Here we are in Santo, Texas – 600+ miles closer to home. Our last update of the blog was written last Saturday while in Mississippi. On Sunday morning, we headed west again for another 378 miles across Louisiana and into Texas. From there, on Monday we continued another 222 miles to Santo where we will stay until Thursday morning. We visited with my Aunt Margie today. I had not seen her for almost 17 years. It was a wonderful visit. At 85 she is full of “vim and vigor”, and strong willed – a trait I seem to have inherited! I just hope I also inherited the genes that contribute to her longevity and sharp mind. It was such a blessing to talk about "old times", family memories and our lives, and tell her about my children and grandchildren and about our travels.
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| LOVE YOU AUNT M! |
We will spend Wednesday catching up on laundry, house cleaning and a little grocery shopping. From Santo, we will just be three days away from Sun City.
This update covers our travels during the first couple of weeks of September while traveling in and around Boston, MA and on down to Gettysburg, PA. I had originally thought to title it “Sweet History With An Amish Topping” because our plans when we left Massachusetts heading for Gettysburg was to include a tour of the Hershey Chocolate Factory near Harrisburg and also some sightseeing around Lancaster County (home of the Amish.) Alas, that didn’t materialize because of the weather. By the time we left Massachusetts, the effects of Tropical Storm Lee were blasting the east coast. The areas around Harrisburg and Lancaster County in Pennsylvania were especially hard hit with the worst flooding they’ve seen in years. By the time we got to our destination in Carlisle, PA the area was in major flood stage, the Hershey factory was under water and most major roads to Lancaster were impassable. While we were never in danger ourselves of the flooding, we did spend a soggy 5 days in the RV park. We ventured out when the rain let up a little on a one-day drive to the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum. On September 12th, after a few more rainy days, we left for Virginia near Washington, DC.
They say that “into every life a little rain will fall”……but we maintained a Pollyanna “Be Glad” attitude and knew that eventually the storm clouds would clear. (In fact that’s a good lesson in life as well as in the weather forecast.) Of course, for those here in Texas suffering drought conditions, the opposite is probably the desire - a few storm clouds would be gladly welcomed!
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| STORM CLOUDS CLEARING AS WE DROVE THROUGH GEORGIA |
In this update we will share what we learned about Boston, Quincy (birthplace of our second President, John Adams) and Plymouth, Massachusetts, and the Civil War battle at Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. It is truly an American History lesson…..but I promise, one without a quiz at the end of the course.
Our trip from Hermon, Maine to Massachusetts right before the Labor Day holiday (and right after Hurricane Irene) was not as we had originally planned. As you may remember from the blog update covering our travels in Maine, we stayed several additional days in Hermon (near Bangor) to ride out the effects of Irene. We canceled our plans of staying right off the Maine coast near Kennebunkport for the last few days of August. We had also contemplated spending the Labor Day holiday back in New Hampshire at one of the MMAP project locations because we figured it would be difficult finding a site in any park over the holiday. But New Hampshire was getting soaked too, so we made a few calls and located an available space at a park in Mansfield, MA just south of Boston. It had been on our agenda to drive down to Boston when we thought we were going to be in Kennebunkport, so this change of plans seemed to reopen the opportunity to not only see Boston, but also give us time to see other places in Massachusetts as well.
A note to "wanna-be" RVers: Flexibility is key. But when you have to change plans at the last minute (especially after you have researched where the good parks are) also be prepared to have to settle for “less than adequate” accommodations. That was the case in Mansfield. On the one hand, we were pleased to have a place to stay that was so convenient to Boston. But on the other hand - take a note: If you are ever RVing in this area, DO NOT stay at Canoe River RV Park! The sites were dirty, the place was overrun with people who didn’t seem to understand the purpose of trash cans, and there was a large portion of the residents who had their old worn out trailers parked there on a seasonal basis and didn’t seem compelled to keep their campsites up. Apparently the management didn’t care either, because few of the posted “rules” were enforced. But we had paid for 7 days prior to arrival, and even if we could have found another place to stay, we would have had to forfeit the entire payment for the seven days.
