from mist to sunshine

Denise woke up really early this morning, at 5 AM. Wow! I made sure she didn't fall back to sleep since I really wanted to bounce along the water somewhere. I suggested that we head to Fort Foster in Kittery Point, Maine - and Denise said she thought that was a good idea.

The park wasn't open yet when we arrived so Denise parked along the road outside of the gate (that's where she parks for off-season visits to the park). Denise had to duck under that gate but I could bounce right under it. We stopped so she could take my picture when we got to the water.

There was a kind of a low mist when we first arrived. It burned off pretty quickly; then we could see blue in the sky. There were other people walking, lots of dogs too. I think everyone really likes this park.

It was a nice morning to walk by the sea.

There are more photos available in the gallery South coastal Maine - 2013 starting with this photo and ending here.

--- Rover

"flat" iris

As I walked into the gardens of the Stevens-Coolidge Place yesterday morning I was surprised to see several beds of iris. The bloom on both my favorite bearded iris and the non-bearded iris is long gone, but there was sea of purple wearing a flatter flower. Luckily searching for "flat iris" came up with what I think is the proper name. These beauties are known as Japanese iris.

a walk in the woods

What a funny forecast day. The weather wizard was calling for a pretty high probability for heavy rain today so I figured I'd decide on outdoor activity as the day unrolled.

It was gray but dry when I woke up. I took a chance and headed out on my bike for a morning ride. About 1/3 of the way through my planned loop it started sprinkling. The sprinkles turned into light rain and back into sprinkles. I briefly though about turning around but then I figured that I would just live with getting wet. Luck stayed with me and the sprinkles stuck around for the rest of my ride, no heavy rain.

The sky changed to blue, the wind started blowing... I knew I wanted to wander a bit and I felt like something a little different. I didn't have to think too long when I realized that the Ward Reservation is just a couple of miles from home. I haven't visited there in a while - decision made!

As I walked through the woods the light kept changing. One minute the sun was streaming through the trees, shining directly on the ferns. The next minute the light grew dimmer. A little bit later the sun streams reappeared.

hiding in plain sight

This little rabbit was happily sitting in the grass, munching, looking around.

delicate

A tiny flower wearing light shades of purple...

curves and color

Patterns created by rose petals, curves and color...

petals or frills?

a bridge, counterweight balance

One of the first things that caught my eye when I saw the Memorial Bridge last Monday were the very large chains that are attached to the counterweights and to the side of the towers of the bridge. The chains are massive and while the look is interesting I suspected there was a (non-decorative) purpose to them.

I was standing near a bridge worker at one point so I took advantage of his presence to ask about the chains. It was good to have an answer but it was clear I should have been taking notes! I was happy when I was looking at the news items on the bridge web site to find that I wasn't the only person asking about the chains. If you're curious too, I've included the answer as copied from the Memorial Bridge web site below.

This photo was taken with the center span in a raised position, the counterweights down. You can see the chains at the attachment point on the tower of the bridge.

balance <> lift bridges What do the chains do? The bridge operates on the simple principle of balance. These are “counterweight balancing chains” used to balance out the weight of the 64 cables that lift the bridge center span. The chains attach to the concrete counterweights which are used to help raise and lower the center span on the bridge. The center span is connected to the concrete counterweights, one on each end, via 64 cables which are draped over 4 very large sheave (pronounced shiv) wheels (pulleys at the top of the towers). The cables themselves weigh a lot. Just as the counterweights counterbalance the center lift span, something needs to counterbalance the 64 cables. So, as the bridge raises and the counterweights descend, an increasing amount of the chain length (and chain weight) hangs from the steel towers rather than from the counterweights. So as the length and weight of cable on the bridge side of the sheave wheels decreases, the length and weight of chain supported by the counterweight also decreases, maintaining the balance that is so critical to proper operation. Information courtesy of Memorial Bridge PR, in answers to questions in the News section of the Memorial Bridge site.

center span, raised

After I left Fuller Gardens I turned to the north and east for a quick Portsmouth visit. I was delighted to find Memorial Bridge in a different state than it was when I left there on Monday. I knew the barge was gone; the surprise was that the center span was sitting high, raised between the two towers.

There didn't appear to be any work going on although I did see two workers clad in bright yellow vests and hard hats walking down the steps from the control room. I'm guessing that the span was left in an up position both to allow boats through and to prevent people from trespassing on the still very much under construction bridge.

roses

It was a good day for a visit to Fuller Gardens, a day to smell the roses, a day to be fascinated by flowers in different shapes and colors.

I wandered through the garden, stopping to capture an image, stopping even more often to notice the scent rising from the flowers and to enjoy standing amid the flowers. The splash of color was wonderful.

Jump to the gallery Fuller Gardens - 2013 to enjoy more roses from today's walk.