Category Archives: water

June 13, 2016

Fort Taber/Fort Rodman Park (New Bedford, MA)

Date Visited: June 11, 2016

Location: 1000 Rodney French Blvd, New Bedford, MA

Parking: There are about 70-100 spots or so in the park itself but plenty of off street parking as well.

Cost: Free

Hours: Dawn until dusk
Dog Friendly: It sure is!

Highlights: forts, lighthouse, jetty, beach, war memorials, walking trails, playground with slides and swings for children (or adults if you’re so inclined), military museum, war reenactments, pretty views

The highlight of the park for most visitors has to be the jetty. Fishing off the jetty, or anywhere else at the park is allowed. But, they have a strict “catch and release” policy because most of the fish are contaminated with PCB (poly-chlorinated bipenyls). So, they would not be safe to eat. PCB’s are known cancer causing toxins. The New Bedford Harbor is lined with these cancer-causing toxins that were released into the harbor between 1938 and 1973 by factories such as the electrical component manufacturer Aerovox. The harbor is in the process of being cleaned. But, it could take many more years before the job is complete.

Seashells and seaweed were scattered along the bridge, evidence of some recent stormy seas.

There are so many beautiful views and interesting things at Fort Taber Park. The lighthouse in the photos is the

Since New Bedford has been known for its whaling and seafaring history, the park (and all of New Bedford) is also known for its lighthouses. In the background of the fort in the photo below you can see Clarks Point Lighthouse, first originally built in 1797 (it was replaced with a stone tower in 1804).

The lighthouse below is the Butler Flats Lighthouse, originally built in 1898.

There are several war memorials dedicated to the men and women of Fall River who have served their country, with a specific emphasis on those who were killed in action.

The memorial below is a Vietnam War Memorial that really stood out to me. If you look closely at the board in the final photo, you can see photos of the service people from New Bedford who were killed in the war. Everything about this memorial has meaning. The 43 stars on the memorial represent all of the 43 people from New Bedford who died in Vietnam. The outline of Vietnam is in orange as a reference to Agent Orange who died from Agent Orange. Even the service ribbons on the memorial have meaning. The blue ribbon represents the National Defense Ribbon which is representative of everyone who served in Vietnam. The other two ribbons represent in country veterans. The two plants at the memorial signify life.

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There are also several memorials to all of the 20th century wars America has been in, although I did not notice any memorials for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. I am assuming this may be because those actions are still not officially over even if we have pulled out most of our military presence in those places.

A tribute does stand for Army Staff Sargent Joseph Camara of New Bedford, MA, who was killed in action on September 1, 2003 while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom when the humvee he was traveling in hit a land mine. He was serving with the 115th Military Police Company as a member of the Rhode Island National Guard in the Iraq War. He was 40 years old when he died. He was also a member of the New Bedford Police Department. His memorial is located at the bottom of the gallery below.

There is also a replica of a Sherman tank stands as a tribute to the LST amphibious force T-4 who lost their lives in training for the invasion on D-Day. During the training exercises, sadly, many men lost their lives training for the invasion.

While I was visiting it was 17th century drill day. Reenactors from the Dartmouth militia, in full 17th century garb, showed how weapons were used, described the different types of warfare of the day and answered any questions the public had.

The staff also allowed visitors inside Fort Taber. The guide explained they stopped using this Civil War fort once the ballistics that were used became too effective against the barricades of the fort.

Grass and rust had overtaken what was once a formidable fortification.

One of the best parts of my visit – on the way to my car, I saw this man and woman playing their instruments.

One of the great things I noticed about the New Bedford area as I walked around taking photos and from the crowd at Fort Taber is the diversity of the cultures and people of the area. The photographs above illustrate this. The music sounded like it had an up tempo flamenco influence. It sounded beautiful. And I love their attire.

Fort Taber/Fort Rodman is a dog friendly park. The park is a great place for dogs. There are miles of trails for your dog to wander.

Sadie is a miniature poodle. She will be 5 in August! Early happy birthday wishes, Sadie!

I also met Yoda, a 10 year old Yorkie.

Below is a video of the inside of one of the forts at Fort Taber. It’s kind of spooky!

This video is a video of the military reenactors firing their weapons.

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June 12, 2016

Dinosaur Footprints Reservation (Holyoke, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: May 31, 2016

Location: US-5, Holyoke, MA – it comes up pretty quick (about half a mile from the entrance to Mount Tom on Reservation Rd).

Cost: Free

Hours: Open from dawn until dusk

Parking: There is room for about 5 cars.

Dog Friendly: I didn’t see during my visit. But, yes, they are welcome!