I’m sorry if I make it sound horrible – it wasn’t. It just was not a park we will ever return to. But we made the best of it, spent the days out sightseeing and came back in time to fix dinner, watch a little TV and sleep. It worked, but we did pull out after 6 days (even though we had paid for 7) and drove 243 miles to Milford, PA where we "camped" for our first time in a Wal-Mart parking lot. We then continued on to Carlisle, PA.
BOSTON
On our first full day in Mansfield, we decided to step out beyond our comfort zone and take the commuter train into Boston. I’m sure some of you who have lived in areas where mass transit is the norm will find this amusing. But for two West Coast small town bumpkins, the thought of it was a bit overwhelming. We had already been told that it would be “suicide” to try and drive into Boston, especially in our over-sized truck. We had been advised that the freeways are crowded, the streets of downtown Boston are narrow and parking is almost impossible to find. The commuter train was the only way. The station in Mansfield was only a few miles from the RV park, and one good thing the park did provided was free transportation to and from the train station. This was a plus, because the commuter parking lots around the train station during week days are full and expensive. The round trip ticket to Boston was a mere $6 per person (senior rate) and the time to get there was only 35 minutes. We bought two tickets at the station, got a train schedule, then just watched what the other commuters did and followed suit. We caught the 9:15 train and rode it to the end of the line at South Station. When we got to our destination we just followed everybody else into the station – which is HUGE – and looked around to see what city tours were available. We had previously picked up a brochure from the Orange and Green Trolleys (popular tours in several cities throughout the U.S.) and thought it was going to be our choice. But once inside the station we found a better deal from a local trolley tour company (City View Trolley Tours) that was making it a point to give the Orange and Green folks a run for their money….Ahhh the beauty of capitalism and competition!
Anyway, for a mere $20 per person (which was good for two consecutive days if we chose to come back the following day, and included a 45 minute harbor boat tour) we were able to ride the narrated trolleys all day long, getting off and on as we wished. It’s definitely our recommendation to see Boston this way. The drivers are knowledgeable and entertaining and it was fun and easy to see the most in a day’s time. At the end of the day we hopped back aboard the commuter train, called the RV park to pick us up and were back at our RV before supper time. The trolley tour ended at 5pm, but since the commuter trains ran until 10pm, we could have stayed in Boston longer, had dinner and added a night time package to the tour. However two factors weighed in on our early return - 1) we have a doggy that needed our attention AND 2) At our age we seem to tire out sooner than we did as kids, so anywhere we have traveled we usually don’t do a marathon day of sight-seeing.
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| A view of downtown Boston, outside South Station |
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| Getting ready to take the Boston Harbor tour |
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| Had to add this picture....so cute...a daycare class going on a field trip along the wharf. Never too young to learn about American history! |
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| View of the downtown Boston skyline from the boat |
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USS Constitution with a view of the Bunker Hill Monument in the background The USS Constitution--called "Old Ironsides" because cannonballs could not penetrate her tough oak sides--was one of the first of the original six frigates that made up the U.S. Navy. It is a 44-gun frigate built in 1797. The ship first served in the undeclared naval war with France in 1798-1800 and saw numerous years of activity in various other battles. The Constitution made its last combat tour in 1814-15, and was scheduled to be scrapped in 1830, but Oliver Wendell Holmes's poem "Old Ironsides" inspired a public movement to save it. Restored in 1925, the Constitution is now the oldest commissioned vessel in the US Navy. It is presently serving as a museum ship at the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston. Old Ironsides By Oliver Wendell Holmes September 16, 1830 Ay, tear her tattered ensign down! Long has it waved on high, And many an eye has danced to see That banner in the sky; Beneath it rung the battle shout, And burst the cannon's roar; The meteor of the ocean air Shall sweep the clouds no more. Her deck, once red with heroes' blood, Where knelt the vanquished foe, When winds were hurrying o'er the flood, And waves were white below, No more shall feel the victor's tread, Or know the conquered knee; The harpies of the shore shall pluck The eagle of the sea! Oh, better that her shattered bulk Should sink beneath the wave; Her thunders shook the mighty deep, And there should be her grave; Nail to the mast her holy flag, Set every threadbare sail, And give her to the god of storms, The lightning and the gale!
