We decided to book a last-minute camping trip on Memorial Day weekend. Camping options were slim pickings.
View of our tent at night
Fortunately, we found a site at Greenfield State Park. So, Steph, Liberty and myself set for our first camping trip of the summer. We have stayed at Greenfield before and enjoy the state park. This time we were site 82.
Night time glow
We arrived around 7:30PM Friday night. The site was kind of on a corner but not on top of any other sites. It was level and large enough for our tent. That’s all we needed.
Liberty enjoying the morning camp fire
There are plenty of places to hang a hammock if I wanted. That is always a plus. There were two bathrooms a short walk away with flush toilets.
Camp breakfast
There was rain in the forecast, so we made sure to set up the EZ-Up over the table. We had brought subs for dinner because we knew we were going to arrive late and did not want to cook.
Fields around Crotched Mountain
On Saturday morning we had a great breakfast and hung out at the site and enjoyed the fire for a while.
Libery checking out the bridge
A little later we took a ride and hiked around the Crotched Mountain ADA trails. When we got back to the car it was just starting to rain. So we went and got a warm beverage from Bob’s Chocolate Café.
Steph and Liberty taking a break
Back at the campsite we started a fire and hung out. Later we made camp stove pizza for dinner. It was still misting on and off. Later that night it started raining pretty good.
Enjoying the campfire
It was a little chilly, Liberty slept with her coat on and our sleeping bags were plenty warm.
Our tent setup
The next morning the rain had stopped but it was supposed to start up again later and continue on for the next few days so we decided to pack up and head back home.
Some friends of mine and I were signed up for a Paddle The Boarder event. So Zach, Carrie, Jay and I grabbed our boats and headed north. The trip starts at Woodsville Community Field and paddle down to the Bedell Bridge in Harrisville. Afterword there is a bbq and. Band at the takeout.
Launching from the park in Woodsville
Unfortunately, when we arrived, the event had been canceled due to recent rains causing high water and a swollen river.
More from the launch
Since we had two trucks in our group, we decided to paddle the river anyway and spotted a truck down at the Bedell Bridge. There were a few others that also decided to run the river too.
Water was high and a little confused
The water was running really fast at the put-in. Zack went first, followed by Carrie, shortly after she hit a rock and fell into the river but got back in the boat almost as fast as she fell out. Then I went and then my buddy Jay.
some island campsites that are under water
The river was very high and there were a lot of eddies that created some confused water. Overall though it was easy to navigate.
Very scenic paddle
We didn’t have to paddle that hard with the river moving that fast. As we made our way down we passed some remote campsites on some islands. They were all under about 3 feet of water.
Lots of interesting shore line
As we paddled there were wonderful views of Mt. Moosilauke for most of the trip. It was interesting because the river has some ox bows, sometimes Moosilauke was or our left and sometimes it was on our right as we paddled down.
Very pastoral landscape along the river
There are also great views of farms and rural landscapes. There were not many places to pull off the river for breaks due to the high water.
Paddling with friends
Eventually we came upon another group of campsites, and we were able to pull off and stretch our legs. We noticed there was a mailbox with some information. It just looked funny to see a mailbox alongside the river.
We found a campsite that was not flooded out
After our break we packed up and headed back down stream. From here is was pretty consistant paddling.
Random mailbox on the banks of the river
We came across a bridge. One of the organizers mentioned this as a marker and the launch site of their fall event. So I went over to check out the boat launch. It sits in and is almost hidden.
Beautiful views of Mount Moosilauke
From here we paddled a few more miles before we saw the pillars from the old Bedell Bridge. This is where we are landing. There is a nice park with a boat launch.
Boat launch by the bridge a few miles before takeout
When we got there the Parks person was there to make sure that we made it back safely.
Making our way down the river
Zach and Jay went back to get the other truck. Carrie and I walked around and checked out some of the signs about the bridge. There is a lot of history to this bridge.
The lone pilon where the Bedell Bridge once stood
Most interesting to me was in 1979 just after it was rebuilt there was going to be a wedding and the evening before the bridesmaids went to decorate the bridge.
Approaching the boat landing at Bendell Bridge park
While they were there a fierce windstorm came and everyone took shelter on the bridge.
Our friends forgot their paddles
The wind was so strong that it unseated the bridge from the pillars, and it crashed into the water below with everyone on it!
