The Hot Weather is Here!

Posted on July 8, 2011July 8, 2011 by Dusty Roads

Oh happy summer! The hot weather is here and I couldn’t be happier. I love this kind of weather. Even the humidity is ok as long as I don’t have to go to work. I feel a little different on work days because as much as I love the heat I don’t like going to work feeling like I need another shower. But on a day when I am free and clear and don’t have to worry about appearances there’s nothing better than working up a nice “sheen.” Always remember, horses sweat….ladies perspire.

Now that’s not to say I never use air conditioning. I do, especially in the car on the way to work but on a day off its open windows all the way. At home I leave the central air on 80 and use the ceiling fans. As long as the air is moving I’m comfortable.

But I’m getting off track. I wanted to mention Nantasket Beach in Hull, Ma.

When I first moved to Massachusetts back in the early 1970’s Nantasket Beach was the place to go on a hot summer day. It wasn’t just the beach either. There was a substantial amusement park with a huge roller coaster. The amusement park was known as Paragon Park. Sadly the park closed in 1984 and the roller coaster was removed along with most of the other rides but the vintage carousel is still in action. One of the things I love about the Paragon Park carousel is that it’s all about the horses.

Prancing steeds in all colors are just begging for a rider. Teams of spirited horses pull flying chariots if you’re prefer this kind of ride, but it’s all horses.

There’s none of the elephants, giraffes or big cats with saddles like you see on so many other carousels. It’s just horses of all colors with flying manes and tossing heads.

Well, at least they look like that even if they are made of wood.

It’s wonderful what the imagination can see so of course the first stop was the carousel. I had to see it again.

Then I headed over to the beach. The band stands are still there but I wasn’t looking for that. I wanted to see the beach. Too bad I came at high tide. Even so I waded out to about mid-calf only to get drenched by a breaking wave that hit me almost waist-high. I was amazed at how warm the water was but Nantasket Beach it shallow quite a ways out so the water has time to warm up.

To get to this little gem of a beach you follow Rt 228 as it winds through Rockland, Weymouth, Hingham and finally Hull. It’s a very scenic ride , especially the section after you cross RT 53 but be sure to wear your patience hat as it is a winding road, not a highway. As with any winding road, traffic can be a problem especially on a hot weekend day. But I was there on a mid-week afternoon so traffic wasn’t bad. There was even parking in some of the lots once I got to the beach.

There is a small parking fee but I think as parking fees go that it’s pretty reasonable. $7.00 for the day $4.00 for seniors. I’m not sure what age they consider senior. The first lot I tried was full but retracing my route to the beginning of the beach I pulled into the first lot on the beach. Not only was there plenty of parking but there was no attendant! When no one came to take my money after a reasonable time, I pulled on into the parking lot.

Nantasket Beach was always known for its soft , gray sand. Here on the lower end of the beach the sand was courser and there were a lot of rocks. Still I saw several sand castles being built and everyone seemed to be having a great time. I spotted one of those surf paddlers…that new sport of standing on a surfboard and paddling it instead of surfing. Lots of people were in the water.

There were lines at all of the ice cream stands.

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It looked like a perfect summer day. So many people making awesome memories. I could have stayed for hours but unfortunately for me responsibilities called and I had to drive away to meet them in the real world.

One more Red White and Blue Comment

Posted on July 7, 2011July 7, 2011 by Dusty Roads

The Red White and Blue Trivia test was posted by Xfinity News on my home page. It ran for one day, the 4th of July. I took the test a couple of times before decideding to use it in my blog. Each time I took it there were different questions that popped up.

One question that I missed had to do with term limits for the President. I was not able to find the question again in spite of spending quite a bit of time looking for the test and “googling” all combos of trivia, Xfinity News etc.

A House in Taunton with patriotic Bunting and Flag

The best I can remember the question went something like this:

The President of the United States cannot serve more that 8 years in that office. True of False

I said True. There are term limits. Originally George Washington set a precedent by refusing to run for a 3rd term. That was enough until Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected for a 4th term. At that time the 22nd amendment was passed to set a limit on the length of time a person can be elected to the Highest office in the Land.

The 22nd Amendment states that no person elected president and no person to hold the office of president for more than two years is allowed to be elected more than once more. It makes no difference whether the two terms are consecutive.

http://www.infoplease.com/askeds/presidential-term-limits.html

I wish I had written down the exact wording of the question because they said the correct answer was FALSE.

I guess if a President gained office by finishing out the term of a another president( think LBJ after the Kennedy assination or Gerald Ford after Nixon’s resignation) then was elected in his own right, he could possibly serve more than 8 years as President. Then I would have to agree that the correct answer would be False.

Since the quiz didn’t give explanations, just the answers, I removed that question when I posted it because I think it’s a very obscure point and not one that most of us need to know. I think the point of the question is that we have term limits.

What do you think? Any political science readers with additional insights?

Cape Cod National Seashore

Posted on July 6, 2011July 6, 2011 by Dusty Roads

Cape Cod National Seashore consists of forty miles of sandy beach, marshes, ponds and uplands supporting a wide variety of species.

The views are spectacular including lighthouses, cultural landscapes and historic buildings, wild cranberry bogs and beaches for swimming. Not a swimmer, no problem there are walking and biking trails to be explored.

I lived north of Boston for so long that I didn’t begin to explore the wonders of the Cape until recent years. Even now I still have to remind myself that it’s just a short jaunt for me even with the summer traffic. One of the rangers said he likes to tell people it’s only two hours from the heart of downtown Boston. My response…depending on traffic.