Highlights: Dinosaur footprints, Connecticut River behind the footprints, active wildlife, very short and easy trail to the footprints and river

A long, long time ago, the entire Connecticut River Valley, specifically the Holyoke area, was home to a variety of dinosaurs. And you can still see their footprints in the ancient mudflaps of the region. There are also remnants of flowers and even ripples of water from the streams that once flowed in the area.

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The prints are believed to have been formed during the early Jurassic period, making them approximately 200 million years old. Or, about as long as your average RMV/DMV wait time.

The main types of dinosaurs that are thought to have existed in this location are theropod dinosaurs. Theropod dinosaurs are mainly 2 legged creatures. Some of the more well-known Theropods are Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velicoraptor and Torvosaurus (think some of the dinosaurs from the Jurassic Park movies). It is believed these types of dinosaurs evolved into the birds that we now see so prevalent in the area.

I did see a lot of bird life but I didn’t see any theropods.

One of the nice surprises was seeing the stream behind the footprints; the Connecticut River. In fact, although seeing the footprints was cool, this may have been the highlight of the trip for me.

The Dinosaur Footprints Reservation is a great place to visit if you want to check out some cool remnants from a distant era. But, it is also a nice place to go and sit by the river or go fishing. Just don’t stay too long if you start seeing the water shaking. You know, like in the movie.

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June 3, 2016

Canalside Trail (Turner Falls, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: May 28, 2016

Location: Eleventh St, the village of Turner Falls in the town of Montague, MA

Parking: There is a small area by the shoulder of the road to park. There is also off street parking available and most people seem to ride the bicycle or walk or run along the bridge and walkway.

Cost: Free

Highlights: Peaceful area (when it’s not rush hour), scenic, abundant wildlife, views of the Turner Falls Canal

This may not be the bridge of Turner Falls but it is a bridge in Turner Falls. The more popular bridges in Turner Falls are Gill-Montague and the Turner Falls Roadway. But, since I was in Montague visiting the Montague Bookmill, I thought I would make a quick stop here.

This 11th Street Bridge pictured below was built by the Turner Falls Company. According to the Historic American Engineering Record, the bridge is a double-intersection Warren through truss, with a pair of trusses on either side of the roadway, and lateral bracing between each pair, but none over the roadway.

This 2.5 mile section of the Turner Falls Bikeway. The bikeway, which people also use for jogging and walking, is wide enough to accommodate heavy traffic. The walkway and bridge offer pretty views of the river and surrounding community.

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There are additional bridges on the roadway. Some, like the partially destructed bridge below, is no longer in use. Out of service since the industrial shops closed some time ago, the foundations of the bridge still remain. These remains are symbolic of the jobs and economic downturn the other otherwise idyllic neighborhood felt after many of the jobs left.

These steps led off the main trail but didn’t seem to go anywhere as the street and residences were right next to the trail. It may give walkers a closer look at some of the wildlife I heard rustling in the trees and underbrush.

There’s no swimming allowed in the canal. But, a life ring is there, just in case.

Even though the Falls Turner Canal walkway is only a segment of the bikeway path, it is a great place for a peaceful stroll along a beautiful waterway.

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May 31, 2016

Moswetuset Hummock (Quincy, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: April 21, 2016 & May 22, 2016

Location: East Squantum St, Squantum (Quincy), MA

Cost: Free

Parking: about 8 parking spots. Parking is also available at the beach which is located about half a mile away on Quincy Shore Drive and is an easy walk to Moswetuset.

Highlights: great views, easy trail, secluded, not usually very busy, a lot of historical significance

Mosewtuset may seem much like all the other small parks that dot the Massachusetts shoreline. But, its significance in the historical landscape of Massachusetts and all of the colonies and commonwealths should never be minimized.

Moswetuset is not only significant because the commonwealth of Massachusetts derived its name from Moswetuset but it is also the original trading place of Chickatawbot Sacamore and Myles Standish in 1621 that spurred the trade of the early settlers and the Native Americans. Moswetuset was also the area they used as their planting grounds.

What does a funky name like Moswetuset mean, you may ask. Moswetuset has been translated into “shaped like an arrowhead” (the area does have a distinct arrowhead shape) and “site of the great house.” The area is shielded by rows of trees and growth.

The trail is an easy loop with a very minor incline.

Only underscoring how small things can be very big in their place in history, Moswetuset is only a quarter of a mile loop, if that. But, it does offer some pretty views and it is a nice place to take a short stroll or sit on one of the many rocks along the beach (Moswetuset is located next to Wollaston Beach). It was low tide when I went so I was able to get out onto the rocks and get some decent views of the water and the surrounding neighborhood of Squantum (which is technically part of Quincy) which is in the background of the photos.

