Moscow, Idaho

Made a trip over to Idaho to visit one of my closest friends, Meghan.  Can't believe she gets to study these cuties for her PhD. 

Chloe the Pygmy Rabbit.  Had the opportunity while there to sit in on an informal interview and lecture of a Post Doc looking to work at WSU.  Was interesting to hear about the different disciplines and what these scientists are studying to help our environment.

We decided to get out of the "city" (Moscow is a bustling metropolitan area of about 20,000) and head out in to the Idaho wilderness.  Meghan surprised me with this great gift. 

What girl doesn't need a purple case filled with the essentials- ie bug spray, baby wipes, pocket knife, etc.  I love it and it came in very handy!

We went camping at Heyburn state park which was only about an hours drive. 

The tent was GINORMOUS! Plus cots... we sure know how to spoil ourselves
 There was a nice bike trail that we rode on for a little bit.  I guess it goes pretty far, the Boy Scouts camping next to us went on 100mi ride!

 Self pic- Meghan and I on our bike ride

 Checking out the views from the bridge

 Meghan loves to ride her mountain bike and even races on occasion.  Thankfully she was very patient with me.

After our bike ride we went over to the visitor center and took advantage of a nature walk they had. The park itself was made a state park in 1908 (it's the oldest park in the Pacific Northwest) by President Taft.  (I hear there are no national parks in Idaho)

 A nice viewing spot for birds

 A boardwalk out in to the marshes

After exploring we headed back to camp to cook up some dinner and relax.  Man the fire was a pain.  The wood just would not catch.  Finally had to suck it up and buy a bundle from the camp host.  Once we did that we had a fire in less than 5mins.

 Unwinding with a glass of wine. 

 Preparing our firewood

The next morning we got up and went on a short hike "Indian Cliffs trails." The trail led us up a mountain for spectacular views of the park and the lakes.  There are 3 lakes that make up Heyburn State Park-Chatcolet, Benewah, and Hidden. Plus the St Joes river that flows through these lakes.  A little interesting tidbit- this is the highest navigatable waterway in the world.  (Is navigatable a word?)

 Check out all those Ponderosas.  It's like N. AZ but with more water : )

Enjoying some breathtaking views

 

After the hike we went and rented a canoe.  The lady was awesome and only charged us $15 even though she could have charged us at least double that. 

 

 The canoe.  Felt like the current was trying to pull us to one side, but we figured it out and made our way across the lake

 Hmmm think I will take some pics and let Meghan do the work : )

 Attempting to fly fish from the boat.  Which resulted in Meghan get the line wrapped around her neck.  Needless to say wasn't very successful

 

We eventually decided to stop at one of the islands and try fishing from there.  No luck , but at least no one got strangled. 

The next morning we woke up to pouring rain so decided to pack up the campsite and headed back to Moscow.  Reid, Meghan's husband came home from doing field work and we all went out and played some pool and had a bite. 

This was an amazing trip.  Wish I could have stayed a little longer. 



Newburyport, MA

Hopped on the commuter rail and made my way to Newburyport, MA today.  I am doing my best to get out and explore this corner of the globe, I currently call home. 

 

When I arrived in Newburyport I was disappointed that the commuter rail station was not located downtown, as I had read on the internet. Wandering around the station and parking lot I eventually saw a phone number for a taxi service-which unfortunately did not work-Damnit!  Thankful that I decided to upgrade to smart phone a few months back, I was able to use my maps feature and realized town was approx. 1mi away.  So... I started walking...

 

 The walk ended up being quite pleasant.  The recent rains we've had here in New England has made everything exceptionally green.

 Couldn't figure out if George had any special connection to Newburyport, or if he just gets a statue cause he's George

 A nice lake with walking path.  Any guesses on what the statue is on top of the fountain?

 

Originally settled in 1635, Newburyport population is currently around 20,000.

 The downtown area is packed with artsy shops, boutiques, and restaurants. 

 Cute walkway in the downtown area.  I loved the green and flowers.

 Because of the rain there were very few people wandering about.

 Not sure what these stones are for.  I'm assuming that people use them to take a moment and rest their feet when it isn't pouring.

