Tag: Our Public Lands

  • New Hampshire, Month 2 in (mostly) Pictures

    Two wasp stings within two weeks caused Jeff’s oversized allergic reaction. Since we’re often hiking and in zero cell service zones, he’s now a member of Team Epi-Pen, just to be safe. The medications cocktail he’s on at the moment to bring down the swelling, fight any infection, and manage the itching is really something.…

  • Local Side Quests

    We’ve survived two short but sweltering heat domes in The Beangle since arriving in New Hampshire two months ago. And, no, it doesn’t have AC. Yes, it was pretty miserable. The high humidity certainly didn’t help. It made everything feel like they had been dipped in used dishwater. We rated these six or seven days…

  • A surfeit of death (or, The rebirth of a nation)

    It’s 163 years since the three day battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) concluded and Lee’s army slipped back into Virginia (July 4, 1863). The following are my thoughts related to the battlefields we visited in Virginia and Pennsylvania. I admit that by the end of them, I was a bit battlefield and Civil War’d…

  • Saint-Gaudens NHP

    On opening the hour long tour of select pieces at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, our tour guide made a compelling argument that the artists who capture other people and events for posterity have a strong and lasting impact on how we frame our understanding of those subjects. In this way, a talented sculptor has an…

  • Mount Monadnock

    We finally did it. Since the weather suddenly became cool again, we hiked the Dublin Trail up to the very rocky and exposed roof of Mount Monadnock (3,165 ft). Surprisingly Monadnock is the most or second most hiked mountain in the world, depending on who you talk to. Its name is also a physical descriptor,…

  • Turtles are dinosaurs

    Our little reservoir lake has multiple small rivers and creeks feeding into it and the wetland created by the beavers. It’s also a turtle paradise. Snapping turtles are especially fond of it, and right now is egg laying season. So each evening this last week has brought the females out to the main gravel parking…

  • Welcome to New Hampshire, The Granite State

    We’ve arrived and settled into our next few month’s camping site. The Army Corps of Engineers’ Project Manager and Rangers have been very welcoming and helpful, seem thrilled to have teamed up with us, and feel certain that this is going to prove to be a good fit for both sides. After two days, the…

  • Appomattox Court House, Shenandoah & Washington, D.C.

    Hi, I’m Jamie, he’s Jeff, and we’re traveling full time in a small teardrop trailer we call The HMS Beangle. Ok, it hasn’t been that long since my last post, but it’s definitely been a minute. The last few weeks have involved much reading, much relaxing, and some very wonderful days spent camping with Bob…

  • Southwest Virginia — Lots of photos, a bit of chat, some local history

    Beginning six weeks ago, we met a new nemesis, a very demon from hell sent to test our patience. We fought it valiantly, and I believe we finally have the upper hand. For this spring, at least. Remnants remain, though, in nooks and crannies of the trailer, the truck, and our lungs, eyes, and souls. Both Fairy…

  • Bennett Place

    Our time in Raleigh while interesting enough in its own way was fairly quiet overall. But of all that we did and saw, the biggest draw for me was Bennett Place. For some time now, it had been in my top five list of places to see. In the front room of the Bennett family…