though the whole town without a venue in mind.  On the north side of the populated area, I stopped to search for a bar/restaurant on my Google Maps - I ended up seeing a place very close and was at the Tomahawk Butchery & Tavern by 1710.  While perusing their menu, I ordered the house IPA and then noticed the restaurant featured the specialty I'd heard about (from Don and Peggy) the day before.  My server said she didn't like the full belly fried clams special (it came with fries and cold slaw) but the bartender told me it was her favorite.  In the end, I tried to break the tie and ordered the local specialty.  Despite the rather steep price, I did think the food was good.  My server asked (as many seem to do) about my Nomad Life and we had a good conversation since the restaurant wasn't full of people yet.  Meanwhile, Fylisity never showed (I can't say I was surprised....)  After I paid for my meal and said goodbye to the nice staff (1840), I took some photos of the "Live Free or Die" billboard outside.  I left Merrimack at 1845 and followed US-3 back to the Everett Turnpike.  Reaching my hotel by 1900, I spent the rest of the evening cleaning up and watching movies.  Tonight, I was very ready for bed and had all the lights out by 2240.  What a great day in Nashua!

Nomad Life - Day 280

Like the night before, I didn't sleep all the way through the night.  Fortunately, though, my phone's white noise worked until the battery died (at 0630).  Figuring that was a hint for me to attend morning Mass, I quickly did some reading, puzzles and Duolingo.  After I got ready to depart, though, I realized that my car was boxed in between Mollie's and Katie's.  Fortunately, John had just gotten up and moved the obstacles.  During that short window in my morning, I believed I'd see my brother-in-law, sister and daughter again when we all met up at the Barnstable County Fair on Cape Cod...  After promising John that I'd stay in touch about the plans, I was then able to drive to St. Mary's Church for Mass (0730).  The service, as usual, was quick (although Father Chris wasn't there).  I arrived back at Katie & John's house by 0830.  By then, everyone else (except Mollie) was gone.  With the lull in activity, I started laundry and made reservations for my upcoming Nomad Life lodging.  Like all the other times I've tried to stay in New Hampshire this summer, I had trouble finding something affordable.  In the end, I settled for a Booking.com reservation (which, for some reason, was cheaper than using the Wyndham site) to stay in Manchester near the Airport and Mall of New Hampshire) during the coming week.  Mollie was awake at 0900 and we visited a bit.  At about that time, Katie and John started sending texts that revealed they planned to leave for Cape Cod at noon and stay for more than seven hours.  This would have created a much longer day for me than I wanted and, when I talked to Mollie about my concern, she said she'd understand if I left for New Hampshire (rather than go with her to the Cape).  Sadly, though, this meant that we had to say goodbye almost immediately.  It has been a great visit!  She got packed up and was getting ready to leave when Ella arrived.  What a surprise!  There was a short amount of time to visit before Mollie departed (0945).  Since my niece needed to work online, I left her alone took care of paper work, finished my laundry and packed up my car.  I also had some "brunch" (cereal and the last slice of Papa Gino's pizza).  By 1145, though, I departed Hanover ("South") and headed north.  The day was sunny again (temps 73 F).  As usual, I used MA-3 (lots of traffic), I-93 (busy through Quincy) and finally arrived at the Big Dig tunnel just after 1215.  There was the regular slow down but no traffic jam.  On the north side of Boston, I was able to drive quite quickly and made it to I-293 without incident.  Turning off the Interstate at NH-3A on the outskirts of Manchester, I found my hotel (Super 8 Manchester Airport) at 1310.  When I tried to check in (early), they asked me to wait for about 45 minutes.  No problem - I was just glad to be off the highway...  To pass the time, I drove north on NH-3A until I found a quiet place to park.  For about 30 minutes, I did some birding in Pine Grove Cemetery - I saw wild turkeys and lots of Canada Geese.  The weather in central New Hampshire had become partly cloudy, with temps in the low 80s.  By 1350, though, I was back at the hotel and they let me check into my room.  The building was dated, under reservation and seemed to have a rather sketchy clientele but I was happy to have a place to call my "home" for a full week.  Over the next few hours, I did some reading, took a nap and (with several trips) unpacked my car.  Along the way, I also checked out the internet for my work week (good) and convinced one of the cleaning staff to let me have an office chair for my room (it was initially missing one).  At 1800, I ate "dinner" (snacks) - for some reason, there was no microwave in my room so I asked the front desk staff if I could use the one in the lobby for future meals (they agreed).  I did some more reading and did some Duolingo exercises before watching some YouTube videos.  At 2010, I went walking near the hotel and was able to reach 5000 steps (2 miles) for the day.  When I finished (2035), I watched some more movies until bed time (2315).  Looking forward to exploring the biggest city of the Granite State!

Nomad Life - Day 279

Unfortunately, I was up in the middle of the night because of very bad reflux (from the lateness of eating Papa Gino's pizza).  Added to that, I was very warm in the guest room - I opened a window and it got better.  Somehow, I fell back to sleep...  Awake again (for good) at 0745, I did some reading, puzzles and Duolingo exercises.  Then I worked on my blog and set my iPhone on the window sill of the guest room so that my Merlin App could pick up the bird songs - there were a lot of species!  After that, I rested on the guest room bed and waited for everyone else to get up.  Mollie finally came downstairs at 0930, followed shortly after that by Katie and John, who made us breakfast (eggs, bacon, pancakes).  While the morning activities continued, I participated in a light hearted debate about whether to drive into Boston to visit the Boston Harbor Islands Visitor Center on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.  The alternative was for Mollie to (once again) miss a chance for a stamp in her National Park Service Passport Book.  Ultimately, everyone decided against going as far as Boston, opting instead for a visit to Quincy and the Adams National Historical Site.  Soon after this conversation, Katie and John departed for a funeral (it started at 1300).  Soon after that, I rode with Mollie (in her new car) into Quincy (we ate snacks on the way).  We parked in a garage behind the Visitor Center and learned that they validate for the whole day - nice!  We explored a bit nearby but, at 1400, started riding around on a National Park Service trolley (free).  We made a brief stop at the Adams Birthplace "Farm" and I found the the actual Deja Vu (from 1976) I'd felt at Peace Field (where I visited with Katie in June) was, instead, supposed to be connected with the Farm.  Mollie not impressed that the word "Farm" ("there aren't any animals, only two old houses").  Fortunately, I had already convinced her to stay on the (crowded) bus all the way to Peacefield.  She grumbled a bit on the way there but seemed OK by the time the bus made it's last stop (1430).  We got off the bus at the former home of two Presidents (#2 and #6) and toured the garden.  In contrast to my visit in June, there were totally different flowers in bloom.  Mollie liked seeing the rabbits that were hopping around nearby.  Within about 10 minutes, though, we started walking back towards the Visitor Center in the center of town, stopping to honor statues of the Founding Fathers.  At one point, I signed for John Hancock in a video that Mollie made.  Next, we checked out the Hancock-Adams Square and visited the United First Parish Church, where John Adams and John Quincy Adams are buried.  Beginning at 1455, we got a tour of the crypt - it was very interesting!  Katie and John started texting (about meeting up for a trip into Boston) at this point so Mollie and I decided to leave.  Before departing Quincy, though, we checked out more statues (e.g., a nice park honoring John Quincy Adams).  Back at Mollie's car, we departed (1530) and made our way back to Hanover (via the reverse route of earlier in the afternoon).  Upon arrival at Katie & John's, we ate late lunch (leftover pizza) and then got ready to depart for Boston.  During this window, Mollie and Katie kept trying to verify that there were/weren't stamps for the Boston Harbor Islands in the city (I maintained that there were).  At 1645, Mollie, Katie and John and I departed for Downtown Boston.  The traffic was, as usual, horrible and it took a long time to get there.  When we finally arrival in the South End, Katie found a parking spot near the Custom House and we quickly walked over to Coogan's Pub (arrived at 1735).  For the first time ever, our server to give us free drinks upon showing him our ID cards (Katie convinced him)!  Along with the drinks, we ordered snacks.  As I'd seen during previous visits (but had forgotten), it was a very loud venue!  Perhaps it has something to do with their $1 beers...  Even though Mollie's food never arrived, I ate my own dinner (to avoid the reflux recurrence).  Humorously, the two free beers arrived just as we were wanting to leave...  On top of that, the server messed up my bill (hope things turn out OK).  With our fun at Coogan's completed, Katie moved her car and we left the pub (1845).  Next, we walked to Faneuil Hall and, once inside the NPS Visitor Center, we found a Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park stamp.  Ha!  Mollie hadn't believed me and, since she hadn't brought her Passport, I had to buy her some stickers (to put the stamp on) for her National Park Passport Book.  We checked out Quincy Market (Mollie and my sister were looking for food) and stopped to watch a few street performers.  After that, we walked back to the South End waterfront and checked out the Boston Harbor Islands ferry launch area.  We saw M/V "Brant Point" (old Hy-Line ship that used to take us to Nantucket) in the harbor!  We also watched the Harbor Seals at the New England Aquarium (1925).  After we walked across nearby Columbus Park, we accidentally located buildings connected to the Prince Macaroni Company, where my grandmother (Virginia) worked in the 1920s and 1930s.  In the immediate area, we found "The Prince Building" (built in 1917 and located at 45-63 Atlantic Avenue & Commercial Street) and later went in search of (and found) the original Prince Street Storefront (at 92 Prince Street).  Along the way, we also explored several Italian neighborhoods.  As we walked deeper into the North End (2000), we paid our respects to Italy's famous son, Christopher Columbus, and visited St. Leonard's Parish (the earliest Italian Catholic Church in the city).  While looking for (and waiting at several) dinner venues (very difficult), we stumbled across the St. Joseph Feast, a neighborhood religious festival taking place along Hanover Street (near the Battery).  Starting at 2030, we enjoyed browsing the tents and stalls of several famous Italian eateries.  The event was put on by St. Joseph Society (located in the North End of Boston) and the members wore special blue shirts.  They apparently also carry the St. Joseph statue through the streets during the festival (we didn't see that, though).  My daughter and sister had lots of trouble getting food (big lines).  Eventually, though, Mollie settled for some kind of sausage wrap (very messy).  I learned later that it may have been called a "Panuozzo", described by Google AI as "a classic Italian sausage and peppers sandwich served on long, folded/crusted bread); it is a popular street food at Italian festivals, made with fresh sausage, melted cheese, and tomato sauce packed into a long, oven-baked bread fold."  (Mollie claimed, though, that it was called a "pizzone".)  Mollie and I sat in chairs near the state, where there was a rousing musical performance.  Eventually, John and Katie found us there and everyone finished up their dinner.  We left the festival at 2115 and had to walk back (through Columbus Park and over towards the Custom House) to where my sister had parked.  Once back inside Katie's car, drove back to Hanover (not as much traffic) and arrived there at 2215.  We found some fussy cats - they apparently hadn't been fed.  I spent a little time visiting with everyone but then retired to the guest room at 2245.  Before going to bed (2345), I spent some time reading and doing some Duolingo exercises.  What an amazing day of exploring, history, culture and family memories!