The Cape Cod National Seashore has 2 Visitor Centers. I am most familiar with the one in Eastham known as the Salt Pond Visitor Center. It’s right off RT 6 so you really can’t miss it. This was the Visitor Center I stopped at where the ranger told me about the whales. But I have been to this one several times before. I have enjoyed the movie they offer and walked most of their trails. There is still one “spur” trail that I haven’t covered yet. I am going to have to make a point of it this summer.

At the tip of the Cape in Provincetown you will find the Province Lands Visitor Center. This center has an awesome elevated deck with ocean views. I was there once last summer with my friend JR. That was a great day.

But back to the Salt Marsh Vistior center in Eastham, the Buttonwood Trail is a short, easy walk with a boardwalk over a pond.This time of year you can’t even see the pond because of all the Buttonwood plants growing in it. I’ve seen a lot of red wing blackbirds and ducks there.

The Nauset Marsh Trail is a bit longer but still an easy hike. That trail runs alongside a pond until it reaches the marsh. At that point a wooden bridge leads you over the marsh.

On my most recent visit the pond was filled with white swans. I bet there was a dozen or more. As I crossed the little bridge near the pond I also spotted a little rabbit. He was hiding in the shade under the bridge. I stayed very still and pretty soon he popped back out again.

Crossing the marsh bridge the sky was beginning to cloud up and the air was getting heavy and humid. The birds seemed to sense a storm coming so there weren’t too many flying. I have watched hawks hunting and loads of other little birds flying around when I’ve walked this path before but today it was quiet.

Once you cross the bridge the trail climbs through the woods before leveling out again and opening up to overlook the marsh and the ocean in the distance. I didn’t complete the walk today but I have walked it many times in the past.

Those are just 2 of the many trails that wind through the National Seashore. I believe there are 12 “self-guided” trails that are open year round. Buttonbush and Nauset Marsh that I just mentioned; Fort Hill, Red Maple Swamp and Doane trails are all in Eastham.

In Wellfleet which is farther south heading toward the lower cape you can walk the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp and Great Island Trails.

In the Truro- Pamet Area you’ll find Bearberry Hill Overlook, Small’s Swamp, Highlands Woods Walk, and Pilgrim Spring trails.

Not to be left out is Provincetown on the tip of Cape Cod. Here you’ll find the Beech Forest Trail.

This year is special for the Seashore because Cape Cod National Seashore’s 50th anniversary celebration is underway. There will be special programs along with commemorative items at the park bookstores and visitor centers. The special logo was designed by Eastham’s own Joe Fish a 2010 graduate of Nauset Regional High School.

I love the cape..not just the National Seashore but the whole area. There’s always something new to discover. I am really hoping to get to try some of the bike trails as well as more hiking trails before the season ends. There just never seems to be enough time.

From swimming and sunbathing to fishing and whaling, clams and cranberries, artists colonies and galleries, Pilgrims and Native Americans, glass blowing and jam making, even a great white shark or two looking for a quick-lunch on the seals off Monomoy Island there’s certainly something for everyone to do and see.

Just watch out for traffic jams in the summer months! I’m sure I’ll be making many more visits here and will share all my experiences with you.

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A Little Red, White & Blue Trivia

Posted on July 5, 2011July 5, 2011 by Dusty Roads

Now that we’ve all recovered from the July 4th celebrations, I thought it might be fun to see how much we really know about our country’s birthday.

See how you do on this “Red, White and Blue” Trivia Test.

1. What is the first word of the Declaration of Independence?

a. A
2. When
3. These

2. How many people lived in the US in 1776?

a. 250,000
b. 2.5 Million
c. 3 Billion
d. 50 Million

3. Who was the oldest person to sign the Declaration of Independence?

a. John Hancock
b. John Adams
c. Benjamin Franklin
d. George Washington

4. Which President was born in Independence Day?

a. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
b. Dwight D. Eisenhower
c. Calvin Coolidge
d. Abraham Lincoln

5. How Many American Flags are flown at the Washington Monument?

a. 9
b. 4
c. 50
d. 13

6. How many stars are on the American Flag.

a. 48
b. 52
c. 50
d. 49

7. Who was the first president to reside in the White House.

a. John Adams
b. George Washington
c. Benjamin Franklin
d. Thomas Jefferson

8. How many U.S. town names contain the word Eagle?

a. 9
b. 35
c. 4
d. 12

9. Which of the following is another term used to describe the White House.

a. Presidential Quarters
b. Executive Mansion
c. Oval Office
c. Commander and Chief’s estate

10. In what publication was the Pledge of Allegiance first published?

a. The Washington Post
b. The Youth’s Companion
c. The Bill Of Rights
d. The Constitution

11. What bird did Benjamin Franklin want to be the symbol of the United States?

a. Turkey
b. Red-tailed Hawk
c. Dove
d. Bald Eagle

12. Which President mandated that the “Star Spangled Banner” be played publically?

a. Dwight D. Eisenhower
b. Harry S. Truman
c. Woodrow Wilson
d. Herbert Hoover

13. Which country is known as being the birthplace of fireworks?

a. China
b. United States
c. Australia
d. France

14. Uncle Sam is based on a real person..True or False?

15. The Words “Under God” were part of the original Pledge of Allegiance…True or False?

Answers:

1. b

2.B

3. c

4. c

5.c

6. c

7. a

8. b

9. b

10. b

11. a

12. c

13. a

14. True

15. False

Trivia questions and answers from Xfinity News.

Happy 4th Of July!

Posted on July 4, 2011July 4, 2011 by Dusty Roads

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Those words were written by John Adams to his wife Abigail. He can be forgiven for missing the date by 2 days because July 2nd was the day the Continental Congress passed the resolution of independence. The Declaration of Independence was the document written to explain the decision. The terms and wording of the Declaration were debated and revised for 2 days before finally being ratified on July 4, 1776.