New England Nomad

March 29, 2016

Balance Rock State Park (Pittsfield, MA)

Date Visited: March 26, 2016

Cost: Free

Location: Balance Rock, Rd, Pittsfield, MA (about 2.5 hours west of Boston, MA or 1 hour east of Albany, NY)

Hours: Sunrise until 6 p.m.

Parking: There is parking for about up to 50 cars or so at the Balance Rock entrance.

During the last ice age, some 12,000 to 100,000 years ago, rocks were haphazardly pushed to and fro, creating this unusual formation. Or, someone put one rock on top of another. Either the product of glacial movement or an elaborate hoax, the namesake of Balance Rock State Park is a huge attraction.

But, before you view the impressive rock, there are rocks and beauty aplenty at the entrance to Balance Rock Park.

By the entrance, there is a stream that runs along the side of the park

After a short drive up the main entrance road (about half a mile), you will reach Balance State Park’s main attraction; the rock. We were a bit disappointed to find the rock right there next to the parking lot. While it is convenient and easy for visitors to find, it would have been nice to have to hike to it. It would have built up the anticipation. Despite the journey being anticlimactic, the rock was impressive. As you can tell from the photos and attached video, the rock never touches the ground. Unfortunately, it has been vandalized which was very disappointing to see.

The rock is 30 feet long and 15 feet wide. It is resting on another much smaller rock. This, the story goes, is the product of the last glacial age. It also goes to show that no matter how big and seemingly powerful someone or something may be, the rock and we wouldn’t be the same without the help of a little friend.

I noticed how some of the rocks seem to have eyes and lips. I am not sure if this was due to nature, erosion or the work of mankind.

It turns out, there are many rocks in the area

The residents of Balance Rock State Park are very photogenic. He was shy at first. But, eventually, he came out and I was able to get some close ups of him.

Video of the stream at the entrance to Balance Rock State Park

Walking tour of the rock

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27 Comments | tags: animals, chipmunk, Massachusetts, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, Pittsfield, rocks, stream, water | posted in animal, Massachusetts, Pittsfield, rocks, stream, Uncategorized

March 23, 2016

New Hampshire Holocaust Memorial (Nashua, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: March 5, 2016

Location: Rotary Common Park , 315 Main Street , Nashua, NH

Hours: Open every day, 24 hours day

Parking: Parking is limited. There are about half a dozen spots in the lot for the memorial. There is ample parking across the street at the strip mall.

New Hampshire Holocaust Memorial

Dedicated on June 1, 2014, the New Hampshire Holocaust Memorial is a thought provoking exhibit located off busy Main St in Nashua, New Hampshire, next to the Rotary Common Park.

Designed by John Weidman, the memorial is a somber reminder to never forget. The memorial does not have any religious symbols nor does it represent one particular race, nation or religion. This was done purposefully. The intent is for everyone of any background to be able to empathize with the victims, regardless of your own beliefs or lack thereof. According to the website for the memorial, the design was inspired “by the belief that to empathize with those who endured the horrors of the Holocaust, one must – on some small level – experience a concentration camp itself.” The memorial accomplishes this.

The railroad track used for the memorial is an actual railroad track that was donated by PanAm Railway.

There are several benches and monuments scattered around the area with quotes, phrases and names of those who sacrificed so that others may live as well as reminders of the war on children and homosexuals. You may notice the rocks on top of some of the memorials.

It was early in the morning and there were a lot of shadows as it was a cloudless, sunny day. I did my best to avoid casting shadows.

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The main part of the memorial are the six engraved granite walls that encircle a brick column with a black granite cube. Each of the walls has a name for the six concentration camps (Auschwitz, Sobibor, Treblinka, Majdanek, Belzec and Chelmno). Each of the granite walls have barbed wire and steel on them.

The black granite cube is meant to show that we are all connected through space and time while making us pause and reflect.

This is an important memorial and reminder, especially during these difficult times.

24 Comments | tags: Holocaust, memorial, Nashua, new hampshire, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in Holocaust, memorial, Nashua, new hampshire, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

March 20, 2016

Cascading Waters (Worcester, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: March 19, 2016

Location: 135 Olean St, Worcester, Massachusetts

Cost: Free

Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset

Parking: There are several parking lots at the Greater Worcester Land Trust which the Cascading Waters is part of. The closest lot to the Cascading Waters is small with only room for about half a dozen cars. You can also drive up to Cascading Waters via Cataract St and park on the dirt road there.