Nomad Life - Day 278

It's been a great week but it's finally time to depart from New Hampshire's North Country.  I was sad about this until, last night, I had a hard time sleeping because of the Canadian Forest Fire smoke smell got overwhelming at 0330 (I guess the holes in the door jamb were no match for the ash...).  Somehow, i managed to fall back to sleep again and finally woke up to start my telework day at 0645.  Earlier in the week, I'd worked extra hours so didn't plan to stay online long.  At 0800, I went to breakfast in the lobby of the Rodeway Inn (Gorham).  Like many of the other mornings, it was very loud in the dining area and I couldn't wait to get back to my room.  After I resumed teleworking, I verified that Mollie was on the move (she was driving from Scranton towards the Boston area).  Armed with this information, I knew I had a green light for our meet up at Katie & John's house in Massachusetts and didn't need another hotel.  At 1050, I started packing up my car and (five minutes later) checked out of my room (just over three hours of telework completed).  Before leaving Gorham, I drove west on US-2 to fill up my gas tank at the Irving station (1100).  When I turned around and drove back to the east on US-2, I passed "Dozer" and "Fast Cash" (hitchhiking).  Unlike last night, I waved but didn't stop.  Instead, I took NH-16 towards the south.  The weather was nice again (70s and sunny) and there wasn't much traffic yet.  Earlier, I'd started texting with Mike N (a friend from High School), who had said he might be able to meet me for lunch just south of Conway.  However, by the time I reached that point in my drive, he said he was tied up with work.  Instead of stopping, therefore, I continued around the west side of Conway at 1145 (used back roads near Cathedral Ledge.).  Back on NH-16, I encountered lots of slow traffic.  While trying to get some entertainment (to pass the time), I discovered new features with the subscription of Spotify (Mollie had gifted it to me).  Still on NH-16, I drove almost all the way to Rochester (which I bypassed).  I was soon driving on US-202 and then used NH-126, NH-9, NH-125,  New Boston Road and NH-108 to reach the Massachusetts border.  When I reached I-495, I decided to drive east (wanted to get on I-95 because my map app showed lots of red on I-93).  I then got off at Macy Street and stopped for a break at an Irving in Amesbury (1400).  Back on the road again (within five minutes), I drove south on I-95.  Along the way, I skipped lunch but ate snacks in the car.  Meanwhile, the traffic starting to build up (I guess took too long on the "scenic route").  By 1500, I'd reached the northern edge of Boston and was then stuck in a traffic jam for over an hour, just to drive about 25 miles.  The temps had risen to 82 F and the sky was still sunny and clear.  For some reason, Apple Maps routed me around the I-93/US-3 merge in Braintree and I ended up on city streets through Quincy. At around this same time, I joined a work meeting (finished the rest of my telework hours).  After much frustration, I finally arrived at Katie's home in Hanover (1600).  I'll admit to some relief to see that Mollie was already there.  We spent time visiting with John until Katie got home (just after 1700).  My sister was, by then, sick of her own work day - she suggested that we get some food (to go) and eat it at Nantasket Beach in Hull.  No one argued with this plan and John put in a pizza order at the Norwell Papa Gino's (a take out staple from my youth on Cape Cod).  By 1800, we'd departed from Hanover and stopped at the Big Y in Norwell (1820) to get some drinks to go with our dinner.  After our food was ready (1830), Katie drove us to Nantasket Beach.  Starting at 1845, we enjoyed our evening on the beach, eating our pizza, drinking some "Fresh Pick" beer (from Fort Hill Brewery), enjoying a rousing performance by the "Satuit Band" in the Bernie King Pavilion (they started at 1920), visiting a fish market, taking a walk along the waterfront (including passing by the remnants of Paragon Park and the restored Paragon Carousel) and watching a beautiful sunset beyond Boston Harbor (at around 2000).  Mollie and I talked a good bit and noticed other items of interest: a partially devoured fish (big), several influencers braving the cold water for their videographers and lighthouses in the distance.  My daughter told me that she liked the South Shore much better than the Outer Banks of North Carolina (I agreed with her).  After a wonderful evening of family and fun, we all drove back to Katie & John's (arrived by 2130).  We visited a bit more (and watched the cats playing) before I retired to the guest room for the evening (2230).  Beyond that, I read, did Duolingo exercises and then went to bed (2315).  Glad to be seeing Mollie, Katie and John again!

Nomad Life - Day 245

After another restful New England night with the window open, I woke up (at 0630) at Jack and Shelagh's house in Essex.  I had time to do some reading, puzzles and Duolingo before getting ready.  After packing my bags in the car, I did some birding on Shelagh and Jack's screened porch (0730) - there were probably 30 species, including my first sightings of a Black-and-White Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.  During this window, I made a hotel reservation for the Seacoast of New Hampshire while eating breakfast (tea & scones) with the family dogs (Ollie and Skye) lying under the table.  At about 0815, Shelagh took me on a drive on the family four wheeler (to explore more of their 30 acres).  Jack had told me last night that he first bought the land before he was married to Shelagh and had added to it over the years.  The home was a labor of love for his new family.  This morning's expedition was foiled by downed trees on the property "forest road."  Back at the house again, I laughed to see the golden retrievers chasing the tractor.  Shelagh then took me for a ride in her convertible to explore prominent locations around Essex County.  Initially following MA-133, we drove out into a salt marsh area so we could get views of Choate Island (site of the 1996 filming of "The Crucible") and then headed southeast to "downtown" Essex, where their boat was moored.  Along the way, Shelagh told me about the family's time in the area (schools, homes, churches, friends).  Passing beyond the town and on to Essex Avenue, Shelagh drove me to Conomo Point, which was swanky by itself but had views of a nearby island from "Front Beach".  To the north, there were some buildings (including a stony ruin of something that looked like a castle) - Shelagh told me that one family owned most of the land on the opposite side and that it could only be reached by a family "water taxi".  Very pretty!  During this time, I realized that I could wear my ball cap in the convertible without losing it.  This was good because the sun continued blazing down from above...  We then made our way (via Southern Avenue) to Manchester-by-the-Sea.  Shelagh pointed out all the people who had ridden the train from Boston and were carrying their floaties along the sidewalk to the beach.  We stopped to see the Harbor and Singing Beach - very pretty!  Backtracking towards the northwest, we drove back to Shelagh's home (arrived at 0945).  Once we'd put the car away, we met up with Jack and coordinated for future family meetings.  I might have stayed longer but it was clear that Jack's health and the fact that it was Father's Day weighed heavily on Shelagh's mind.  Taking the hint, I said goodbye and departed for New Hampshire at 1005.  I followed MA-133 to the nearby town of Ipswich.  IN some sort of "we were here first" tug-of-war, Ipswich and Sandwich are in a never ending competition for the oldest homes in New England.  There wasn't time to go looking for these but I did pass the "John Brewer Home" (built in the 1680s) before I finally reached I-95.  I listened to audiobooks as I drove through the overcast (75 F) weather towards New Hampshire.  After crossing the border (1040), I exited the Intestate at NH-107 and drove east to US-1.  Since there were still many hours before I'd be able to check into my hotel room, I stopped to do some shopping at a Walmart in the town of Seabrook.  After getting my supplies (1110), I walked over to a Panera Bread and ordered some lunch.  When it was ready, I ate in the restaurant and made plans to continue walking on the New Hampshire Seacoast Greenway.  At 1200, I parked on Depot Road ("Residents Only" Lot) in the Hampton-Seabrook Estuary and started north on an unfinished section of the Greenway.  Along the way, I had lots of birding opportunities, saw many people walking their dogs and encountered bikers who'd started riding in Newburyport (MA).  I plodded along and kept meeting the bikers when they paused for breaks.  I walked through groves of trees and (barely cut) bushes - at times, it was hard to follow the correct trail.  Occasionally, the sky dropped some rain on me and I really regretted not bringing an umbrella...  Eventually, I reached the southern terminus for the completed trail and found lots of nice gravel and signage.  Wonder if they will ever build the trail all the way out to MA?  After walking about three miles, I arrived at the Hampton Airfield (where I'd eaten lunch with Joe C back in AUG 2025).  I started my backtrack there as the temps rose and walked back towards my car.  Before long, I started smelling a strong cigar smell and found an old man walking his dog.  As I reentered the Estuary area, I noticed that the tide had risen significantly since my past passing.  In the distance, I saw lightning and heard ominous thunder.  I could also see the old Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant.  Even though I was was tempted to continuing south on the unfinished trail when I reached my car, I decided to finish my walk at 1410.  By then, I'd hiked about 6 miles (nice).  After driving back to US-1, I drove a short distance to the Best Western Plus (Hampton) and was able to check into my room at 1425.  I got my computer set up and worked on my blog and made eBird entries for a little while.  Later, I responded to (lots of) Fathers Day messages I'd received.  Outside, it rained hard!  At 1600, I left my hotel and drove (via US-1) to Portsmouth so I could attend 1630 Mass at Corpus Christi Parish (Immaculate Conception Church), located near Goodwin Park.  (It had stopped raining by then.)  After all my travels, being back in the Manchester Diocese made me wonder if I'd hear lots of Latin and elaborate songs.  In the end, the service ended up being almost all in English and was accompanied by familiar songs from my youth.  I departed the church at 1710 and drove (through the center of Portsmouth) so I could cross the Piscataqua River into Kittery, Maine.  I had hoped to return to Definitive Brewing Company Tasting Room (see AUG 2025) but was stymied by Google Maps (not available as a search) and had to "settle" for a stop at Tributary Brewing Company, which had been closed on the days when I visited last time.  I later learned that Definitive had removed to Portland - in fact, I learned that almost all of the Kittery Outlet stores were closing up shop,  My stop at Tributary was well worth the effort and I tried a satisfying flight of (four) beers, starting at 1720.  There were lots of friendly locals and a nice bartender.  I wrapped up my visit when they closed (1800) and then drove a short distance towards Eliot to do some birding (1815 to 1830).  Beyond the birding, I returned to New Hampshire (via US-1 Bypass bridge),  Back on US-1, I drove back to my hotel (arrived at 1845) and began my slow retirement for the day.  I checked in with some friends who are usually in the area (Joe C and Dwight) but learned that I'd miss seeing both of them while I was on the Seacoast. I had a nice call with Brenna and then watched movies until bed time (2230).  Even though I wasn't with my daughters today, I still had a great Father's Day!

