Sunday in the Park

My one free day this weekend was lovely. We got a late start, just like the sun, then drove up to the North Shore in the afternoon. Passing by Newburyport's old colonial houses and then out over the bridge onto Plum Island, we popped in on D's cousin in his usual spot manning his hot dog stand, then walked across to the wildlife refuge, through the dunes to where the mouth of the Merrimack River meets the Atlantic. All along the shore, surf fishermen stitched beach to water, poles planted in wet sand while they sat languidly in sand chairs, lines slacking out from pole tip to float somewhere unseen below the light surf. We had no choice but to walk under countless lines to get to the oceanside beach, then turned around and threaded under them again on the way back.

Next stop was a little park in Georgetown, where we met up with friends to hear their nephew in his band, Hot Day at the Zoo, who were amazingly good. Made up of four guys playing mandolin, upright bass, banjo and guitar, they describe themselves as "high-energy, gritty-urban-bluegrass with strong elements of folk, blues, ragtime and jazz." Quite original. They write their own music, but also do some, um, unique covers such as their version of Hendrix's Foxy Lady that would have Jimi spinning, or maybe dancing, in his grave.

[Hot Day at the Zoo, tattooed girl; American Legion Park, Georgetown]

After the concert, we continued down the coast to Essex, to the illustrious oversized clam shack that is Woodman's, which is nearing its 100 year anniversary. I was a bit sorry I didn't get their delicious chowder this time, but my fish and chips were good and more than filling.

[Marsh behind Woodman's, Essex MA; 7:45pm, 7/12/09]]

We got home quite late, and I was up early Monday morning, holding onto my good cheer for several hours before the work pressure bore in again. I like my coworkers, but the culture is such that people routinely work into the evening and often on weekends, at work that is already exhausting on regular time. However I try to carve out my work-life balance, the pressure is always to do more. It makes running a hot dog stand on an island look like not such a bad idea.

Comments

[Lorianne]

Wonderful. It sounds like you had more fun during your one free day than many folks have in an entire weekend.

[Leslee]

Yes, and for the most part all I had to do was go along for the ride, so nevertheless relaxing fun.

[marja-leena]

As Lorianne said! Great photos again, that marsh looks so green and inviting.

[Dick]

Interesting to read of another old time-style string band rendering contemporary, non-genre material into their style. Hayseed Dixie have made this their speciality, and I've heard a couple of local-ish UK bands (Hertfordshire/Bedforshire/Cambridge) doing the same thing.

[Leslee]

Thanks, Marja-Leena. It was impossible to resist snapping a photo of the marsh before going in to dinner - and I was starving!

Dick: They told us they were invited to some roots music festival in Scotland in the next month or so. So I guess they'll be over on your side of the pond soon!