One of the great things about Worcester (pronounced “Woo-stah”) is its diversity of people and places. One moment you could be in the heart of the city and only ten minutes later you could be at a grand waterfall. It remind me a lot of Boston in this regard.

I found myself at one of the natural wonders of Worcester, Cascading Falls, Saturday.

Located about an hour west of Boston, Cascading Falls is known for its beauty and trails. There are both hiking and biking trails at the main parking area. I chose the most direct hiking route to the falls. The trail is pretty flat and straight with some pretty views. I also noticed some greenery sprouting on the eve of the first day of Spring. it’s about half a mile to the Cascading Waters from the parking area.

There is a trail to the right of the falls with a fairly steep incline. The trail leads to the top of the falls. You can go to the top of the waters. The views are pretty sweet.

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There are also interesting rocks, pools of water and streams at the top of Cascading Waters.

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Although the sun was out and the temperatures did increase, it was still relatively cold as this branch shows.

The waterfall leads to a stream just under and behind the trail.

Cascading Waters is a great place to take your dog for a walk. I met two golden retrievers; Wilson (on the left ) and Tucker, while I was there.

Below are two videos of Cascading Waters from the trail view and view from the top of the falls.

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16 Comments | tags: Casading Waters, dog, Hiking, Massachussetts, Nature, New England, photo, Photography, photos, rocks, streams, trees, video, water fall, Worcester | posted in brook, dog, Massachussetts, nature, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, waterfall, Worcester

March 18, 2016

Bronstein Park (Manchester, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: February 27, 2016

Location: Beech St, Manchester, New Hampshire (with access points on Union, St, Amherst St and Hanover St)

Cost: Free to the public

Although a statue that is dedicated to the veterans of the Spanish American War, the Boxer Rebellion and the Phillipine-American War, Bronstein Park celebrates a hero from another war.

Although “The Hiker” stands prominently at the street entrance to the park, Bronstein Park (formerly known as Hanover Square) is actually named after a corpsman who died in World War II; Dr. Ben Richard Bronstein, the first Manchester, New Hampshire, resident to die during the war. Dr Bronstein’s brother, Maurice Bronstein, donated the memorial to the park in 1990.

The inscription on the memorial is hard to read in some parts. It states:

“in memory of
Dr. BEN RICHARD BRONSTEIN,
LIEUTENANT, MEDICAL CORPS,
aboard the destroyer
U.S.S. Jacob Jones
Lost in Action, February 28, 1942
First Naval Officer
From the State of New Hampshire
To have Sacrificed his life
in the fulfillment of his duty
in World War II.”

Another memorial pays tribute to Dr. Bronstein’s brother, Stephen Max Bronstein, who also served during the war.

“The Hiker” was originally sculpted by Theo Alice Ruggles Kitson in 1906. The original statue was made for the University of Minnesota. However, 50 copies were made of her statue and were distributed all over America. Manchester, New Hampshire was the recipient of one of the copies of her statue. The statue is made of bronze on a base of granite, of course.

The name “hiker” was a moniker the American soldiers in the Spanish American War and Philippine-American War gave themselves because of the long hikes they took in the jungle. Kitson said the hiker, “depicts a hero stripped of his parade uniform and shown as a soldier reacting to the challenges of the battlefield.”

Leonard Sefing, Jr., a Spanish-American War veteran, was the model for the statue.

A close inspection of the statue shows a weary soldier clad in civilian type apparel.

An American flag stands in front of the memorial for Dr. Ben Bronstein.

One strange thing I noticed is a warning posted that prohibits people from hanging out at the park during school hours. So that is something to bear in mind if you do visit. I’m not sure why this restriction is in place. I can only imagine you would be the talk of the town in prison if you ever got convicted of it “Don’t mess with that guy. He’s in here for loitering.” (I know it’s probably just a fine)

Below are some additional photos of the park from different angles.

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6 Comments | tags: Bronstein Park, freedom, memorial, monument, New England, new hampshire, photo, photographs, Photography, photos, statue, veteran, veterans, World War II | posted in freedom, memorial, monument, New England, new hampshire, park, photographs, photography, photos, statues, Uncategorized, World War II

March 16, 2016

Arms Park (Manchester, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: February 27, 2016

Location: 10 Arms St, Manchester, New Hampshire

Cost: Free but you may have to pay for parking

Parking: Parking was ample when I went during a winter weekend day.