Nomad Life - Day 244

My sleep in "The Playhouse" (Sandwich) was pretty restful and I woke up, refreshed, at 0645.  I'd kept the window opened all night (temps dropped into the 60s) but had blocked the sunlight with a blanket - that helped a lot.  Before going inside Dad and Beth's house, I did some birding (0715).  I also did some reading, puzzles and Duolingo before packing up my belongings.  After getting a shower (inside the house) and loading up the car, my dad cooked breakfast for me.  There was time for us to visit briefly before I said goodbye to my rowdy dog friends: Serina, Daphne and Tiarah.  By 0815, I was on the road towards Boston.  Outside, it was sunny, clear and 70 F.  Using MA-6A, I made it to the Sagamore Bridge and crossed over the Canal - beyond that, I was on MA-3 and made good time to Plymouth.  Unfortunately, there was a major traffic jam just before US-44 and I was very fortunate to get a warning in time to depart the highway.  With everyone else headed east on some kind of detour, I headed west and eventually (after multiple suggestions for a U-Turn) convinced Google Maps to give me a more direct route.  This ended up taking me on some gravel roads through the Cooks Pond Wildlife Management Area.  I started to wonder if I'd made a mistake as I headed further and further west but then hit (paved) Watercourse Road and was able to weave my way back and forth across MA-3.  In this way, I bypassed the accident and soon (just before US-44) was back on MA-3 and had no further incidents.  Along the way, I made great progress with my audiobook.  Later, I got on I-93 and followed that for a few miles - after that, I used Boston city streets to reach MA-203 (AKA "The Arborway").  On this route, I passed Franklin Park (memories of High School Cross Country State Meets) and saw signs for Roxbury.  A bit after that, I passed Hellenic College & Holy Cross and, following Google Maps suggestions, took narrow residential streets in Brookline.  My target during the morning hours was the Frederick Law Olmsted NHS and I arrived there at 0935.  After many years of visiting parks developed by this great man, I hoped to learn more about his impact on the field of landscape architecture.  After looking around inside the home and exhibits, I got a "personal" tour (I was the only guest) at 1000.  Along the way through the facility (a design firm that apparently had about 6000 projects during Olmsted's tenure), I got a refresher of the parks designed by Olmsted that I had seen before: Franklin Park (Boston), Audubon Park (New Orleans), Mount Royal (Montreal), Central Park (NYC), Capitol Grounds (DC), Rock Creek Park (DC), Theodore Roosevelt Island, Yosemite & Acadia road designs, etc. The guide was very knowledgeable and I asked LOTS of questions (fortunately, Mollie wasn't there to scold me for "geeking out").  I finished up my visit at 1045 and next made a two mile drive to the John F. Kennedy (Birthplace) NHS.  Unlike the Olmsted home, I believe I could have once visited this next park when I was kid (but can't remember).  To reach the NPS Park Unit, I had to follow a series of tough (mostly one way) city streets.  Eventually, I realized it would be easier to park on a side street about half a mile away and walk.  Using this strategy, I arrived at the historic home by 1100, just as a tour was beginning.  The guide (Summer Volunteer ?) was very "flamboyant": (best word I can use to describe them).  We were joined by World Cup Fans from Scotland (clearly attired) and some annoying people from New Mexico, who seemed to be worshiping at the altar of the Kennedy's throughout the tour.  Our guide actually locked the door of the home but didn't seem to have a lot of knowledge of what was historic (other than the main "birthplace bed").  As a result, the tour group members were free to opine and talk about all they knew.  Eventually, I started feeling stuffy and bored and asked if I could leave the tour.  My first attempt was quickly rebuffed.  When we finished our look around on the second floor, though, I again asked to be excused - this time, I was "rescued" by a permanent ranger (lady) when I expressed that I wasn't feeling well.  The difficulty in getting out of the tour was frustrating but, when I checked my watch later, realized it had only been 30 minutes total.  Returning to my car, I made another three(ish) mile drive to the east so I could visit our old family home on Dale Street in Roxbury.  On the way, I passed the Harvard Medical School.  Arriving at the address where I'd last seen the old building (back in the 1999 or 2000 timeframe), I was a bit surprised (despite a warning from Gerard) that it had been demolished and replaced by apartment buildings.  I had hoped to find some reference to the place but was disappointed.  Across the street was the prominent Malcolm X Park - I guess that is now the most prominent landmark... Between 1145 and 1215, I explored nearby and found Malcolm X’s sister’s home (being improved for inclusion in the Boston NHP.  I also checked on some property on Wakullah Street (where other family members had once lived) but found that those homes were also gone.  Beyond Dale Street, I had to follow another three miles of slow (traffic lights, pedestrians) city streets to reach my next target: the Dorchester Heights Monument.  I arrived there at 1230, found a parking spot and walked to the top of the rise.  From there, I could see a large amount of the Boston City Skyline and, to the south, the South Shore.  The weather by then was marvelous and I would have stayed longer if I hadn't made plans for later in the afternoon.  Departing at 1245, I made my way through another maze of city streets until I could get on I-93.  The usual "Big Dig" traffic made the transit of the city painful but I was pleased to soon reach the north side of the Charles River.  From there, I made my way via city streets, MA-28 (AKA "Fellsway"), MA-60, MA-99 and US-1 towards the North Shore.  Along the way, I passed through Malden, where other relatives used to live.  My destination during this leg of the drive was the Saugus Iron Works NHS and I arrived there at 1330.  By then, the temps had reached 80 F.  Since the mid 1600s, the site was the inspiration for nationwide iron (and, later, steel) production.  The exhibits were very interactive and interesting and I was tempted to stay nearby for a tour which purported to turn on all of the machinery in the historic iron works.  However, there just wasn't enough time if I wanted to reach my cousin's (Shelagh's) home in time.  I did visit every room and building with equipment, asked lots of questions of the rangers and wandered along the edge of the (nearly silted in) Saugus River.  At 1415, I departed and continued north (via US-1) towards Cape Ann.  When I finally got on a more major road (MA-128), I was excited about making quicker forward progress.  Instead, I was soon in a 10 minute backup while the cars to my right were shifting lanes constantly.  Finally, I was able to get a bit of speed - but then it was time to exit (on to Grapevine Road).  I passed Gordon College and followed several back roads (and, briefly, MA-22) into rural Essex, MA.  Somehow, though, I arrived at Shelagh and Jack's right when I told them I would (1500).  Almost immediately, I was absolutely floored to see their beautiful home.  It was HUGE and saw on a high bluff overlooking a pretty pond.  Also on the property, there were lots of "outbuildings", garden areas sports courts (etc.).  This was my first time at their home (and meeting Jack) and they seemed extremely pleased to have me there.  By this point, Shelagh had already suggested that I spend the night - this would allow for more visiting than a quick "stop through".  I spent time drinking and ralaxing with my family before Shelagh took me on a tour of the grounds.  We eventually sat down on a peaceful "Zen Porch" at the end of the lake and were joined by the family dogs (golden retrievers, Ollie and Skye).  Shelagh and I talked there until about 1745, when she realized that it was time to cook dinner.  Back inside their home, I spent more time visiting with Jack.  At about 1830, the food was ready and we ate dinner on the Pergola.  Hummingbirds came to feed just over our heads and, in the distance, the waterfowl were very active on the pond.  We enjoyed the evening air until about 2030 and then returned inside to watch a World Cup Match (Curacao v Ecuador = draw).  Beyond that, we watched an episode of the History Channel "World War II".  By 2230, I began to feel quite tired (despite not even making my step goal for the day).  Excusing myself, I retired to the guest room and capped off my evening with some reading and Duolingo - I finally went to bed at 2300.  What an amazing home!

