Captain Andy And His Yard Ship

Sometimes I make it a point to get lost.

Even when I am headed to a specific destination, I will turn another direction if the mood strikes or if the street looks interesting.  I think it's the surprise of the unknown that draws me to veer off course.  There are so many places to turn on the coast of Maine.  You can see something new everyday if you make a turn to the unknown.

Yesterday, I did just that.  I was bored of driving on the main road so I decided to change direction.  I didn't know where it would take me but I just wanted to see something different.  I drove by some absolutely beautiful homes and after a while, I came across a home with a shipwreck sitting right on the front porch.

At that moment, I knew I had to stop.  Not knowing what I was going to encounter, I saw a man standing there staring at the ship in the yard.  Of course he turned to me as anyone would with a stranger pulling up in their driveway.  I smiled and said hello and said some brilliant words that went something like, "that's a big ship in your yard." Well, duh anyone could see that but captain Andy was gracious enough to play along and say, "yes it is."  A Maine resident all his life, Andy and I then chatted about ships for a while and he was kind enough to allow me to take his photograph with his pride and joy.  He stood there and couldn't take his eyes off of her.  She was part of him.

I am glad I made the turn to the unexpected to meet Andy and his yard ship.

North Lake Tahoe

To beat the heat, I took a drive to the big lake nearby.  I wasn't the only one thinking the same thing.  As I approached Kings Beach, the parking lot was full but I managed to grab a spot.  This was my first time on the North end of the lake and it was beautiful.  There were so many people out enjoying the day, swimming in the water, playing with their kids.  It's a perfect family vacation destination.

There is something about Lake Tahoe.  The redwoods grow near the water and even though you hear motor boats all around, you know you are still in the forest.

I walked along the shore, observing everyone on vacation having a good time and snapping pictures along the way.  I have to admit that this was the first time I felt lonely.  Don't get me wrong, I love being on the road, seeing the sights and meeting interesting people but sometimes when you are in such a beautiful place, it would be nice to spend the moment with someone you know.

That feeling got me thinking.  For the past three years, I've spent about a year being on the
road, traveling to various places.  Once I quit my job, I was off and running.  Since then, I have never really grounded myself where I live and consequently, some friends are constantly surprised to see me in town.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised at their reaction since I am traveling a lot, but it does sadden me a bit.  All of this uprooting makes it difficult to nurture relationships or grow seeds with new ones since I can't spend the time it takes with people to be in their lives while I am out, wandering about.  I do have a few friends where it doesn't matter how much time goes by when I do see them, but I am not in contact with them on a daily basis.  So, seeing people together having fun on a beach makes me a tad nostalgic of the times where I stayed home long enough for friends to invite me to such gatherings.

Yet once again, I choose to make the road my home for now.  I love to travel with Max, but sometimes it takes some planning, depending on the weather.  It was too hot to take him on this day trip, so he stayed at the cabin while I toured around the lake.  There weren't many dogs out and I am not sure if they are allowed on the beach, but they should be.  I am glad I took the trip to see the lake.  Lake Tahoe is truly a beautiful place. Now it's time to look at a map and figure out where to go next.  Thank you to those of you who take the time to read about my journeys.

Long Beach Fog

I have been taking pictures of my hometown, Long Beach for a while and even though each night we have a beautiful sunset looking over the water, I like to take pictures that might be a little different. I went for a walk on Naples Island in Long Beach around 3pm and the fog rolled in unexpectedly, which I love. If I won the lottery, I wouldn't mind a little shack on this island with my own boat slip through the canals. Ah, it's nice to dream.

There is something about the fog that I love. It comes in when it wants to and doesn't let you see everything as clear as you would on a nice day. It sets the mood nicely for a photograph. Here are a few from my stroll on the "island." You can see more from this day on my Long Beach 2 album on facebook.