LIFE’S A BEACH

When the weather gets rough, the tough think of summer. Not the weather wimp! He is miserable. Mostly because the woodstove chimney decided it needed a Chimney Sweep. One of those things I didn’t take care of during the summer. Maybe, because I was having a great time on the East Coast where I photographed these beaches.

This rocky, hidden beach is at Gay Head.  Many hidden spots like this one require a climb.

On Martha’s Vineyard, the beaches are friendlier, but not used very much in June.

The Western end of Martha’s vineyard has beaches, but people here seem more interested in clamming, sailing and fishing. But, its a beach.

Some people like to lie on the beach, relax and tan. Me?  I like to rock climb and then cool my toes, or clothes. The remoteness appeals to me as well.

Sun and sand has its fans.

Jim’s family spend a week or two at Rockyneck every year in Connecticut.

New Hampshire attracts sun lovers.

But, a beach is where you find it, no matter how rocky or small. These girls were taking advantage of every inch in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Life’s a beach! Especially when snow is on the horizon.

Portuguese Feast – New Bedford, Massachusetts – Day 3

Jim says…

Yesterday weather-wise was decent. Partly cloudy skies, 81 degrees and moderate humidity. It was also another long and fun-filled day.

First event of the day took us down to the state pier in New Bedford to see the once-upon-a-time Portuguese Cod-Fishing vessel…The Gazela. Gazela is living history…originally built in 1883…she is believed to be the oldest square-rigger in the United States still sailing. She is home-ported in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

This photo of Gazela was taken from a photo on the Gazela…

The cook in his galley (navy-speak for kitchen)…

And Mary at the helm (navy-speak for steering wheel)…

Here’s the Gazela’s official website link…
http://www.gazela.org

Here are two other links about Gazela…
http://gazela.org/offerings/
http://my.ojornal.com/news/gazela-new-bedford

Next stop (not associated with the Portuguese Feast) was at Gene’s Famous Seafoods across the river in Fairhaven to indulge, one final time, in a meal of the world’s best Fish & Chips! Mary had the clam chowder.

Then to the final event of the Portuguese Feast (for us)…the parade.

Here Mary anxiously awaits the parade…

Here are four other photos from the parade…

The final stop of the day was at my cousin Mike’s home in East Freetown…

He’s an avid kayaker…

Mary took her first solo drive(?) of a kayak…

Cousin Mike with family and friends…

And finally, a portrait shot of Mike’s Boston Terrier Vinnie who is a boundless ball of energy and kept us amused during our visit.

To see the other 57 photos I took yesterday, click this link…
http://picasaweb.google.com/jimjrver/080110#

It was a full and fun day. We arrived back to the motorhome at 9:00 PM.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2009
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

Scanning Complete…

Jim says:

Yesterday I completed the scanning of all of the real old photos given to me by my cousin Jackie Nicol. She has lived in New Bedford, Massachusetts for 50+ years. This city has a large French population and is where most of my relatives lived for many years. As a youngster I lived in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, just across the river, from the ages of 4 – 10.

Here are five more photos. In the first one my Grandmother Rose Mann (then Fortin) appears to be about 15 years old. She was born in 1898, so this photo is from about 1913.

I started doing photography in 1974. Last spring while Mary was recuperating from her shoulder surgery, and I had a lot of time on my hands while assisting her, so I transferred nearly 5,000 slides and photographs to digital format. Yesterday I used the rest of the day working with these photos to develop a Jaillet Family Album that runs from the about 1913 to 2010. There’s a total of 391 photos in the album which are contained in folders labeled by the year the photo was taken. I’ve a little more work to do “cleaning up” cropping, etc…and the album will be complete. I’ll then transfer them to an archival quality DVD and give it to my family for their use in the future.

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2009
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com

New Bedford, Massachusetts – Whaling National Historical Park

Jim says:

On Thursday, we drove about 30 miles to arrive in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. We parked in the back yard of my cousin Bob and Donna’s.

Parked in my cousin’s back yard.

On Friday we went to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park about 10 miles distant. During the 1800′s it was the whaling capital of the world. Also famous for being the home-port of Captain Ahab who sought the great white whale…Moby Dick. They have a great whaling museum which is part of the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. We spent about three hours wandering through this National Historical Park.

Here’s some photos…

During the 1800′s, New Bedford was known as The City That Lit The World.

Many Quakers lived in New Bedford during the 1800′s.

The whaling ships amongst their prey.

Taking care of business.

Seamen’s Bethel (House of God)

A tablet dedicated to lost seamen.

To see the other 49 photos I took, click this link…
http://picasaweb.google.com/jimjrver/NewBedfordMA060410_1#

Here’s the official government website link for the park…
http://www.nps.gov/nebe

Here’s a Wikipedia informational link about New Bedford…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bedford,_Massachusetts

After our park visit, we crossed the river to the City of Fairhaven where I lived when I was 4-10 years old. In Fairhaven, Gene’s Famous Seafoods serves the best Fish and Chips meal in the entire world! Ymmmm!!!! Gene’s has been there since 1964 and I always stop and enjoy a great meal every time I come to this area.

Mary tastes the New England Clam Chowder before attacking our seafood platter which contains scallops, shrimp, clams, fish and french fries.

After our meal I showed Mary the area of Fairhaven where I lived as a young boy. My grand-father and father built our home at 29 Sconticut Neck road.

My home when I was 5-10 years old.

Fairhaven has its own famous history. Here’s a Wikipedia informational link about Fairhaven…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairhaven,_Massachusetts

All original material Copyright – Jim Jaillet 2010
For more information about my three books, click this link:
http://www.panamaorbust.com