Hours: Open everyday sunrise to sunset

Arms Park

Arms Park is a unique kind of park. In fact it’s not really a park at all. A stream, fed by the Amoskeag Fishways, runs parallel to the park. It is the perfect place for people who love the sound of water and watching waves (and based on my previous posts I know you’re out there). There’s not much to Arms Park. A parking lot takes up most of the area (which has led some to call it “Arms Parking”) and a few office buildings dot the landscape. It’s certainly not one of the most picturesque landscapes but the stream and walkway does have a certain charm. It is often used for observing important important days such as the annual Pearl Harbor Day observance event and the Fourth of July fireworks display.

The river is usually pretty rough and could consequently be dangerous if anyone got caught up it in.

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It was still fairly cold when I went to visit, so the water which did splash on the railing quickly turned to ice.

A variety of birds like to seek refuge at Arms Park. I saw a bunch of gulls there during my visit.

Arms Park has a short walkway along the river with benches along the way.

The video below gives a better representation of the choppy water at Arms Park.

22 Comments | tags: Arms Park, birds, Nature, New England, new hampshire, Park, parks, photographs, Photography, photos, river, water | posted in birds, Manchester, New England, new hampshire, park, photographs, photography, photos, river, Uncategorized, water, waves

March 13, 2016

Bash Bish Falls (Mount Washington, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: March 12, 2016

Hours: Open everyday from sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

Cost: access to the trails and waterfalls is free. It may cost if you rent one of the Bash Bish cabins at nearby Taconic Falls.

Bash Bish Falls

Located in the most southwestern part of Massachusetts, Bash Bish Falls is considered one of the most dangerous waterfalls in not only Massachusetts but the entire United States. It is also one of the most beautiful.

According to legend, Bash Bish was the name of a Mohican Native American woman who was accused of adultery which was punishable by death.. Bash Bish was pushed over the falls while tied up in a canoe.

The shape of the falls is said to resemble a woman falling to her death. Another theory claims the segmented characteristic of the falls resembled the reuniting of Bash Bish and her daughter White Swan who had also disappeared over the falls according to the Mohican legend. If the rapids of the stream leading from the waterfall and the speed of the water falling from the waterfall are any indication, the restless spirits may still be there. It is also a good reason why swimming is not allowed as the rapids can be very strong and it is easy to hit a rock.

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Bash Bish Falls is located in Massachusetts, just past New York/Massachusetts border.

There are several entrances for Bash Bish. One of the entrances, at the top of the hill from the Massachusetts entrance on Falls Rd, gives ample evidence as to why Bash Bish may be considered such a dangerous waterfall. The stairs, which are a generous description, and walkway, also a generous description, are rocky and treacherous. There is a railing to hold on to. But, it’s still a tricky path.

I would recommend using the first parking spot on Falls Rd, if you’re traveling from Massachusetts. The trails are easy to moderate with a few slight inclines from the first parking lot. It is a 3/4 mile walk to the waterfall from the parking area.

There are many interesting rock formations along the trail. Little known factoid: I learned a new word recently for the strange piles of rocks stacked creatively that we often see along trails and at beaches like the rocks in the first two photos in the top row of photos below. They are called cairns, unless you ask a conservationist or geologist in which case they will condescendingly call them just rock piles since real cairns are nature made and not man made.

Bash Bish Falls is a popular spot for dog walkers. I met the following dogs during my hike.

Charlie

Juno, a Rottweiler and Shepherd mix

Cassie, a Bernese Mountain Dog.

Murphy, a beautiful Golden retriever

To get a better perspective of the waterfall and the stream leading from the waterfall, I have attached the following videos.

34 Comments | tags: attractions, dogs, Hiking, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, waterfall | posted in attractions, dogs, massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, views, waterfalls, western massachusetts

March 12, 2016

Nashua Dodgers Mural (Nashua, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date visited: February 27, 2016

Location: 31 West Hollis St., Nashua, New Hampshire The mural can be seen on the east side of the Maynard & Lesieur building

Most baseball fans know the Dodgers were the first American professional baseball team to integrate baseball in decades. However, few people know it was the Nashua Dodgers (the farm club of the Brooklyn Dodgers) and not the Brooklyn Dodgers that were the first pro team to integrate an American baseball team in the 20th century (Jackie Robinson, who would later become the first African American to play professional baseball in the United States during modern era, was playing for the Montreal Royals of the International League at this time).

