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| The Chronicles of Moby Who? |
© 2008 Gail Hunter
| Go To Pete's |
| June 2008 Page 2 |
Note: Click all photos to enlarge. Looking for a specific topic - try the Topic Index
Hammonasset State Park in Madison, CT is absolutely gorgeous. The one drawback
was lack of hookups, but the common dump and water areas are very convenient.
Our site was facing a pretty pond frequented by all sorts of birds and rabbits. In the midst
of a scorching heat wave, being near the Long Island Sound breezes was a huge bonus as
we had no electric service. We used the generator just long enough to catch the TV news.
was lack of hookups, but the common dump and water areas are very convenient.
Our site was facing a pretty pond frequented by all sorts of birds and rabbits. In the midst
of a scorching heat wave, being near the Long Island Sound breezes was a huge bonus as
we had no electric service. We used the generator just long enough to catch the TV news.
Left to Right: A small part of the beach; View across the vast park; Meig's Point at the
eastern end of the park; a very few of the myriad pup tents scattered liberally around the
park; and a "red at night, sailors' delight" sunset.
Cor repairing the spring winder on our 18' awning so we could put it
down for a visit from the Madison Shafers: son Charlie, wife Stacy and
kids Emily and Erin. Dog, cat, rabbit and 2 guinea pigs were left at
home as Hammonasset has a No Animal policy. Their loss.
eastern end of the park; a very few of the myriad pup tents scattered liberally around the
park; and a "red at night, sailors' delight" sunset.
Cor repairing the spring winder on our 18' awning so we could put it
down for a visit from the Madison Shafers: son Charlie, wife Stacy and
kids Emily and Erin. Dog, cat, rabbit and 2 guinea pigs were left at
home as Hammonasset has a No Animal policy. Their loss.
The timing was great! We were at Hammonasset on the Sunday Charlie and Stacy's church
was having their annual violin recital. The photo collage shows the entire orchestra; Stacy,
Emily and ?; Erin deeply engrossed; the youngest violinist; closeup of Stacy; Emily playing
La Marseillaise (I looked to see if anyone was standing up for their national anthem - no one
was;) and finally, somebody's sibling testing one of the many, many positions for listening to
your sister play the violin. He was hysterical: lying flat on the floor, he would pull himself
ever so much closer to the action, inch by inch, until his mother would grab him and pull him
back off the carpet. That would hold for about three minutes, then repeat - endlessly.
was having their annual violin recital. The photo collage shows the entire orchestra; Stacy,
Emily and ?; Erin deeply engrossed; the youngest violinist; closeup of Stacy; Emily playing
La Marseillaise (I looked to see if anyone was standing up for their national anthem - no one
was;) and finally, somebody's sibling testing one of the many, many positions for listening to
your sister play the violin. He was hysterical: lying flat on the floor, he would pull himself
ever so much closer to the action, inch by inch, until his mother would grab him and pull him
back off the carpet. That would hold for about three minutes, then repeat - endlessly.
Violin Recital at the North Madison Congregational Church
Cor went to Page Hardware in Guilford - a real treasure. Begun by a
Mr. Page in the 1800s, and bought by the present owners in 1931, it has
expanded literally & laterally now having a large appliance department and
home furnishings. I bought a little blue/white spotted enamel double boiler
& a plain, old fashioned pot holder - no mitt, no glove, just pure holder.
Mr. Page in the 1800s, and bought by the present owners in 1931, it has
expanded literally & laterally now having a large appliance department and
home furnishings. I bought a little blue/white spotted enamel double boiler
& a plain, old fashioned pot holder - no mitt, no glove, just pure holder.
We took in the Preakness before dinner. Emily
was sorry Big Brown didn't win, but not enough to
spoil her dinner - including the s'mores we had for
dessert. The family rose to the occasion - see rt.
was sorry Big Brown didn't win, but not enough to
spoil her dinner - including the s'mores we had for
dessert. The family rose to the occasion - see rt.
The topsy-turvy weather pattern wreaked havoc at Hammonasset. First we had oppressive
heat followed by cooling rains allowing us to use a blanket at night. The cycle exploded on
Sunday afternoon. Charlie called from North Madison and said to retract the awning and
batten the hatches - a huge storm had just passed over them and was headed our way.
We got the job done, but within minutes we were pelted with deafening rain, driven
horizontally by fierce gusts. Then came the lightening - sideways, up and down, to right,
left and near enough to feel the concussion.
Several girls in pup tents at our rear were caught -
their tents were trying to take off, and they were
drenched so much that they just kept on trying to
hold it all together.
Sirens whined all around us as emergency vehicles sped by the end of the road; fire
engines and ambulances alike. The squall passed quickly, but soon after we learned a
man had been killed by lightening and four others were taken to the hospital
heat followed by cooling rains allowing us to use a blanket at night. The cycle exploded on
Sunday afternoon. Charlie called from North Madison and said to retract the awning and
batten the hatches - a huge storm had just passed over them and was headed our way.
We got the job done, but within minutes we were pelted with deafening rain, driven
horizontally by fierce gusts. Then came the lightening - sideways, up and down, to right,
left and near enough to feel the concussion.
Several girls in pup tents at our rear were caught -
their tents were trying to take off, and they were
drenched so much that they just kept on trying to
hold it all together.
