Category: Reviews

Second Norway is a excellent place in which to have a home in Second Life, particularly if you like driving, sailing, and / or flying. It’s a place I’ve written about a few times in these pages, particularly during the period of the estate’s uncertain future back in 2020, and its rescue by Vanity Bonito and following it into her network of estates where it remains to this day, managed by one of her highly-capable teams (see: Second Norway: the future is bright).

It was also in 2020 that I made the decision to move to Second Norway myself, and it has been my primary home in SL ever since; it’s an exceptionally comfortable estate in which to live and has a great mix of public and residential places for those looking for somewhere to visit or somewhere to live. One of the locations offering a mix of both is New Deer Isle, a Full private region leveraging the available Land Capacity bonus and offered to people to visit by designer and holder, Kaiden Glocke Tray (KaidenTray). Within the region, he has brought a touch of New England’s charm to Second Norway, as the About Land description notes:

Welcome to the New Deer Isle, inspired by the state of Maine in the United States. There are limited rentals here, fishing, sailable waters and it is near a drivable road that leads to Mainland adventures! Explore, enjoy our events have a wonderful time!

– New Deer Isle About Land description

As with myself, Kaiden has been featured in Linden Lab’s Spotlight series, where is work as one of the foremost (and award-winning) Second Life landscapers is justifiably highlighted. His attention to detail within his designs – something very much evident within New Deer Isle – makes his work a must-see, and this particular region is an absolute delight to visit, whether you teleport in  directly, or opt to visit via ‘plane or boat.

Those coming by air can avail themselves of Toka airfield (which has gained a surfaced runway since my last flight in, when it was still grass, but is still better suited to smaller, lighter aircraft than airliners or the like). Those flying-in to Toka will have the opportunity to see some interesting warbirds dispersed among the stands and hangers, and will find  New Deer Isle just a short walk across the bridge at the airfield’s southern tip

If coming by boat, a trio of short piers are available on the west side of the setting. These appear to have rezzing open should your boat get returned. There are also some moorings across the water on the east side of  New Deer Isle, located at the Crowded Retreat yacht club – but at the time of my visit to New Deer Isle, Crowded Retreat (also designed by Kaiden on behalf of region holder Cr0wd), was listed as Closed – Under Construction, so I did not venture into it and thus cannot say what mooring, if any, is currently permitted there; however, it might become the subject of a return visit in due course!

It’s at the moorings on the eastern side of New Deer Isle that I’m going to start with my meandering description, as this is home to the XX Motorcycle Club, an open-to-all hangout and (I assume) the space for the events mentioned in the description. It is here that some of Kaiden’s little touches can be appreciated – the club’s bar contains all the typical detailing one might expect: pool, beer, darts, places to sit (table and booths).

However, a wander upstairs will reveal something perhaps a little more nefarious. Dominated by a pair of tables set out as if for a board meeting (except for the hand guns, baseball bat and knuckle dusters in evidence, together with a rack of semi-automatic rifles behind the chair at the head of the tables!), are racks containing a sizeable about of bundled paper money and bullion. Also to be found is a board indicating the crew is either planning a raid on “Lind’n Bank”, which appears to be in Moscow(!), or about to make a trip to Mordor and Mt. Doom(!!) . quite which it might be I’ll leave you to decide; I just love the humour evident here 😀 .

From the entrance to the motorcycle club’s hang-out it is possible to make your way eastwards to the local town (which is also home to the land landing point for those teleporting in). This offers a wealth of detail along its various roads and along its waterfront. It is here that the local Rental Office can be found by those interested in making one of the available houses in the region their home. The rental office opens out onto a marvellously detailed waterfront market which, in a mirroring of so many such markets in the physical world, also runs down one of the town’s little streets.

The market has a real sense of life about it – aided by the presence of the static NPCs found in and around it, some shopping, others sitting and watching, some taking photos and some serving the shoppers. More NPC figures are scattered around the town to add a sense of life to it, whilst down along the side street occupied in part by the produce market, can be found the Vintage Market, a place of little boutique shops (and a little gallery) very much of the kind one might find tucked away within a little town like this.

The road continues beyond the vintage market, becoming more a footpath as it accesses the more rural centre of the region, a place where horse graze in a field and one tethered to a hitching rail ready to offer those who wish a ride around the setting’s paths and roads – oh, and if horseback riding is not your thing, then there is also a bicycle rezzer back at the town, if you prefer. This area acts a buffer between the public areas of the region and the more private rentals.

