A Curious Day Trip to America’s Stonehenge

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🪨 New Hampshire’s Strangest Archaeological Mystery Welcome to America's Stonehenge where you can let your inner Indian Jones wander

Let’s take a little trip over the state line into our neighbor to the north — New Hampshire. The Live Free or Die state has its fair share of quirky attractions, but one of the strangest sits just over the border in Salem.

If you enjoy archaeology, mysterious stone structures, or simply wandering around the woods wondering what on earth happened here, then this place is absolutely for you.

And yes — I’ve been there.
And yes — if you let your imagination run free, it can get a little creepy.

Welcome to America’s Stonehenge.

🌀 Is It Really “Stonehenge”?

Let’s be honest: the name is a bit ambitious. There are no towering bluestones or dramatic circles rising from the earth. But what is here is a sprawling network of stone chambers, walls, and monoliths that spark endless questions.

 

Who built it?
When?
And why?

No one has definitive answers — which is half the fun.

🔊 The Oracle Chamber: A Voice From the Stones

One of the most intriguing structures is the Oracle Chamber, the largest enclosed space on the site. What fascinates me most is the speaking tube that connects the chamber to the outside.

At the exterior end of the tube sits a grooved stone table that some speculate may have been used for offerings. To whom or what? No one knows.

But picture this:

Primitive people gathered around the stone table with chickens or goats as offerings…
A hidden voice suddenly echoing from the rocks…
A disembodied whisper floating through the air…

Tell me that wouldn’t send a shiver down your spine.

🌅 The Summer Solstice Sunrise Stone

My favorite feature is the Summer Solstice Sunrise Monolith — a standing stone placed to mark the sunrise on the longest day of the year.

It’s not as dramatic as the towering monoliths on Salisbury Plain, but it still warms my heart. I can almost “see” the wise women of the tribe gathering at dawn, welcoming the sun and celebrating the birth of a new season.

Sometimes the simplest stones carry the deepest stories.

🐍 Other Mysteries Scattered Through the Woods

The site is full of curious structures, each with its own personality:

  • The Watch House Chamber
  • The S‑Shaped Serpent Wall
  • The East–West Chamber

Archaeologists and enthusiasts are still documenting the site, and new discoveries continue to surface. It’s the kind of place where every stone feels like it has a secret.

🏺 A Museum of Everyday History

Before or after your walk, take time to explore the small museum. The artifacts range from the Stone Age to more recent centuries — ceramics, eyeglasses, keys, and even half a pair of scissors.

It’s a quiet reminder that human history isn’t just grand monuments. It’s the ordinary objects people leave behind.

🧭 If You Go: Practical Tips for Visiting America’s Stonehenge

📍 Location:
105 Haverhill Road, Salem, New Hampshire — just over the Massachusetts border, an easy day trip.

🚗 Parking:
There’s a small on‑site parking lot right at the visitor center. It’s free, and usually there’s plenty of space unless you’re visiting on a peak fall weekend.

💵 Admission:
Prices vary slightly by season, but expect something around:

  • Adults: about $15
  • Seniors: discounted
  • Kids: reduced rate

Check their website before you go for the most current info.

⏰ Hours:
Open year‑round, with hours shifting seasonally. Winter visits can mean snowy or muddy trails.

🥾 Terrain:
The paths are wooded and uneven — not difficult, but definitely “forest floor.” Wear sturdy shoes.

🕒 Time Needed:
Plan for 1–2 hours depending on how deeply you explore.

🏛️ Visitor Center:
The museum is small but worth a look for context and artifacts.

🐕 Pets:
Leashed dogs are welcome on the grounds.

🌞 Best Time to Visit:
Late spring through fall offers the most comfortable weather, and the solstice markers are especially fun to see around June.

🧭 Be Your Own Indiana Jones

A visit to America’s Stonehenge is a chance to let your imagination roam. You can be your own Indiana Jones for the day — minus the rolling boulders and snakes, thankfully.

Whether you come for the archaeology, the mystery, or simply the peaceful walk through the woods, this quirky New Hampshire site offers a little something for every curious soul.

 

Celebrating 100 years of the Mother Road

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The mother road is 100 years old and still fascinates travelers

Celebrating a Road That Isn’t All There Anymore

Every now and then something pops up in my feed that feels like a tap on the shoulder. Today it was a notice about the upcoming Route 66 Centennial — a once‑in‑a‑century celebration for a road that’s somehow both legendary and, well… missing in places. I was out and about, minding my own business, when suddenly the Mother Road wanted my attention again.

And honestly? I didn’t mind.

A Road That Crosses Eight States… and I’ve Only Seen a Sliver

The article reminded me that Route 66 stretches across eight states, from Illinois cornfields to the California coast. Eight states of diners, neon signs, motels, migration stories, and dusty postcards. Eight states of American mythology.

My own experience? A tiny sliver — the stretch near Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon. A few miles, a few minutes, and yet it still felt like stepping into a vintage travel poster. The kind with a smiling family in a station wagon and a promise that adventure is just one more mile down the road.

 

It’s funny how a place can be both new to you and instantly familiar.

