Thursday, July 30, 2009

Cape Cod Canal

Construction of the Cape Cod Canal began in June 1909. The idea was discussed by Washington in the late 18Th century. At 480 feet wide and 32 feet deep, it is the widest sea level canal in the world. It is a free waterway. The canal is spanned by a railroad bridge and two highway bridges. The Bourne and the Sagamore. Below is a picture of the Sagamore Bridge in the distance and a view of the canal. My first grandchild was born when my daughter lived on the Cape. I can remember a 20 mile backup one summer Sunday afternoon when I was trying to get off Cape. The Canal was to facilitate commercial and pleasure boats trips towards the Ports in New York and beyond. The Cape juts well out into the Atlantic and there are dangerous shoals off the Cape Cod coast.



There is a magnificent walking / bicycle path on either side of the canal. I wanted to show Carol the Cape Cod Canal and on the way we picked up my daughter Jill and her daughters, Lil the oldest and Sylvie the youngest. I am happy to report that Jill moved off Cape several years ago.
As you can imagine there was a nice breeze which help to ease the muggy heat.

The Canal is used by pleasure boats and commercial traffic. We saw many sailboats and several ocean going yachts. The boat below was flying an Australian Flag.

The barge was being pushed by a tug. They were preceded and followed by Pilot boats. The barge lay well into the water and it was pushing water. The picture does not do justice to the amount of water that was being displaced.




We walked along the canal for some distance and then retraced our steps back to where the van was parked. They all sat on a bench overlooking the canal. I asked them if they would all look at me and give me their best smile. So much for that! However this is probably a more accurate picture of everyone doing their own thing.
We stopped and had a nice lunch somewhere near Buzzards Bay and then went back to Jill's home. Carol had expressed interest in Jill's spinning of lamb's wool. Jill showed us how her spinning wheel worked and then showed Carol how to do the spinning using a hand spinner.


It was a very nice way to spent a summer day and to show my Florida gal more of New England.





Friday, July 24, 2009

Sunsets - Panama City Beach, Florida

No words - just sunsets from the balcony last winter.






























Keene, New Hampshire

It was a beautiful morning and I asked Carol if she wanted to go out for lunch. She did and asked where. I told her it would be a nice ride and we would have lunch in a quaint village in New Hampshire named Keene. It is about a two hour drive from our home in Rhode Island. Once past Worchester, Massachusetts we traverse beautiful countryside.


Main Street in Keene is a wide tree lined road with wonderful interesting shops on each side of the street. There was a little park with a gazebo where we talked to two Keene State college students. Carol and I ambled along both sides stopping in several shops before we decided to have lunch in Lindy's Dinner. We sat at the counter. A local farmer sat next to me and he ordered a cup of New England clam chowder and a large bowl of grits. I asked him if he was from the South. "Nope, I'm an old Yankee living in the same house I was born in. I just like grits."


After lunch we walked back to the car and headed back. Along the way I saw a pull off and we decided to walk Tiny, our dog. I could hear the sound of water rushing over rocks. Tiny wanted no part of the woods so he eagerly went back into the car. Carol and I walked a little ways towards the sound and we found the brook.

Farther down the road we came upon a clearing and pulled into a cemetery to take pictures of Mount Monadnock. We stayed for a few minuted taking pictures of the Mountain and looking at the very manicured grounds of the cemetery.



We were route 140 in Massachusetts and I decided to take a side trip up to Wachusett Mountain ski area. There were a few couples walking dogs. We roamed around the grounds.


Above is the main building and two of the several ski trails available. This is a popular destination in the winter. Wachusett has snow making equipment to supplement Mother Nature offerings.



