Category Archives: Travel

Into The Harbor on a Wildlife Cruise

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The cruise was a “sell out”. Many of the people I spoke with had been on the cruise in previous years. They only run it one day a year and they go out rain or shine or snow.  There were National Park Rangers,  Aquarium naturalists, DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) employees and volunteers  to answer questions. The boat was well stocked with food and beverages in the snack bar. two decks were heated if the outdoor space got too cold. They really went all out to make  it a special day.

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At 10:35 the loading began and by 11 am we were all ready to head out to the harbor.

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Our first destination was Logan Airport. Logan Airport is home to some migratory snowy owls. Because of the damage they can do to a jet, the Audubon Society has a trap and release program. Snowys are trapped at Logan and released elsewhere, often at Duxbury beach.

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I was on the 2nd deck when the cry went up that a snowy owl had been spotted. Unfortunately it was too far away. I couldn’t see it with my 300 mm lens. A photographer standing next to me with a gigantic lens on his camera said he couldn’t see it either. It looked like a snow pile or a white plastic jug, just a spot against the dark gravel.

That pretty much set the tone for the trip. It would have been more accurate to call it a bird watching cruise. We saw lots of birds but they were mostly fast and small. I soon got tired of trying to photograph them and settled for just watching them.

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The only “wildlife” we saw were some seals hauled out on the rocks. Since it was low tide they were a good distance away from us and the sun was at the wrong angle to see much. It was more the silhouette of their “banana pose” that gave them away.

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It had warmed up a great deal and the sun going in and out behind the clouds. The harbor was amazingly calm for a winter day. We cruised past Boston Light into the outer harbor.

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One of the volunteers explained that they almost never get to go into the outer harbor in winter. It’s just too rough but we made it all the way out to Graves Light and even there the waves were only gentle, rolling swells.

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Graves was the end of the trip. We did our turn around right in front of the light house. The return trip was leisurely as we passed the various harbor Islands, Georges Island with it’s fort, Peddocks Island with it’s 4 headlands to name only 2.

Georges Island, Boston Harbor

Georges Island, Boston Harbor

Peddocks Island

Peddocks Island

 

It turned out to be a beautiful day for a boat ride. I may not have seen much Wildlife but I had fun all the same. I’ll watch for this next year. I wouldn’t mind a repeat.

7 Wonders of the United States

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I love traveling but so far I’ve stuck to US travel. I figure as much as I would like to see some of the sights in Europe and Asia and South America or go on a Safari in Africa, I want to know my own country first.

So I was tooling around the internet and stumbled on the Seven Wonders of the United States so I wondered if I’d seen any of them.

Well, here’s the list:

1.      Brooklyn Bridge – Crosses the east river at Park Row, Manhattan to Adams St, Brooklyn. Work started in 1870 and the bridge officially opened in 1883. It still has the 44th longest main span among the world’s suspension bridges. Today the bridge is a National Historic Landmark.-–I’ve driven over it but did not know it was a “wonder”. I need to go back again and appreciate it.

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2.      Empire State Building – 350 5th Ave. NY,NY.  The iconic building has seen its share of cinematic fame , from King Cong to Ghostbusters. It was a marvel of depression era building, a work of determination and pride. Construction began in March of 1930. This is also a National Historic Landmark. —I’ve been there too but so long agao that I don’t remember much about it. I think it was a high school trip. Will have to make a day of it and go back again.

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3.      Golden Gate Bridge – Located on US highway 101 in San Francisco, CA. One of the most photographed landmarks in America I have yet to visit San Francisco or see the Golden Gate Bridge. Construction began in 1933 and the Golden gate bridge welcomed its first visitor in 1937. To everyone’s surprise it opened under budget and ahead of schedule.—Once I finally take my California vacation this will be on my bucket list.

4.      Hoover Dam—Located 30 miles south east of Las Vegas on US Highway 93. (Nevada-Arizona Border) t took over 60 years from the time Maj. John Wesley Powell began to conduct geological studies of the Colorado River in 1869, to the concrete being poured in 1933, for Hoover Dam to be materialized. During this time the 7 basin states had to go through lengthy negotiations on how the water would be distributed, and of course, there were bidding wars on what construction company would get the job. In the end, a group called Six Companies was awarded the contract — the winning bid was over $48 million. Despite the long years of bids, planning, site inspections and more, it took just five years to complete the mammoth structure. Today, the dam is a testament to the dedication of the country’s ability to construct such a structure, especially during the years of the Depression. Hoover Dam is also a National Historic Landmark.—Been there, been there, been there. Great Experience. I highly recommend it.