The latter take the form of three large houses, each with a stretch of private beach and private moorings for boats. The road leading to them also provides access to the local farm – but please also note that while the farm’s outbuildings are mostly on public land, the farmhouse itself and the outhouses closest to are form a private residence. For those seeking a place to live closer to the town, at least one little place is available on the town’s north side, close to where a footpath swing around the coast to reach the local shop and boat yard, a little picnic spot also close to hand.

Also reached via the road leading to these houses is the local farm, the fields and barn of which appear open to the public. However, the farmhouse itself is a private residence. There’s another townhouse just downslope from it, but I’ve no idea if that is intended for rent or not. This part of the region also has a little coastal part leading around to the local bait

I admit I did have some choppiness with FPS rates while wandering, possibly because of the amount of work my viewer was trying to do while loading everything, but a quick adjustment to draw distance largely corrected this, and it certainly didn’t stop me from exploring and enjoying my time wandering. I think next time, tho, I might just try boating over form my home island!

SLurl Details

• New Deer Isle (Minka, rated Moderate)

It’s been almost four years since the last time I visited Walsh County, the Homestead region designed by Randonee Noel (see: Walsh County’s changing seasons in Second Life), so when Moon Cloud contacted me to tell me there had been an “incident” there which needed investigating, I decided to don my Dana Mulder disguise (see what I did there? 🙂 ) and head off to take a look.

Walsh County takes its name and inspiration from the North Dakota county of the same name, a place describing itself as “a land of prairies, croplands, river valleys, and rolling hills.” As one might expect from this, the actual Walsh County derives most of its income from farming – crops, together with beef, dairy cattle and swine.

Walsh County (SL) very much reflects the first of these farming influences, presenting a simple but effective setting of rolling croplands around a pair of fields (the region itself) where the crops are either being grown or harvested (at least during my previous visits!). Not much has changed in this respect when arriving in the region – except it’s now night, rather than day. The fields are there, crops growing,  the land apparently peacefully, the familiar tree and water hole sitting within the larger of the two fields as it lay bounded on two sides by unpaved roads (or tracks). But A simple look up with reveal something unusual; whilst the familiar forms of clouds are draped are draped here and there under a canopy of stars, the sense of a serene summer’s night is tilted sideways by the fact the entire sky is – cue that theme music) – casts in an eerie green tint, complete with a faint glow!

Arrive at the right time and whilst looking out across the sky, you might spot an aerial vehicle retreating into the sky (if not, never fear, it will be back soon enough to let you spot it!), having just buzzed one or other of the two fields as if if crop dusting or engaged in aerial topdressing – but who does either at night? More particularly, who does that at night whilst flying a saucer-like vehicle with a domed canopy and sans wings? No, this craft has an altogether different intent than the innocent pursuit of crop=caring. Indeed, one might say that it is patrolling the sky.

As to why it might be patrolling over the fields, well that answer might be the fact that a somewhat larger craft of a similar style is busily helping itself to a sample of the local diary produce – by which I mean it is hauling aloft by way of a tractor beam a poor cow. Nor does this appear to be a singular event; there is much evidence to suggest these craft have been around before. Tables have been set-out with food and drink on the road close by, with bunting strung between tall posts, balloons, and much sign of merry-making. The revellers (whomever they might be) also seem to have come prepared for a potentially length shindig-come-vigil: a pair of  portaloos (as we often call them in the UK) also being present.

Quite where everyone has gone is unclear. Maybe the party ended and they staggered home; or maybe something started them. Whatever the reason, the table and its detritus did fleetingly put me in mind of the scene from Close Encounters of the Third Kind, with the folk up on the Indiana hillside awaiting the return of their strange aerial guests – although in that case, what did turn up wasn’t quite so mysterious or other-worldly as found here.

Nor is that all for the setting. Along the road from the landing point sits a Winnebago-style camper (with room to sit within) and apparently parked for the night. Whether attracted to the spot by the strange goings-on over the field, or as a result of the Cadillac Ranch-like installation of vehicles on the other side of the track, I’ll leave to you to decide.  Those who fancy more than walking around might want to ignore the Road Closed sign next to the landing point and head west to where a go-kart rezzer awaits those wishing to add their own noises (and mayhem?! 🙂 ) to the setting.

With these hints of CE3, The X Files (and doubtless other films / series you could mention), this iteration of Walsh County presents a fun setting in the same easy-to-explore vein of previous iterations of the location, with opportunities for photography and fun.