The Centennial That Sparked This Post

The blurb I saw summed it up perfectly:

The centennial commemorates the original designation of Route 66 on April 30, 1926, celebrating its cultural, historical, and economic impact across eight states. The celebration also highlights preservation efforts, tourism, and the ongoing legacy of the Mother Road.

That’s the heart of it — not just a birthday party, but a celebration of everything Route 66 has meant to travelers, dreamers, and the communities along its path.

Whether you’re attending the kickoff in Springfield, joining a satellite event, or just driving a surviving stretch, the centennial is being billed as a “once‑in‑a‑century opportunity to experience the heritage and spirit of America’s most iconic highway.”

And that’s what got me thinking.

Why Celebrate a Road That Isn’t Whole Anymore?

Route 66 isn’t intact from end to end. Some pieces have been rerouted, abandoned, or swallowed by the interstate system. Some towns faded when the traffic did. Some stretches survive only as cracked pavement and fading paint.

But maybe that’s exactly why it deserves celebrating.

Because Route 66 was never just a road.
It was a promise.
A pathway west.
A symbol of possibility.
A ribbon of stories stretching across eight states and nearly a century.

Even in fragments, it still carries all of that.

 

My Little Piece of the Mother Road

Standing on that stretch near Flagstaff, I remember thinking how strange and wonderful it was that a simple road could hold so much history. I wasn’t driving cross‑country. I wasn’t chasing the whole route. I was just passing through — and yet I felt connected to something bigger.

And because the universe has a sense of humor, one of my favorite photos from that trip is of Mater the tow truck — yes, that Mater from Pixar’s Cars — sitting proudly along Route 66. A fictional character on a real road, reminding me that Route 66 lives just as much in our imagination as it does on the map. Pixar didn’t just make a cute movie; they captured the heartache and hope of all those little towns the Mother Road once carried.

Maybe that’s the magic of Route 66.
You don’t need all 2,448 miles.
Sometimes a few feet — or a rusty tow truck with a big grin — are enough.

Looking Ahead to the Centennial

The centennial feels like an invitation — not just to celebrate the past, but to appreciate what remains and to honor the communities keeping the spirit alive. To wander a little. To remember that roads don’t have to be perfect or continuous to take you somewhere meaningful.

Maybe I’ll explore more of it someday.
Maybe you will too.

Either way, the Mother Road is turning 100, and that’s worth a moment of appreciation.

Maybe a road doesn’t have to be whole to take you somewhere.

 

Happy Earth Day

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A Day to Celebrate Our Shared Planet

Every April 22, the world pauses—just for a moment—to honor the only home we’ve ever known. Earth Day began in 1970 as a national call for environmental protection, but by 1990 it had grown into a global movement, with organized events in 141 countries and a shared understanding that caring for the planet is something we all hold in common.

The Photo That Changed How We See Earth

One of the sparks that helped shape the early environmental movement wasn’t a speech or a law. It was a photograph.

In 1968, during the Apollo 8 mission, astronaut Bill Anders captured the now‑iconic “Earthrise” image: our blue planet rising above the gray lunar horizon. Small. Bright. Fragile. That single picture changed how millions of people saw the world. It reminded us that everything we love—every ocean, every forest, every city, every memory—exists on this one shimmering sphere floating in the dark. It’s hard not to feel something when you look at it.

More than 50 years after it was shot, Earthrise continues to be seen as one of the most iconic environmental photographs ever taken.

Earthrise photo by Bill Anders

Earth Day Close to Home: The Forever Farm

Closer to home, Earth Day feels a little more grounded.

The Forever Farm holds a special place in my heart. It was founded by my friend — and former supervisor — Nichole Botelho, one of those rare people who turns life’s lemons into something far sweeter. When the pandemic brought an unexpected layoff, she didn’t shrink from it. She dreamed bigger. What started as a quiet idea she once mentioned to me has grown into a thriving sanctuary for farm animals who deserve a second chance.

Celebrate Earth Day With the Forever Farm

And these aren’t the typical “cute and cuddly” rescues you see on posters. Nichole opens her arms to donkeys and pigs, chickens and roosters, and even a miniature horse named Miracle. Watching her take a dream and build it into a place of safety, healing, and hope has been nothing short of inspiring. The Forever Farm is a reminder that caring for the planet isn’t just about oceans and forests — it’s also about the creatures who share our daily world.

Small Actions, Big Impact

Earth Day doesn’t ask us to be perfect. It simply asks us to pay attention. To notice the beauty around us. To care a little more today than we did yesterday. And to remember that even small choices — recycling, planting, supporting local farms, protecting green spaces — add up when millions of people make them together.

A Moment to Reflect and Recommit

So here’s to Earth Day.
To the big blue marble in the sky.
To the places we love.
And to the people, like Nichole, who turn compassion into action and make this planet a little kinder for all who call it home.

