#74 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

After visiting "The House That Rock Built"


I can only say that Rock should have hired Frank Lloyd Wright.  

My belief is that this is one of those things that just should not be on this list.  It was fine; it was mildly interesting; it was not something I needed to see before I die.  Do you know what should be on the list in its place?  Do you?

THIS!



But since Fallingwater is not on the "official" list, you can hear me fawn over the  sheer brilliance and AWESOMENESS of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater at PseudoIrishLass.  

But onto this entry ...






You are only allowed to take pictures in the lobby, which actually kind of surprised me.  I figured the home of all things ROCK and ROLL would flaunt conventional museum rules, but alas, they are strict adherents.


She's got legzzz ... and knows how to use them.


for KiLee


for Gager Michaels

#73 Legal Seafood

Legal Seafood 

I choose this location for Legal Seafood (it's the new flagship store) over the first ever Legal because it was right on the water, and they have shore-side seating, and I was thinking what a great picture that would be. Again, I got into Boston during the day of pouring rain so the deck was all closed up, and I was soaking wet from street-parking about a block away.  
I cannot believe I didn't take a picture of my short-rib bruschetta. That stuff was SOOO delicious. I eat a lot of food that I like, and that I think tastes good, and that I will eat over and over, but it is really rare for me to eat something that I LOVE and will talk and talk about. In fact the list is pretty much: Carnival's Warm Chocolate Melting Cake, Mom's Pumpkin Pie, and now...add these appetizers to the list. They were so amazing. It's a good thing the Legal Seafood in King of Prussia doesn't have this on the menu, otherwise I'd be there every night. A dangerous proposition for someone with a shellfish allergy.  
"If it isn't fresh, it isn't Legal" Their famous Boston Cream Pie  
I would've traded this in a heartbeat for MORE SHORT RIB BRUSCHETTA!

#72 White Barn Inn

White Barn Inn 

White Barn Inn was kind of a drive by through Kennebunkport, Maine on my way down to Boston, and home. Unfortunately, I tweaked my back that morning putting bags into the car, and it was pouring rain all day. Needless to say, I didn't really get out of the car much.

#71 The Lakes Region

The Lakes Region 

On Golden Pond? Yeah, this is where it is; it's actually Squam Lake. This was another day of scenic driving. It made me wonder how long you would have to live in a place like this before the sight of the lakes isn't absolutely breathtaking, and incredibly distracting.  These are mostly pictures of Lake Winnipesaukee. 

#70 Mount Washington: Part 2

Mount Washington - Cog Railroad

The Mount Washington Cog Railway is a marvel of engineering, and the world's first mountain climbing railway.  



It remains the second steepest railway in the world with a maximum grade of 37.41% (you gain 14 inches in elevation for every 3 feet you move forward)!  On these super steep parts of the tracks you can stand up (or lean back) at the same angle a ski jumper has...  these pictures don't do the angle justice...it is just really amazing to see, and even more amazing to attempt.





To get an idea of how steep of an angle you are actually traveling I took this picture resting my camera "level" on the window sill.




Just before halfway, there is a huge water tank that is supplied by a natural spring.  Before the engines were converted from steam to biodiesel trains had to stop and take on an additional 300 gallons of water in order to make it to the top.

The train passes literally inches from the tower.  Although we were all encouraged to open the windows and "hang out" to get a better view or take pictures we were also warned about having all body parts inside as we passed the water tower!





Jacob's Ladder is the steepest part of the track...



I was actually standing outside the train of the front platform for these pictures. 





Although we are in the slow season where the trains typically only run to the halfway point, we were having such good weather that they took up all the way to the summit.  I was really excited about this turn of events... at least until we got to the summit and saw the weather.



It was super windy and cold at the summit, but totally worth the trip.

The Appalachian Trail actually intersects with the train near the summit.  We saw some hikers...



These cairns mark the trail.

There is even a little post office at the summit.  I assume it is used mostly for those hiking the Appalachian Trail to receive or send letters and packages.  


And just in case you thought I was exaggerating about how awful the weather was at the summit

One of those posters lists all the people who have perished on Mount Washington.  A lot of hypothermia on that list.  A lot of people who were hiking alone.



Mount Washington Cog also has one of the most (if not the most) complicated switches in the world.  This switch was also the cause of a huge accident that killed several people on the train back in the 60s.  Now the brakeman hops off and carefully supervises the train as it crosses the 9 (now automated, previously manual) switches.







This picture doesn't really do justice to exactly how deep an abyss you look into while coming down the mountain, but there is a giant valley of nothingness to look into.



It looks normal from head-on


but not so normal from the side