HEMPSTED HOUSES

 
New London, CT – “These two houses (built in 1678 and 1756) are open to the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society, and reflect the colonial life of a farming/seafaring family. In the early 1800’s the family became abolitionists and provided aid to escaped slaves using the Underground Railroad.

Once waterfront property, these surroundings have changed dramatically. However, the area was an integrated neighborhood as early as the 1680’s. Since the 1840’s African Americans have owned homes here, some of which are still standing on Hempstead
Street.”

The above is a quote from a plaque outside the Hempsted Houses. 

 
New London - Second Hempsted House. 

RUSSIAN RIVER FERRY - ALASKA

 
The Russian River Ferry actually crosses the Kenai River. The ferry reminds me of a barge, it has no motor. The ferry is attached to a cable and is sucked across the river by Bernoulli's Principal(my friend tells me this every time we cross). It costs $8 to cross to the side where fishing is best, even though you can catch fish from the camp side. The ferry runs from 6am to 11pm, if you are there after that you are there for the night, just watch for bears. The lucky thing is the night is very short when the reds are in. 

BIRD BANK

 
Palmer, AK - The holes you see here in the dirt bank are made by birds. You can see one coming in for a landing. 

AMISTAD PLAQUE - NEW LONDON CUSTOM HOUSE

 
New London - This place commemorates when the Slave Ship Amistad was brought into New London on August 26, 1839, starting a court battle that freed 38 slaves.

From more information: Amistad Info

Click Here for New Haven Amistad Photos (Sept.13th) 

 
New London, CT - Close-up of plaque. 

NEW LONDON CUSTOM HOUSE AND MARITIME MUSEUM

 
New London, CT - This building is the oldest continuously operating U. S. Custom House in the country it is also a museum of American Maritime History. It has a connection to the Amisted, more on that tomorrow. 

DO YOU WANT TO BE SLAVE OR FREE?

 
New London, CT - This plaque is on the front left corner of the New London Custom House. The small plaque signifies that this building is a stop on the "Freedom Trail". The story on the plaque and the connection to the Amisted is the reason for that plaque. 

COYOTE ON THE RUN

 
Bloomfield, CT - This coyote was walking in back of our building at work yesterday. So I grabbed my camera and just as I was about to take a photo(someone)not mentioning any names, started to howl and the coyote bolted. I was able to get this one shot of the coyote in full run.


Enjoy 

MONTEREY TOWN BEACH

 
Monterey, MA - Here is a small building on the town beach. I liked the sign. 

 
Monterey, MA - Here is a view of the Monterey Beach from the road...hey it's not Monterey, California. 

TRINITY CHURCH - LENOX, MA

 
Lenox, MA - I did not find out much about this church. I did find out that they host concerts ever once in a while, you can even see the sign out front. I did read that they have a project to rebuild buildings in Afghanistan. I basically took a photo because I like the way it looked. If anyone knows more, let me know.



Enjoy 

TRINITY PARISH HOUSE

 
Lenox, MA - Trinity Church Parish House. I really liked the Parish House more than the church itself. You can see the church in the background. 

COMBAT FISHING!

 
Confluence of the Kenai and Russian Rivers, Alaska - This is real combat fishing when the Reds are in. It takes away the fun of catching fish when you are shoulder to shoulder trying not to tangle you're line of the next five fisherman down stream from you. There are certain holes where you are more likely to catch fish and the competition if fierce. All I have to say is sometimes people can be not so nice...that is all I have to say about that.

This is the norm for fishing in Alaska. Anywhere you can get to by car you will see crowds like this. The seasons are short, dictated by the salmon runs, and everyone wants the fish. The only way to get the idyllic version of a cold mountain stream all to yourself is to hire a plane to fly you out to one.

ps - I will be back next year to join the fray.
 

LONE FISHERMAN

 
Knik River, Alaska - A lone fisherman on the Knik River is trying to catch a King Salmon. Just a few days after I took this photo someone caught a 65lb. King within 100 feet of this spot. By the way, the reason he is alone is that there are too many snags right there everyone else is behind the camera.


Enjoy 

SELF-PORTRAITS

 
I have been real busy at work and I don't feel like researching my photos when I get home. Sssooooo, I have been taking the easy way out this week. These are some of the photos I took a few weeks ago. I was trying to take photos with just the light from a window about 8:45 pm. The hard part was trying to stay still long enough so the photo would not blur. 

 
Did I ever tell you that the famous photographer Yousuf Karsh's brother was my mother's doctor. That and $3.59 will get you a cup of coffee at Starbucks. 

 
Here's lookin'at you kid! 

MAILBOX VS PLOW TRUCK

 
I have been noticing more and more mailboxes this year with rope or bungee cords holding them on. I guess this winter the snowplow has taken out more than its share of these mailboxes. In prior years you would just re-nail the box onto the post and be done with it. This year just rope it on, it is going to get knocked off anyway. 

PEAKS

 
New London, CT - I thought this made an interesting photo of the roofs of some houses and the church in the background. 

MESS O'CHICKENS

 
While at the Planted Feather Farm / Bakery my friend decided to go over to one of those "gumball" type machines that you put a quarter in an some chicken feed comes out. Here he feeds a few chickens that were in the yard. 

 
All of a sudden the word got out that someone was handing out feed and a chicken stampede ensued. Here he is getting more feed before they peck off an appendage. Do chickens have large talons? 

THE PLANTED FEATHER FARM / BAKERY

 
Colebrook / Winsted, CT - I'm not quite sure which town it is in, somewhere on the border. As you can see they have a bit of everything. 

 
Entrance to The Painted Feather Farm / Bakery. It is in the basement of a house. The bakery was started in 2002. 

 
This is the inside of the bakery, it is full of all kinds of wonderful treats. The woman on the right is the owners mother, I'm not sure the who the girl on the right was, maybe her daughter? If you find youself heading North on Old Route 8 towards Massachusetts, stop in for some baked goods or a sandwich, you will not be sorry. My wife purchased a delicious Oat Bread while we were there...we will be back for more.


Enjoy