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| The tall spired steeple is the famous Old North Church |
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| Condos on the Harbor. That's a fire boat parked alongside. |
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| More harbor views |
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The Boston Custom House on State Street was established in the 17th century and stood near the waterfront in several successive locations through the years. In 1986 when custom officials of the United States Customs Service moved to the Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. Federal Building in the West End, the Custom House on State Street was declared "surplus property". In 1987, the city of Boston purchased the building. It remained unoccupied and inaccessible for 14 years until it was converted into an 84-room time share resort. |
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| Rose Kennedy Greenway |
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| This picture had personal family humor attached- "Nunzio" is what Jim calls our 10 year old grandson, Nathan |
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| Old State House |
The Old State House is a historic government building located at the intersection of Washington and State Streets. Built in 1713, it is the oldest surviving public building in Boston, and the seat of the state's legislature until 1798. It is now a history museum operated by the Bostonian Society. One notable feature of the building is the pair of seven-foot tall wooden figures depicting a lion and a unicorn –the symbols of the British monarchy. On March 5, 1770, The Boston Massacre (the event widely viewed as foreshadowing the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War five years later) occurred in front of the building. On July 18, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed from the east side balcony to jubilant crowds. For most people, it was a festive occasion, as about two-thirds of Boston residents supported the revolution. The lion and the unicorn on top of the building were removed and burned in a bonfire in King Street. In 1882, replicas of the lion and unicorn statues were replaced atop the East side of the building. On the West side, the building sports a statue of an eagle, in recognition of the Old State House's connection to American history.
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| Quincy Market, also called Faneuil Hall Marketplace. This location has played an integral role in the life of Boston's residents for over 250 years. |
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| "One if by land, two if by sea..." |
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| Christ Church, also known as the Old North Church |
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| Boston State House |
In the House of Representatives chambers hangs a wooden codfish which is called the Sacred Cod. The Sacred Cod signifies the importance of the fishing industry to the Commonwealth. At the top of the golden dome sits a wooden pinecone which symbolizes logging in Boston during the 18th century.
John Adams-
Our next day trip was to Quincy, Massachusetts – birthplace and home to John Adams, the second President of the United States. We stopped at the visitors’ center of the Adams National Historical Park on Hancock Street and started our tour by viewing a film on Adams life and his contribution to the Revolutionary War. A bus then took us a short distance away for a two hour guided tour. It started at Adams' birthplace home, and the first home he built for his wife, Abigail. It was also the birthplace of their son, John Quincy Adams (6th President of the United States.) The homes stand just 75 feet apart on their original foundations at the foot of Penn's Hill.
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| John Adams was born and raised in a rural setting, seven miles south of Boston and less than a mile from the sea, where his father Deacon John Adams farmed in the summer and made shoes in the winter. |
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| In 1764, after graduating from Harvard College and being admitted to the Massachusetts Bar, Adams married Abigail Smith and they moved into the small farmhouse next to his parents' home. It was here he started a law practice, cultivated his career in politics and drafted the Massachusetts Constitution. It was here where Abigail kept the farm and family running during the years of the Revolutionary War. |
The tour continued a mile down the street to the “Old House” (named “Peace Fields” by Adams in commemoration of the peace he assisted in making in 1783.)
In 1788, after years abroad as a diplomat for the new country of America, the Adams moved into this “very Genteel Dwelling House” with 75 acres of land. Adams continued to serve the country as the first vice president and second President, but came back to Peace Fields as often as possible. After his retirement, he and Abigail lived there year-round.
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| The Stone Library holds 12,000 volumes, including John Quincy Adams book collection. |
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Peace Field started as a working farm but changed to a country estate as farming gave way to horticulture as Adams’ past time. Adams descendants (including his son John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of the United States and his grandson, Charles Francis Adams, US Minister to London during the Civil War) continued to occupy the home until 1927 when Adams’ great grandson, Brooks Adams (the last family member to live in the house) set up the Adams Memorial Society, made up of direct descendants of John and Abigail, to manage the property. In 1946 the National Park Service accepted the estate from the Society and continued the family mandate to inspire “civic virtue and patriotism”.