Nomad Life - Day 243

Throughout the night, I woke up at various times because my neighbors at the Blue Rock Resort (South Yarmouth) continued carousing loudly.  Things could have been worse, though - I eventually figured out how to start up the loud air conditioning unit and that drowned out the noises for a few hours.  Still, I didn't really feel ready to get up when I was finally awake.  There was no use crying, though, because the golf carts and/or lawn mowers had already started up at the Golf Course) by 0515...  Even though it was a Federal Holiday, I was allowed to work for a few hours (to catch up on a few more projects). As a result, I was able to log five hours online, with only a short break for breakfast in the hotel lobby.  After packing up my car and checking out of the Blue Rock Resort (1030), I started driving west towards the Cape Cod Canal.  Outside, it was breezy, overcast and 73 F.  Following some city streets, I was able to get on US-6.  On the way, I listened to audiobooks.  My drive was not as long as it might have been if I was heading all the way to Boston - today, I was driving only to Sandwich.  In fact, I didn't even need a map app (the route was so familiar) but I might have benefited from the additional information - just before I reached the Quaker Meeting House exit, I noticed a small construction warning sign and barely had time to deduce that the MA-130 exit was actually closed.  This small piece of intel prompted me to get off the highway early and I made it to my dad's home by 1100.  He and Beth were working in their garden and I visiting outside with them for a little while.  My dad had let me know we had plans at 1130, though, and we were soon on our way to the American Legion Hall, which was holding a monthly luncheon.  I attended as a guest of my dad and was warmly welcomed by my fellow veterans.  My dad's friends, Paul and Brian, were also there - I'd first met them last summer at a Cape Cod Baseball League game.  The lunch (pizza, salad, snacks) was very good and I enjoyed watching the raffles that occurred afterwards - my dad even won a $25 gift card for groceries!  I became intrigued about the organization and asked for a tour of "The Store", which included a large quantity of non-perishable and useful items (toiletries) that local veterans could get (for free) during weekly visits.  Since the whole thing was supported by donations, I was inspired to give money.  Before I left, they gave me a few items, insisting that they were "for everyone." At 1315, we said goodbye to everyone and headed back to Dad & Beth's house (we gave Beth a cupcake).  We didn't stay for long, though, and were soon on our way again.  My dad had told me that he wanted to show me the (recently renovated and reopened) Benjamin Nye Homestead & Museum, memorializing a family that settled in the area in the mid Seventeen Century.  The house itself was built in the 1680s, meaning it's not the oldest home in the area but it was definitely well preserved.  After exploring the Grange Hall (on property) and a nearby "Mill Building", my dad and I took a tour of the main homestead (starting at 1415).  The guide (Sam) was very good and made each room interesting.  My dad got a little fatigued and I felt like I needed to depart as well.  So, at 1500, we left the departed at about 1500 and drove around nearby.  For the first time, my dad showed me the "Wing Fort Home", which was built in 1641 and was continuously occupied by the same family for nearly 300 years.  In the same area, there were other (old) historic buildings, which were very interesting to me.  My dad, realizing this, next took me to see the Quaker Meeting House, which I don't remember ever seeing before.  Behind the historic building, there was an equally ancient cemetery.  Before returning to Dad's home, we drove through the Glass District and stopped at the Beach.  By 1600, we were back at the house and I spent a lot of the afternoon sitting in the back yard with Dad & Beth's three rowdy dogs (!!!!).  At 1730, we went inside and celebrated my birthday with some cake - I was still full from the luncheon and skipped dinner.  After watching the dogs salivating over my cake, I felt bad for them and played with them for a little while.  Next, I told my dad that I wanted to go for a walk.  In response, he asked me to go with him to try out a new trail system in the Spring Hill area of Sandwich.  Of course, I agreed eagerly.  The Great Island Preserve trail was new enough that the parking lot wasn't very obvious.  Also, the trail was only barely marked with blazes.  The area was very pretty, though, and my dad and I made a full circuit of the trail system.  One big highlight of the evening was when we stopped to rest on a bench with a view of Cape Cod Bay - all the way to Plymouth!  We finished up our (roughly two mile) walk at 1900 and drove back to the house.  Hoping to reach my 10K step goal, I afterwards (1930) went for a walk in the neighborhood.  The weather was pleasant and I was able to find some quiet areas for quality walking.  By 2020, I'd returned to my dad's home (goal achieved) and got settled in "The Playhouse" (guest cottage).  When I went inside to brush my teeth, I learned that my dad had found some ticks on him.  After checking myself thoroughly, I didn't find any (this could be due to my use of bug spray before we departed for Great Island Preserve).  Crisis averted, I settled into the bed and read, did eBird entries and worked on my blog.  Bedtime was at 2230.  Great day with my Dad!

Nomad Life - Day 242

Another day on Cape Cod!  I was awake this morning at 0600 and immediately began teleworking at Blue Rock Resort in South Yarmouth.  There were dull noises in the background (aircraft noise overhead, golf carts and lawnmowers)  At 0715, I took a break to eat breakfast in the lobby of the hotel before going back to teleworking.  Outside, it was overcast and breezy (temps in mid 70s F).  I took another a break at 1215 to have lunch with Nancy G.  Unfortunately  the 5-10 minute drive route was ruined by significant construction on Bass River Road.  I saw signs that the Red Cottage Restaurant was open but, when I checked with a cop who was watching the road, ended up getting a tongue lashing of sorts (sarcasm, annoyance with tourists, etc.).  After taking a long detour towards West Dennis, I was finally able to get on MA-134 and, after using some back roads, to my destination at 1230.  While waiting for me, Nancy had gotten us on the waiting list for a table and, just as I exited my car, we were assigned one.  Since the restaurant was going to close at 1400, we quickly - I got an interesting "BLT" which had almost two inches of turkey meat, bacon, lettuce, tomato on a cranberry ciabatta roll.  This turned out to be a good meal!  Along the way, Nancy and I had a nice time visiting and catching up on news of our mutual friends from school.  Sadly, I wasn't able to see Rick - maybe next time.  At 1350, I said goodbye and departed (via the long way / detour) the restaurant and, by 1400, I arrived back at my hotel room and resumed teleworking.  I stayed online until 1710, resisting the urge to stop well before that...  Despite several days of concerted efforts, I'd been unsuccessful in coordinating a get together with several family members and some friends.  Instead of moping about it, though, I decided to go exploring and visit places from my youth.  First, I used back roads (in South Yarmouth and Dennis village) to reach Setucket Road - from there, I drove into Brewster.  Using A. P. Newcomb Road and MA-6A, I arrived at Lower Road, which took me to the (Old) Brewster Cemetery.  By then (1730), it had gotten VERY windy (temps still in mid 70s).  I paid my respects at my mother's grave site and then spent some time walking and exploring.  I ended up finding some other (new) burials of other family members and the parents friends from my youth.  During this time, I also spotted a new (to me) sign about a recently discovered "Holding House", where bodies were stored (especially during the winter) until they could be interred.  Next, I departed the cemetery and backtracked towards the west.  Instead of leaving Brewster, though, I stopped for a short walk at the Paines Creek Beach and Landing (1800).  On the beach and retaining (stone) wall, it was even windier.  I stayed for a little while and saw some interesting birds.  Continuing west, I made my way back towards Dennis.  On the way, I saw several brazen turkeys in the street.  I made a stop at Scargo Tower and climbed to the of of the (newly renovated, including adding some height) structure.  From there, I could see a lot of Cape Cod Bay but the overcast, wind and (apparent) rain in the distance obscured some of the view.  It occurred to me that it has been more than 40 years since I stood at the top of Scargo Tower and watched Halley's Comet (FEB/MAR 1986).  After my nostalgic journey back in time, I drove back towards Yarmouth.  Before crossing the town line, though, I stopped at a parking lot near Alexander Drive so I could hike for a little while on Dennis Conservation Land.  For the first time in decades, I walked around the (western) edge of Run Pond.  I suppose you could say that this was the "Walden Pond" from my youth...  Ignoring the "No Trespassing" signs, I explored areas where I'd once had complete freedom before the Town decided to restrict it.  Along the way, I spotted two Baltimore Orioles, probably the first I've seen in Massachusetts in nearly 50 years.  Finished with my walk (1915), I continued west on Setucket Road towards MA-6A and made my way into Yarmouthport.  My target destination was the Bass Hole but I got distracted when I saw several local people clustered around a new monument on the Village Green.  When I got out to look at it, I learned that we were only two days away from the 250th anniversary of the date when scores of young men volunteered to join the Continental Army.  Their patriotism and, in some cases, ultimate sacrifices, greatly aided the successful fight for freedom.  The monument and some nearby banners were apparently placed their in anticipation of a town-wide celebration just days later.  While looking around in the Green, where my mom had brought me to play many times in the 1970s, I talked to the locals for a while.  Proceeding to Gray's Beach, I was disappointed to find the Boardwalk closed (for maintenance).  Regardless, there were still beautiful sunset views - the location has never disappointed.  I ended up meeting some tourists (with lots of questions) from Newport, RI and stayed at the beach until 2015 and then headed back towards my hotel.  I got to talk to Brenna on the way.  When I arrived (2040), I was very unhappy to find that my new neighbors at the Blue Rock Resort had decided to "gift" all of their fellow guest with sounds of loud partying and music (mostly Johnny Cash) blasting from a boom box.  Annoyingly, they kept at it for almost an hour and I wondered if I'd ever get to sleep...  Meanwhile, I watched movies, read and did Duolingo exercises.  While I was getting ready for bed, the music suddenly stopped (I can only assume that the hotel staff put a stop to the obnoxious noise) and the whole Resort became completely silent.  Ahhhh...  I was able to settle into my bed by 2300 and crossed my fingers for a restful night.  More visiting with family tomorrow!

