On This Day - October 4th
October is a great month for Pumpkins. What can more fun than watching them being flung against a make-shift castle. That happened on Oct 4, 2009.
2020 - Politics
There aren't many Democrats in New Ipswich, but they managed to get together to meet the candidates on October 4, 2020. The event was held outside because COVID-19 cases were high in New Hampshire. Everyone wore masks.
https://flic.kr/p/2jPomsF Meet the Candidateshttps://flic.kr/p/2jPqKFq This is also true for 2022 and 2024https://flic.kr/p/2jPnyqH State Senator Melanie Levesque spoke at the event. She is running for re-election to the the NH State Senate in 2024
2019 - Catnap
Paris grabs a snooze under an afghan.
https://flic.kr/p/2nQBdgZ Nap time
2015 - New Boston Rail Trail
The New Boston Rail Trail is a wonderful venue. It runs along the Piscataquog River. When visitors come to New Boston, my sister and I often take them for a walk and conversation along the trail.
https://flic.kr/p/2ikX55s New Boston Rail Trailhttps://flic.kr/p/2nQBdfS John and Jan Dembosky walk the trail while visiting my Mom. My sister Sue is in the middle.https://flic.kr/p/2im1xn6 In October there is lots of fungi on the trail. Some might even be edible
2009 - Pumpkin-Chunkin'
In 2008 I learned about a "Pumpkin-Chunkin" yearly event in Greenfield, NH. A local farmer and welder had fashioned an enormous trebuchet which he named the Yankee Siege. Every Autumn he would hurl large pumpkins at a metal castle that he had built on his farm. It was a sight to see. These are some photos that I took at the 2009
Mini-trebuchet
https://flic.kr/p/2nQLkJR This small trebuchet is capable of hurling small pumpkins. The metal "castle" can be seen in the distance.
Compressed Air
Some pumpkin chunking is done with compressed air cannons. They have a greater range and more power but they are rather boring.
https://flic.kr/p/2nQLkLu Pumpkin Cannonhttps://flic.kr/p/2nQJCZ8 Whoosh and off it flies
Yankee Castle
https://flic.kr/p/2nQG2ru Yankee Castle is the target. Sometimes it is actually hit.
The Yankee Siege
First Step
Climb to the top of the trebuchet and attach the line that holds the pouch for the pumpkin (or prisoner, burning log, television, small car, piano).
https://flic.kr/p/2nQG2qc Attaching the line
Second Step
Draw down the throwing arm which lifts the counterweight.
https://flic.kr/p/2nQMcWt This thing is massive, imagine the potential energy being stored.https://flic.kr/p/2nQLRTE It takes about 20 minutes to draw down the throwing arm and lift the counterweight
Third Step
Get everyone clear and stop traffic in case it backfires (which has happened).
https://flic.kr/p/2nQMcSq Stand Clear
Off and Away
https://flic.kr/p/2nQSS8y Look carefully where the arrow is pointing. This photo was taken on a subsequent weekend. The pumpkin launches took place every weekend in the Fall.
Retirement
The Yankee Siege no longer in service. It won first place in several chunkin' contests in the trebuchet class. I was happy to see it in operation.
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