Ocean Rainbow

 We went to Salisbury Beach after the winter storm on Monday January 17. It was brisk and cold with a strong breeze kicking up the waves. Salisbury Beach State Reservation was closed due to downed wires, so, we tried beach access #2. We started walking south towards the jetty, but, had the good fortunate to turn around at the right time and look north. We were surprised to find a rainbow extending from a cloud bank near North Hampton & Rye and the ocean.

Wave action as seen from beach access #2.

  

There were six to seven rows of waves breaking at any given time.

 Looking north we caught a glimpse of rainbow over the ocean (in center)

Several other people stopped to take in this unusual sight.

Click on photo to see a larger image.

March Update

 March weather has been oscillating between days with below freezing temps and biting windchill factors to gorgeous 60 degree sunny days. We have ventured out through both extremes. On the cold days there are only a few hearty souls on the beach. On the warm days it can be quite busy. The winter storms have really shifted the sand around. The metal beach access stairway is closed due to four feet of sand being washed away beneath the bottom step.

The dune underneath the stairs has also eroded away.

On the 16th, I saw a large Coast Guard ship just off the jetty entrance working on navigational buoys.

On the 17th I got a glance at a Coast Guard airplane on maneuvers along the river.

Occasionally, you can see commercial airplanes in a holding pattern waiting to land at the Manchester or the Portsmouth airports.

A large flock of sandpipers feeding along the waters edge.

In early March some small gelatinous blobs washed ashore. They looked like something out of an old science fiction horror film. We contacted Susan Pike the science columnist for a NH newspaper. She referred us the Seacoast Science Center for an expert opinion. They identified it as a Seas Gooseberry a type of comb jelly fish.

Snow Moon

February 26 - We went for a walk along the beach because of the warm weather (43 degrees). We saw a lone fishing trawler (Lisa Ann III) coming into port through the jetty. Having hiked about a mile along the beach, we turned around. It was dusk, and the sun was beginning to set. As we approached the jetty, we were surprised by large number of people gathered on the beach some with cameras. What was the big attraction? We looked out to sea and saw the full moon rising. This full moon is called the "snow moon." The sky had this beautiful purplish hue. We thought we would share a few photos.

 

Some White Winged Scotas were hanging out

 

 

 

Gulls were flying off to their evening roost.

(This was the natural lighting, the photo has not been enhanced in anyway.)

 

Jetty Update

Northeastern Massachusetts has so far experienced a mild winter for 2019-2020. Not withstanding, the storms which have passed through have kicked up some rough seas. The sands at Salisbury Beach State Reservation have shifted around dramatically. Sand has piled up against the section of North Jetty bordering the beach. Waves coming out of the northeast during the storms continue to batter the spur jetty displacing stones. the damage has become quite evident.

Sand has almost reach to top of the jetty along this section of the beach.

 

Northeast winds kick waves even on this nice day.

The spur jetty has taken a real beating from the storms .

 

A lot of stone has been tumbled off the top

A noticeable dip in the top has formed

Eagle Departs Portsmouth

On Monday August 5, 2019 I had the opportunity to photograph and video the departure of the U.S. Coast Guard tall ship Eagle from Portsmouth from onboard the historic Gundalow barge. The Gundalow put up its single sail but primarily ran on its engine. We headed up river to see the Eagle leave the wharf. Along the way we were treated to seeing the Memorial Drawbridge raise its center span to allow us passage. The group of kids onboard were all excited and waved to the bridge workers as we passed underneath.

We arrived near the wharf in time to see the tugboat pushing the Eagle gently towards the wharf so the mooring ropes could be castoff. The Eagle got underway while a small but appreciative group of spectators onboard the Gundalow and the Schooner Lynx watched. It was a different perspective to see the Eagle from the water rather than standing onshore.

The Gundalow unfurled its sail.

We passed the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard

One of the giant cranes

Scaffolding around the tower of a submarine being serviced.

The exposed lower part of the pier indicated we were nearing low tide.

 A lobster boat is part of Portsmouth & Kittery's working waterfront.

Memorial Drawbridge

Bridge worker monitoring our passage.

Schooner Lynx joined us.

Tugboat pushes the Eagle toward wharf to allow the mooring ropes to cast off.

We passed the old Naval Prison

 

The Gundalow's canon may be small but it makes a big bang.

A 5 minute video of the Eagle's departure.

October 16-17 2019 Storm

I went down to the North Jetty to see the affects of the Nor'easter on surf. The wind was blow so strong I had a hard time holding the camera steady. Many of the photos are slightly out of focus because of that. The wind was blowing the spray of the waves backwards making from a spectacular scene.

 

The waves were rolling from left to right and covering the Jetty.

The wind was blowing the opposite direction of the waves causing spray to blow back.