Monday, July 20, 2009

Land Line

When I was ready to leave Florida for the Northern home, I called ahead to Cox Communications to "wake up" my service. My desire was also to control the cost of cable, Internet and phone service. I told the phone representative that I did not want long distance service but did want to be able to call within Rhode Island with no added cost. He assured me that would be the case. You can imagine my ire when I found out how much I was being charged for long distance in the smallest state. To call my mom, son at home or work I was being charged. As I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that I would just cancel the home phone. I had that number since 1965 when I first married. It followed me from the first apartment to the home I built in 1968. The Cox representative did his best to talk me out of doing it. Both Carol and I have cell phones. I have only gone over my monthly minutes once in 8 years and then I used roll over minutes. It has been about a month and I do not miss that land line. In fact, the physical phones were given to my Massachusetts daughter for her use. There will be no going back. It has become very peaceful. No charities or scams calling. I am careful about who gets the number. Family, Navy pals and necessary services only.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Ocracoke Lighthouse

Ocracoke Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse on the Outer Banks. There are no bridges to this Island. Access is best via a short ferry ride from Cape Hatteras or a longer ferry from Cedar Island or from Swan quarter. In the early 16Th century this island became a favorite hangout for the notorious pirate Blackbeard.









The ferry boats depart Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke on the hour every hour. The ferry on the left is heading to Cape Hatteras and Carol and I are heading towards Ocracoke. As you can see it was an overcast day and also quite windy. The ferries run more often during the heavy summer tourist season. Delivery trucks have first priority. We were fortunate in that we made the ferry each time we got in line. The scenery along the ferry route is interesting. There is a sand bar teeming with shore birds and the waves crashing on the sand bar were impressive.




It was a cool day but we elected to move around the ferry during the trip and experience the sights and smell the salt sea air. Carol was like a small child in a candy shop loving every minute of this new experience.

Once on Ocracoke we drove towards along route 12 until we got to the turn off for the lighthouse. After much picture taking we headed back towards the ferry landing. We stopped at a very quaint restaurant for lunch. We arrived just in time to catch the ferry back to Cape Hatteras. There we parked and walked out to the beach. The tip of Cape Hatteras on a dark stormy day could be liken to the tip of the end of the world where sand, sky and water seem to merge together.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Kitty Hawk - Outer Banks North Carolina

Carol and I visited the Outer Banks in April. Besides visiting four Outer Banks Lighthouses, we spent the better part of a morning in the Wrights Brothers National Park Museum. In 2003, a wealthy donor commissioned a bronze replica of the historic plane forthe hundredth anniversary celebration. On the day we visited, the wind was blowing hard, fixing in our minds why the Wright brothers picked this location to attempt the first flight.



Orville is depicted at the controls as he prepared for what would become the first powered flight.

While the first flight only lasted 12 seconds and covered 120 feet, it began the era of flight. It was shortly there after that Wilbur flew the unheard of distance of 852 feet and was airborne for 59 seconds.




There is much more to see and do here. The main building houses an exact replica of the first plane with the canvas and wood frame. They have a cutaway of the engine with a description of the wright brothers design. A movie is shown periodically through out the day and they have portraits of persons who have accomplished milestones in aviation on the outer walls of this room.
On the grounds there are replicas of their living quarters and the hangar for the plane. There is a memorial tower high on a hill commemorating that historic accomplishment. I have been here several times and the exhibit is always expanding.
The gift shop is always worth a visit.



Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Coffee Milk

Coffee milk is the "official" drink of Rhode Island. Once out of the Rhode Island area the idea of coffee milk becomes an illusive product. When I was first out of the Navy boot camp and stationed in Memphis, TN for my Jet Mechanic school I asked for a glass of coffee milk at a local restaurant. The waitress in her Southern drawl asked "Honey do you want a glass half full of coffee and the rest milk?" I soon realized that it would be awhile before I would get coffee milk.

Coffee milk is white milk with a portion of coffee syrup added to the milk. The syrup is made by extracting liquid from coffee beans. The syrup is widely available in the Rhode Island area and is also available for shipping where ever displaced Rhode Islanders may be. I know this as a few years ago I had a case shipped to the condo I was renting in Panama City Beach, FL. Coffee syrup is akin to the chocolate syrup that is more universally available. Premixed coffee milk is available in the supermarkets here in Rhode Island along side chocolate and strawberry flavored milk



Pictured is a bottle of the preferred syrup that I use to make my evening glass of coffee milk. I prefer to mix my own rather than buying the coffee milk in the market. I like a stronger mixture. I have tried to spread the word and the enjoyment of this Rhode Island icon beyond our Northern borders. Carol's daughters in Tallahassee, FL and Elsie, MI seem to like it. My old Navy shipmate in Georgia did not take to it.
Coffee milk is truly a Rhode Island drink and should you travel here, order a glass in a restaurant. You just might like it.