SLurl Details

• Walsh County (Campton, rated General)

I last visited [REN], the engaging parcel designed and held by Noa (Noa Cloud) in May 2023 (see here for more), so a return visit has been well overdue. At the time I last dropped in, the setting covered a little under 13,000 square metres within a Full Mainland region. Whilst still in the same location, [REN] has expanded to a touch over 19,000 square metres and has gained a further sky setting as well.

One of the things I’ve always enjoyed with Noa’s work is the blending of ideas and influences he brings to [REN], and this was much in evidence when I made my return in August 2024. This is evident from the moment one touches down at the landing point.

Overlooking the western coastline of the setting from the top of a high shoulder of rock, the landing point looks north across a shallow bay to where a castle with a Norman look and feel sits on a high promontory of rock being slowly eaten into by the sea far below, whilst immediately to the south, Torri gates mark the presence of a rope bridge spanning a narrow but deep gorge to reach a neatly laid-out garden area front a Japanese shrine, complete with a little gift shop where actual gifts can be obtained.

The gorge appears to have been cut by a mix of the tide working its way inland against the rock and waterfalls cutting their way towards the sea. Deep and narrow, it contains a little secret spot of its own – although I’m not sure entirely how to reach it directly; while a ladder descends into the gorge at one end, it didn’t appear climbable and I didn’t spot a direct TP or anything (but could’ve missed it!), so just did a double-click TP hop.

Northwards from the landing point (I leave you to wander the little woodland on the landward side of the landing point) stairways descend to the lowlands behind the by, offering a route to the castle up on its high perch and also further inland to the gardens proper. The castle can be reached in one of two ways: via the steps up to the courtyard, or for the keen-eyed, via the entrance to what might otherwise be the entrance to catacombs (the latter may require acceptance of the local teleport experience).

The castle gives an opportunity to explore its rooms, enjoy music and a dance or indulge in a game of Wanderlust (although the drinks trolley might make playing interesting! Music is very much a theme throughout the setting (no pun intended!); opportunities to dance can be found throughout, pianos are to be found throughout, together with other instruments awaiting discovery.

A second stairway provides a way up to the setting’s expansive gardens. These offer a captivating mix of locations, starting with the pavilion-like greenhouse where more the aforementioned music can be heard and dances enjoyed. Walks meander through the gardens and the trees. Following any of these will bring visitors to at least one point of interest – if not more – and the potential to find more semi-hidden teleports.

Some of the points of interest include 3D art elements, delightful waterfalls, a small lake, picnic spots and places to sit and places to sit and pass the time. Also awaiting visitors are the teleport boards (again, requiring acceptance of the local experience, if you haven’t already) waiting to carry visitors to the sky platforms within the setting.

One of these is the Gallery and its courtyard café. As I’ve also mentioned in the past, Noa is a gifted landscape photographer, and the gallery presents people with the opportunity to appreciate his work and collect his his gifts if so minded. Spread across the two floors of the gallery, the art is laid out in such a way as to offer a relaxing walk whilst enjoying it.

The second sky destination is the cinema salon and gardens. Caught under a glowing full Moon, this space offers exactly what its name suggests: a salon-style cinema showing a film recorded within the main gardens and, along side it, a formal garden space laid out around and over water features and with a fine dining area on its far side from the cinema. Also tucked away here, and possibly private given its location is an outdoor photo studio.

One of the many aspects of the setting I like is the way in which Noa has used the rocky curtain around three sides of the garden and cinema. These closely match the rocks and cliffs down on the ground level, helping to give the impression that – night-time ambience aside – the sky platform is still part of the ground-level setting.

[REN] is always a delight to visit, and this iteration is no exception. Whether you wish to capture it in photographs, want a place to enjoy a romantic time with some close, or simply enjoy time exploring all the setting has to offer.

SLurl Details

• [REN] (Strutter rated Moderate)

Winchester Harbor is a magnificent Full region design by Lilly Blackwood with the support of her SL and RL partner William Winchester, who performs the role the region’s Harbour Master. I was fortunate to come across it recently after poking the Destination Guide, and the description there immediately piqued my curiosity.

Winchester Harbour is a mysterious abandoned fishing outpost in the North Atlantic Sea, suspended in time, and cloaked in eternal Autumn. It’s home to lush forests, waterfalls, a river, grass fields, and several haunted places. Enjoy a brew at the Harbour Bar, or sit atop the lighthouse and enjoy the views! There is much to see for those who love to explore.

