05Oct2003 I'm currently in Gloucester Massachusetts trying to figure out how to move a bunch of furniture and other household items from Gloucester, Boulder CO, and San Luis Obispo CA up to Homer AK. It should be an adventure, a 6,000 mile adventure. We drove by Rockport on one of our outings and I had to take a picture of what is advertised to be the most photographed and painted motifs in the country. Oddly enough, it is also one of the largest tourist traps in the area.
Rockport MA, Motif Number 1
05 October 2003
Gloucester Copper Paint Manufactory
11Oct2003 A landmark of the Gloucester waterfront. (Gloucester rhymes with foster, yeah I know there is a "uc" in it, but the only use the locals have for the "uc" is to immediately identify the tourists.) Gloucester has been a fishing community since 1623 when it was founded as the nucleus of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Cape Ann is one of the prettiest, oldest and most interesting places I have ever been. I'm sorry I will just miss the cheery riot of the full fall colors as it is with a heavy heart that I say good-bye to the love of my aunt's short life and close another chapter in my life.
12 October 2003
15Oct2003 The foundation of dirt packed tires is done! (Richard has become a buffed-out lean mean dirt packing machine.) Next is the framing. Note the shower pan on the ground in front of the teal bucket. The greenhouse will double as a shower for them. On top of the 2 tire high wall in the foreground will be the windows. The roof will be a sod covered. There is a water storage tank in the middle back wall. Rain water is collected from the house roof. The door will be on the left where the hose coming from the water tank ends. I am very curious as to how this will turn out. I wonder if such a scheme will work in Homer, but fear there is not enough sun.
Sybil and Richard's Greenhouse Construction
19 October 2003
24Oct2003 After driving our U-Haul 4700 miles to Bellingham WA from Gloucester MA via NYC, Boulder CO and San Luis Obispo CA, we loaded it onto the Alaska Ferry Malaspina, heading for Haines, AK. (Actually this is not our van.) We were dead last loading. Saturday was gorgeous sailing, despite some on the ship getting a touch seasick on the open sea crossing at Queen Charlotte Sound just north of Vancouver Island. This cruise just makes me want to kayak the inland passage even more.