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5.      Mount Rushmore- Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota along Highway 244-Mount Rushmore has a truly interesting history. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum designed the enormous sculpture after he abandoned the Stone Mountain, GA relief under a cloud of suspicion and accusations of fiscal mismanagement. Sculptor Borglum arrived in 1925 to begin carving.  The monument was officially completed on Oct. 31, 1941. Today, Mount Rushmore sees over 2.6 million visitors per year….I’ve been there. Amazing monument.

6.      Seattle Space Needle-  located 219 4th Avenue N, Seattle, WA
Designed for the 1962 World’s Fair by Edward E. Carlson, this 605-foot-tall structure was to represent the future but quickly became a symbol for the city of Seattle. The structure is designed to withstand winds of 200 miles per hour, but earth tremors and storms have caused the structure to sway occasionally and close for a day or two. Today, the Space Needle is getting a face-lift as the city of Seattle begins to revitalize the entire centerpiece, including the observation deck, restaurant and surrounding grounds.—I was there in 2013 and it quickly became my favorite place to photograph the city of Seattle and Mount Rainier.

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7.      Washington Monument – 15th St SW Washington DC… It  doesn’t matter what part of the world people come from, one sight of this obelisk design and they know they’re in America. Similar to other memorials such as the Taj Mahal or the Great Pyramids, the Washington Monument is a celebration of 1 person’s life or legacy — in this case, the life of America’s first president, George Washington. Work on the monument began in 1843, and was completed in 1884. It is 555 feet tall and contains over 36,000 blocks. …I was there a long time ago. I want to go back during the cherry blossoms in the spring.

So how many have you been to?

(Thank you Travel Channel)

Basic Economy

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American Airlines is launching a new level of service on selected routes starting in February.

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I’m not sure it is anything I would be interested in but for a short jaunt it might be ok. From what I gather it is called Basic Economy

 I’m not sure anything with the words basic and economy in the same sentence is good but we’ll see.

 This is American’s lowest Main Cabin fare. It still allows you to have a free soft drink, snacks and entertainment and you’ll still earn credits ans award miles, albeit at a reduced rate.

 The restrictions are

·        1 item that fits under seat (no access to overhead bins)

·        Seats assigned at check in

·        Fees to choose a specific seat

·        Not eligible for upgrades

·        No flight changes or refunds

·        Board in last group

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For me I would not like to be limited to 1 under seat bag.

Under seat items can’t be larger than 18 X 14 x 8 inches.

If seats are assigned at check in my guess is there will be a lot of center seats. I don’t like that, window or aisle for me please.

And finally I hate boarding in the last group.

I can see if you are just making a short flight somewhere and have no baggage that this might be ok but that doesn’t describe most of my travel adventures.

I wonder how much of a savings this is too? It would need to be substantial for me to be interested. What do you think about this?

Travel Thoughts and Tips

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I’ve been thinking about things that happen when you travel. My conclusions are geared more to vacation travel than business travel but maybe not. You decide.

 Handout shows a Southwest Airlines plane sitting on the tarmac, after landing without its nose gear, at LaGuardia airport in New York

#1. Don’t Sweat it!

Be mentally prepared for Murphy’s Law. Whatever can go wrong will, and at the worst possible time. If you travel much it will happen to you. Your flight will be delayed, you’ll miss a connection or maybe your flight will be canceled altogether. (Bad weather or other unforeseen problem).

If you are traveling for vacation that can be annoying but it’s not the end of the world. Sit back and relax and go with the flow. Your gate attendant or other representative will be working as fast as possible to reroute you or assist you. (Business travelers may have a bit more of a problem but a few phone calls should set the record straight so you can take the delay in stride.)

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#2. Your flight is grounded /delayed due to mechanical problems.

Yay! Be happy they found the problem on the ground and not at 30,000 ft. Rest assured they have mechanics crawling all over that plane to solve the problem. The crew isn’t any more anxious to fly on a broken plane than you are.

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#3. Your flight is over booked.

This can be a great opportunity. Are the gate attendants begging for someone to give up their seat? If you are flexible and don’t mind the delay, talk to them. I’ve seen vouchers for future travel that came close to $1000. I’ve personally received overnight accommodations and an upgrade to a direct flight for giving up my seat. I just had to be willing to travel the next day. I’ve also received an upgrade to first class just by giving up the seat in economy on that flight and taking a later flight that the attendant booked for me.

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#4 Don’t Sleep in

This may be counter intuitive but I strongly suggest rising early. I know you are on vacation. Time to kick back and relax, right. Well, yes and no. Wherever you’ve gone you’ve traveled a long way to get there. Do you really want to waste time in bed? By getting out and about early you’ll avoid the crowds and have the best attractions to yourself. As any photographer will tell you, the light in the morning is fantastic for photos so even if you are just taking selfie’s they will be better. Your friends will be so envious!

