Then came the scarlet letter

 

Salem Witch Museum

Roger Conant, the first settler of Salem. The statue stands in the intersection in front of the Witch Museum.

A short walk from the museum leads to some interesting discoveries.

Hawthorne Hotel

The Gull Lady, visiting her friends.

Home to relatives of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Hawthorne visited the house many times as a child which gave influence for the book, House of Seven Gables.

Courtyard inside the grounds of the House of Seven Gables. The red building is Nathaniel Hawthorne’s childhood home. It was originally a few blocks from this site, but was moved to be a part of the museum.

Nathaniel Hawthorne’s home until he was four.

U.S.S. Arizona, Pearl Harbor

 

*Photographs by Paul Beecroft

Paul Beecroft has spent a good deal of his life in law enforcement, in England. He’s worked Foot Patrol, Area Car, Instant Response Car and also as a Police Motorcyclist. He currently serves as a coroner’s investigator and has traveled all over England, Wales, Scotland and even Germany to investigate crimes.

Coroner captures day's end

 

*     *     *

Paul Beecroft has spent a good deal of his life in law enforcement, in England. He’s worked Foot Patrol, Area Car, Instant Response Car and also as a Police Motorcyclist. He currently serves as a coroner’s investigator and has traveled all over England, Wales, Scotland and even Germany to investigate crimes.

Savannah's River

 

Oh, you should probably watch where you step…

The things I do to entertain you guys…

Cathedral of St. John

 

The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is visible from almost anywhere in historic Savannah. And it’s downright breathtaking when you first catch a glimpse of the church spires reaching upward, piercing the sky through the gnarled live oaks.

There are many things I could say say and write about the church, but stepping inside seems to strip away one’s ability to describe. Indeed, it leaves you speechless, and to view these photos, well, this doesn’t come close to the awe and wonder of experiencing the church in person.

The church was built in the late 1800’s, and is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Georgia.

Fort Pulaski, Georgia

 

Fort Pulaski, named after Revolutionary War hero Casimir Pulaski, was one in a series of forts built as part of the United States’ coastal defense system. Fresh out of West Point, Robert E. Lee was assigned to oversee the construction of Fort Pulaski until his transfer in 1831.

Inside the fort’s “impenetrable” 7-11 feet thick and 32-foot-tall walls (25,000,000 bricks), was home to several soldiers, supplies, ammunition, and a series of cannons. When Georgia seceded from the Union on January 19, 1861, the fort was immediately seized by approximately 134 men from the State militia, commanded by Confederate Colonel Charles H. Olmstead. On April 10-11, 1862, Union Brigadier General Quincy Adams Gillmore’s troops began a fierce bombardment of the Confederate force within Fort Pulaski. After 30 hours and 5,275 shots (the first “rifled” barrels), a breech was made in the fort’s southeast wall forcing the Confederate soldiers to surrender.

The Union army then used Fort Pulaski as a storage area for weapons, ammunition, and prisoners.

The fort is now a national monument that’s open to the public. As luck would have it, we live a mere five minutes away from this fascinating piece of American history. Please join me now for a brief walk back in time.

The fort is surrounded by a moat, complete with large fish and alligators.

The only access to the interior of the fort is via a thick plank drawbridge

Inside the fort walls

Brooke Rifle

View from the top of the fort. That’s Hilton Head Island, S.C. in the distance.

Large container ships pass by the fort on their way to Savannah

Raccoon Pool Party

 

One of our “over the fence” neighbors decided to pay us a visit while we were out doing some yard work a couple of days ago. And, without so much as saying hi, she headed straight for the pool for a bit of hand-washing. Then she took a slow stroll around the perimeter looking for the perfect spot. Obviously, she wasn’t at all concerned that Denene and I were only a few feet away.

She tested the water for a second, and then…

off she went…

for a few very leisurely laps.

Roxanne even swam over to ham it up for the camera before climbing out.

A quick shake and she was off, climbing back over the fence. However, she was back within 30 minutes for another dip.



Paul Beecroft: New Zealand

 

A trek off the New Zealand’s tourist path reveals some truly interesting sights.

Wild chickens living at a picnic area.

Beside the campground.

Pukeko (water bird)

Found these little guys during a stop in Hawaii.

Another Hawaiian friend.

*     *     *

Paul Beecroft has spent a good deal of his life in law enforcement, in England. He’s worked Foot Patrol, Area Car, Instant Response Car and also as a Police Motorcyclist. He currently serves as a coroner’s investigator and has traveled all over England, Wales, Scotland and even Germany to investigate crimes.

Paradise!