Flag Rock, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I am delighted to see that the flag has been repainted on flag rock at White Horse Beach. And just in time for the annual Independence Day hoopla! The flag painting apparently began in the 1940's when someone painted a swastika on the rock. Local folks painted over it with an American flag and a tradition was born.

I wish I had seen the actual painting being done.  I can't imagine how one balances in a boat at high tide and manages to paint straight lines. This gull and many others who roost on the rock are responsible for "painting" much of the white, if you get my meaning.

I like how the ripple in the rock surface makes the flag seem as if it is moving.

Cloud Study, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I arrived at the beach for a walk as this dramatic sequence of cloud formations unfolded before my eyes.

Sort of a "Wizard of Oz" look.

All these scenes occurred over about an hour of real time. And no, I didn't get rained on.

Unexpected Neighbor, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

As I walked home recently, this creature was sharing the road with me. Unlike me, however, he has lived here year-around for many decades. The size, about 12-14 inches across the longest part of the shell suggests he/she could be 30 or so years old. Yes, it is a snapping turtle. I wanted to move him out of the road but, I have read that if you try to lift them by the sides of their shell, they can still twist their head/neck around and bite. I didn't try. We kept our distance. With age, sometimes there comes a certain amount of wisdom - both his and mine.

He was not welcoming of my presence even though I didn't get very close. He then turned and wandered off into the skunk-cabbagey-swampy-foresty area beside the road and that was that. 

Wandering Around, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I often count my blessings by how fortunate I am to live near such a beautiful place on the planet. (But no, I don't live in any of these pictured houses - I am a ten minute walk inland). Manomet Point is visible on the far horizon.

And yes, that is a new hat for the queen of hats.

Parents of small children should recognize the beach perfection in the scene above. As the tide receded, a shallow lake was formed - a perfect playground for the very young toddlers without waves, cold water, or other unseen dangers.

Wandering a block inland from the beach is the general store and post office building. I've always thought that opening a post office box here would be a good idea, then my mailing address would be 'White Horse Beach' - has a nice ring to it.

And inland another block is St. Catherine's Chapel Park.

It is looking quite nice in full spring/early summer growth. 

Continuing on, I have always enjoyed seeing the woodwork over this home's doorway.

And walking down another quiet country lane.

Sometimes just sitting in a canoe or kayak and drifting with the wind is better than paddling.

Yep, summer in New England is a great place to wander around.

5th Anniversary Celebration of Plymouth Digital Photographers Club, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Plymouth Digital Photographers Club recently held their 5th anniversary celebration with a low tide, light wind, dramatic clouds, passing sprinkles, and a few rainbows.

There were quite a few good flat stacking rocks at this beach.

The sun peeked out from time to time.

Although it wasn't specifically a formal party, sometimes people just want to dress up and look nice.

Umbrellas and raincoats came out a few times for the intermittent sprinkles.

But regardless the fickle weather, nothing interferes with the obvious joy of young humans playing on the beach.....

..... or indulging the grandparents (and other photographers) for more pictures.

As the light faded, it was time for "the rings of fire." Here's a good example of how  two cameras with different shutter speeds caught different sections of the flaming arc.

Sometimes it takes a few swings to get the hang of it.

But once going, it's pretty spectacular. (These two images I made at a prior event since I didn't get anything really good this time).

Cute Rodents, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

Squirrels are an endless source of entertainment to me, watching them cavort over, under, on, around, and through almost anything.....

...... but our chipmunks are way cuter.

I am amazed by how fast they move through the underbrush - how do they visually process the obstacles in their path and avoid running into things?  It's like birds flying through the forest, how do they not hit branches and crash to the ground with broken wings? According to Yoda, Jedi warriors must they be.

Rodents are characterized by having a pair of incisors that grow continuously throughout their lives and must be kept short by gnawing.  Rodent comes from the Latin - rodere - meaning to gnaw.  Now you know. It occurs to me that blogging is "show and tell" for adults using the internet instead of a 3rd grade classroom - and in my case, perhaps no more sophisticated.

Swans, Bartlett Pond, White Horse Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

And then there was one.

The lone surviving cygnet of this year's brood stays pretty close to mom after experiencing one after another of his/her siblings disappear.

It seems safer in the shallows - no snappers below.

Priscilla Beach Theatre, Priscilla Beach, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The folks at Priscilla Beach Theatre have obtained this way-cool 1937 Chevy pickup truck. Why 1937? It's the year that Priscilla Beach Theatre began operation. The theatre, a neighborhood icon for 75+ years, is undergoing a massive renovation thanks to new owners Bob and Sandy Malone.

Don't be surprised if you see it driving around town in the coming months. (I think Bob likes it). And if you haven't supported Priscilla Beach Theatre by attending a show there, here's a link to their site for more information. Live local theatre is a priceless jewel for any community.

Manomet Bluffs and Beaches, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

This log bench in the right foreground is a favorite place to stop on my walk and see the beauty that surrounds us and feel the fresh breeze on my face....

..... stepping closer brings the sand into the view. There is no single road that runs along the Manomet bluffs. Instead, each neighborhood has its own road that runs for a few blocks.  This non-continuous feature keeps the speed down, traffic volume down, and random visitors down.  It helps the community retain its calm ambiance - a neighborhood that is mostly trees with houses rather than mostly houses with trees, if you get that distinction. It's not a gated community but, by having narrow roads and nowhere for public parking  if you don't live here, it discourages random visitors. Whether that's good or bad isn't my point - it just is.

Elsewhere along the bluff, an old house has been torn down to be replaced by something new.

Another nice place to sit a spell and contemplate my good fortune.

Not many folks out on a slightly cool temperature weekday. Massachusetts law dating back to the Plymouth Bay Colony in the 1600's apparently allowed private ownership down to the mean low tide line, NOT the mean high tide, thus, beaches can, and often are, privately owned in Massachusetts. There are, however, certain rights of passage along  these private beaches the courts have upheld but, if one can't get to the beach, how you might use that right of passage is moot.  As I understand it, many/most/some of the homes here have deeded beach rights to join one of the private associations that maintains access. (I am not a lawyer - I'm just a regular Joe trying to make sense of a confusing situation). Manomet/White Horse/ Priscilla have many private beach associations to manage/maintain access to their respective stretch of beach.

I like and prefer the simplicity of a chicken crossing sign more than the complexity of who and how the beach is owned..