The Making of an Adventure

After steady rainfall this morning, I was pretty discouraged that we'd have a sunny day.  So, I decided to find some sun. I checked the weather via internet, and saw that there was a break in the soggy weather, to the east.  I got the dogs squared away, and off I went.  I didn't take a straight path either, I took a roundabout route.  I stopped at Carr Store in Dublin, for a soda. I noticed there were several large moths on the outside wall of the store.  Someone had put up a sign asking that people not touch the moths.  I took the opportunity to take a picture of the Luna moth.  I have seen several this summer so far.

Onward....I took Rte 111 over toward Salem.  I saw a sign for "America's Stonehenge" and decided to check it out.  I have been to Stonehenge in England, so I was really curious to see how America's stonehenge stacked up.  I'm alittle skeptical after walking the grounds.  Supposedly there are large monoliths configured in a vast circle on top of "Mystery Hill".  The stones are arranged to indicate the seasonal direction of the equinoxes, and solstices, plus sunsets and sunrises.  The monoliths are nowhere near the size of those in England.   What I saw were many stone walls that were in a circle.  Brush and trees had been cleared in each navigational direction, NSEW with a large boulder at the end what I thought of as a shooting lane.  In the center of all this were piles of rocks seemingly arranged randomly.  But the story goes that the "chambers" face south.

There are many chambers barely big enough for a person to sit inside.  Then there is a tunnel that you can walk through, and it's kind of creepy and dark.  I looked for those bats, but didn't find them.

After exploring the America's Stonehenge I concluded that this was just an eccentric's way of making cool little caves out of piles of rocks.  They say that the underground railroad ran through the property, moving slaves to freedom.  

After leaving the stone fiasco, I headed to the coast and popped out at Salisbury Beach.  The sun was shining!  and it was HOT, believe it or not.  I was psyched, and inhaled deeply the wonderful salt air.  I drove up Rte 1 through Seabrook where I found the little harbor.   The Seabrook power plant was in the background, but I left that out.  I noticed that off in the distance the sky was a horrible greenish dark gray color....more thunder and rain.   No matter, I cruised along at a leisurely pace.  I stopped to look down the beach which was nearly void of people.  But there were some hardy folks in the water...brrrr   The lifeguards were all huddled up on their stands wrapped in red fleece blankets.  Discouraged surfers had been in and out of the waves.  I couldn't image it being much fun, nothing like Hawaii.  Who knows?  I drove up past the tacky backdrop of the arcades, and fried dough stands of Hampton.  Lots of "vacancy" signs on seaside motels and cabins.  I stopped at the Beach Plum for a decadent Lobster roll, and was tempted by the ice cream, but I resisted.   I think it was around 3 by then so I decided to head back, because the dogs would need feeding and their evening walk.  I turned back toward the west, and that eerie sky.  Thankfully, I went through only one downpour, and it lasted only a few minutes.  By the time I got home, the sun was out there with a thunderstorm looming to the west.  I fed the dogs, and took them out for a 2 mile walk up Derry Hill.  The thunder rolled but never did the storm make it to Christian Hollow.  Perfect.

Birds of a Feather

I have Ringo, my sister's dog for the weekend.  He's probably over 100 pounds, with long black fur.  Like Evvy, he is a rescue dog from the Monadnock Humane Society.   I have been making sure he gets plenty of exercise along with Evvy, because they are both VERY energetic.  Yesterday we did a four mile walk over hill and dale.  They discovered this deep puddle, and made the most of their good fortune.  Not too sure it was my good fortune though.  It's actually not that bad, they enjoy the water.  I take them for a morning swim, and an evening swim in brooks near my house.

So what's the white stuff in the other photo?  Well I have this theory that this fungus might be the same stuff that is killing all the bats around here.  I have seen this fungi all over the place, on the ground, on dead trees, everywhere, so why not on the nose's of bats?  I wonder if this fungus attaches to the bats while they hibernate, so they can't clean it off before it gets into their pores? Maybe a biologist could come up with a special "fungus bomb" kind of like a flea bomb, to put in known bat colony hibernation spots.   Or maybe create and environment where the bats could live, but the fungus could not.  Fungi love moist dark places, so do bats. But what about a dry dark place?  I used to live in a big old Victorian house in Keene.  That house was full of bats in the winter.  One winter I caught ten of them.  They slide down the partitions, and through the casement of sliding doors in the parlor.   Anyway, I'm pretty sure the attic where they "hung out" ha, ha, ha,   was very nice and dry.   So I don't know, food for thought I guess.  I am worried about those little guys though.  I haven't seen any for some time.

Remember This One?

This reconstruction is one I did back in 2006!  Some exiting news about her.  Melinde Sanborn who teaches Genealogical Anthropology at Boston University, found out about my work via linkedin.com and my sister, who is a Forensic Scientist with New Hampshire State Police.