– Winchester Harbor’s Destination Guide entry

I say “magnificent” as Winchester Harbor is a genuine feast for the eyes and camera; the care and love with which it has been put together has to be witnessed first-hand to be fully appreciated. The landscape is marvellous, the detailing both indoors and out sublime, and the blending of elements exquisite, all neatly wrapped within a sense of mystery edged with the occult and presented in (at the time of my visit at least – I’ve honestly no idea if it changes with the seasons) the perfect autumnal feel.

While the Destination Guide description indicates the setting is “in” the North Atlantic, suggesting a group of islands (something perhaps supported by the lack of region surround), to me the Winchester Harbor evoked thoughts of a coastal location, perhaps along the New England coast of the United States – and not because of any thoughts of Winchester, New Hampshire – or across the border in New Brunswick or Nova Scotia. Of  course, it could be anywhere, either side of the Atlantic, but it was thought of New England that tickled my imagination at times when I was wandering around and taking-in all that the setting has to offer.

The bulk of the region forms an extensive land mass richly wooded throughout, with four smaller islands bracketing it from three corners (one with a further little island tucked away out-of-sight behind it, and counted separately for reasons I’ll come to in a moment). In fact, given the stream running through the main landmass from from south-west to north-east, connects to open waters at either end, effectively splitting the north-west side of the land (albeit narrowly) from the rest, some might consider this an additional island in is own right.

The landing point sits on a pier jutting out into the waters to the south of the land and within a bay overlooked by two of the smaller islands. It is on one of these islands that the first hints of mystery might be found by those camming. An old church and graveyard are perched on the island’s shoulder, aged and blackened and with a fire burning within the abandoned church. The trees here add their own brooding presence with their darkened trunks as skulls stare at visitors, a cauldron bubbles and strange child-like figures dance spookily among the tombstones.

Also overlooking the landing point from a vantage point on a rocky island is one of the region’s lighthouses. This is open to the public – although to reach it you’ll need a boat, so keep an eye open for the rezzers (not that they are hard to find 🙂 ), and is nicely decorated for the onset of autumn and the coming of Halloween – the latter just adding a touch to the mysterious / ghostly goings-on hereabouts. It is behind this island that the little hideaway island I mentioned earlier might be found, neatly out of sight from the rest of the setting – and with good reason: it is a private home, so if you do pottle across to the lighthouse by boat, please keep that in mind and don’t be tempted to go and have a pike in person.

On the landward side of the landing point the path is marked by a signpost indicating the major points of interest to visit. Chief among these is the harbour itself, located on the east side of the region and watched over by the second the the setting’s lighthouses. The piers along the waterfront offer a variety of places to sit and pass the time – although the apparent imminent arrival of a kraken might give some pause for thought before hanging around! 🙂 .

It is from one of these piers that boats can be rezzed for pootling around on the water. However, they are not the only options for locomotion outside of pure shank’s pony; the harbour bar pier offers both bicycles and Segways for rezzing / riding. A further touch of the occult can also be found here in the form of the fortune teller’s shack, whilst the apothecary adds its air to the place by being the largest building on the harbour front.

Beyond the harbour, the path following the waterfront on to reach the bridge giving  access to the two north-eastern islands (one of which is home to the lighthouse mentioned above, reached by way of the chapel-like witch’s cottage occupying the other little island in the pair. Beyond this, the path curves to to one of my favourite parts of the region – the old ruins.

Making excellent use of the Ruined Walls kits from Marcthur Gossoon (which I’ve used myself on my island home, together with his superb No Cottage Bizar build). Here, Lily has used the kit elements to create a lovely little ruined retreat that is utterly welcoming and cosy, and a sheer delight to spend time within.

And still there is more to explore – be it the little swamp with its slightly run-down cabin or Mystery Mansion atop the north-western hills with its well-appointed décor and ghostly hostess on the veranda. There’s also the local camp sites and the gazebo hidden in the woods, and the high waterfalls. Paths are clear and easy to follow, with lanterns thoughtfully placed to alert travellers at night as to where routes divide.

Rounded-out with places to dance for those of a romantic disposition, a fitting soundscape and ideal EEP setting, Winchester Harbor makes for an engaging, enjoyable visit.

SLurl Details

• Winchester Harbor (rated Moderate)