Boston

Saturday was a whole day in Boston. We drove to the Braintree T station early in the morning and took the T to downtown where we walked the freedom trail through Boston.

We were met with this view after we got off the T. It's pretty typical of what we saw in downtown. The city has been built around some great historical buildings. The mix of high rise buildings and small brick structures is amazing.

We visited the old state house where the colonial government was seated and where the revolutionaries met to talk politics. Again is sits right in the middle of skyscrapers.









We toured Paul Revere's house. It's the one he actually lived in with his family during the revolution and from where he departed for his "midnight ride"

On the way back to Plymouth we stopped at the JFK library and museum for a couple of hours. It's an interesting place to visit and gives insight into the events leading up to and during his presidency. This view met us as we left the building and headed home. It was a long but fun day in Boston. Today we drive to Lexington and Concord to see the Minute man national park where the first shots of the war were fired. More tomorrow.

Plymouth

OK... I got the Internet access fixed... sometimes it only takes a little money and the issue goes away. Funny how that happens.
Today was a Plymouth day. So here goes!

The day was the exact opposite of yesterday. Today was clear and mild....perfect for walking the town of Plymouth. The harbor was calm and with the sun out it was a sight.







While at the harbor we toured the Mayflower II. It's an exact replica of the original but was built in 1955. They used the same construction methods and materials as the original. The size was the impressive thing to me. It's so small....just 100 feet long and with no creature comforts for the passengers. It was just a cargo ship they contracted for. 102 people plus crew for 66 days! I'd rather take a Boeing 777 any day!

This is the first street that was built when they settled in 1620. Of course the houses are not original but this is what New England is supposed to look like.







Everyone has to go look at Plymouth rock. A bit disappointing after all I have heard about it. Small and in a hole under a stone canopy. But..... we saw it and understand the history so check that off the bucket list!






I wish I could put all the pictures I took today on the blog but that would take a long time so here's one last look at the harbor. Plymouth is truly what I think of when I think of a New England town. We really enjoyed the day here.

Tomorrow we head to Boston for the day so more tomorrow night.

Cape Cod

Yesterday was a rainy and cool day but we headed to Cape Cod anyway.

We went looking for lighthouses and found lots!












They seemed to be around every corner.









And one more! We drove  out to the end of the road to the town of Provincetown and found lots of people. Guess no one got the memo that summer is over. I would hate to be out on the cape in the summer on a weekend.

That's all for now..... Off to Plymouth today to see a rock!

 

South of Boston

We're now South of Boston near Plymouth Mass. We're out in the country and internet service is poor at best so I may not do any blogging for a week or so..... I'll catch up when the connection is better.

A final day in Acadia National Park

Yesterday was a rainy day and so was last night. Today it isn't raining but is overcast and humid.
Since we ran errands and went shopping yesterday today was our return to Acadia day.

We took the free bus from the visitor center down to Sandy Beach then hit the trail for a three mile hike along the ocean.











The seashore is a rugged line of large rocks jutting out into the ocean. The pine trees along the shore make the area really pretty.

We hiked down to Otter cliffs in the distance in this picture. There we caught the bus again and headed back to Bar Harbor.






Since the crowds headed home yesterday the town took on a whole different look. It  became a pretty neat little village with lots of shops and had a very different feel today. We walked the town and did some more shopping then headed back to the RV park to get ready for tomorrow's trip. We did have time to stop and get two more lobster for dinner tonight. You just have to eat lobster in Maine! Tomorrow it's off to Plymouth Mass. More from there.

Acadia National Park

Today was a day at Arcadia National Park located on most of Mount Desert Island. The park takes up most of the island with seashore and mt Cadillac in the middle. We headed to the visitor center and caught the free buss to Jordan Pond.

Jordan Pond is the biggest "pond" I have ever seen! It's about 3.5 miles around and so we hiked the trail that took us around the pond.












The day turned out pretty after the morning drizzle and low clouds. The lake  is pristine and the view was quite pretty.

The hike, which included some boulder hopping and some plank walking, left us tired and hungry so it was lunch at the pond. (lobster stew and popovers washed down with Atlantic brewing co's real ale.

Back at the visitor center we jumped in the truck and drove up to Cadillac mountain. this is Bar Harbor from the top. The islands are the porcupine islands which surround the harbor.








Another view from the top.

 And..... some weather was moving in so we headed down the hill and off to the lobster shack to procure dinner.

We got two pound and three quarters lobsters for about $15 each and are now back at the trailer looking at them with anticipation of the upcoming feast. If they are good....how could they not be?... we'll do it again before we leave. Anyone care to join us for dinner?

Back in the good old USA

We had a great time in Canada but yesterday it was time to head home (sort of) and cross the boarder again. It only took about 15 minutes to cross and it was a short 120 miles down to Bar Harbor, Maine where we are now camped.






We got here about 10:00am and set up the trailer. This is the view from the trailer door. The day was warm and sunny so we headed off to Bar Harbor to look around.

The town of Bar Harbor sits on a island south East of Bangor about 25 miles. Most of the island is Acadia National Park but the town itself is a tourist destination with lots of shops and lots of people looking at the shops. Traffic was a constant stream of cars looking for a  parking spot of which there were none. We took the free shuttle from the campground so we didn't have to deal with that. We walked around town and just enjoyed the afternoon.

It rained last night and today is damp and foggy. We'll head off to the National Park anyway and hopefully do some hiking. It looks like the weather will be unsettled for our stay here so we'll just make the best of it.