Spectacle Island, in Boston Harbor (July 27th, 2006)

Dick gets a first look at the restored Spectacle Island. Arguably the dirtiest of Boston Harbor's 34 islands until a massive restoration project, it just re-opened after some fifteen years of clean-up efforts by the City of Boston, Mass. Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, MassHighway, the "Big Dig", US EPA and more.
Except as otherwise noted, this presentation and its contents are by A. Richard Miller and are copyrighted 2006 by Miller Microcomputer Services.

Here's a preview, and a clue: You'll WANT to visit Spectacle Island.

First, of course, one must get there. We took the MBTA, Boston's subway system. The regular

We were BOTH right! A subway AND a bus. Sixty-foot-long articulated double buses running in underground tunnels. Why not?

And oh, so luxurious! Bright, well air-conditioned on a hot day, every bit as nice as subway cars.

Except for the missing rails, the track ahead seems familiar to any subway rider.

At our destination, the Courthouse stop, we found a new subway station of stunning design!

060727SchoonerLettieGHoward1 Up top, it's a short block's walk to Fan Pier where we were to board a Mass. DCR work boat for the special tour. To my delight, a lovely schooner happened to be moored alongside!

Up top, it's a short block's walk to Fan Pier where we were to board a Mass. DCR work boat for the special tour. To my delight, a lovely schooner happened to be moored alongside!

She's the

Lovely old schooner, lovely new building, Fan Pier.

As our boat pulls away from the pier, and into harbor...

...some passengers are still hard at work.

We leave Boston behind, and Fish Pier (with the No Name Restaurant) to starboard.

We're pleased to find another schooner,

Eventually, our boat slows for the final approach to the new pier at Spectacle Island.

Our little boat, the Abigail, ferries Park staff and materials back and forth between the islands.

The Abigail unloads its passengers onto the new wharf at Spectacle Island.

As we disembark, we can see the new headquarters building, just ashore.

On the pier, the first of many good informational signs tells us where we are and what it's all about.

A park ranger is on hand to welcome us, and to do some interpreting of his own.

060727SpectacleIslandInfo2 Another sign shares a few big facts about how Spectacle Island got much-needed clean fill, and Boston's

Another sign shares a few big facts about how Spectacle Island got much-needed clean fill, and Boston's "Big Dig" got a handy place to dump ITS fill -- just a little of the massive partnering that brought this island back to health.

060727SpectacleIslandInfo3 Everyone likes lighthouses. Spectacle Island is one of many places where they've served, then been displaced by electronic navigational aids.

Everyone likes lighthouses. Spectacle Island is one of many places where they've served, then been displaced by electronic navigational aids.

060727SpectacleIsland5 Good trails, with better views and a cooling sea breeze! That's Boston in the background. On this hot day, you can be sure that it's a lot warmer in town.

Good trails, with better views and a cooling sea breeze! That's Boston in the background. On this hot day, you can be sure that it's a lot warmer in town.

Up high, you have a great view of the shipping lanes and their ever-changing traffic from around the world...

and a great view down to Spectacle Island's swimming beach, pier and headquarters building.

At the top of North Drumlin, a ranger answers questions.

060727Roseway1 Up on one of Spectacle Island's two hills, a view of harbor traffic -- including a suit of tanbark (red) sails that looks very familiar to me.

Up on one of Spectacle Island's two hills, a view of harbor traffic -- including a suit of tanbark (red) sails that looks very familiar to me.

It's the

060727Roseway3 The Roseway shadows out that other schooner, the Liberty Clipper. I think that's appropriate;

The Roseway shadows out that other schooner, the Liberty Clipper. I think that's appropriate; "Rosie" is a choice flower of New England's historic schooner fleet. But the Liberty Clipper also is interesting, a very sea-worthy replica of John Hancock's own privateer!

On our island walk, we find other flowers by our feet. Queen Anne's lace...

Crown Vetch...

Yellow Vetchling...

and this Spotted Knapweed are just a few of the wildflower treats along the paths.

060727SpectacleIslandPanorama1 I used PhotoSuite 7 to create this panorama from five separate, hand-held photographs. (HINT: Tap the Z-key twice for full Zoom. Then use the left- and right-arrow keys or slide the scroll button to scan across the full-sized panoramic image.)

I used PhotoSuite 7 to create this panorama from five separate, hand-held photographs. (HINT: Tap the Z-key twice for full Zoom. Then use the left- and right-arrow keys or slide the scroll button to scan across the full-sized panoramic image.)

The headquarters building offers visitors this helpful wall map and many hand-outs.

060727SpectacleIsland13 What a handsome building! I'd like a good new headquarters building at Cochituate State Park, one that imparts OUR park's unusual history. But I've been trying for years without success. The Big Dig helped here. Perhaps our MetroWest region should have tried harder, back when the Massachusetts Turnpike was ITS local

What a handsome building! I'd like a good new headquarters building at Cochituate State Park, one that imparts OUR park's unusual history. But I've been trying for years without success. The Big Dig helped here. Perhaps our MetroWest region should have tried harder, back when the Massachusetts Turnpike was ITS local "pot of gold".

060727SpectacleIslandSolectra2 The headquarters building and the rest of Spectacle Island are into alternative energy. Solar panels put energy back INTO the grid. A little fleet of small Solectria trucks recharge their batteries at night and run up to fifty miles per day.

The headquarters building and the rest of Spectacle Island are into alternative energy. Solar panels put energy back INTO the grid. A little fleet of small Solectria trucks recharge their batteries at night and run up to fifty miles per day.

A view of the controls for that Solectria truck.

060727SpectacleIsland14 The headquarters building has a great veranda, with a greater view. Just the place to await your boat at the end of the day.

The headquarters building has a great veranda, with a greater view. Just the place to await your boat at the end of the day.

Awaiting the next home-bound boat.

On the ride home, a ranger tells us about the other harbor traffic.

060727SpectacleIsland18 Mixing fun with business. Behind the sailboat, an MBTA (

Mixing fun with business. Behind the sailboat, an MBTA ("the T") catamaran commuter ferry makes tracks to Logan Airport.

Most of the way back to Boston, we pass one of its old harbor forts, Fort Independence. There's been a fort here since 1634.