Ms. Sanborn and her students are using photos of my reconstruction, along with investigative reports, with names removed, to try and determine who she is.  If you recall, this Jane Doe was found in Bedford, NH back in 1971.  The case has been reopened since I completed the reconstruction. Hopefully between research done by Boston University students, and NHSP, we will finally know who this woman is.  How exciting is that?!

Melinde Sanborn is also affiliated with the National Genealogical Society in Washington, D.C.

Sticky Saturday

Man, our walk this morning was very humid.  Thick fog had settled over night, but is burning off nicely as of 9:00 a.m.  But well before that, I took Evvy over to Mt. Gilboa Rd. for her morning romp.  I had taken a mountain bike ride yesterday, which took me over that way.  I call rides like that one, "discovery" rides.  I call them that because quite often I wind up bushwhacking my way off the trail.  I believe that is the only way you find the natural treasures you might never see otherwise.  Yesterday was no different.  After carrying my bike through a hideously tangled old logging site, I ended up at the Faulkner Forest cellar hole.  The area is marked by a stone with a plaque on it.  The plaque dedicates the beautiful spot to Phillip H. Faulkner, Jr., by his sons.   

There is a gate at the entrance to the property, then a well worn road that eventually connects to Mt. Gilboa Rd.  I have been there many, many times.  Yesterday I decided to check out an area that appears to have been a mill.  There are many stone walls there, and a couple cellar holes.  As I went closer, I heard the loud roar of water rushing and knew there had to be a sizable waterfall. I love finding waterfalls, and this one, new to me, was by far the tallest.  I made my way to the edge of a point of granite overlooking a spectular cascade.  I think it had to be over 100' from top to bottom.  The rock here is different than that at Fay Falls, more jagged with slabs of granite instead of worn bowls and slides.  I'm going to assume this cascade becomes a trickle when there is less rain.  There is a nice pool at the bottom, and Evvy of course got right in.

I didn't have my camera with me yesterday so I drove there this morning early.  You just take Rte 12 in Westmoreland, past the gas station(if you're headed south toward Keene).  Mt. Gilboa Rd. is on the left.  Drive well past the last house, and bear right.  You should see a 4x4 trail on the left, and a more driven road leading to the right.  You can walk in from there or drive up a little closer.  The falls are on the right, you can't miss the sound.  

NIce day to Just Curl Up

Merle has the right idea I think. Today and the next several days, are forecasted to be drizzly, and gray. So Merle, and my other furry creatures have found their respective nests to curl up in. I think I may find mine too.

Despite the creepy weather, Evvy and I did get out for our hike very early this morning before the hard rain started. Up over Sheep Hill, through the woods recently logged with new skidder paths. We made our way to the Rapids Rd. which is also the NH Snowmobile trail #5 I think. This trail can take you to the Wentworth Rd. to the NW, or what is called "Wind Gate" to the South, or you can take a side trip along the Hooper Hill Hopper trail toward the north, and eventually to Derry Hill Rd.
We chose to take the Rapids Rd. back toward Wind Gate which is also known as the Faulkner Forest Conservation area. Evvy located a nest of sparrows on the ground, but thankfully let them be. I located the Turkey nest I had spoken of in a previous post. There were several broken eggs in the nest. No sign of a Turkey anywhere. I'm going to guess that the eggs did not hatch. Surely if they had, the hen would have removed the eggshells. So perhaps the eggs were eaten, or just died. When I first found the nest, there were 14 eggs inside. Today there were about 8 broken eggs.

One good thing about hiking in the rain; the mosquitos are much less of an annoyance. Evvy doesn't care what the weather is, she loves romping around the woods looking for chipmunks, and deep mud puddles.

Watch Your Step!

Evvy and I went to the lower Fay Falls this morning. I knew she would love the great pools at the bottom of the falls, and she did.  The cold water invigorates her so much, she runs willy-nilly up and down the banks.  It matters not how slippery the rocks are, and they are very slick.  Evvy falls into the water, and jumps right back up.  The unfortunate part is that she wants to include me in her frolicking.  She bounds toward me, and then jumps straight up my side.  I get soaked to the skin, and wonder if coming to the falls was such a great idea after all.  But I do enjoy watching her friskiness.  I should be so energetic.  Here she is taking a break from her swim.

Is it me? Or are there zillions of Red Efts under foot?  It seems like there are more around this year for some reason.  Especially after alot of rain, I find myself doing a dance of sorts when walking through the woods.  I don't want to step on these fragile salamanders, so I sometimes have to jump at the last second to avoid squishing them.

