Out and About, Plymouth Harbor, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

I find the late afternoon December light in Plymouth Harbor to be inspiring. (Click on an image to view a higher resolution version if your device supports that action).



Combine that special light with very few tourists on this cold and windy day and the setting is downright magical.



The lobster pots in the background are arranged on the wharf into a sort-of Christmas tree design with the colorful buoys serving as ornaments.



Panoramic view of the quiet town wharf.

Over at nearby Pilgrim State Park, this lobster art is aglow in the late afternoon sunlight.

Same artwork, different angle of view.  Plymouth - "America's Hometown" - a nice place anytime of the year.

Nobska Lighthouse, Falmouth, Massachusetts, USA

Sometimes, timing, opportunity, and weather all come together to create ideal conditions for a particular photographic location. In this case, Nobska Lighthouse on Cape Cod. The current structure was built in 1876 but the lighthouse function has been ongoing since 1826. (Click on an image to view a higher resolution version if your device supports that action).



On this particular morning, it was cloudy, overcast, cool, with low visibility but, I knew a weather front was pushing through over the next few hours. The clouds would break-up, blue sky would peek out, the air would be fresh and sharp, and cloud formations perhaps dramatic.....



....it was a promising set of circumstances to do a study of the Nobska Lighthouse.



The seasonal wreath and bow was an added nice touch.



The evolving sky was as expected and desired.























One of these views is my favorite image - I'm just not sure which one!

Fall on the Bluff, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

It is still delightful weather to wander around the neighborhood in the crisp fall air. The first snow of the season is in the forecast for this weekend - we'll see - many times, the first snow is just slushy rain.



Regardless, enjoy the hopes and dreams of the season.

Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, Mass Audubon, Manomet, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The new Mass Audubon Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary is open to the public now. It offers a delightful place to wander among its many trails on the 450-acre property.



Part of the restoration effort has been to restore the natural flow of Beaver Dam Brook through what had once been a huge cranberry farm.



One of the remaining ponds on the property.



I like these rocks arranged like a cat's paw. Nice spot for a picnic?



It is good to see young people out enjoying nature with sticks instead of electronics.



The property is located on Beaver Dam Road just a bit south of Gellar's Corner. Come out and enjoy it.

Here's a link to my blog post on 10/23 that marked the official white tent pre-opening celebration of many of the donors, collaborators, and naturalists who made it all happen.

Downtown Wandering, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

The feel in town is different this time of year compared to the summer. There are few pedestrians out and about. The sun is low on the horizon regardless the time of day, the shadows are long, the tourists are gone......



...at low tide the harbor seems relatively deserted......



... most pleasure boats have been pulled from the water until spring, leaving only a few working boats at anchor.....



....birds can fly where pedestrians usually walk.......



...and locals can walk without dodging up-ended ice cream cones and upset children.



The refurbished 1820 courthouse has been re-opened as the "new" Plymouth Town Hall.



....and all is quiet on Burial Hill, waiting for the first blanket of snow to fall. Life is good in "America's Hometown - Plymouth." Burial Hill in downtown Plymouth has been in use as a cemetery since the 1620's and contains remains of some of the original Pilgrims who came to the New World on the sailing ship Mayflower.

Christmas Tree Lighting and Winter Lights 5K Foot Race, Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA

A beautiful early December evening welcomed a great turnout in Plymouth's Town Square for the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony.



Moments after the tree lighting, the first wave of runners were released from the start line for the Winter Lights 5K footrace in downtown.



Race officials prepare the finish line for the imminent finishers.



I didn't get an official number of competitors but, there were hundreds and hundreds of runners who participated in the race. (In 2016 there were almost 1600 participants).



For you photographers, this was an attempt at a pan blur image - a technique where one pans the camera in sync with a moving object so as to have the object sharp and the background slightly blurred.



All runners are required to have a headlamp or carry a flashlight. I like this image where the runner's lights merge into the scene with the traffic stop lights, street lights, and storefront lights.



Downtown restaurant "Sam Diego's" provided complimentary hot chocolate to any and all who desired it.



Another view of the downtown area as folks mill about waiting for the multiple events of the evening.

Head of the Charles Regatta, Cambridge, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The Head Of The Charles Regatta (HOCR), first held in 1965 in Boston/Cambridge, is the world’s largest two-day rowing event. “Head” races are a class of regattas generally three miles in length. Boats compete against one another and the clock, which starts sequentially, approximately fifteen seconds apart. Winners of each race receive the honorary title “Head of the River” or, in this case, “Head Of The Charles.” (Source: HOCR)



Over the past 51 years, the Head Of The Charles Regatta has grown through its success. Today, more than 11,000 rowers in more than 2,000 boats from 750 different organizations around the world representing 28 nations compete in 57 different race events. (Source: HOCR)



In 1997, the Regatta grew to a two-day event and now attracts up to 400,000 spectators during race weekend in October. Support from numerous boat clubs, colleges and universities, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), as well as 1,700 hardworking volunteers help make the Regatta a continued success year after year. (Source: HOCR)



The largest boats have eight rowers and one coxswain to oversee the coordinated effort.



It was a beautiful fall day this year, especially when compared to the rain, wind, and cold last year.



Some of the local universities enjoy the luxury of waterside boat houses to store their shells.......



...while out-of-towners must haul the ungainly vessels and all the supporting equipment as well - and a big truck pulling a big trailer is the best way to do it.



And somebody must painstakingly assemble all the parts into a functioning and competitive ship.



Some teams have been at this a long time over the history of the race.



And spectators by the tens of thousands lined the bridges and shorelines to cheer on their favorite competitors.



With so many teams and athletes, there was always something happening of interest on the river.



It was a spectacularly perfect fall day in Boston this year to hold the event.



Some of the buildings of the Harvard University campus are in the background in this view.



It wasn't just humans hanging out on the bridge watching either.



Knowing how popular this event, I took public transportation, the Red Line subway from Braintree into Harvard Square, and walked down to the Charles River. It's a great way to attend this event - no worrying about parking, no fuss, no muss, no stress - sit still and watch the humanity show as riders step on and step off the train cars.

Note: this event occurred in late October but I managed to overlook editing the images into a blog post until now.