Sirens whined all around us as emergency vehicles sped by the end of the road; fire
engines and ambulances alike. The squall passed quickly, but soon after we learned a
man had been killed by lightening and four others were taken to the hospital
| Same tree; different bird; different day |
| left to right: a feisty Red-Winged Blackbird (noisy too) - a Ring-Billed Gull - and lots of Glossy Ibis pecking for food after a rain. below: Blackbird and Robin - and closeup of Glossy Ibis |
On June 10th, we moved on to our next "campsite" - daughter Colby's driveway on Joshua
Road in Scituate, MA. This is as they all should be! Beneath the spreading maple tree,
on a quiet street, overlooking Scituate Harbor and the historic lighthouse across the way.
Oh, and I forgot - free! Sorry - family only.
Road in Scituate, MA. This is as they all should be! Beneath the spreading maple tree,
on a quiet street, overlooking Scituate Harbor and the historic lighthouse across the way.
Oh, and I forgot - free! Sorry - family only.
We met Colby and her best beau Dennis at
the Wharf for a beer and sandwich. Here,
Dennis is clearly telling something Colby has
grave doubts about.
the Wharf for a beer and sandwich. Here,
Dennis is clearly telling something Colby has
grave doubts about.
Dad and daughter enjoy reminiscences on
Colby's front porch. We didn't dare let her
Maine Coon cat Sturges join us as he's not
inclined to stay around once outside.
Colby's front porch. We didn't dare let her
Maine Coon cat Sturges join us as he's not
inclined to stay around once outside.
Sippewisset Campground
The Scituate Harbor Lighthouse is recognized by its unique
shape. Made of blocks, it has flat sides and flares gently at its
base with much the same subtle technique used by the ancient
Greeks and Romans on their columns. It, and the adjoining
keeper's house is kept in immaculate condition by the town. The
visitor is greeted by a metal plaque telling the story of the
lighthouse keeper's two daughters, Abigail and Rebecca Bates
who, as the British approached by water, took up their fife and
drum, playing up such a storm they frightened the invaders
away...a two girl army!
shape. Made of blocks, it has flat sides and flares gently at its
base with much the same subtle technique used by the ancient
Greeks and Romans on their columns. It, and the adjoining
keeper's house is kept in immaculate condition by the town. The
visitor is greeted by a metal plaque telling the story of the
lighthouse keeper's two daughters, Abigail and Rebecca Bates
who, as the British approached by water, took up their fife and
drum, playing up such a storm they frightened the invaders
away...a two girl army!
Many nostalgic sights in Scituate - for Cor because he lived there for several
years while working for New England Tel, and for me just because they are the
"Three Rs" I grew up with and enjoyed for nearly 60 years in Connecticut.
years while working for New England Tel, and for me just because they are the
"Three Rs" I grew up with and enjoyed for nearly 60 years in Connecticut.
Rosa Rugosa Rocks Rhododendron
Wedding Bells are another important
reason for our swing to the Northeast
reason for our swing to the Northeast
Leaving Scituate, we made our way down Route 3 to Falmouth, MA. We chose to cross
the Cape Cod Canal via the Sagamore Bridge as that was a straight shot now that
they have eliminated the rotary. Traveling east/west along the south bank involved less
traffic than using Rt. 6 to the Bourne Bridge. On the advice of Colby (see above) Cor
straddled the center line in spite of cars wanting to pass. The lanes are very narrow,
and with the windage it would have been quite possible for him to brush a passing car.
We also felt that for the minute and a half it takes to cross the bridge it wouldn't hurt
anyone to go the speed limit for that short a time. There, I said it and I'm glad.
the Cape Cod Canal via the Sagamore Bridge as that was a straight shot now that
they have eliminated the rotary. Traveling east/west along the south bank involved less
traffic than using Rt. 6 to the Bourne Bridge. On the advice of Colby (see above) Cor
straddled the center line in spite of cars wanting to pass. The lanes are very narrow,
and with the windage it would have been quite possible for him to brush a passing car.
We also felt that for the minute and a half it takes to cross the bridge it wouldn't hurt
anyone to go the speed limit for that short a time. There, I said it and I'm glad.
In the AAA Northeast Campground book, Sippewisset is listed as a family-run facility
with a limit of 30'. They were very nice to let us in, mainly on the request of the owner of
the inn where the wedding was taking place. AAA is correct. It has been in the same
family for generations and their friendly camp-like atmosphere shows. The 30' is right too.
We were really too big to maneuver without breaking a branch or two...which we did, and
carried a sprig of green oak leaves on our ladder for a while.
They were also equally gracious when Cor told them our black water fitting broke loose as
he was dumping! And the night before, the magnetic gate entry card had slipped down
into oblivion through a gap in the car's console.
I assume they were glad to see us go - but we like them very much!
with a limit of 30'. They were very nice to let us in, mainly on the request of the owner of
the inn where the wedding was taking place. AAA is correct. It has been in the same
family for generations and their friendly camp-like atmosphere shows. The 30' is right too.
We were really too big to maneuver without breaking a branch or two...which we did, and
carried a sprig of green oak leaves on our ladder for a while.
They were also equally gracious when Cor told them our black water fitting broke loose as
he was dumping! And the night before, the magnetic gate entry card had slipped down
into oblivion through a gap in the car's console.
I assume they were glad to see us go - but we like them very much!
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