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Of course, what would a park or attraction in Quincy be without graffiti? There were some interesting works of graffiti at Moswetuset.

Moswetuset is a popular place for dog walkers. But, for some reason, there weren’t any dog walkers at Moswetuset when I visited. I found Buddy, though, on my way to my car as I walked along the beach.

7 Comments | tags: attractions, beach, birds, dog, Hiking, Historical, Massachusetts, Nature, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, trees, views, water | posted in beach, birds, Massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, quincy, Uncategorized, water

May 19, 2016

River Works Park (Greenfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: May 13th 2016

Location: 250 Deerfield Street, Greenfield, MA

Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Cost: Free

Parking: There is a lot that can accommodate about 30 or so cars behind the waterfall off Meridian St (a side road off Deerfield St where the bridge is) or you can park in one of the lots of the local establishments and walk to the park, after patronizing them of course. You can’t park on Deerfield St.

It’s not often that you see a silver fish on a pole while you’re driving down the main streets of a busy suburb. So, when I saw Brookie, the mascot of River Works Park, I had to stop and check it out.

The River Works Park is a quiet place (if you can ignore the passing traffic on Deerfield Rd) where residents and visitors can sit on the benches or walk along the sidewalk or bridge and admire the Green River below.

For a roadside attraction, the River Works Park is full of surprises and beauty. One of these surprises is the walk way along the sidewalk that is blocked off by a fence. Of course, there was an opening in the wire fence. The views from the walk way weren’t so great though and I only managed to get a few scratches when I walked along it.

The walkway, which was dedicated in November of 1999, has several memorials and plaques along the sidewalk. This bench was dedicated to Barbara Tillmanns, Greenfield’s “#1 cheerleader.” Tillmanns was a town councilor for Greenfield and very active in the community. She passed away in 2014 at the age of 72. One of her endeavors was to begin an initiative to establish a series of commemorative benches throughout Greenfield. Here’s one:

A sign remains where the J. Russell Co once stood. The company made Green River Knives. Greenfield Tap & Die also stood there once upon a time. The J. Russell Co and Greenfield Tap & Die were the main employers of the area for much of the 1800’s and the J. Russell Co made the highly touted Green River Knife.

If you look closely at Brookie, the mascot of River Works Park, you can see the forks, spoons, cutlery and other utensils collected from the residents of Greenfield and Franklin County that make up the shape of the fish as a tribute to the J. Russell Cutlery Co. (you may have to zoom into the photo).

The aptly named Green River, runs through the park. There were some modest waves and ripples in the river. The reason for this will soon be evident.

I thought made for a pretty backdrop.

However, just beyond the bridge, we found this pretty waterfall.

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There is no sidewalk on the side of the road where the best views of the waterfalls are so I had to keep the video short since I shot it during a red light.

There is a lot of interesting historical information about the J. Russell Co and the area which you can access in the links below

J. Russell Co

John Russell Manufacturing Co

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May 14, 2016

Hammonasset Beach State Park (Madison, CT)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: May 7, 2016

Location:1288 Boston Post Road, Madison, CT

Cost: I paid $15 (the weekday fee) to get in (I went on a Saturday). But, the prices on their web site show the cost as being $13 for CT residents and $22 for non CT residents on weekends and holidays (it’s worth every penny) and $9 for CT residents and $15 for non CT residents. Also, if you enter at 4 or later it costs $6 for CT residents and $6 for non CT residents to enter the park (bear in mind the park’s gates close at 8 pm when it is in season). There are also additional fees for camping there.

One workaround to paying a fee is to park at 1288 Boston Post Road instead of driving down the access road to the payment booths and walk (almost 2 miles) to the beach. I would recommend this option when it is nice out or if you are bicycling. However, since the park is so big it may be hard to see everything on foot. So, riding your bike from 1288 Boston post Road may be a best option.

Hours: The beach is still accessible, by foot or bike, in the off season without any staff.

Connecticut’s largest public beach, Hammonasset Beach is split into different areas for camping and for people who want to visit the more than 2 miles of beach.

Meaning “where we dig holes in the ground”, Hammonasset is actually part of Long Island Sound.

The campground at Hammonasset has 556 campsites and 8 rustic cabins for reservation during camping season which runs from mid-May until October 8. Hammonasset also has a nature center at Meigs Point and acres of wetlands.

After paying the entrance fee, we asked the helpful woman at the booth where the best place to go for photography is and she suggested Meigs Point.

Meigs Point runs along the shoreline of the beach. There are lots of ducks, birds and lots of other wildlife on the beach and on the trails behind the beach.