Nomad Life - Day 241

After another restful sleep., I woke up at Katie and John's home in Hanover (0600) and started teleworking in their guest room.  Thankfully (especially after yesterday's dull day), I had meetings all morning and only had a chance to take a short break for breakfast at 0745.  Luckily, that was the same time that Katie was available and I was able to coordinate use of her laundry machines.  After starting a load in the wash, I returned to my meetings and was quite busy until almost noon.  While loading up my car, I had another opportunity to talk to Katie and Ella (mostly about my Nomad Life itinerary) before saying goodbye to them and departing Hanover (1215).  My first stop was in Hingham, where I stopped to get my slice of free birthday cake from Bertucci's.  I'm not proud to say this, but the delicious chocolate confection, along with some other snacks, constituted my "lunch" for the day...  Next (1230), I drove to Cape Cod (using MA-3).  It was mostly a good ride (light traffic) and I made excellent progress through an audiobook that needed to be returned the following day.  At the Sagamore Bridge, I witnessed the aftermath of a horrible accident on the other side of the median.  The resulting traffic jam (all the way into Barnstable) brought up memories from my time as a full-time resident in the area.  I don't miss that kind of thing...  I used US-6 until I could exit the highway at the West Barnstable (Marstons Mills) ramp.  By 1330, I had arrived at Johnny and Gabby's home and, with my nephew's help, got back online for some meetings (teleworking).  Milo the cat came to visit me and, after he jumped on the table, tried to join in the discussions.  Meanwhile, Johnny worked on several chores for his job (co-located) - Gabby was at work so, unfortunately, I missed seeing her.  At 1600, I put away my computer and took a tour of the fish farm and home where Johnny spends all his time.  The process of spawning the fish, raising them and moving them around the different fishery beds was fascinating!  Before departing, I spent a little more time visiting with my nephew and got a feel for his future plans.  After saying goodbye to Johnny, I drove (via US-6) to my hotel in South Yarmouth.  On the way, I had someone honk their horn at me for not turning left in front of traffic - yet another thing I don't miss AT ALL...  When I reached the Blue Rock Resort (1710), I checked into my room quickly and resumed teleworking for the last time.  It was strange to be in this hotel because I remember it from when I was a kid - not much of the look was different but the owners were definitely not native Cape Codders... Confident that the computers were working well for the next day of work (1830), I cleaned up and departed the hotel to drive to Buncey's Pizza & Sports Bar in South Dennis.  So much of the drive was familiar from when I was a young boy on my bike...  I arrived at the restaurant at 1845 and ordered a local beer (Devil's Purse) in the pizza area.  My friend, Bryan, and his wife (Shawn) arrived about 15 minutes later and asked that we move over to the pub area.  By then, that part of the building was rowdy and loud (not my cup of tea...).  Despite the raucous crowd, we ate a good dinner (I had a chicken fajita bowl), had some more beer and visited.  Bryan and I concluded that we had last seen each other in the 2002 timeframe, making it nearly 25 years since we'd had a good conversation.  As a result, we talked A LOT (much to Shawn's chagrin, I think).  But there was a lot of mutual respect, fond memories and family news to share.  Meanwhile, the most unbearably loud Karaoke began in the same room.  This experience was a far cry from the fun time I had in Oslo and my friends must have agreed because we moved back over to the "pizza side" of the building.  The difference between the area was pronounced but the whole venue just got louder and louder as the evening continued.  Eventually (at 2230, during one of Bryan's smoke breaks, where I'd joined him), I had to cry "uncle" and say goodbye.  This decision coincided with the obnoxious behavior of the bartender lady, who (apparently) was one of my former classmates from the 1980s.  I didn't remember her at all and, even if I had, would NEVER have been friends with her (sarcastic, crass, etc.).  So, despite a great evening with my friend, I was glad to leave.  When I reached my hotel (2245), I walked around in the Resort until I'd reached half of my daily step goal (2330).  I definitely need to do better...  After that, I did some Duolingo exercises and went to bed (2345).  It's definitely bittersweet to be on the Cape...

Nomad Life - Day 240

With the window again overnight, I was able to sleep well as the temperatures dropped.  One downside, though, was that the birds started chirping loudly.  As a result, I woke up at 0515 (long before my alarm) and started teleworking in Katie and John's guest room in Hanover.  The more time that passed in the morning, though, I began to realize that getting an early start was almost a blessing because it would free up some time in the afternoon for me to visit Gerard (we'd planned to get together).  Work-wise, it was a VERY slow day (all of my meetings were abruptly canceled).  I took one break for breakfast and even had a chance to eat with Katie before she left for work.  Also, I had the chance to set my phone in the window sill of the guest room - with the Merlin App running for about 45 minutes, I caught recordings of dozens of interesting bird species.  For most of the morning, the temps stayed high 70s - the partly cloudy skies definitely helped.  Meanwhile, I continued teleworking until it was time for another break (for lunch) at 1300.  I finished the pizza that Ella had brought home from Montilio's.  Later, I visited some more (while sitting on the deck) with Katie.  John came home while we were talking and I greeted him before getting back online for my job.  This ended up being one of those rare days when I didn't feel productive at all - I wished that the meetings hadn't been canceled but had no control over the work tempo in DC from my Nomad Life "home base"...  Fortunately, I was joined at times by Toby (the cat), who jumped into my lap for attention.  At 1515, I departed from Katie and John's house and drove south (on MA-3) so I could visit my cousin, Gerard, in Plymouth.  After making my way through significant slow downs on the highway, I reached his home at 1600.  It was great to see Gerard!  Even though I'd seen him last August, I had taken two multi-week vacations during the intervening period and he was eager to hear about everything I'd experienced in Southeast Asia and Scandinavia.  Before I got into that, though, we ended up talking about current events, family drama and the World Cup (Gerard seemed to be a huge fan).  Eventually, I was able to give him all the details that he craved but it took far longer than I'd planned.  In fact, I was shocked to see that it had gotten almost completely dark during the narrative.  In the end, I didn't depart Gerard's house until 2100!  He seemed happy, though...  The lateness (and the required drive back to Katie's home) almost guaranteed that I would have no chance to get anymore steps (my final step count was only just over 1000 steps and less than a mile - dang)...  Still, I am not sorry that I made the decision to visit my relative.  I returned to Hanover (arrived at 2145) and visited with John, Katie and Ella before retiring for the evening.  In the guest room, I spent some time relaxing.  There was time for Duolingo, blog notes, reading and coordinating with family & friends (activities for rest of the week) before it was time to head to bed (2300).  When I turned out the lights, I didn't open the window since the room was not nearly as hot as it had been during the previous few days.  It's been a great visit to Plymouth County!

Nomad Life - Day 239

Overnight, the temps cooled down nicely and I ended up having a really good sleep with the window open.  Feeling refreshed, I woke up at 0630 (before alarm) and started teleworking in the guest room of Katie & John's house in Hanover.  I worked steadily for a few hours and took care of some meetings before Eileen let me know she was available for a long awaited call (for the first time since I'd returned from Europe).  When I hung up with her, I let Ella know that I had time to go out for breakfast (we'd discussed this possibility a few times during the preceding days).  At 0945, we drove (in Ella's car) to Lucky Finn Cafe in Hanover (arrived at 0945).  While waiting for our orders, we had a good talk about my niece's Spring Semester abroad.  She also asked me a lot of questions about my own trip (nearly simultaneously) to Europe.  When our food was ready, I was pleased to find that it was very tasty.  At 1020, Ella let me know that she needed to go to the doctor so we hurried out of the restaurant and back to my sister's home (arrived at 1030).  After saying goodbye to Ella, I resumed teleworking and had several meetings over the next few hours.  Outside, the temps rose into the high 80s - ugh...  At 1300, I took another break and ate lunch (pizza from Montilio's that Ella had brought home from her job the previous night).  Returning to my computer, I struggled through the hottest part of the day (and even succumbed to turning on the Heat Pump to try to find relief).  Even with the slight improvement, it was still pretty hot...  Regardless, I stayed online until 1730 and then used the next 30 minutes to work on my blog, finish puzzles, catch up on reading and do Duolingo exercises.  When I heard my sister and John's voices in the living room (they'd actually arrived home a bit earlier), I went out to greet them.  We spent some time visiting on the deck and then Katie made dinner (tacos).  Along with some more of the Milam & Greene, I ate a nice meal with my sister and brother-in-law.  As usual, our conversation ranged all over the place and I had to admit that it is sometimes very nice to have conversations with people who've known each other for decades... At 2000, I took a walk nearby and was very happy to find that the weather had cooled back down and, even though darkness was rapidly approaching, I still managed to get more than three miles of walking in (met my step goal) at the Hanover High School.  There was no one else anywhere near the school by the time I started back to Katie's house.  Along the way, I noticed a spectacular crescent moon (with the darkened portion visible) and some planets nearby - very pretty.  I reached the guest room again by 2115 and briefly talked with John, Ella (she was just heading out for the night) and Katie.  "Buddy" the cat made an appearance and seemed to want me to play with her.  After giving in to her wishes, I said goodnight to everyone and adjourned to the guest room, where I watched some movies and did some more reading before heading to bed (2300).  Other than hearing the (distant) meows of the family cats from time to time, the house was almost completely quiet - my family's home is very conducive to teleworking!  

