Day 29

We took another trip into Boston to check out more historical sites before an approaching storm hits. Our ticket for the trolley was good for 2 days.

Our first stop was to see the USS Constitution. This is the oldest battleship still afloat in the world. It was built in 1797 and is still manned and sailed today by the US Navy. We got to take a tour of the ship and see below deck. The cannons on the ship are massive and there are 48 of them. It took 8 to 10 men to man each cannon. The cannons would fire a 23 pound ball up to 7 1/2 miles. In 33 battles, it never lost one. What an awesome sight to see.

Our next stop was the Old North Church where in April of 1775 where Robert Newman hung two lanterns high in the church steeple (at the behest of Paul Revere) to signal that the British were approaching Concord & Lexington by sea and not by land. The church was built in 1723. In 1775 the church steeple was the highest point in Boston and the perfect place to signal the Minutemen and the local militia.

We left the church and headed on foot to see the house where Paul Revere lived. At this point the weather started turning on use. First the wind, then the rain, the cold and then snow. OK, maybe not in that exact order but we persisted.

Paul Reveres house is the oldest wooden house with the original foundation and framework in the US. The house was built in 1680. As with most homes in the New England states, they are small in footprint but usually 2 to 3 floors above ground. I think because it is easier to heat a house of that shape. They wouldn't let us take photos inside the house but your not missing much. The interior was somewhat stark and the few items inside the house are period correct but not the original.

By the time we finished the Paul Revere House the weather was rainy, windy and cold. I guess I'll mention that the subway we took from Quincy to Boston was under repair. This required us and every other subway rider to get off the subway at the Broadway Station and get on a bus for the remaining distance of about 15 miles. The bus was crowded but just as fast as the subway.

As we drove back to the RV Park it started to snow. Fortunately we made it back before it got too bad. The next morning we awoke to 6” of snow, more on that later.

This is a compilation of 3 photos. This ship is a lot bigger than it looks. It cost over $300,000 in 1797. I don't even want to guess how much it costs in today's money.

This is a view of the cannons on the mid deck. These cannon weigh over 5,000 pounds each and took 10 men to operate. They said they could load and fire the cannon once every 90 seconds, just amazing. We also found out the crew worked 20 hours a day with only 4 hours of sleep, just brutal.

This is the Old North Church in Boston. Built in 1723 and still standing. To look at the the construction and think that almost 300 years ago men constructed such an awesome church.

Here is a look at the steeple of the church where the two lanterns were hung.

This is Paul Reveres old house. The house looks plain but what a history it could tell.

Just a quick photo of the snow starting. We were excited about the snow but worried a little as this was supposed to be the worst snow storm in 20 years for October.

Remember, just click on any of the photos for a larger view.

Thank you all for looking and we really appreciate the comments. It's kinda like our only connection to back home.

Day 28

We woke up to a sprinkling of snow on the ground and 32 degrees. We drove to the town of Quincy and took a subway into downtown Boston. Taking the subway was much easier than trying to find parking near all the sights we wanted to see.

I don't think the temperature got about 40 degrees all day. We were glad we brought our big jackets.

We signed up and took a double decker trolley all over Boston. We could get on and off at our pleasure. I think we got on and off at least 10 times.

On a tour boat cruise, we saw the bay side of the MIT Campus. The large dome structure in the left of the photo has been the brunt of many pranks played over the years by the MIT students. The best one we were told was that one morning students woke up to a Boston Police car was setting on top of the dome with a police maniquin at the wheel. To this day they haven't been able to figure out how the students got the car up there.

Here is a small view of the Harvard Campus. We were told that only 7% of the students who apply get accepted and that it costs about $65,000 a year to attend.
WoW!
We walked around downtown and made a quick visit to the Cheers bar from the tv series Cheer. I walked down the stairs and peered in at the bar and was surprised to see how small the bar was. I figure it was only a quarter size of the tv series bar.

Here is Dug checking out the little bit of snow we recieved overnight.

Day 27

Today we hung out at the motorhome. It rained very heavy all day so we stayed in and watched movies.

Day 26

After changing the oil & filters on Kevin (our motorhome) we left our free parking spot at WalMart and drove to Foxboro Massachusettts to stay at Normandy Farms RV & Camping Park. What a beautiful place, very well organized and clean. This farm has been in existence since 1759. We plan on making this our base while exploring the Boston Area.

Once we got Kevin hooked up, we took off to visit the Gloucester Harbor. This is where the Andrea Gail Sword fishing boat of the "Perfect Storm" Movie called home.

