Plum Island, Newburyport, Massachusetts

The bridge to Plum Island is as small and indistinctive as any bridge could possibly be, but nonetheless is etched deeply into my memory as the result of frequent visits and walks here with my family as a child. It's still a great place to visit!

The American Dunegrass pictured above is everywhere, and actually usually off-limits due to nesting piping plovers. A sign near here warns that threatening or harassing the plovers is a federal offense that could result in jail time and/or a $100, 000 fine!

It's a great place to walk with gorgeous ocean views, but when it comes to swimming there are many posted warnings about the riptides which can be quite strong here. Be sure to read the instructions for escaping a riptide if you take a dip!

I'd love to own a house on Plum Island. How much do you think an oceanfront view like this will cost you?

Behind this storefront are a couple of luxury yachts named Captain's Lady II and Captain's Lady III.

Wooden piers don't last forever, and they don't seem to get rebuilt when they fall apart. Not much left of this one!

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Newburyport, Massachusetts

Newburyport, Massachusetts is a city worth visiting more than once. The view from Bridge Road going into Newburyport offers a first glimpse of the city, but the best way to view it is to park your car and walk on the bridge (there is a sidewalk).

Less known is the Harborwalk Rail Trail that goes under the bridge itself. As you go up the sidewalk on the bridge, there is a sign to the path that leads underneath the bridge.

Lots of boats in the harbor, shops and restaurants in downtown allow for some fun exploration of this interesting city.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Portland and Cape Elizabeth, Maine, Portland Head Light

According to Frommers, Portland Maine was a top travel destination for 2007 among other contenders including Tokyo and Zurich.

East End Beach on the Eastern Promenade is the only beach open to the public in Portland, Maine. Be sure to check out the rail bridge if you visit here!

At East End Beach, you might see the "Polar Express" train go by here as I did. I was actually standing on the narrow gauge railroad tracks thinking they were unused when the train whistle blew and I realized I beter get off the tracks!

Portland Head Light is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world, and is located in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. 

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Veasey Memorial Park, Groveland, Massachusetts

Nearly 50 acres in size, Veasey Memorial Park in Groveland, Massachusetts is home to Johnsons Pond, fields, and woodsy trails.

Eagle Trail leads to an excellent viewpoint on Johnsons Pond that is westward facing and perfect for watching a sunset.

 

Even the entrance to the park contains an excellent view of the pond (above) , including a bench for sitting and enjoying the view.

A wooden lookout along the Link Trail provides a panoramic viewpoint.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, Topsfield, Massachusetts

With 12 miles of trails and 8 miles of canoeing, this Audubon sanctuary in Topsfield, Massachusetts has lots to offer. 

Minutes from the parking lot is the waterfowl pond, which certainly lived up to its name when I visited. In addition to the ducks and geese, there were several muskrats swimming about.

Lots of birds, rock formations, and plenty of varying trails to explore make this location worth multiple visits!

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Winnekenni Castle, Winnekenni Park, Haverhill, Massachusetts

When people think of New England, covered bridges and colonial houses are more likely to come to mind then castles. So all the more surprising is the discovery of a castle in Haverhill, MA just minutes from the downtown area.

Construction on Winnekenni Castle began in 1873, and the structure was completed in 1875. According to the Winnekenni.com website, the castle was built by Dr. James R. Nichols, who was inspired by stone architecture he had seen in England.

Like many place names in this area, the word Winnekenni is of Native American origin and translates from Algonquin to mean "Very Beautiful".

Today, the castle is used for various events and functions including weddings, concerts, and parties.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Salem Town Forest, Salem, New Hampshire

 I've been to Salem, New Hampshire many times over the years, but only recently discovered there is a 200 acre area with 5 miles of trails known as the Salem Town Forest. Located across from Shadow Lake, the main entrance has plenty of parking and several trails which are very well marked.

This is a picture of the Hitytity Brook, as seen from Trail A. The name of the brook is unusual, will need to look up the origin of this name!

This pond is located on Trail F, and due to some flooding, part of the trail was inaccessible. However, I was able to make it as far as this little pond with rocks.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

MBTA Haverhill Bridge

I used to ride the train into Boston all the time when I was attending Berklee College of Music and later when I worked for John Hancock Insurance. I still prefer to take the train instead of driving into Boston, and so over the years have logged many miles with the MBTA whether seeing the Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox or the occasional concert/event.

I took this picture of the rail bridge from one of the public parking places off of Merrimack St. in downtown Haverhill, about a half an hour before sunset. The angle of the bridge from this location seemed just right, and if you look carefully you will also see some power lines which made for some nice parallel lines.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler.

Merrimack River, Newburyport and Salisbury, Massachusetts

I had dinner at Oregano Restaurant in Newburyport, Massachusetts last night. I try to visit this town several times a year during the off-season since it's so busy once tourist season kicks in. There were a few shops open until 6pm, but the center of town was mostly quiet except for some restaurant traffic.

Driving home over the Newburyport Bridge into Salisbury, I noticed a guy had set-up a tripod on the bridge looking out to the river. I glanced over and saw that the moon was low in the horizon and rising up  above the river.

Fortunately, I had my Lowepro camera bag along for the ride along with a highly portable Manfrotto tripod attached to its side so I was prepared to take this shot. I parked at Stripers Grille and Inn on the Salisbury side of the bridge and set up for the shot. Although I got some close-ups of the moon, I really liked this shot with the red boats in the foreground and the moon far off in the distant horizon.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, Maine

The Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells, Maine has been around since 1966. I actually did some research on Rachel Carson as part of my Master’s Thesis at Salem State College.

According to the .gov website for this area, the goal is to eventually acquire 14,600 acres of land along 50 miles of coastline. The Carson Trail at headquarters in Wells, Maine, however, is a very simple one-mile loop with some great views of a tidal salt marsh.

The small pool in this shot was very calm and blue, and offset the golden colors of the salt marsh and reeds perfectly. 

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Charles W. Ward Reservation, Andover and North Andover, Massachusetts

The Charles W. Ward Reservation in Andover, Massachusetts contains 700 acres and 10 miles of trails. The entrance to the park is on Prospect St. and a short walk from the entrance will bring you to this Pine Bog.

There is a boarded walkway leading to this spot, with numbered stations along the way correlating to a printed guide that is available at the start of this particular trail. The boardwalk actually extends a short distance over the bog itself, the end of which appears in this photo.

This same park also contains the highest hill in Essex County, “Holt Hill”, and a future visit will include some photos from the summit from which the Boston skyline can be seen. 


Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler. 

Crystal Point Conservation Area

Before heading out for dinner on Friday night, I went to the Crystal Point Conservation Area in Haverhill, MA for a short walk around the main trail at the entrance. Part of this trail follows along Crystal Lake, which is a drinking supply source for the city of Haverhill.

Not far at all from the entrance is this inlet, which includes a beaver lodge and several trees that have been nearly gnawed away at the base by the beavers. The inlet was sheltered from the wind and was amazingly calm in comparison to the very rippled surface in the open waters.

The circular effect in this photo is natural and wasn’t added in post-processing. Something about the angle of the trees and their reflections created this unusual look that seems to almost “bend” the light, as if the whole scene itself was a reflection in some way.

Visit www.abovetheglow.com for more poetry and photography from David Mark Fowler.