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#5 Keep your sense of humor in your carry on!

In other words don’t get embarrassed and flustered. You’re traveling and probably in a new place. You will make mistakes. So laugh at yourself. You’ll feel better and diffuse any tense moments that way.

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#6. Cash is King

I know. Everyone says to leave cash home because it can be stolen but I always travel with a few hundred dollars tucked away. I don’t mean in my purse either. If your bag is stolen you won’t have credit cards or ATM cards, at least not right away. If you lose your wallet or  your card stops working (it’s happened to me) or ATMs run out of money you’ll be glad you did. Some spots I use to hide cash: in a makeup bag, in my carry on in the pages of a book, tucked in a pocket of my backpack. A side benefit, I sometimes forget I’ve stashed the money and find it days or weeks later. What a nice surprise!

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#7. Take Lots of Photos

Yes, I am a photo nut but even if you are not as obsessive as I am, take pictures. Since I started taking lots of photos I have saved myself a ton of money on souvenirs. Photos are the ultimate souvenir! You may only visit this place once in your lifetime and even if you make multiple trips  each experience will be unique. Capture them on film so you always have the memories. Once you have the shot, relax and look around. Be sure to enjoy the view without the viewfinder too.

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#8. Don’t Give up.

Is there something you want to see or do but you are having trouble arranging it? Nothing is impossible. Talk to the locals. Go on about your other business but mention what you want whenever you have a chance.  You never know when someone will know someone else who can connect you to the one you need. It happens to me all the time.

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#9. Get Lost

I learned this early in my travel experience while exploring with my sister. I’d get very nervous because I had no idea where we were or how to get back to our hotel. My sister was calm and relaxed. Her attitude was, “we’re not lost, we’re sightseeing.” Easy for her to say, she wasn’t driving but that attitude as done wonders to help me enjoy those times when I was all turned around. With that in mind I sometimes just start driving in the direction I know I want to go instead of hopping on the nearest highway. We’ve seen some great sights that we would never have known about if we’d taken the most direct route.

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#10. Keep Good Notes

Even with a camera full of photos, you will forget details so take notes, keep a journal. Maybe you like to blog or keep a scrapbook you’ll be happy you have your notes once you get back home. The few times I haven’t jotted down my impressions I have kicked myself later. I like to get my thoughts on paper (or the computer) every day while I’m away. It’s a nice way to relive the experiences right before I go to bed.

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One last tip before I wrap up this list (there are plenty more tips but I’ll save them for another day)

Remember I said my card stopped working? Many banks and credit cards monitor your usage for fraud. If you do not let them know you are traveling they may shut off your card when a charge form a strange place comes in. That’s how I found myself stuck in Florida and not able to pay my hotel bill! (Yes it got straightened out but not without a lot of time on hold and numerous calls) Both my bank and my credit cards want to be notified of my travel plans. Be sure you check with yours too so you don’t find yourself stranded with no financial resources.

Happy Travels!

Jackson Hole Wyoming

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I thought I’d give Hawaii a rest for a bit.

One of the places I have been trying to get to is Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It is the only location in Wyoming where I have a time share option but it is always booked. I’ve been wondering if it’s because of the time of year I try to get a reservation. I think Jackson Hole is a big ski area and I’ve been looking in the winter.

 I heard that the Elk herd winters in an Elk Sanctuary just outside of Jackson hole and they have horse drawn sleigh rides through the winter herd.

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 I’ve also heard that the animals in Yellowstone are easier to see in winter because they congregate around the hot springs to get relief from the cold. The exception is the bears because they are hibernating but wolves are more visible.

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Speaking of the cold, most of the roads in Yellowstone are closed once the snow flies. The only way around the park is by snowcoach, snow mobile, snow shoes, or skis. I wouldn’t be up for the show shoes or skis but maybe the snowmobile although with camera gear for pictures the snow coach might be the best bet. Sadly that takes personal exploration out of the equation.

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 I recently bought a photography book for the Tetons and Yellowstone and after wading through tons of technical photo speak I’m beginning to think a spring or fall visit might be better than winter. Spring would  mean baby animals like elk and bison and maybe a grizzly cub if I got lucky and fall would mean the elk  and moose rut. Bears might still be active as they try to fatten up for the hibernation.

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Buffalo Calf

 They talked a lot about the foliage of golden aspens but being from New England that seems a bit dull. I’m used to the vibrant reds of the sugar maples and every color of orange you can think of. All the photographers spoke of sun rise and dawn or sunset for most of the locations. Jackson Hole is a good 45  minutes away from the south entrance to Yellowstone. That is making me wonder if a decent photography trip can be had for both Yellowstone and the Tetons  if I stay in Jackson Hole.

 So much to figure out. Any suggestions?