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The beach has some pretty views. There are also restrooms with showers and changing rooms at Meigs Point if you decide to go for a swim. During my visit it was overcast and chilly. The lack of sun didn’t take away from the beauty of the beach.

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There is also a jetty. It went out quite a way. Since the rocks were pretty slippery, I made it about half way out before turning back.

Hammonasset is a beautiful beach, although it can get crowded as many beaches do during the summer months. If you live nearby it may be best to get a seasonal pass rather than paying the somewhat hefty fee each time you visit.

Leashed dogs are allowed on the beach during the off season (from November until April). They are still allowed on the trails but not on the beach from April until the end of October.

I met Summer, a golden retriever, on the trail Meigs Point. Especially after this unseasonably cold winter, we all could use a little more summer in our lives!

Jessie, a chocolate Labrador, had a great time on the trail.

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May 6, 2016

Watch Hill Lighthouse (Westerly, RI)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: April 30, 2016

Location: Lighthouse Rd, Westerly, RI

Cost: Free

Parking: Vehicles are not allowed on Lighthouse Rd, unless you area senior citizen or if you have a physical impairment which may prevent you from walking or biking or running down.

The jewel of Westerly, Rhode island, Watch Hill Lighthouse is a stone’s throw away from Napatree Conservation Point. The walk down Lighthouse Rd is about half a mile and the views are worth the walk. Watch Hill is a swanky village in the town of Westerly that offers views of the southern most coast of the state (besides Block Island).

To get a sense of just how beautiful the area is, this is the view from someone’s driveway. Not a bad view to wake up to every morning.

There are more stunning views as you walk down the road.

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There is also a “cliff walk” along the road which is basically a walkway along the sidewalk which allows you to walk on a “cliff” type access way next to the road. Besides being a fun way to travel, the cliff walk also offers some beautiful views.

Since it is somewhat isolated and not too active this time of the year, birds tend to congregate at Watch Hill. I found a few Double Crested Cormorants.

Watch Hill Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in Rhode Island (Beavertail Light is the oldest lighthouse in RI). Originally built in 1808, Watch Hill Lighthouse has been destroyed or damaged by various storms over the years. The current lighthouse that stands there was built in 1856. It was automated in 1986 and it is still active today.

The best part of my trip to Watch Hill was watching the waves from the rocks. It is considered one of the more beautiful and romantic of Rhode Island (sans Newport). In fact, just before I arrived there I had missed a man proposing to a woman at the location. When I got there they were drinking champagne and cuddling as they watched the waves.

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Cute little Louis (pronounced Louie) is a 3 year old toy poodle. I love how the wind blew his fur and ears back but he still wanted to see the lighthouse!

Below are two videos of the waves at Watch Hill to give a better sense of the power of the waves there (and this was just on a regular day)

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April 24, 2016

Hartley Mason Reservation & York Harbor Beach (York, ME)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: April 23, 2016

Location: 480 York Street, York, Maine

Hours: Always Open

Parking: 2 hour off street parking is available, but limited. There are also a few parking areas near the beach.

A common destination for weddings, dog walkers and beach goers, the Hartley Mason Reservation is a small park with benches, memorials and other works of art. Perhaps the most popular attraction to this site is the rock with the tiny figures, titled, “Pleasure Ground”. The sculpture was made by Sumner Winebaum, a York resident, in 2011. He titled it “Pleasure Ground” because Mason had described the reserve as a “pleasure ground”. The sculpture is built on a rock nearly 8 feet long, 4 feet wide, and weighs three tons,. The bronze figures range in height from 10 to 12 inches tall. Winebaum said his goal was to show people enjoying the park such as the two boys wrestling, the person reading and the two women debating (which he has described as his favorite part of the sculpture).

Tiny people doing all the things regular people do. I wonder what book that tiny figure on the edge of the rock is reading. Perhaps, “Little Women”.

An easy, clearly marked path leads down to the beach.

Along the trail, there are also benches dedicated to people who have passed.

There is also a memorial dedicated to those lost at sea. The York Fisherman’s Memorial is

The inscription on the front reads: O HEAR US WHEN WE CRY TO THEE FOR THOSE IN PERIL ON THE SEA.

On the back of the monument, there is an inscription that states: Dedicated to those who lost their lives at sea & for those who work and love the ocean…

The memorial is dedicated to Captain Daniel A. Donnell who died at sea hauling traps. He was 78 at the time of his death.

The trail is also a great place to take photos of the beach from afar.

