Sandwich Trout Hatchery

Russell really likes this place so we stopped for a few minutes one day.  We didn't have any quarters, however, so we weren't able to feed the fish.

This hatchery started in 1912.  They grow trout to stock the ponds for fishing purposes.

Rainbow trout.

It was hard to get a good pic with the netting over the tops of the large tanks.

Water is pumped into the various tanks.

This one was dry.

As I said, neither of us had any change for the feed pellets.

Wildflowers & Upper Shawme Pond Dam

On the way home from Sandwich one day, we made a quick visit to the Shawme Pond Dam.  The upper pond is a bit higher up than the lower pond, which is seen here from the short trail that leads to the dam.

There was an old, and small, dam between the ponds but it was completely redone in 2008, including a herring run.  This is looking at the lower pond from the top of the dam.

Mom & Dad swans with their five cygnets.

The wildflowers are spectacular.

 The little waterfall.

Upper Shawme Pond, which is actually really large but we didn't feel like hiking down the trail to the viewpoint, as I'd hurt my ankle over a month ago and it's still bothering me.

Trail off to the right goes downhill to where you can see the upper pond.

One of these days I will take this trail which goes down to Quail Hollow, near the old elementary school.

 

Sunset

Had another stunning sunset after an afternoon of rain.  All my friends posted pics of a gorgeous double rainbow, which. sadly, I missed.  But at least I got pics of the pretty clouds.

Life has thrown us a major curve ball and we are in massive anxiety/panic mode, so if I don't post for a bit, that's why.  I won't be going on any day trips, or my whale watch or anything until we can get this problem sorted out.  I've been throwing myself into needlework to try and keep me from curling up in a catatonic ball.  I know our track record for surviving these things is 100% but this one's really blindsided us.  

Another Thing That Doesn't Get Old

Last year I posted pics of the Mayflower II being towed through the Canal on a very rainy, dark afternoon.  It was headed to dry dock in Mystic, CT for repairs.  I knew it was supposed to get towed back to Plymouth but I totally forgot to check the marine traffic website that morning.  We were headed over to Sandwich and from the lights near our house, you can see the tops of large boats and ships that are in the Canal.  We saw the 2 masts and I said, 'Oh my god!  That's the Mayflower!'  I sped down to the parking lot at the Herring Run along with a whole bunch of other people.  We had to double park but everyone was doing it and we weren't staying long anyway.  

Looking at the Sagamore Bridge.  I stayed up in the parking lot rather than go down on the service road.

Here it comes!

Escort

Seeing it out of port, even though it's not sailing under it's own power, never gets old.

The ship will stay up in Plymouth all summer and then get towed back to Mystic next fall for more repairs.  I've heard that it's going to be gone this time for 30 months and will return to Plymouth in time for the 400 year celebration in 2020.