Nomad Life - Day 238

This morning, I woke up at Katie & John's house in Hanover by 0630 and spent time reading, doing puzzles and working on Duolingo exercises.  I thought about going to an early Mass (0730) but didn't.  Instead, I worked on travel blog and caught up on eBird entries.  I also spent some time planning for the coming week (i.e., lots of texts to relatives).  However, I skipped breakfast.  Next, I got ready and checked some things in my car - by 0915, I left my sister's house and headed towards Our Lady of the Angels so I could attend their 0930 "Family Mass".  Outside, temps were in the mid 70s and the sky was sunny and clear.  The church's air conditioning unit had apparently failed and the Pastor opened all the windows and doors - there was a pleasant breeze.  I managed to find a good place to sit (behind the Altar) and joined the congregation in boisterous singing and joyous celebration.  When the Procession entered the building, I was startled to see a familiar face.  Actually, though, I didn't believe my eyes - how could the Priest be the same one I'd seen before, elsewhere?  When Father Chris introduced him later in the Mass, he mentioned Kenya and I thought "see, I was wrong".  But then he said, "Father Gabriel is the Chaplain at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia."  That did it - what a small world!  This was the same Priest that I'd met when I went to hear Kim play the night after I returned from Europe in May.  I decided to stay after church and meet up with Father Gabriel - I also planned to text Kim, to tell her the news.  Meanwhile, the Mass continued at a very fast pace - it was clear that Father Chris was trying to encourage the kids to enjoy church by avoiding lingering on the longer, slower parts of the service.  We skipped at least one reading and a few other prayers before the Liturgy of the Eucharist began.  It all seemed like it was working to give the young people (who sang and prayed loudly) a good start in their Faith.  When the service ended (1015), I made my way to the front of the church to meet up with Father Gabriel.  He was shocked (as I had been) to see me and talked excitedly about the strange ways of life.  I was going to depart but then he asked me to stay until he could finish greeting everyone else.  When he was finally done (1025), we visited for a while and took photos to share with Kim.  He asked for my number and said he hoped I'd visit Marymount again soon.  Afterwards (1035), I drove back to Katie and John's house and settled in to wait for the family to return.  I ate a bit of food ("lunch"), read some more of my books and worked some more on the travel blog.  When Katie arrived (1330), I visited with her briefly and then got ready to go out for some exploring.  By that point, she'd arranged for me to see Dan, Aria, Gigi and Levi later in the day.  Meanwhile, John was still at the the nearby community event in his Bluey costume and Ella was working at a pizza restaurant.  When Katie and I finally left the house, she started driving towards her old home in Quincy.  As we passed through the historic downtown area, I asked her if we could visit "Peacefield", the home of President John Adams and his family (and, later, the home of President John Quincy Adams).  Katie agreed and then admitted that she'd never been there in all the years she'd lived on the South Shore.  For my part, though, I remembered visiting the area during the 1976 Bicentennial era.  Today, though, I wasn't certain if I had been at Peacefield or the nearby Birthplace Farm (John Adams and John Quincy Adams).  Regardless, it has been 50 years since I'd been at the National Site...  Katie used her map app to find the correct area of Quincy and, after some driving nearby, we found some convenient parking right in front of the historic building (1445).  On the front deck, we found three (volunteer) rangers who were happy to talk to us about the park, the available access points and life as a park ranger.  Katie was amazed at this local attraction that she'd missed but I was filled with Deja Vu moments of coming to visit the home with my mother.  "Peacefield" was well preserved but only available to enter with a pass issued by the large (but distant) Visitor Center for the Park.  However, we got a nice consolation prize in a tour of the Gardens and exterior of several buildings on the property.  We saw some of Abigail's roses (still alive after being planted in the late Nineteenth Century).  Along the way, we went from having the place to ourselves to seeing large groups of people being offloaded by an NPS Trolley every 30 minutes or so.  Feeling a bit crowded, I suggested that we leave.  Katie obliged and we drove east until we were on Hough's Neck, where my sister's family lived in the last 1990s and early 2000s.  The neighborhood looked mostly the same but she pointed out how a tree had been removed that had previously blocked the view of the Boston Skyline - now she would have had a completely unobstructed vista of everything.  Katie next took us to one of the Boston Harbor Islands, (nearby) Nut Island, and parked in the lot of the NPS unit at 1545.  We got to see lots of seabirds and walk along the high bluff above the harbor.  Katie told me that she, John, Brian and his wife (Katie) had traveled close to this island during a boat trip a few days prior.  We departed at 1550 and started driving back to Hanover.  Katie and I got to catch up on a lot of family news along the way.  We also almost hit a whole flock of Turkeys (mom and babies)...  After arriving back at Katie’s at 1630 we waited (almost impatiently) for the arrival of Aria, Dan, Gigi and Levi - they reached the house at 1700.  Aria greeted me with a comment "Welcome Home!" and I told her that it was nice to think that this really was the place where I could come when I needed a break from the Nomad Life.  We then visited for a while - this was my first time seeing (and holding) Baby Levi but I was amazed to see how much Gigi had grown since my last visit (see AUG 2025).  I had fun playing with the kids and talking to Aria (meanwhile, Dan went to play tennis nearby).  The fun continued until 1815 and then we had to say goodbye.  Sad...  John arrived just in time to wear his Bluey costume, which scared Gigi, but I heard later that his granddaughter asked about her "hero" for the rest of the evening.  At 1845, Katie served us some dinner and I ate with her and John until almost 1945.  The meal was good and we enjoyed some more of the bourbon.  At 2010, I departed for a walk, stopping to visit with Ella on the way (she was in her car in the driveway).  Outside, it was 75 F but significantly overcast.  While walking from my sister's house to the Hanover High School (and using their track in the twilight), I logged about three miles of walking and reached my step goal for the day.  After returning to the house (2130), I watched movies in the guest room until 2230, when I went to bed.  What a great day of history, sight seeing and visiting with family!

Nomad Life - Day 237

After my late bedtime last night, I was relieved to be able to sleep late (no alarm set) - I wasn't really awake until 0715.  After that, I spent some time reading, doing puzzles and completing Duolingo exercises until 0800.  Next, I ate a filling breakfast in the lobby of the Econo Lodge (Lee / Great Barrington).  Back in my room, I continued my (fruitless) pursuit of "catching up" on my blog entries.  Finally, at 1045, I loaded up my car and departed the hotel.  It was bright, sunny, clear and pleasant (mid 70s) as I resumed my drive east (from Lee) on MA-102.  Almost immediately, I realized that Google Maps was going to send me on a very circuitous route if I insisted on avoiding tolls.  This was actually frustrating because I could see roads heading due east.  Hoping to shorten the overall driving distance (and with no urgency to be anywhere), I decided to just keep adjusting my route with my Subaru's compass as I drove.  This ended up being a bit harder than I'd hoped...  I soon reached US-20 and began driving on a section the locals call "Jacob's Ladder".  This seemed very familiar but I couldn't remember why - when I crossed into the town of Becket, though, I realized I'd been at the Appalachian Trailhead there (at least once).  Like yesterday, I route kept weaving around a Toll Road (this time, it was the Mass Pike, AKA I-90).  Eventually, I was able to use MA-8 and MA-23 to make progress towards the east.  Another frustration arose in this area, though - constant speed limit changes (plus or minus 15 mph).  I kept waiting to see the blue and red lights of the local Barney Fife but it never happened...  Before long, I found myself on US-20 again and made my way into Westfield.  After more than 30 minutes on country roads, the (re)exposure to crazy drivers and heavy traffic was NOT welcome.  Fortunately, I had another chance to follow some back roads and only rejoined US-20 in West Springfield.  I forgot to mention that I'd been navigating with the goal of reaching one of the trailheads for the New England Trail and I was successful in this  - I managed to find one on Sykes Avenue (north of US-20 and Old Westfield Road) by 1145.  By then, the temps had settled in the mid 80s and the weather conditions were sunny and breezy.  The section I'd chosen was actually very short (0.5 miles) and comprised mainly of pavement.  However, I enjoyed learning more about the NET "culture".  Along the way, I encountered my Ovenbird.  Since there was no crosswalk at US-20, I had to take my life in my hands in order to reach the NET crossing (ford) of the Westfield River.  After considering options for walking across or driving to another NET access point, I decided to give up on the one mile I'd hiked (after completing the backtrack).  My attempt to "hike" was done at 1215 and I used some neighborhood roads to return to US-20.  Continuing east, I soon reached Springfield and I-91 - at around that time, I crossed the Connecticut River and made my way to I-291 (AKA US-20).  After driving for a little while on the Interstate, I soon found myself on some back roads again, although US-20 was part of a route a few more times.  At 1300, I noticed an amazingly low gas price (almost the best all day) at a Valero in Palmer and made sure to stop.  Beyond that, I continued on US-20 and was very pleased when it finally turned into a four lane.  Sadly, this was for only a short time - by the time I reached Sturbridge, the road slimmed down again.  Hoping to continue "outsmarting" Google Maps, I added the town of Millbury into my map app and, fortunately, was able to access it (via back roads) by 1400.  Pausing along the side of the road, I decided that the town of Medway would be another good intermediate navigational fix.  This decision led to another series of back roads until I reached MA-140.  That road seemed to be a nice one to follow but this perception only lasted until I saw that it was heading dramatically south (towards Upton and Milford).  Since I didn't want to go there, I resumed my fight with Google Maps and followed a series of back roads towards the east until I crossed under I-495.  Beyond that, I found that MA-16 and a few side streets helped me to access MA-109.  Again, I was very pleased to be on this seemingly eastbound road and happily cruised through Medway and Medfield.  When I noticed that Google was driving me towards the I-95/I-93 merge (and LOTS of traffic), I turned on to MA-27, which took me across I-95 (1515) and into the town of Stoughton.  Like Kingston (NY), this was another hometown of my ancestors (I would have liked to stop but also wanted to reach my sister's home when I'd told her I would).  Eventually, I was on MA-139 and, despite very slow traffic, made gradual forward progress towards my destination.  Just before 1600, I found myself in Abington - stopped at an intersection, I realized I could have attended St. Bridget's Parish (they were within minutes of the Vigil Mass).  In the end, I decided against it and continued east on MA-139 and arrived at Katie’s in Hanover about 10 minutes later.  We spent some time visiting on the deck (very pleasant) and talked until John returned from his gig as "Bluey" at a local event.  At 1800, we went to dinner at Scutari Italian Restaurant in Hanover.  Our server was one of Dan & Aria's friends and made sure that we got lots of good food (I had Chicken Marsala with Porcini Mushrooms) for our meal, which my sister told me was "for your birthday."  Nice!  I tried some new beers and had some great conversation with my family.  We stayed until about 1945 and then went driving nearby.  Katie took us to the area in Scituate where our Uncle Henry and his family used to live.  A bit after that (2015), we arrived at the Scituate Maritime Center, where Aria and Dan had gotten married a few years before (sadly, I'd missed this event because I was in Europe).  We enjoyed a pretty sunset and then drove along First and Second Cliff on our way back to Katie & John's house (arrived at 2100).  Bonus: I got to see Ella and we visited for a bit before she departed for her friends' house.  Beyond that, I hung out with John and Katie and tried some of the Milam and Greene Bourbon that Amanda had given me.  Because of all the driving and visiting today, I only reached half of my step goal (2 miles) for the day.  It's OK...  At 2230, I said goodnight to everyone and spent time (in the guest room) reading and watching movies.  The room, which apparently gets the brunt of the sun during the day, was very warm and I opened the window in an attempt to cool things down.  As a result (for the second night in a row), I didn't go to bed until well after midnight (0100).  It's great to be with family! 