It is said that Branch Rickey and his executive, Buzzie Bavasi, chose Nashua as the location for this New England League team partly because the city had a large French Canadian population and they felt the French Canadian people would be more receptive to an integrated team.

Along the side of the building with the Nashua Dodgers mural is another work of art. The mural celebrates the earlier days of Nashua. Holman Stadium, which is prominently displayed in the mural, is the stadium the Nashua Dodgers played in. It is still in use to this day. It is now the home of the Nashua Silver Lights of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.

The mural is such a pretty work of art. Unfortunately, it has sustained some damage due to people defacing the artwork.

Below is a walk through of the mural on the side of the building.

3 Comments | tags: art, artwork, baseball, mural, Nashua, New England, new hampshire, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in art, baseball, mural, Nashua Dodgers, New England, new hampshire, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

March 7, 2016

Mine Falls Park (Nashua, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: March 5, 2016

Cost: Free

Hours: 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Address: 9 Stadium Rd, Nashua, New Hampshire

Parking: There are several different entrances with parking at Mine Falls. The main parking area that I parked in (The Gate House Entrance) had 15 spots and was full when I left.

Once a canal and gate system used to power a mill complex that manufactured textiles, Mine Falls Park is now a nature lover’s paradise. The 325 acre park, which seems bigger, is home to a host wildlife, plant life and spectacular views

During my jaunt along trails, I saw a variety of creatures such as chipmunks, swans, ducks, a blue heron egret and a number of furry friends.

After a chilly, blustery morning, the temperature rose dramatically by noon time and it seemed spring-like (in other words, it was a typical New England March day) and joggers, cyclists and dogs inundated the park.

I met some beautiful and cute dogs at Mine Falls listed below.

A chocolate lab named Kona (named after the coffee color).

Flower, a pretty greyhound.

Evie, a 7 year old Yorkshire Terrier, showed off her tricks.

Four month old puggle Daisy is a natural poser.

Sampson, a 5 month old Golden Retriever, looked like a teddy bear.

The trails are Mine Lake are easy with very slight inclines. They vary from paved in some areas to dirt and gravel. One interesting thing about the trails is one of the trails passes right under the highway. There is also an observatory platform to the side of one of the trails.

There is a memorial dedicated to U.S. Marine Staff Sargent and Nashua native Allen Soifert who died after being shot while driving his jeep in Beirut on October 14, 1983 at the age of 25. The memorial is located near the Soifert Memorial Fields. The inscription reads:

“These fields are dedicated in memory of Staff Sargeant Allen H. Soifert USMC of Nashua
Killed in Action Oct. 14, 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon while serving with the multi-national peace keeping force.
No greater love has a man than this. That he lay down his life for peace.
Dedicated Sep. 28, 1986.”

The stainless steel sculpture Connected by Ana Duncan sits at one of the entrances.

Mine Falls also has a number of bridges, babbling brook (and I don’t mean the chatty gal or guy you work with), rocks, structures and views that set it apart from most parks

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The most popular feature of the park is the dam and waterfall by the gatehouse.

As I was leaving the park, I heard a lot of dogs barking and whining. My curiosity peaked, I decided to check it out. It turned out a sled dog team was getting ready to practice. I was able to video the team on their last run.

Here are some additional videos of the damn and waterfalls

18 Comments | posted in Uncategorized

March 4, 2016

Stark Park (Manchester, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: February 27, 2016

Location: North River Rd, Manchester, NH

Cost: Free

Hours: Open daily sunrise to sunset

Parking: There was not a designated parking area per se but there are many places to park on the side of the paved road leading from the entrance.

Stark Park

New Hampshire isn’t known as the “Live Free Or Die” state for no reason. The quote, which is said to have French origins and adorns license plates and other kitschy souvenirs, is directly attributed to General, and former New Hampshire resident, John Stark. It was at John Stark Park in Manchester, NH, that I found this historical tribute to the revolutionary warrior.

The remaining of the “live free or die…”quote is lesser known, yet just as poignant.

