Halloween Season

Street witch and me, Salem, Massachusetts

Melanie and I are now counting the days and beginning to make our plans to travel again. We're 21 days away from leaving Gloucester and Salem, headed south.  

The weather looks as though it may cooperate with us and stay above freezing, with daytime highs alternating between the 50's and 60's, lows mostly in the 40's. 

We've truly enjoyed our time in Massachusetts including the people, the food, and the lovely coastline. I've taken great bike rides along Massachusetts Highway 127 from Salem, through Beverly, Manchester-by-the-sea, and Magnolia to Gloucester. I also enjoyed my bike rides to Nahant, Massachusetts through Marblehead, Swampscott and Lynn and back to Salem. Boston is a great city.

It's been nice mostly to avoid seeing political signs supporting Donald Trump. People here are knowledgeable and passionate about their politics, the environment and social justice. We can't help but be anxious about the upcoming election and regret the race appears to be so close nationwide. 

​There are fewer unhoused people on the streets in Salem than we've seen in other large metropolitan areas, but the greater Boston area has the second highest rate of unhoused among 45 large cities in the U.S. The Boston area is, however, apparently doing a better job of providing shelter than comparable cities. Much of the problem, like many places in the U.S., is a lack of affordable housing.  The cost of living is high here in the Boston metro area.

I'm told Halloween in Salem has evolved over the past 10 years to become not just a day, but a season.  Witches started showing up on the streets a few weeks ago, though there are a smattering of them always, and we're seeing them more each day.  A Satanic Temple is located not far from Salem Common where we park Miranda when Melanie is rangering. Haunting Happenings occur all during the month of October. The Witch Museum is just across Salem Common from where I'm typing.

Just so you know, those found guilty of being witches were not burned at the stake as in Europe -- they were hung. They were tried in Salem and hung on Proctor's Ledge.

The crowds of people who come here from all over New England (and the world) cause parking headaches for the locals. Salem police have posted signs along streets announcing when you can and cannot park at various locations. It's also tow truck season in Salem (FAFO).

Whether related or not, Miranda received one of those bright orange tow stickers on her window about two weeks ago.  This despite the fact we've been parking in the same location on Salem Common 5 days a week for over 2.5 months between 6:30 a..m. and 4:30 p.m.  The free parking is one of the reasons we choose to park here.

It took a trip to the Salem police department and an explanation to the officer who put the sticker on the van to clarify we were not camping on Salem Common. I inquired as to why suddenly Miranda got tagged for illegal camping. He said someone reported we were camping.

I asked for the name of the person who reported us.  He declined to provide the name. I mentioned that if it happened again I would insist he provide a name and contact information because I intended to hire a lawyer and have the person prosecuted for filing a false report.

I wasn't too happy about having to remove the sticker and clean the window where it was located either. The officer declined to come back to the van and remove it. Of course he did.

Melanie has enjoyed working as an interpretive ranger for Salem National Maritime Historical Site.  She likes the idea of working seasonally and will begin her search for her next post this month. With that in mind, we've decided to continue our travels for at least the next 4-5 years, alternating between full time travel and seasonal work for the National Park Service.

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10/24/24

Melanie in front of part of the display for the hands-on interactive popup she created for Salem Maritime National Historic Site

We're now 9 days away from leaving Salem after Melanie's last shift with Salem Maritime National Historic Site. 

On November 2nd we'll travel a relatively short distance to Lexington, MA to visit with Melanie's cousin, Tom, and his lovely family who recently moved to Massachusetts from Tejas. We'll be there overnight, then continue southwest to near Danbury, Connecticut for a few days at a Boondockers Welcome location ultimately ending up in the mountains of North Georgia for the Thanksgiving Holiday.  Watch this space.