Year 5, Day 39, “Living the Dream”. Sunday, 6/8/2025. The Wellington – Stayed in Nashua, New Hampshire last night and headed to Rye, New Hampshire after breakfast. Rye, New Hampshire is located on the Atlantic Ocean in Rockingham County. It has eight miles of coast line which is the longest in NH. New Hampshire has 17 miles of coastline. Two thirds of the town’s 35.5 square miles is water. Rye was the site of the first settlement in New Hampshire in 1623. We are taking a boat tour on Uncle Oscar called Isles Tour & Star Island Walkabout. The trip to Rye was rural and beautiful with huge homes with huge Rhododendrons in their yards. In Rye we are an hour away from Boston and 5 1/2 miles from the Isles of Shoals. Rye is mainly a residential town.
Our day consists of a narrated tour of this group of nine islands. These nine islands lay six miles southeast of the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor, five of the nine islands are in Maine (Duck, Appledore, Smuttynose, Malaga, and Cedar) and four are in New Hampshire (Star, Lunging, White, and Seaveys). It is a natural habitat for many species of marine life and has a remarkable history. Star, Cedar, Smuttynose and Malaga are situated such that they create a small harbor, known as Gosport Harbor.
We docked at Star Island for an island walking tour of Gosport. Star Island is owned and operated by the nonprofit Star Island Corporation and is currently a conference center. It is also home to a marine biology center operated by Cornell University. From 1623 until 1872, Star Island supported fishermen and their families. In the 1600s, the island was the busiest fishing port on the East coast. Oceanic House was built on Star Island in 1872. It advertised as “an ideal summer resort of the highest class and full of historic associations. Preeminently the place for the tired worker. No noise, no dust, no trolleys.” It was a beautiful gorgeous day. The flowers, the views, the sea air, and the boat ride were restoring. We could not get the full experience as the dining hall was not open yet. This weekend was the first weekend that the boat tours out to the island started for the 2025 season. The official season runs mid June through mid September. I am set to come again, but for now this was perfect.
The island has the John Smith Monument which is the tallest gravestone in New Hampshire
Star Island’s sustainability program is intense. Toilets are flushed with salt water. Rainwater is collected in a cistern for filtration to use as drinking water in taps, showers, and laundry. A solar array delivers up to 60% of Star Island’s energy needs. When the back-up diesel generator is used, “waste heat” is reclaimed to heat water for several uses. Used glass bottles are crushed and used for sand/gravel fill. Cardboard and paper are shredded and used for compost and chicken bedding. Food waste is composted and used to process and provide food.
The Isle of Shoals lighthouse is located on White Island. We could see the light house from Star Island. White Island is the southernmost of the Isles of Shoals. The current lighthouse is actually the 2nd built on site in 1859. The first light house was built in 1820. The Coast Guard currently operates the light house. Before the Coast Guard took it over it was operated by family. White island is not open to the public.
Things to ponder today! Have to leave you thinking.
Here’s a link to today’s Amazon recommendation: https://amzn.to/4l5QOr8 McCormick Premium Brown Gravy Mix: I keep this gravy mix in my pantry at all times. It is the best tastiest gravy. It keeps me having a well-stocked pantry and is convenient for meal preparation.
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