Massachusetts

Last last week felt like a whirlwind of non-stop action filled with everything Massachusetts has to offer!!

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Pulling into Cape Cod after 2 huge days of travel, we were anxious to setup & chill…for a few minutes at least! The 1st morning we set out with our bikes for Martha’s Vineyard. Being the tourists that we are, we missed, not one, but TWO ferries. Well, the lobster roll & chowder we stopped for in between might help explain that, but we did finally make it over to Vineyard Haven.

Like pros on the way home with the other local bikers on the ferry!!

We didn’t forget a treat for Rocco & Stella who got left behind on this outing…

The following day, we headed out for a bit more sight seeing in Hyannis. We voted this our favorite of the 2 places! Gorgeous (COLD) beaches & houses that took our breath away.

The day we left Cape Cod, we made a pit stop in Plymouth. It was OUTSTANDING!!!!

Maybe the weather had something to do with it, but it was a great day all around!! Plimouth Plantation was so authentic…SO WELL DONE! Worth a visit if you are in the area.

LOOK!!!…It’s William Bradford!!!

After the Plantation, we drove what we now call “The Beast”, AKA our camper, through the small streets of Plymouth & I was totally impressed by Ken’s ability to handle TIGHT situations thru traffic…WOW! We all got a great laugh when Ken saw the size of Plymouth Rock. In his mind it was “like 100 times larger”! It was funny!

An hour later, we pulled into Normandy Farms outside of Boston…one of the best campgrounds we’ve ever experienced. This place was amazing & the attention to detail blew our minds!

After relaxing for a few days, we set out to conquer the Freedom Trail…& to do it well! We studied each stop & had little history lessons which made it SO exciting! Riding the train in, we ascended the steps into Boston Common. Ready for the Trail…with a quick stop first at the Public Gardens, not to see the swan boats, but to see the DUCKS!! Make Way for Ducklings is one of our favorite childhood books by Robert McCloskey. Caden even read it again in Jax just before we hit the road.

OK, Back on the trail….

View of Massachusetts State House from Boston Common

Faneuil Hall, AKA Ken’s “old stompin’ grounds” during middle school years…

Another pit stop…..delicious Bon Me sandwiches & Roxy’s Famous Grilled Cheese (from Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race)…YUMMmmmmm!

We finished the day with a trolley ride to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. Here, we are gathered for a secret meeting…what we will do with the tea??!! We even had speaking roles as we all got charged up for the plan to dump the tea while disguised as Mohawk Indians!!

United East India Tea Company cargo & throwing the tea overboard…HUZZAH!!!!

Another OUTSTANDING experience, I left in tears, it was just so good…so moving!

Can you feel us getting a little tired of being tourists yet? If so, you’re right…

Nearing the last of our energy to explore museums, etc, we ventured into Beverly & Salem. Ken was very excited to show us the Beverly & Beverly Farms areas because he went to boarding school here during middle school.

Then over to Salem for the Salem Witch Museum. While it was good, it didn’t compare to the rich audiobook we listened to last week. Regardless, it was nice for the kids to see another portrayal of these events & to be able to FEEL the tragedy of the trials of 1692.

Wiped out, we’re planning to stay low key for a while. Heading to Maine on Monday, visiting with a high school friend in Portland for a few days then up to Bar Harbor / Acadia for some serious hiking. We can’t wait to experience new parts of God’s glorious creation! Until then…….