Saturday, July 04, 2009

4 answers

This is a questionnaire that I saw on another blog some time in the past. Here goes:

4 jobs I had

Jet mechanic U S Navy
Fueling aircraft - local airport
Programmer
Manager Information Systems Services US & Europe

4 Movies I love to watch

The Cowboys - John Wayne
All the Bourne movies
Rob Roy
Up Periscope

4 Places I've lived

Greenville, Rhode Island
NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, FL
North providence, Rhode Island
Panama City beach, FL

4 TV shows I enjoy

Bones
NCIS
Saving Grace
Law and Order Criminal Intent

4 Places I've been

Climbed the leaning Tower of Pisa
French Riviera in August
The Badlands South Dakota
Custer's last Stand Battlefield

4 Websites I visit daily

Boatnerd.com about the freighter traffic on the Great Lakes
The camera at the Soo Locks
My bank in Rhode Island
Amy's blog

4 Favorite foods

Cheeseburgers
Pasta and meatballs
Rare steak
Baked sweet potato

4 Places I'd rather be

London
Cannes, France in August
Out at sea aboard an aircraft carrier on the flight deck
Whitefish Point on the UP

4 Places I'd like to visit

Australia
Columbia River Gorge
All the National Parks in Utah
I like to see the Redwood trees

4 People I would have liked to meet

Ben Franklin
Abraham Lincoln
General George Patton
Yogi Berra

Friday, July 03, 2009

Opposites Attract ??

Carol and I met over 18 months ago. She was a self-employed seamstress and I was a retired upper level manager. Both of us had been extended caretakers in our previous marriages. Both of us were use to being completely in charge. We both did the marketing, the menu planning, the cooking. We both handled all the cleaning of the home, laundry and whatever. In so many ways we were alike but not in all ways.

OK, Carol had a guy that cut her grass, and I had a lady that came every two weeks and did certain areas of house cleaning. There are times when we bang heads especially in the kitchen. We are getting better at coordinating our movements and how we spice foods. I have adapted to her "magic" bottle of spices. She does not like my oil and vinegar salad dressing that I prepare nightly. I do like a strong vinegar mixture that she finds harsh. I am now 99% eating healthy breads, muffins and frozen waffles with only an occasional white roll. I am eating a greater variety of fresh vegetables and less red meat (heavy sigh). We have adapted well to one another in our diets. She must start her day with hot coffee, I have a cold diet coke. I use vinegar on french fries, Carol tried it and has reverted back to ketchup.

I now install the toilet paper her way and she folds the bath towels my way. She was exasperated when she saw that I would just drop my under shirts into the drawer unfolded. She now folds my underwear and t-shirts. We hang our shirts and jackets facing in opposite directions. Mind always face to the right and hers to the left. Sometimes I have to hang hers a second time because I automatically do it the way I always do, then I see it does not match the rest of her clothes. I like my bath towels dried outside on the clothes line and hers must be in the dryer. She refers to my towels as sand paper. An opinion shared with the next door neighbor. She handles the heat better than I and I handle the cold better. However we both agree that we will avoid Rhode Island winters from now on.

I have always had itchy feet and like to be on the go. Carol has been an eager partner in our road trips. Carol is like a kid in a candy store drinking in the scenery where ever we are. I am always planning the next two trips.

We love each other and we love our combined family. Admittedly I received more "new" family than Carol received from me. However she did say my mom was the best Mother-in-law she ever had.

So as we forge ahead in our life together we seem to be on the same page more often than not. But Viva la difference where we are not.