 I thought this statue was fun

 It was nice to be able to duck into a shop to escape the rain on occasion.  I enjoyed a nice cup of tea at "Angie's Coffee Shop".  Love it when there are independent coffeehouses and not just Starbucks.  Reminds me of Flag

 Also treated myself to some of the lotion testers and body scrub at "Soak" Oh man, my hands feel amazing! Wondering if I should have bit the bullet and bought some.

Hmmm, is that building allowed to be green.  How rebellious.

 Whoever is in charge of these window planters is doing a wonderful job.  Although mother nature is definitely doing her part to help.

Newburyport is considered to be the birthplace of the USCG (US Coast Guard) Est. in 1790 and the US oldest, continuous maritime service. 

A monument for the Coast Guard

How have I not made friends with anyone with a boat? Seriously?!

I love the water and all the boats. 

Went to the Custom House Maritime Museum.  They had some interesting photographs, shipwreck logs and various other information about Maritime History. They are currently working on a book from the excerpts from Elizabeth Bray's journal.  A woman who, in the 1850's, traveled the seas with her husband and journaled about her adventures and how much she loved them.  I think we may have been friends : )

 Was happy to discover a bus to take me back to the commuter rail station.  This is the bus station stop.  Wow, even it is beautiful. 

 

Had a wonderful time.  Am planning on venturing back when the weather is nicer.  I really want to see Plum Island.  Wish it could be this weekend when they are having a lobster and music festival.

 

 

 

 





Salem, MA

Amazingly after almost 3yrs of living in Boston... I finally made the trip to Salem.  Not sure why it took me so long, as it's a relatively easy trip on the commuter rail.

 



The town of Salem has a population of  approx. 42,000 people.  With the main tourist attractions being walking distance to the commuter rail.  Very convenient.

 

Checking out the sights around town.  Definitely a lot of opportunity for one to get their palm read or fortunes told.

 

 

 Look there's a red line like Boston

 Enjoyed the brick

 

I really enjoyed the colors here with the purple house and the pink of the cherry blossom tree.  My camera didn't do it justice.

 

The window of one the local bookshops.  The inside of the store was rows and rows of books piled this way.  I have no idea how one is expected to find what they are looking for. 



 

 

While in town I visited a couple of museums.  The first one dedicated to the Salem Witch Trials.

 

Here are some facts you may or may not know about the "Witch Trials"

• Although known as "The Salem Witch Trials" Salem at the time was Salem town and Salem village an area much larger than what we today know as Salem  and also included the surrounding towns.
• The trials went from March 1692-May 1693
• The trials started when three preteen girls began acting in "strange" ways.  When the town physician was unable to diagnose them he proclaimed them to have been inflicted by the devil
• These girls then accused others of being witches.  Approx 200 people were accused with 19 being executed and 5 dying in prison
• Unlike popular belief the "witches" were hung and not burned at the stake.  Burning was done in England. 
• The first person to be executed was Bridget Sarah Bishop
• They even hung a couple of dogs
• Giles Corey was crushed to death instead of hung.  They later hung his wife
• The trials came to an end when the girls started to accuse some prominent figures of also being witches

A memorial.  In the early 1990's they started a tradition of honoring a humanitarian, in memory of those who died at the witch trials, to remind of us the harm that can be done by being judgmental of one another. 

Local Cemetery- those accused and hung were not allowed to be buried in the consecrated ground at the church. 

Statue of Elizabeth Montgomery as "Samantha" in Bewitched. 

 

Salem has more to it than its witch history.

 Had a fun time checking out the boats and the water. 

 

 Ahoy!

 

I also walked over to the "House of the Seven Gables".  Made famous by the book written in 1851 by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

a gable is the area of the roof that comes to a point.  The house in the book belonged a cousin of Hawthorne-Susanna Ingersoll who was an independent woman of her day. Refusing to get married so that her inheritance would not be passed off to her husband.

 When the house was reconstructed in the early 1900's it was remodeled to include both historically accurate parts and parts that came from the book.  No pictures were allowed in the house so unfortunately don't have any.

 Nice garden at "Seven Gables".  Interesting tour- I would recommend it to anyone visiting Salem.

I had a great time visiting Salem.  Feel I could have spent some more time.  Hope to make it back that way for some more exploring.