Templeton Cove

By Gemma Cleanslate

I went over to visit my friend Jadyn Firehawk of P2P  at her new beach home that she is renting in Templeton Cove Estates. It is cozy and on a dock at the Marina Boatslip Cottages. I  found myself in a sim that is one of 16 regions, land and water. It is a wilderness themed estate with some special areas just for residents but so many sites open to guests and visitors so I grabbed a Guide Book and set out to explore in the next few day.I see they have camping areas too.

The riding trails are extensive and extend through the country side from sim to sim. Rezz a horse at the farm if you don’t have your own. There is good signage to guide you . Farms and homes are visible as you ride and you pass some lovely points of interest, like the Sister’s Walk, along the way.

Unity Park is a delightful place to stop and you can rezz a bike if the horse is tired.
The Templeton Guide book holds all the landmarks for points of interest in the regions.

I suggest a ride in the hot air balloon to get a wonderful overview of the area. You have three options for balloon routes or do all three. It is a terrific look at the various regions.

 The lighthouse on the high cliff above the balloon tour is a great way to get a good look at everything if time is short. Climb to the top and look out to the distant lands.

I stopped off at the Lake House where there was an early morning party going on and everyone was enjoying the music and dancing.

At the beach I tried out a ride on a sail board that ended in disaster but was fun.

I stopped in at the Gallery there and found the results of a photo contest that was held during the summer on display. Lots of lovely pieces won prizes and recognition.

 I also tried white water in a kayak and managed to survive that. I saw that one can rezz bumper boats there too so bring a friend!

I found these sims a delightful place to visit. According to residents I met it is a great place to live too with lively activities for the residents and guests and special areas made just for them . Visit and explore and perhaps stay a while as a resident.The choice of homes is abundant in all the different neighborhoods .

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Amarantha%20Island/10/106/24 

Gemma Cleanslate

SL New England

SL New England is located on the united sailing (open waters) sims. This group of sims is in danger of being scrapped seemingly due to bad management. In an effort to save the location, a handful of residents are attempting to generate some public awareness and interest in the area.

Various areas are located on the estate, including Mystic, the Village, Dove Cottage, Fenimore Art Museum and Mystic Beach. In addition to shopping, multiple events are held regularly, including art exhibits in the square, music concerts, marina parties, fashion shows, weddings, scavenger hunts, fishing derbies, just to name a few.

Arriving at the LM, I was presented with two boards: one was a group joiner and the other was an opportunity to take a walking tour of the estate. I clicked on the tour ball, jumped on and began the tour.

SL New England is a series of 35 sims designed with a New England theme. One of the regions is Mystic and one is Nantucket. This is where you will find the SLNE village. Beautiful waterways and beaches are everywhere.

On Nantucket is the outdoor theater. This can be accessed by swimming or sailing up if you like. Musical performances are usually hosted daily. A recent concert featured Simon Voix in the town of Mystic. Hailing from Argentina, Simon plays an ecclectic mix of rock, soul Brazilian funk and Latin rythms on electric, classical style guitar with percussion backing tracks, He is inspired by the American rock & roll music of Jimi Hendrix, Living Colour and 70's music, soul music of artists like Stevie Wonder , Ray Charles, Marvin Gaye and the Latin rthyms of Carlos Santana & the Afro Cuban Musicians. This is just a sampling of the many musical performances that take place in New England.

Also located in Nantucket is the Nantucket Barn. Not your typical barn with horses and cows, it boasts 2 floors of New England Merchants. At the Barn, you can purchase anything from a ship to a blouse. Definitely worth exploring for all you shoppers! At The Nautical Shop, you can find items from maps of NE, boat oars and other boating items and sealife artwork.

At the marina, the largest, three-masted schooner belongs to the harbor master. A visit there will inform you about available slips. Beware of the brig though, there is zero tolerance for piracy. Boat prices range from $L250-$L4000.

Slipping off the pier and into the water, much to my surprise, I landed straight into the underwater world of the Mermaids! All types of merfolk avatars and attire can be found in these depths. There's truth in the saying "you never know what you will 'fall' into."

In the heart of Nantucket is Nantucket Square where art exhibits often take place. A simple click on the Art in New England signs will allow you to join the group and be kept aware of exhibits planned. Many of the shops are historically built and much of the other builds are based on actual buildings throughout the RL New England. Outdoor cafe tables are scattered throughout the square.

A virtual New England port town would not be complete without its share of pubs. The pubs also have swim-up entrances which aid the Merfolk but are utilized by all. Relax in a pub with a view to the water and watch the ships sail by and come into port.

Please help support this gem of sims. Have a visit, take a boat ride, make a purchase and donate if you are able. Inquire about renting a home or shop. Your patronage of this charming, quaint area may save it from taking its place in the SL landfill!

Shellie Sands