Visiting Rockport, MA - 2019

I visited Rockport, MA a couple times over the summer to see the sunrise.  Throughout the summer there are many people walking around and many boats in the harbor.  

As the sun came up the lobster boats would head out.  A drone gives the ability to take pictures of the sun shining on the buildings also.

On December 16, I decided to go to Rockport so I left mid-morning.  There was no sunrise for me to

see, it was cloudy, it was windy, and it was the day before a predicted snowstorm.  The sky was grey and made some of the other colors pop a bit.

I stopped by Good Harbor beach on the drive to Rockport.  The full moon made the low tide very low.  Not many were walking on the beach because of the wind.

When I arrived in Rockport the harbor had a few fishing boats but the summer sailboats, kayaks, and cabin cruisers were gone.  It was 30 degrees with 10 – 15 mph winds.  My hands got cold when taking pictures because of the wind.

Since it was below freezing, I let the controller, batteries, and drone get used to the cold.  I hovered the drone for a minute or so before flying off to get the motors warmed up.  The cold will shorten the battery time for flying.  From my reading, the cold shouldn’t be a problem but moisture in the air combined with the cold is something to watch out for.  Drone propellers and the body itself could ice up just like an airplane and could cause the drone to become unstable and crash.  Below freezing temperatures, damp weather, and altitude changes when flying are things to consider.

There weren’t many people or cars around.  It was still early so many of the shops weren’t open yet.  I like this town picture.  My RAW version has so much detail.

 

It did get me thinking about what Rockport would look like at night all lit up.  Hmm … maybe another excuse for a visit.

Quick Trip to Rockport, MA - 2015

Saturday morning up at 3:00AM.  At 4:30AM Pam and I took our daughter and son in law to the airport in Boston.  At 5:20AM we headed North from Boston taking Rt. 1A and Rt. 127 up the coast to Rockport, MA.

We were in Lynn, MA by the ocean when the sun came up.  We continued through Lynn to Salem, MA and over the bridge to Beverly, MA.

I stopped for a barn picture with fog then continued on to Manchester-by-the-Sea and Singing Beach to take a few more pictures.

On to Gloucester, MA where I stopped again.  I like seaport towns with lots of fishing boats.

We ended up in Rockport, MA and had breakfast at 8:30AM.  We had a nice window seat looking out to the cove. We walked around and sat out on the end of the jetty.  Motif #2 is always photographed.  I was disappointed to see a large modern yacht docked right in front of it. That boat didn’t fit in with the Motif so I decided to focus more on boats than building.

From Rockport we headed back on Rt.127 to Gordon College.  We visited our niece.  I bought Pam a Gordon College Field Hockey t-shirt reminiscent of her college days.

Back home by 12:30PM then for me … off to take skydiving pictures … I love colors …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Kennebunkport, ME Vacation - 2012

We were off to Kennebunkport, ME for a week of vacation.    It’s a family tradition.

The house we rented last year worked out well so we rented the same one again.  There is lots of space, large rooms, private (on 3.2 acres), quiet, half mile from the ocean, backs up to a golf course, etc. 

I have a “Type A Personality” when we go on vacation and “I NEED TO DO STUFF”.  The others are much more content and happy going to the beach a lot, resting, etc.  I can do the beach a few times but I like to explore and lucky for me, Pam gives me the opportunity to do that.  Whew …

We loaded up Saturday morning and headed out.  Once settled in the house we relaxed.  The weather for the week turned out to be perfect.  Sunny and in the high 80’s most days, low humidity, and low 50’s at night. 

My first little adventure started Sunday morning.  I missed church as I was on the road early heading north to check out the Barnyard Firecracker 4x4.  http://actionshotsnh.blogspot.com/2012/07/barnyard-all-terrain-park-firecracker.html   It was fun.  I saw a nice barn on the drive and had to stop for a picture.  Kevin and Kate said they want to go next year.  The others went to church in the morning then headed to the beach. 

Being an early riser (even on vacation) I was up between 4:00AM and 5:30AM each morning.  One morning I headed out at 4:30AM to see the sun rise.  I ended up at Cape Porpoise and took a few sunrise pictures.  I had another sunrise experience at Perkins Cove too.

We walked down the beach to the jetty and the cove at Gooch’s beach several times.  We walked through the shops in town and found a new homemade ice cream place.  We played on the rocks at spouting rock.  I saw this person painting the “Dark Shadows” house.  It recently had new shingle siding installed and a garage addition.

Kevin brought 2 of his RC cars (e-revo and rock crawler).  The house has a long driveway and rock ledge in front so he had fun with his cars.  He also tested his skills on the rocks near spouting rock which was challenging. 

We went to Ogunquit and walked Marginal Way.  One day the kids had fun at Ogunquit beach riding their boogie boards up the channel in the strong current as the tide came in. 

I used my GPS to drive the back roads during the week and went to Perkins Cove, Moody Beach, Wells Beach, Drakes Island, Parsons Beach, Kennebunk Beach, Kennebunkport, Cape Porpoise, Goose Rocks Beach, East Point in Biddeford, continuing to Old Orchard Beach, etc.

Throughout the week I saw seals sunning themselves on the rocks, heron, other birds, and lots of pretty skies.  I saw fishing boats, sail boats, lobster traps, pretty beaches, neat houses, a couple barns, and nice winding back roads. 

One of our traditions is to have pizza on the beach for dinner on Friday.  It’s our last beach experience before we head home the next morning.  We had everything set up and ordered our pizza to be delivered.  We had teams playing “ladder toss” when former First Lady, Barbara Bush, stopped and watched as we played.  I talked with her briefly.  She seemed well and said her husband was doing well also.  I told her I had seen her earlier in the week driving the Bush #41 golf cart around Walker’s Point with a sign that reads "Property of #41 Hands off!” 

We packed up Saturday morning and headed home.  Before we left we reserved the house again for a week next year even though it’s for sale (for $2 million).  We were making the assumption or hoping no one will decide to empty their piggy bank and buy the place.  Once home we unpacked only to get ready for the NASCAR LENOX Industrial 301 race.  http://www.actionshotsnh.blogspot.com/2012/07/nascar-lenox-industrial-tools-301-2012.html

My vacation started with 4x4’s and mud … beach, sun and driving … ending with NASCAR speed … Great family vacation.