The third photo is a piece of very wet wood, that has turned a bluish-green in the decomp process.  The neat thing about it is, if you let is dry out and throw a chunk into your fireplace, you will see some cool colors burn forth.  Just a little tidbit for your cocktail dairy.

There are gobs of Partridge Berries out now for you crafters.  If you put a bunch of berries and the leaves into a clear glass globe jar, they make a nice centerpiece.  Be sure to keep some water in there, and put a tightly sealed top on.  Oh, and another tidbit....if you chew on the leaves, they taste like the Teaberry gum you can get at the Vermont General Store.  

Who knew?!

Outstanding in her Field

Despite all the "damp-ish" weather, Evvy and I walk the woods every day.  This morning was no different really.  I decided to walk up back behind my house.  It's beautiful up there, and at the top there is a nice view toward Fall Mountain.   Last night I heard a caucophony of coyote sounds. It sounded like they were right in the back yard.  I figured if I took Evvy up there this morning, she would find out what all the hub-bub was all about.  No such luck.  What ever the coyotes were doing, remains a secret.  There were heavy rains last night, up to an inch in some locations.  So I wouldn't find a blood trail if there was one.  I did see places where ferns had been trampled, but it could of been me from previous walks.  We walked up to a deer stand that I use in Fall, and Evvy found an old deer leg bone.  She had to lug that thing every where we walked.  Occasionally, she'd drop to the ground and gnaw on it for a while.    I let her carry it back to the house, but no deer bones in the house.....eeeeewwww.   Reluctantly Evvy gave up her prize, and I set it on the porch railing.

Yesterday morning, Evvy chased Chipmunks as she is always wont to do.  This time however, Evvy successfully caught one!  Much to my dismay, I never thought she would.  But I watched the whole thing play out.  The Chipmunk made a fateful error by attempting to climb up a tree where the bark was just falling away.  The bark did fall away along with Chippy, and Evvy was right there to catch him.  Unfortunately for the Chipmunk, Evvy "the chainsaw" has a strong bite.  I often wonder if she would make a good police patrol dog.  Anyway, the Chipmunk died instantly.  

Evvy didn't eat the Chipmunk, rather she galloped along seemingly proud of herself.  She would drop the little lifeless creature, then pick it back up.  Finally, she dropped and abandoned it.   When we came by that way again later, Evvy picked up her prize once more and carried it all the way home.  Once again.....no dead things in the house.  At the door, I asked Evvy to drop it, and she did.  Later, long after Evvy had forgotten her catch, I retrieved the Chipmunk from the porch and disposed of it.   

Evvy is so child-like, and entertaining except when she does naughty things; chase the cats, jump up on the glass french doors to get at chippy's outside, attempt in vain to chase cars, jump up on people, drive her cousin "Ringo" nuts, beg for people food, bark at chickens, guinea hens, cows, horses, and Old John Stevens who hikes stealthily(so he thinks) through the woods.  All in all Evvy is a good dog, and a great companion who never complains.

Flowers On The Connecticut

What a day to be on the river.  After tending to all the animals I'm watching this weekend, I threw my kayak onto the truck and headed for River Rd. in Westmoreland.  The drive there is by itself picture perfect the whole way.  But once on the river, I saw one wonder after another.  The river seemed perfectly still, and nearly flat.  I hugged the west shore for my paddle upstream.  I passed a muskrat swimming stealthily along.  I was happy to not see alot of garbage, though the silt may cover much of it.  I paddled up for about an hour and a half, then turned around for the return.  Beautiful flowering trees relinquished a sweet smell as an easy breeze picked up.  Cottony seeds rained down from Maples and covered the water like snow(if snow could cover water).  I saw a few Forget-me-nots, and small stands of Yellow Iris.  I looked for Scarlet Flower but didn't see any.

My original plan was to do some fishing, but in my haste to get going, I forget my pole!  Oh well, I did find some spots I'd like to return to for fishing.  I found that the west side of the river tended to be more silty, while my return trip was more rocky.  That is where I hope to do some fishing next time.  I saw fish swimming along, so I'm optimistic there is something to fish for.

I stuck my feet over the sides of my kayak and "cooled my heels".  It was so relaxing to just drift along, soaking up the sun.   After housting the kayak back onto my truck, I made a stop at "Stuart and John's Sugar House" for an ice cream.....my addiction.

Evvy and her mud

Last night at about 9:00 p.m. my friends and me were watching some large bucks grazing in a field.  They had just the start of new antlers showing.  There were three really good sized bucks, and one smaller one.  We figured there would be one for each of us come this fall.   We watched as the deer made their way to the top of the field and back into the woods.   Not fifteen minutes later, a cacophony of coyote sounds broke the silence!  Several coyotes could be heard not far from where the deer had been.  The yipping, and yapping continued for many minutes.  I couldn't help but wonder if they had found a fawn, another small deer.  My friend Josie then announced that two of their cows had been missing at last count.  At that point it was of course too late to go looking for them.  Hopefully, they were just misscounted.