Kayaks on the Kiosk Historical Sign marking the Bedell BridgeStone marker talking about the bridgeGood Times!Food and.drinks afterwords at the Last Chair BreweryOur route down the river
This was a bonus lighthouse. I didn’t even know there was a light house on the islands, but it makes sense.
White Island Lighthouse. You can see the walkway from the house to the lighthouse is protected from tne elementsWhite Island Lighthouse from a distance
After we left Star Island, we cruised by White Island and got a good look at the Light House. It is also known as the Isles of Shoals Lighthouse.
It was first constructed in 1790 but later rebuilt in 1865. The light house is 58’ tall and its walls are granite that is 2 feet thick.
Thomas B. Laighton was the light keeper, this is interesting because that is the name of the ship that we were on.
This is a cemetery belonging to the Beebe Family and only contains three graves of three young sisters. The cemetery is a bit of a memorial as well.
Beebe Cemetery on Star Island
The graves were of three young sisters named Mitty (7), Millie (4) and Jessie (2). They were the daughters of Rev. George Beebe. The three girls all died of disease weeks apart.
The obelisk with the inscription
Side view of the obelisk with the inscription
There is an obelisk with some inscriptions that are very sad. The inscriptions are getting a bit weathered but most of it can be made out. They look like they have been recently cleaned.
Beebe Cemetery on Star Island
To the best I can figure out the inscriptions below each name read:
JESSIE Died May 30th 1863 Aged 2 years
You are dear child, far, far away, Yet near in spirit too. Welcome indeed will be the day, That brings us all to you.
MILLIE Died June 12th 1863 Aged 4 years old
Dying she kneeled down and prayed: Please Jesus, take me up to the Lighted Place. And HE did.”
MATTIE Died June 23rd, 1863 Aged 7 years old
“I don’t want to die, but I’ll do just as Jesus wants me to.”
BEEBE
The cemetery is tucked away on the far east side of the island and sits just below a large rock and is easily missed. There were some workers clearing out overgrowth and it looked like the stones had been recently cleaned and were in pretty good condition.
Jessie’s Gravestone
Millie’s Gravestone
Mittie’s Gravestone
There seems to be a lot of folklore about these children, and some say they have heard them. Some say they have seen ghosts. Thanks to one of the workers for pointing out the plaque for Dudley Moore. I would have totally missed it. Based on the dates and a little research, I’m pretty sure this is not the British actor that died in 2002. If anyone has any information on plaque, please comment below. I could not find anything on this person and timeframe
Just to the side of the cemetery there is a plaque.
I visited the Tucke Monument on Star Island on while touring the Isle of Sholes. This is a very tall monument obelisk. It stands 45 and a half feet tall.
Standing in front of the monumentTucke Monument
There is a large inscription on this monument dedicated to John Tucke (1702-1773). He was a minister, judge, physician, and philanthropist. On the monument there is an inscription that reads:
Underneath are the Remains of the REV. JOHN TUCKE, A. M. He graduated at Harvard College A. D. 1723, was ordained here July 26, 1732, and died late in august, 1773, Aet. 71. — He was affable and polite in his Manner, amiable in his disposition, of great Piety and Integrity, given to hospitality, Diligent and faithful in his pastoral office, well learned in History and Geography as well as general science, and a careful Physician both to the Bodies and the Souls of his People. — Erected 1800 in memory of the Just. — The inscription above is taken from the sandstone slab placed over the grave of the Rev. John Tucke by Dudley A. Tyng of Newburyport, Mass. — In 1914 a kinsman, EDWARD TUCK, renewed in permanent form this memorial
Crypt with a stone cover
This was a cool monument to see and a nice piece of history to discover. This is a must see for anyone who likes graves and gravestones.
The Caswell Cemetery is an old family cemetery located on Star Island in Rye, NH. The Caswell’s were the largest family on the island and the most wealthy.
Caswell Cemetery with the Gazebo in the background
The cemetery is the visible from the dock and sits just below the gazebo on the Oceanic Hotels Lawn.
Entrance to the Carswell Cemetery
The cemetery is lined with granite rocks and sits nicely on the hill.
Close up of one of the grave markers
Most of the stones are granite and slate. These were the popular choices for the early colonial times on the island. Some of the stones are more worn than the others.
William Caswell’s gravestone
The stones don’t have the most ornate designs carved into them, but the overall shapes are very cool and give it a haunted feel.
View of the Caswell Cemetery from the gazebo
Next time I’m at this location I plan to photograph each of the stones.