Nomad Life - Day 236

What a relief - I slept very well in the Quality Inn (Ledgewood) and didn't get up until 0645!  I started teleworking immediately but took break at 0730 to eat breakfast in the hotel lobby.  On the way back to my room, I learned that the Fitness Center was closed - dang.  Oh well - that kept me on track to finish my working hours for the week...  While investigating my options for lodging later in the day, I tried to get a room on Westover ARB (no luck) before settling on a place in the Berkshire Mountains, just across the New York / Massachusetts border.  Just before 1030, I took another break from teleworking and and packed my car.  Hoping to ensure no more mid-day surprises from colleagues and clients, I paused to telework in my car for a little bit before departing the hotel.  Temps were in the 80s but didn't feel as oppressive as the previous day...  At about 1040, I finally left Ledgewood and headed west on US-46 until I could get on NJ-183.  Later, I used US-206 and city streets to reach the Morris Turnpike.  Beyond that, I followed more back roads until I got back on US-206.  Along the way, I experienced a huge amount of Deja Vu from my days hiking the Appalachian Trail nearby (and staying in the valley).  This was most clear when I passed the Jumboland Diner (Branchville) - I remember that place very well.  I soon passed through a corner of the Delaware Water Gap NRA (1135) and followed River Road to where it crossed under I-84.  This was actually where I entered the state of New York (1155).  After skirting Port Jervis, it took some more back roads before I was on US-209 - but then I had a run on the same road for a while.  When I reached Kingston, I got on CR-31 and then weaved back and forth (via more back roads) across the Thruway (I-87).  When I arrived at US-9W, therefore, I felt some relief.  This sensation was short lived: I was soon stuck behind a long line of trucks...  The rest of my "toll avoiding" route included stretches of NY-144, NY-32 and I-787.  I started feeling the need for fuel just before I got on I-90 but there were no really good prices anywhere nearby.  I crossed the Hudson River at 1410 and then continued east (in the part of the Interstate with no toll) until I found (using my Google Maps app) a possible gas station.  In the end, the option I chose was not optimal - still, I decided to partially fill my tank at a Sunoco Station in Rensselaer, NY (1420).  With very little in the way of food options nearby, I also picked up some "lunch" (snacks) at their mini-market.  After driving back to I-90. I continued east (still no toll) until I could exit at US-9.  I followed this road south until I had the option to get on to NY-9H.  My destination target was the Martin Van Buren National Historical Site in Kinderhook and I arrived there at 1445.  Before exiting the car, I did a bit more teleworking and was relieved to find that mostly everyone else had signed off their computers for the week.  After putting my computer away, I got out of the car and was surprised to see all the evidence of a recent (heavy?) rain shower.  Almost immediately, my Merlin App informed me that there was a Scarlet Tanager nearby - this was my first sighting of this species.  Mindful that there was only one remaining tour of the President's Home (Lindenwald), I practically raced inside the Visitor Center and was relieved that I hadn't missed it.  There ended up being only two other guests and the intimate tour was very informative.  Van Buren apparently spent most of his life in Kinderhook (except when he was living away for his political career).  There were original furniture pieces, mostly original floors, carpets and wallpaper, and evidence of the former President in nearly every room.  We discussed how there was not (yet ?) a Presidential Library - this location was, apparently, the only place where one might find important information about the 8th President.  Very glad I checked out the NPS unit!  At 1620, I departed the park and drove into Old Kinderhook so I could visit the grave site of the President. I found it (using a map from the National Park) to the north of town and followed signs through a large cemetery to find the obelisk that marked Van Buren's final resting place.  By then, it was 85 F and the evidence of incoming rain was very pronounced.  Still, it wasn't actually raining yet - this gave me the idea (correct, as it turned out) that I could walk around for a little while in Old Kinderhook.  I found a nice statue of the President and took some photos with him - nearby, I found other historical and quaint evidence of the town's fondness for their native son.  There were times, though, when I thought about an old "Seinfeld" episode where George Costanza was harassed by the "Van Buren Boys"...  I stayed until 1645 but then headed east (via NY-203 and NY-22).  It started to rain (pretty hard at times) before I reached State Road 980D and crossed into Massachusetts (1715).  I drove through (busy) West Stockbridge and got on MA-102, which took me into the town of Lee, where I'd made a reservation at the Econo Lodge (Lee / Great Barrington).  After checking in (1730), I resumed teleworking in my pretty hotel room (it had a great view, through a sliding glass door, of mountains to the south).  Outside, it started raining hard again.  Along the way, I skipped dinner and then wrapped up my work week at 2045.  With the rain stopped by then, I went walking (in the dark) in an attempt to reach two miles (half my step goal) for the day - fortunately, I was successful.  The temps by then had settled in the high 70s (rather pleasant).  Back in my room, I watched movies, read and did Duolingo exercises until finally going to bed at 0100.  It's good to be back in the Berkshires!