This morning, I took Evvy up to the area where we saw the deer.  I figured if there had been anything killed, she would find what ever morsels were left.   But Evvy didn't locate a thing.

So either nothing was killed, or the coyotes left nothing of their kill.

We made a big loop through woods, and fields until we rejoined a walking path in a Monadnock Conservancy property.   Evvy took the opportunity to first wallow in a mud puddle.  Evvy likes to lay in the puddle, then put her muzzle under the water and fling mud and water up into the air.   Later she rinsed in a brook, by once again laying in it.  It makes my job alot easier because if she doesn't rinse I have to rinse her with the hose.  When I use the hose, we both get soaked.

What Happens when you Lose to a Stanchion

On Monday, I stopped by my neighbor's Holstein dairy farm.   There's always something doin, from fixing the Harrow, to catching cows.  Anyway, on this day they were moving some young cows around inside the barn(s).   I was game for this adventure, and found that it was alot harder than I imagined!  In fact it was a great workout, trying to pull these young lasses into their new location, and into their respective stanchions.  Until...  I was pulling a lively cow's head through a stanchion using a rope that was around her head and neck.   I got her head through the stanchion, then the rest of her came barreling through as well.  It wasn't pretty.  The cow plowed through, and past me.  The stanchion broke apart and cracked me squarely in the nose.   For a moment, everyone just froze and looked at me.   It didn't really hurt all that much at the time, but the bleeding was most dramatic.  Nevertheless, I wanted to continue to move these cows.  After pinching my nose for several minutes, until the bleeding stopped, I rejoined the "cow catching" game.  I had alot of fun, and worked up a good sweat.  As for the farmers, they got a good laugh, and were grateful for the extra hand.  

The bruising around my eyes has progressed over the last days, looking much worse than it really is.  I can't wait for my next impromptu visit to the farm!

Snakes & Hares

Evvy and I took a trip up to the rocky top of Derry Hill Rd. which is part of the Britton Farm in Walpole.  There are some neat granite outcroppings there that probably once had excellent views.  Now though trees and their foliage block any view.  Most of the smaller granite rocks are near perfectly square like bricks.  On one outcrop, someone had painstakingly begun to create small shelter.   Wondering if I might find any snakes, I looked in the dark spaces between these rocks.  Sure enough, I found the shed skin of a snake not too far from a Ringneck Snake.  I borrowed the photo from J.D. Willson, and the following description of the snake from the NH Audobon website.  

Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus) 
This small and slender species is, like the Brown and Redbelly, also quite secretive. Usually smaller than two-feet, the Ringneck is black, gray, or brown with a gold collar and a yellow belly. They prefer wooded areas with lots of cover in the form of logs and rocks and their diet consists of anything they can catch including salamanders, frogs, smaller snakes, earthworms and insects. The females lay 1 to 10 eggs in June or July and many females may share the same cavity for egg-laying. Some females keep the eggs in their bodies until they hatch. Otherwise, from egg to hatching takes eight weeks. It takes one year for them to reach sexual maturity. (www.nhaudobon.org/atn_snakes.html)

I found two of these snakes this morning in different places, but both under rocks.  

Evvy was interested in creatures that move faster.  She entertained herself by chasing, very briefly, a Snowshoe Hare.   Evvy was unsuccessful at catching the hare, just I figured.  She is not a good hunter, she just runs and bounds like a clod.  The only bounty that Evvy is successful at catching, is dead things, bones, carcasses, and of course the smelliest excrement she can find.

There was a hard frost last night.  I covered my garden, but some of the plastic blew off and exposed my spinach.  I'm not sure if it's damaged or not.  Looks okay.

It was a great morning for walking, no bugs!   So Evvy and I headed for Merriam Rd which becomes a logging road into Surry from Walpole.   There is a really neat hunting/get-away camp there.  It really IS the perfect spot.  A lovely brook flows right through the area.  The brook flows into what looks like a natural canal(top photo), and it's deep enough that you could sit in it.   You would have to be a pretty hearty individual though, because it's freezing cold.  Evvy loved it.  I followed the brook down slope for quite a distance, and found, cascade after cascade.  Each little falls as impressive as the first.  At one point the rock flattens out and looks like you could almost slide down.

Yesterday I took a Sunday drive over to Jaffrey, where I couldn't resist Kimball's famous ice cream.  Then I drove some backroads around Mt. Monadncok just as a fierce thunderstorm cut loose.  What fun!  The storm passed quickly, and I got this great shot from the north eastern side(I think).  I found great views all around the mountain even in gray weather.