 

Introducing MeoWant-A Cat Centric Partnership

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MeoWant Joins the Family

I got invited to be an affiliate for Meowant, a company that leans into the techy side of cat care — think automated litter boxes, smart cleaning systems, a sleek pet fountain, air purifiers, and a grooming kit. If you’re someone who loves automation and gadgets that make pet care easier, they’ve got a surprisingly robust lineup. Check out the full line up here

A must have litter box for your cat. Makes cleanup a breeze

Around here, we’re still using our trusty old fountain (it has a few good years left in it), and automated litter boxes aren’t the best match for Banner’s… creative output style. But plenty of cat households swear by automated setups, and Meowant has several options for people who like their pet gear on the high‑tech side.

For now, I’m giving them a cozy little spot in Dusty’s Picks — a soft hello while we see where the partnership goes and whether their catalog grows into something that fits our home even better down the line. In the meantime thier web page has lots of cute cat pictures. Check it out here.

 

Massachusetts’ Quiet Wildlife Spectacle- the Herring Run

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“Close‑up of river herring packed together as they swim upstream through shallow, rippling water during the Massachusetts herring run.”

The Herring Run in Massachusetts: Spring’s Quiet Wildlife Spectacle

Every spring in Massachusetts, something ancient stirs beneath the surface of our rivers. As the water warms, thousands of river herring — alewives and blueback herring — return from the Atlantic to the exact freshwater streams where they were born. This annual migration, known simply as the herring run, is one of New England’s most reliable signs that winter is finally loosening its grip.

It’s a small miracle that happens in plain sight, and once you know it’s happening, you start to notice the subtle excitement in the air: the gulls gathering, the osprey circling, the water suddenly alive with silver flashes.

What Exactly Is a Herring Run?

River herring are diadromous fish, meaning they split their lives between saltwater and freshwater. They hatch in ponds and streams, spend their early months growing there, then head out to sea. After several years in the Atlantic, instinct pulls them back home to spawn the next generation.

Massachusetts sees two species:

  • Alewife (early spring)
  • Blueback herring (late spring)

The run typically begins in late March or early April and peaks through mid‑May, depending on water temperature.

Why the Herring Run Matters

The run isn’t just a quirky local event — it’s a cornerstone of the coastal ecosystem. River herring are a crucial food source for:

  • Osprey
  • Herons
  • Striped bass
  • Bluefish
  • Seals
  • River otters
  • And now, increasingly, bald eagles

When the herring return, everything else wakes up too. It’s the ecological equivalent of turning the lights back on after winter.

🦅 Bald Eagles and the Herring Run

One of the most exciting changes in recent years has been the return of bald eagles to southeastern Massachusetts. After disappearing from the state for decades, they’ve made a dramatic comeback thanks to conservation efforts — and the herring run is one of the seasonal events that draws them in.

During the run, eagles:

  • perch in tall riverside trees
  • watch for slowed or struggling fish
  • swoop down to grab herring near the surface
  • occasionally steal fish from gulls (which the gulls do not appreciate)

Seeing an eagle over the river in April has become one of those “I can’t believe this is Massachusetts” moments.

A Tale of Two Coasts: Herring Run vs. Salmon Run

If you’ve ever watched the dramatic salmon runs in Alaska or the Pacific Northwest — the leaping fish, the roaring rivers, the bears lined up like they’re at a sushi conveyor belt — you might assume the herring run is the same thing on a smaller scale.

It is similar… but also wonderfully different.

🐻 Pacific Northwest: Bears

Salmon runs attract grizzlies who stand in the river and casually pluck salmon out of the air. It’s peak nature‑documentary energy.

🕊️ New England: Seagulls

Here?
We get seagulls. Loud, pushy, unapologetic seagulls.
They’re not majestic, but they are extremely committed to the drama.

It’s less “National Geographic” and more “local gossip at the river.”

💀 Salmon die after spawning — herring don’t

Pacific salmon make one heroic, exhausting journey upstream and then die, feeding the ecosystem.

River herring?
They spawn, shake it off, and head back to sea. They can repeat the trip several times over their lifespan.

📏 Scale: Epic vs. Intimate

Salmon runs can look like the river is made of fish.
Herring runs are quieter — thousands, not millions — and concentrated at fish ladders and narrow channels. You can stand a few feet away and watch individual fish make their climb.

🗓️ Timing

  • Herring: early spring
  • Salmon: late summer into fall

So while the Pacific Northwest is gearing up for berry season and bears, we’re pulling on light jackets and heading to the fish ladder with coffee.

Do People Eat River Herring?

Historically, yes — they were smoked, salted, pickled, and even used as fertilizer. But today, harvesting river herring is banned in Massachusetts due to population declines.

So the only ones feasting during the run are:

  • gulls
  • osprey
  • herons
  • bald eagles
  • stripers waiting downstream

It’s a wildlife buffet, not a human one.

Where to See the Herring Run

Some of the best spots in Massachusetts include:

  • Oliver Mill Park, Middleboro — one of the most popular and photogenic
  • Mystic River & Mystic Lakes Dam, Medford
  • Parker River, Newbury
  • Town Brook, Plymouth

Each has fish ladders, viewing platforms, and plenty of opportunities for photos.

I’ve been watching the herring run for years, and every spring it feels like the river wakes up all at once. The gulls start screaming, the water churns, and suddenly you realize winter is officially over.