Providence Work Trip - Day 1

.This week, I had another work trip that would support our system's hardware installations!  After my good experience last week, I was really looking forward to the trip - this time, to Providence, Rhode Island.  Since it was a holiday, there wasn't going to be anyone online that expected to speak or email with me.  This allowed me some flexibility, since I had approval to work on this unusual travel day.  I took advantage of the situation and slept a bit later than normal - I ended up waking up at 0645 (without an alarm set).  At 0700, I began teleworking.  For the rest of the morning, I only took one short break (0800) for breakfast in the Lobby of the Quality Inn (Lebanon).  Otherwise, I stayed online until 1115 and completed the first four hours of my work day until it was time to depart from Lebanon (1130).  By then, the temps were 32 F and it was pleasant and sunny outside.  Due to my big breakfast, I skipped lunch and started driving south on I-89.  Not surprisingly, there were Massachusetts license plates everywhere and they blew by me as I mostly followed the speed limit.  After nearly an hour on the Interstate, I exited on to NH-77, which led me to NH-13.  Not only was this the route with the shortest distance, I had noticed several Rail Trails on the map nearby,  With the goal of getting some good outdoor activity, I headed towards the town of Brookline.  Arriving there at 1315, I was met with temps in the mid 30s - I've been so lucky during my Nomad Life journey!  I parked at a lot near Potanipo Lake (near Mason Road) and, after some research online (because there really wasn't any signage), I was able to locate the Brookline Rail Trail.  From my car, I hiked south (through a small covered bridge) until the trail petered out at NH-13.  Reversing course, I started north towards the Lake.  It took some help from locals (walking with their dog) but I eventually realized I was in the southern section of the larger trail.  Without blazes or signs, I tentatively headed into the "Tevye Section", which initially wandered through paved roads of what appeared to be a Jewish Summer Camp.  After this, the trail turned into a forest road that was clearly used by snowmobiles.  There was actually better signage from this point and I was able to hike two miles before I reached North Mason Road.  By that point, I had learned that there was another two mile section of the Brookline Rail Trail located to the north that connected to the Granite Town Rail Trail (total distance of the two sections of trail = 4.5 miles).  I'd also concluded that I didn't want to walk in the slushy snow to reach my car - instead, I walked east to NH-13 and headed south on the pavement.  Fortunately, there was a wide shoulder and I was able to make very good time.  By 1450, I had reached my car after just a bit more than four miles.  Overall, it was a great time on the trail!  Next, I drove south on NH-13 for about 1.5 miles, hoping to find the northwest trailhead of the Potanipo Rail Trail.  I was successful in my search and even had a short time to do some walking.  At this trailhead, there was a map of the trail and I learned that it was about 2.7 miles long, with the northern end (1.5 miles) going from the trailhead I found to the corner Bohanan Bridge Road and Oak Hill Road; another section is about 1.2 miles and connects to the Massachusetts part of the Potanipo Rail Trail.  Sadly, there wasn't enough time to really make progress on this Rail Trail.  However, I felt good about adding to my experience with more trails on the New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge list.  Reluctantly, I left the area at 1500 and drove south on NH-13 to the Massachusetts border (crossed at 1505).  The road became MA-13 and I continued south while temps rose to 37 F.  After passing through several small hamlets, I located MA-2 and used it to reach I-190.  Following that road, I made my way to Worcester and then accessed I-290 to cross through the city.  Exiting on to MA-146, I soon reached the Rhode Island border (1610) and continued south on RI-146.  This road had lots of construction and traffic but I eventually made it to I-95.  During this part of the drive, I kept seeing cameras over the road and worried about traffic tickets (later research says they are inactive toll cameras for trucks).  The traffic volume continued increasing and I was relieved to get off the Interstate at the T. F  Green Airport exit.  Shortly after that (1640), I arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Warwick and was able to quickly check into my room.  With the drive completed, I was able to log two more hours of work (transportation to the work site).  Before resuming telework, though, I hosted a telcon with our family's Thanksgiving Planning Team (1700 to 1740).  Beyond that important discussion, I completed my last hour of work online (1740 to 1840).  Pausing my work day again, I left the hotel and went to dinner at the "Iron Works" (a restaurant at the nearby Hilton Hotel).  It was a VERY popular venue and my only choice was to sit at the crowded bar.  The only empty seat was next to one occupied by a Veteran named Greg, who appeared to be a regular, and his service dog (Hope).  It turned out that we had a lot of things in common (military experiences) and even both had family on Cape Cod.  The drinks and dinner (pastrami sandwich) were very good (prices were too!) and I stayed at the bar until 1950.  After saying goodbye to my new friend, I drove back to the hotel and finished my last hour of telework (2000 to 2100).  Because I'd already reached my fitness goals for the day, I didn't feel bad about watching movies until bedtime (2300).  I'll admit that I'm rather excited about the work I'll be doing at the Airport during the next few days!

Nomad Life - Day 24

This morning, I was awake at about 0530 and, thinking Elizabeth was still asleep (very quiet downstairs), spent time reading and doing Duolingo/puzzles.  At about 0730, I came down and found her reading - we then resumed our interesting conversation from the night before.  Ivy had been quiet for my entire visit but I noticed that she was very friendly if I gave her attention.  Elizabeth and I ate breakfast (cereal) and continued our discussion until about 1030, when she departed or Mass.  After that, I spent a little time getting clean - the shower was broken so I used an interesting cleaning pad, from Israel, that seemed to work well.  Once my car was packed (1100), I departed Danby and headed south on US-7.  The weather was much better than had been forecasted (clear, 70s) but there were ominous clouds on the horizon (mostly behind me).  At Manchester, I exited on to VT-11/30 and followed that road almost all the way to Bromley Mountain, where VT-30 split off to the south.  I took that road and made my way through scenic mountain passes and pretty valleys.  For most of this phase of my drive, I was constantly reminded of the local author, Archer Mayor, whose books about the detective (Joe Gunther) are mostly all set along this road.  Passing through Newfane (1200), I sent a photo of the town square to my friend, Ed, but then continued on to the junction with US-5.  Normally, I've bypassed Brattleboro itself (to get on I-91) but I drove into the center this time.  Wow - what a maze of one way streets, strange intersections with poorly timed light changes, pedestrians without fear and indecisive drivers.  In the end, I was glad to reach the Connecticut River bridge (Brattleboro Road) and cross into New Hampshire...  I followed NH-116 towards the town of Hinsdale and tried to locate a trailhead for the Ashuelot Rail Trail.  Google Maps put me on NH-63 on the edge of town and that took me where I wanted to go.  When I did find the parking lot I'd been seeking (1235), I realized I'd actually located TWO rail trails that were on the New Hampshire Rail Trails Challenge - the other one was called the Fort Hill Rail Trail.  Instead of following my initial plan, I began exploring the Fort Hill option because it followed the edge of the Connecticut River.  Because of a forecast of potential rain, I brought an umbrella.  For about 45 minutes, I enjoyed the leisurely stroll on a grassy surface - trees surrounded the path and I got lots of nice views of the Connecticut.  Another highlight was the high bridge that crossed the Ashuelot River.  It was very quiet and I only saw a few other people (all bikers).  From the plentiful "No Trespassing" signs, it was clear that the local residents didn't want anyone on the property that skirted the trail boundary - I initially thought I'd be backtracking to my car.  But a new plan had begin percolating in my mind: what if I could get off this trail, walk through town and access the Ashuelot Rail Trail?  When I reached the trail crossing over River Road (1315), I saw my chance and clambered down a steep embankment (there was an actual trail with a sign that pointed towards Hinsdale) to the gravel track.  I deduced that I'd walked about 1.6 miles of the Fort Hill Trail by that point.  Not long afterwards, I made it to pavement again and ended up arriving in town right near the NH-63 junction with NH-119.  Seeing signs for "the oldest continuously operated Post Office in the USA", I walked up the main street until I located the old building.  Before turning south on Depot Street, I noticed a diner across the street - by then, I was feeling hungry and decided to check out my food options (1340).  Inside "Bacon Me Crazy", I found what appeared to be a "shrine" to all things bacon.  With 20 minutes before they closed, I decided I needed to investigate!  I sat at the counter and talked with the staff until I'd decided on my lunch (bacon cheeseburger) - when it arrived, I scarfed it down happily.  The establishment was supposed to close at 1400 but several other folks arrived after I did and I started to feel bad for the employees.  As a result, I finished my food and prepared to leave just after the posted hours.  The staff (and the son of one of the servers) actually engaged me in more conversation, though, and I didn't end up walking outside again until about 20 minutes later (1425).  Friendly people!  Crossing the street, I realized how warm it had gotten (low 80s) and that made my climb up the steep hill of Depot Street a bit harder.  Still, I had a full belly and kept going without complaint.  Reaching the junction (located right next to the old depot) of the Ashuelot Recreational Rail Trail, I had to get my bearings - there weren't a lot of signs at all.  Two bikers came along from the north and pointed me in the direction of the southbound direction and, after that, I was OK.  For the next 45 minutes, I walked briskly on the high train grade - Hinsdale and the river were at least 100 feet below.  The trees were great for shade but I still got a bit sweaty and drank a good bit of my water.  By 1515, I was at my car again and felt good about the 2.5 miles of Ashuelot Rail Trail I'd completed.  Overall, I walked 5.3 total miles (counting the roads) in roughly two hours.  In my car again, I resumed my drive on NH-63 until I entered Massachusetts (only about 6 miles away), when the route changed to MA-63 and I saw signs for my entry into the Pioneer Valley.  In the town of Northfield, I turned towards the west (MA-10) and soon was able to get on I-91 and head south.  I briefly thought about stopping for some ice cream from the Friendly's in Greenfield (a place I've frequented over the years) but was shocked to see it had been converted to a Starbucks.  Sadly, that's yet another franchise gone - hope at least a few will remain in the end...  Continuing south, I had to re-learn my "city driving" as the other cars around me were rapidly switching lanes, tailgating and doing other aggressive things.  Fortunately, I didn't have any delays during my drive and crossed into Connecticut by about 1600.  During this time, I stopped to search for a nearby Mass for late Sunday - a rare thing, certainly, but I'd seen them before.  Unfortunately, all the nearby Parishes had completed their liturgical schedule for the weekend by the time I had an opportunity to try to attend.  Oh well - the streak of Sundays has ended...  Returning to the task of trying to reach the Motel 6 in Windsor Locks, I followed a rather scenic route (that Google Maps suggested to that location) and made my way to the Bradley International Airport.  By 1630, I was at the check-in counter and hoped to be in my room shortly.  Unfortunately, the desk clerk had to take me through an elaborate series of tasks, each completely out of the ordinary, and I was a bit annoyed by the time he gave me a key.  This annoyance increased when I reached my room and found a puddle of water in the middle of the floor.  After returning to the office for a room swap, I eventually (1700) was able to move in properly and try to set up my "office" for the next day.  Most everything is getting rather routine but my government laptop decided that today was the day to stop working.  The problem connected with the power switch, which I later learned was a typical weak point for Dell Latitudes.  After exhausting my own skills, along with a few tricks I found on technical blogs, I ended up having to call the IT Help Desk.  Fortunately, they work 24/7 so I was able to get help and, eventually, order a brand new computer.  The trick now, though, will be to have it delivered to me while I'm on the move.  Oh well - that's a problem for another day!  Even though it was dinner time by this point (1815), I didn't feel like leaving my room.  Instead, I got a shower and then started catching up on my blogging, reading and eBird reports.  During this window, I communicated with Brenna, Kelly S., Elizabeth and Eileen - making plans and thanking friends for letting me stay with them.  By 2200, I felt sufficiently ready to try to go to sleep.  However, the noise of departing jets from Bradley didn't make that easy and I needed another 20 minutes to get settled and start to doze.  Nomad Life has been going well so far - only a few hiccups but each has had a relatively painless workaround.  Hopefully, the good vibes will continued!