From the moment I pulled up to the parking in front of the Hartley Mason Reservation, the view of the water struck me, especially with the weather conditions as they were. A misty cloud covering filled the afternoon sky reaching all the way to the water making it hard to discern where the water ended and the sky began. For most people, this is hardly ideal beach weather. But, I, and my sensitive Irish screen, have always preferred this weather to the scorching unabated sunlight.

The trail eventually leads to the beach (there are also side trails, or if you’re feeling spry you can just walk down the rocky or grassy areas off the trail). Due to time constraints, we just stopped at the beach head and took photos from there. There were some modest waves and some pretty views. The beach does have a lot of rocky areas that wouldn’t be very comfortable to walk around in on sandals. Wear comfortable footwear.

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Although the beach area is much larger and may have more accommodations (I will visit again later to capture the beach in its entirety), the section I visited had very little room for lying out. There really was just rock and a concrete slab to stand, sit or lie on. The parking is also pretty sparse at this section of the beach. There are only a few parking spots and some are designated for certain people. There is also an outdoor pool near the beach.

The beach was very busy with not only human visitors but cute furry ones as well (I suppose some of the human visitors were furry as well but that is neither here nor there).

Kipper is a 9 year old German Shepherd. He got to play in the water and he loves to play catch. And his mom’s boots were pretty cool.

Gracie is a 7 and a half year old Boxer with a very broad smile.

Below is a video of the waves at York Beach Saturday.

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April 20, 2016

Westfield River Whitewater Races (Huntington, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: April 16, 2016

Location: Knightville Dam, Huntington, MA

Each year hundreds of kayak and canoe racers come to the Western Massachusetts to test their mettle against the rapids of the Westfield River.

The Westfield River, one of the longer rivers in Western Massachusetts, runs 78.1 miles and has a 497 square miles drainage area consisting of several tributaries. It attracts enthusiasts, recreational competitors and people who just like to challenge themselves. It also attracts an array of boating fans.

The Westfield River Whitewater Races, which have been held every year since 1953, are the oldest consecutively run canoe races in the US. People come from all over New England and farther to participate in the races. The races consist of novice and expert divisions. The novices race lasts 8 miles and the experts race for 12 miles. The participants race in two person canoes or one person kayaks. As if the rapids weren’t challenging enough, the race officials have the water behind the dam held for three days before the race to give more momentum to the current.

I never knew how popular kayaking, canoeing and boating was in Western Massachusetts. It was hard enough to find a good place to pull over or park along the route of the race. I was able to find a place on the side of the road to catch some of the novices who had already started.

Since the river wasn’t very active here, we drove to the Knightville Dam, the launch point for the race. The area was very pretty and the river was more active here. I even caught some enthusiasts who weren’t participating in the race.

At the main parking area, one of the racers let me photograph his boat.

Still not happy with my location, I found a better spot along the side of the river past a precarious rocky decline. Watching the racers expressions was fascinating. Some were determined. Others looked focused and even a bit bewildered. Others just looked like they were having a grand time. Then, there were others who didn’t seem to be having fun at all.

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Not every racer made it to the end.

Eventually, they were able to wade across the river to the other side, no easy task given the strength of the rapids.

Monty, an 8 year old Siberian Husky, came along to watch the race.

Below is a video of a canoe racing tandem fighting the rapids. You can hear the strength of the tide. Rumor has it that it gets even rougher farther down the river.

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April 14, 2016

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (Webster, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: April 9, 2016

Location: Webster, MA

Parking: Parking is available at the entrance, before the gate and there is a big parking lot where you can also launch your watercraft at the head of the beach.

Cost: There are a variety of different fees established for visitors to Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. For instance, if you walk in or ride your bicycle to the lake and you are 17 or younger it is free. If you walk to the lake or ride your bike and you are 18 or older it is $1 to get in. A resident (of Webster) motor vehicle costs $5 for entry. A resident motor vehicle with a water craft is $25, etc. See the link below for all of the fees and regulations.

Lake Webster Rules and Fees

Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg. Try saying that 5 times fast. I dare you!

Originally named Lake Chaubunagungamaugg or “Fishing Place at the Boundary”, Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (meaning, “Englishmen at Manchaug at the Fishing Place at the Boundary”) is actually broken into two parts; a lake (Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg) and beach (Memorial Beach).

For the purposes of this post, I will call Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg Lake Webster as it is now more commonly called.

At the main entrance ofWebster Lake, there is a memorial to our veterans. It is a fitting tribute for those who have gave so much.

Upon arriving at Webster Lake, you will see the lake.

Memorial Beach is dedicated to the veterans of all of our wars.

As beautiful as the lake is, I found the beach, located just beyond the lake to be even more beautiful. To me, it’s basically one large body of water and I am not sure why they have separate names.