For someone who is so heroic and brave, General Stark is not someone who many of us are familiar with. But, heroic he is. As the plaque in front of his statue explains, after being kidnapped by a Native American tribe and eventually ransomed, Stark joined the American Revolution and became a general. His most notable achievement was in 1777 when he commanded his troops to prevent British troops and supplies from connecting with the main army in Saratoga, New York, which was considered a key point which led to the American victory in the war.

Crisp blue skies awaited me at the park. It almost felt fall-like. What struck me most about the park was how peaceful it was. The gazebo is a nice touch also. The statue of General Stark was sculpted by Richard Recchia in 1948. The park is one of the older parks in New Hampshire, dating back to 1893 (it is the second oldest park in Manchester).

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General Stark his, wife and a few of their children are buried at the bottom of the hill from the entrance.

One of the interesting things about Stark Park is the loop behind the park. It’s only about a quarter of mile and it is a great place to take your dog for a walk. But, there is a trail that branches off to a bridge and some other trails which eventually lead to the Heritage Trail. But, apart from some interesting trees and some wildlife, there isn’t much on the trails. Most of them lead to residential areas. I walked most of the narrow trails as far as I could go before they ended, rather disappointingly, at roadways and residential areas.

The big payoff to walking the loop behind the park was meeting Bennie. Bennie is a Chinook which is the state dog of New Hampshire.

21 Comments | tags: dog, Historical, history, Live Free Or Die, Manchester, memorial, Nature, new hampshire, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, statue, trail, trees | posted in bridge, dogs, historical, history, Manchester, nature, new hampshire, park, photographs, photography, photos, sculpture, trails, Uncategorized

February 28, 2016

Cat Alley (Manchester, NH)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: February 27, 2016

Cost: Free

Parking: Off street parking and parking lots are available throughout the area

Location: Dean Ave., Manchester, NH

Dean Avenue, also known as the hardest place to find in Manchester, is home to Cat Alley – an alley full of cats.

I must have asked a dozen people for directions to this alley way until one older gentleman chuckled and sent me in the right direction. A lot of people got it confused with the “Alley Cat” (a popular pizza joint in the area). Don’t go there as it is not even close to the “Cat Alley.” The hidden alleyway is easy to miss. It is located between Lala’s Hungarian Pastry (mmmm) at 836 Elm St and Alpha Loft at 844 Elm St. There is a sign on the shingle of Lala’s indicating Dean Ave.

There are cats everywhere in Cat Alley.

The name “Cat Alley” precedes the art on the walls. According to legend, the name was derived from a business man witnessed two stray cats duking it out. I sure wish he had broken it up. At any rate, after noticing the alley way, which I might not recommend walking down too late at night, a business man decided to raise funds and hire street artists to give the alley the look it deserves. Below is a slideshow of all of the art as well as a video of a walk through of the alley.

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Cat Alley isn’t the only place I found graffiti, much to the chagrin of many Manchester residents I am sure. I found this mural on Manhattan Lane, a side street parallel to Elm St. This mural is spot on, minus the recycling bins. From left to right is the “Man In The Mountain” (which, as a child, I used to call the “Old Man In The Mountain”) – a rock formative created by wind, erosion and other weather factors on the side of a mountain and which collapsed on May 3, 2003.The state flower is represented as purple lilac. The rest of the mural is also emblematic of New Hampshire; a purple finch (which does have a reddish look) and a covered bridge which is a staple of New Hampshire.

This is another piece of graffiti I found on Manhattan Lane.

I saw a lot of photo-worthy things during my visit. I will be posting more from my trip soon. Don’t forget to “like” me on Facebook here to see photos and videos I don’t post in my blog posts. Thank you!

33 Comments | tags: cats, graffiti, Manchester, new hampshire, photographs, Photography, photos | posted in cat alley, cats, graffiti, Manchester, new hampshire, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized

New England Nomad

Balance Rock State Park (Pittsfield, MA)

New Hampshire Holocaust Memorial (Nashua, NH)

Cascading Waters (Worcester, MA)

Bronstein Park (Manchester, NH)

Arms Park (Manchester, NH)

Bash Bish Falls (Mount Washington, MA)

Nashua Dodgers Mural (Nashua, NH)

Mine Falls Park (Nashua, NH)

Stark Park (Manchester, NH)

Cat Alley (Manchester, NH)

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