Massachusetts

Have had a lovely time here in Western Mass. Catching up with family, doing some sightseeing and just generally hanging out (as well as trying the ice cream!).

A lot of old barns in this area - in varying states of repair.

Lots of useful things in this 2nd hand store

Garlic and shallots drying at Carr's farm, run by Gudrun's friends

Their antique cider press

Trying out some of Johnny and Nicole's delicious cider

The Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls on the Deerfield River. 

Some scenes from the film The Holdovers were shot here.

The Flower Bridge

Portland, Maine

A short overnight trip to Portland, Maine. A pretty town on the coast. Lots of fishing going on - particularly for lobsters. An entry point for immigrants in the 19th century and a main refuelling base for ships in WW2. Lots of wooden buildings of course but also many of brick. 

These painted areas are to safeguard children walking to and from the nearby nursery school

In the evening Gudrun and I met up with Mary Jane for a lovely meal at this restaurant. Followed of course by ice cream. This time 'boccia', chocolate with hazelnut pieces.

The next day we went down to the harbour and took a 3 hour round trip on one of the ferries plying the route between Portland and the islands of Casco Bay. Note the lobster pot buoys hanging along the dock. The ferry had to do a lot of avoiding these out in the bay. Each boat has its own colour scheme for its buoys.

Most of the islands have a small year round population that is augmented in summer by those filling the holiday homes. A couple have schools with around 5 pupils. Once they reach upper primary they have to make a long daily commute off the island.

The ferry was flying the flag of the local soccer team

Fort Gorges dating from the mid eighteenth century

One of the ferries

Later in the day we walked down to the Portland Head lighthouse and finished off with a swim in the nearby Kettle Cove. Very salty and buoyant. Great for cooling off. The temperature hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit on the way home.

Charlotte

14 hours and 690 miles on the Carolinian train from New Jersey to Charlotte, North Carolina. Passed some famous places: crossed the Potomac river near Washington and the FBI training centre at Quantico. Amtrak food not too bad. A very tasty pesto and mozzarella sandwich. Even a palatable vegan burger. 

It's hot and humid here so I went out early the next day for a walk. The city centre is modern and clean and not really a tourist destination. Charlotte has grown enormously in the last 10 years spreading out into the surrounding countryside. It's popular for conferences and big sporting events plus serves as an important financial centre for a lot of banks etc. 

I was here to meet Sharon, an old school friend. She took me out to the Anne Springs park where we walked along a few trails including this historic route.

We sat chatting and by the miracle of modern technology had a video call with a mutual school friend out in Bolivia. First three way meeting in about 50 years.

Hummingbird feeding from sugar water container on the balcony.

Had a lovely meal with friends out on the veranda being deafened by the cicadas and frogs. 

Next day walked past some book related street decoration to the Mint art Museum.

Some interesting art inside too.

Early start tomorrow for the train back to Massachusetts via Washington.

Inside Washington Union Station

New Jersey

Made the 5 hour train journey from Northampton, Massachusetts down to Newark, New Jersey to visit my cousin Charles and family. Amtrak train seats are so spacious. Loads of legroom. But a bit bumpy and not as smooth a ride as in the UK. Maybe as the network is so huge and used mostly for freight. Curiously too you are booked a non specific seat on the train. Selected carriages are opened on arrival and the conductors usher you into these where there are free seats. Once you have taken one they check your ticket then write out a paper slip with name and seat number which slides into a groove on the overhead rack.

The train skirted New York City before plunging into a tunnel to reach Penn Station. Then on to New Jersey.

The next morning made a sortie for fresh bagels. Looks like Dr Seuss got here first.

Charles took me out for a spin in his Porsche but this is as close as I got to driving.

Water tower at the Cross Estate mansion.  We saw more than a few 'mansions' set back from the road with their enormous lawns and drive ways. Local services like the police and schools are funded by the high property taxes here. 

In the evening we ate at a lovely southern Indian restaurant and I had the delicious crispy onion rava dosa.

Followed by ice cream of course. 

Was really lovely to catch up with Sonal, Charles and Karishma. 28 years since I was last here! 

Appalachian Trail

4 days and 3 nights out on the 2000 mile Appalachian Trail which runs from Georgia to Maine. I started out at the highest point in Massachusetts: Mount Greylock, 3.489ft. From there I headed south. Most hikers seemed to be going north so I met a lot of lovely people on the way. The younger ones speeding along with a quick 'hi' the older ones taking time to stop and chat. Some day hikers, some 'section' hikers and some serious 'through hikers' including one who had started down in Florida in January and was heading for Quebec!

    DAY ONE

Shadowman shows the way

Looking east from the summit of Mount Greylock

Meadow sown for pollinators near the town of Cheshire

Trail marker

It was 4th of July as I walked through Cheshire and the lawn parties had started

The 'small' ice cream that revived me as I left Cheshire

View north from the Cheshire Cobbles. Mount Greylock in the centre.

As Bill Bryson said in his book title this is 'A walk in the woods'.  Or the "green corridor' as one hiker put it. A variety of trees but a lot of them and not many views. However the shade from the sun was a relief. It was 30 degrees centigrade and more. Carrying a full pack up and down the rocky paths was hard work. Covered 15 miles the first day.

Passing a small lake as the sun was dropping low in the sky

DAY TWO

Typical wooden house in the lovely little town of Dalton. Less than ten miles today and with an earlier start I stopped at an air conditioned cafe for lunch and a top up of water. Water supplies were from small brooks near the campsites and not always that inviting. Thankfully the purification tablets tasted fine.

A kid's message on the sidewalk. Typical of the warm welcome hikers get.

Tom's garden. He set out cold water and snacks for passing hikers.

Crossing the railway outside Dalton.

Paddling stop and catch up with shadow man.

Sign for campsite. Composting toilets that smelled remarkably benign. Just don't look down...

Most sites also have an open sided shelter with bunks and a fire pit. Good option in bad weather but no mosquito protection so tents preferred. Didn't stop me getting a good collection of bites through the day!

At night all food (and toiletries) have to go into a bear proof container. I didn't see any sign of the local black bears. Plenty of squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, toads, various birds (some heard and not seen like owls and woodpeckers) and even one snake. Plus some butterflies, moths, beetles as well as the mozzies and biting flies.

DAY THREE

Well signed but I did have my GPS device and Personal Locator Beacon with me. Phone service patchy but the PLB can send texts via satellite so was able to check in with base.

Woodpeckers have been busy

Often rocky and washed out the path could also be soft and leaf covered

Duckboards in the wet areas

My tent set up for the night. Had all the vents open and mostly slept with only the sleeping bag liner.

DAY FOUR

Arriving at the finish and still going strong.

Walked on a bit further (sans pack) with my sister and nephew to Goose Pond where we had a picnic and refreshing swim