From the American Revolution to the Civil War, and from the industrial age to modern times, four generations of the Adams family confronted some of our nation’s greatest challenges in war and politics. They also achieved enormous successes in diplomacy, history and arts. Adams National Historic Park commemorates these men and women who dedicated their lives to developing and serving their nation.
The Pilgrims, the Mayflower and Plymouth Rock-
Our final Massachusetts sight-seeing trip was to Plymouth, America’s “hometown” since 1620 when the pilgrims landed in Plymouth Bay and stepped foot on the now famous Plymouth Rock.
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| Plymouth Rock - famous as the legendary landing place of the Pilgrims, the Rock was moved several times and cracked before returning to its original location. Because of the various moves, what is left of the rock is much smaller than it was originally. |
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| The statue of Plymouth's famous second Governor was sculpted for the 1921 Pilgrim Tercentenary. This smaller than life size statue was cast and installed in 1971. |
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| Pilgrim Maiden Statue - dedicated to "those intrepid English women whose courage, fortitude, and devotion brought a new nation into being..." |
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| Mayflower II - a full scale re-creation of the Pilgrim ship, built in England and sailed to Plymouth in 1957. |
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| The church was gathered in 1606 in England and arrived in America in 1620 with the Pilgrims. It is the oldest continually active congregation in the country, having moved from Congregationalism to Unitarianism in 1801. This impressive granite structure, built to replace the earlier wooden gothic structure which burned in 1892, is the church's sixth meeting house. It has outstanding Tiffany stained glass windows illustrating the Pilgrim story, and the Town Bell, cast by Paul Revere, which was rung by the sexton 6 times a day to mark the time in the old New England manner. |
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| Burial Hill at the top of the town square. Carved stones range from the 17th to the 19th centuries. |
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| Plymouth's first grist mill, built by John Jenney in 1636, sits on the town brook. The brook's excellent water induced the Pilgrims to settle here, and powered Plymouth industries in the 18th and 19th centuries. |
GETTYSBURG-
Three Days in July – The fighting at Gettysburg is history. Upon these peaceful farm fields more men fell than in any other battle fought in North America before or since. Many of the Union soldiers who died at Gettysburg are buried in Soldiers’ National Cemetery where Abraham Lincoln delivered the now famous Gettysburg Address.
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| The museum houses 12 exhibit galleries which feature artifacts, interactive displays and several films that immerse the visitor in the Battle of Gettysburg. This is a "MUST SEE" if you get to this area of our country. |
A complete 24-mile auto/bus tour starts at the visitor center and includes 16 stops. The route traces the three-day battle in chronological order.
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| Charge and counter charge left this field and the nearby woods strewn with over 4,000 dead and wounded. Total casualties (killed, wounded, captured and missing) for the three days of fighting were 23,000 for the Union army and as many as 28,000 for the Confederate army. |
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| There are several memorial monuments throughout the battlefield route. |
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| On November 19th 1863, Lincoln traveled to Gettysburg to take part in the dedication ceremonies for the new Soldiers' National Cemetery. His brief speech, the Gettysburg Address, gave meaning to the sacrifices of the men who had struggled here, and stated that the war would lead to a "new birth of freedom" for the nation. |
We close for now with the hope we will have time to finish our travel information before we arrive back in Arizona. However, I’m not sure if we can cover it all in just one Great Adventure blog update. Our travels continued with seeing a lot of marvelous things in and around Washington DC and finished off in Colonial Williamsburg.
That’s a lot of history (and scads of pictures) to include in just one more update – so don’t be surprised if you see two additional posts covering the end of our travels that may be sent to you after we get back to Arizona.
Upon our conclusion of one or two more updates, “Mrs. Spring’s History Class” will be over for the season and you can all take a break.
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