What I Saw on my Morning Walk

I got up fairly early this morning and had some tea and looked outside.  It was partly cloudy and breezy but not cold.  So, I put on my walking clothes and headed out.  The location, on the ocean in New Hampshire, is perfect for walking and biking.  There was a great, paved path that took me back toward the park we visited yesterday and the path was off the road so I felt safe walking.  I usually walk for an hour, and that was my plan.  

I noticed a marker sign that indicated "the first house of New Hampshire settlers".  I kept walking, but noted that I would take that path when I turned back.  Here is the first thing I saw.

Road marker

I tried to imagine what it was like to travel on this road in the 1800s.  It was an exercise of my imagination as well as my body.  I continued along the path because I could see the ocean.  When I reached the shore, I found this marker about the first settlers.

Monument to the first settlers

I walked along the ocean admiring the loud waves and the clouds and the early sunlight peeking through.  It was so beautiful.  As I walked back toward the park entrance, I stopped to take a picture of the remainders of the gun turret that was planted here during World War II to protect the naval arms depot upstream.

 Morning on the ocean

 Gun turret was here

This property was taken over by the government - war times give greater powers to meet national security demands.  All of the local owners were told to leave.  Fort Dearborn (not in Michigan) was built and armed here until the war was over.  The sad and unjust part of this story is that the government never gave the original families the opportunity to reclaim their property after the military left the property in the 1950s.  But what is left is a beautiful place to walk and picnic - with a jar reminder of what war does to all of us.

Dennis and I did have a humorous incident last night when we were searching for a grocery store.  We needed a few sundries - toothpaste, shampoo, and wine.  We walked into the market and the first thing I saw was a display of kale chips.  I told Dennis that we might have chosen the wrong place.  There were no ordinary products - not even shampoo.  And everything was expensive.  That's what we get for shopping in a resort area!  The rich ARE different from you and me!