The monument to the fishermen lost out of Gloucester Harbor was humbling. Almost 10,000 fishermen have been lost since 1623, including the six lost on the Andrea Gail.

Dug checking out the Gloucester Memorial Statue.

This is the plaque honoring the fisher lost at sea from Gloucester Harbor next to the memorial statue.

This fishing boat looks just like the Andrea Gail. This boat looks to be about 75 foot long but way to small to take on an angry Atlantic Ocean.

Here is a look across the harbor at some fishing boats in dry dock being repaired.

Day 24

We left Falmouth Maine and drove to Portland Maine to check out more lighthouses. Our first stop was at the Portland Head Lighthouse. This is the oldest lighthouse in the state of Maine. It was built in 1791 and is still working today. I have included some photos of the glass lenses used in the past. For over 100 years, the light was lit by an oil lamp and maintained by a lighthouse keeper. In foggy weather, the keeper had to ring a large bell every 10 seconds to warn ships. Talk about getting your bell rung. I am sure that when he stopped ringing the bell all he heard for a few days after that was a loud ringing in his ears.

After leaving the Portland Lighthouse we took a scenic drive along the Maine coast. We stopped at another light house in York Maine. The Cape Neddick Lighthouse, called by some Nubble Lighthouse, was built in 1879. This lighthouse to is still in use today.

Sue found a famous donut donut shop in Wells Maine. Congdons Donuts is the #1 rated donut shop in Maine. We had to stop and confirm if this trivia was true. We ate lunch lunch there and I must say it was great. I had their famous Lobster Roll. We bought some donuts to try later. And yes they were some of the best that I have tasted.

After driving the coast and looking at maps, we learned that the coast line is jagged and treacherous. There are hundreds of lighthouses along the coast. Many were built in the 1800's with a few built in the 1700's.

We finished the day by driving to Portsmouth Maine and spent the night on the cheap by parking at a Walmart Supercenter.

This is the Cape Neddick Lighthouse (also know as the Nubble Lighthouse). If you look on the left side of the photo, you can see the small trolley basket that they used to haul supplies and people across the small channel.

This is a better close up view of the Nubble Lighthouse.

This is a small lens used when the lighthouse was first opened.

This is one of the larger antique glass lenses used in the lighthouse.

Here is an overall view of the Cape Neddick Lighthouse.

Here is a closer view. It just amazes me how old these are and how well they are kept up.

Day 23

Not much to talk about today as we drove from Belfast to Falmouth Maine.

Day 22

Wow, day 22 already. Time does fly when you're having fun.

We drove to Freeport and Rockland Maine to explore the sights. Our first stop was the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. This lighthouse was built in 1899 and is still in use today. The jaunt on the breakwater rocks to the lighthouse is farther than it looks. It was amazing that the huge granite rocks that make up the breakwater were cut and stacked to perfection. The lighthouse stands at the end of the breakwater to direct boats into Rockland Harbor.

After leaving Rockland, we drove to Camden Maine with a short stop in Waldoboro Maine to pick up a couple of "Whoopie Pies". These are Maine's answer to the Moon Pie. They are cream filled pies of different cake types. Most are made of chocolate but they also make pumpkin cake and many others. (see photo of pie below)

The drive back to Belfast was very scenic. There are many houses which we would call mansions in California scattered on the drive along the coast. I like that they normally don't have fences in the front or rear yards and the lot sizes are giant. I would guess that many are at least an acre.

One of the many awesome homes along our drive today.

Another beautiful house.

We saw these cows called "Belted Galloways" I think this is where they got the idea for the Woopie Pies.

Chocolate Whoopie Pies

The seemingly short breakwater (4,800 feet) to the Rockland Lighthouse. They said it took 750,000 tons of rocks to make this breakwater. I wouldn't have wanted the job of making these rocks line up so neatly. You can barely make out the lighthouse at the end of the breakwater.

This is a look out to open sea from the Rockland Breakwater. The clouds look like they are just about to open up with one massive rain storm.

This is the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.

Day 21

Today we drove to Acadia National Park and explored. There was an awesome cable suspension bridge. The drive through the park was great. At every turn there was scenic views like you read about. Most of the views were of Bar Harbor and the surrounding shoreline. We then drove to Bar Harbor Island (which is just outside the park) and visited the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1858 and is still in operation to date.


The smile on Dugs face says that he is very happy to be out and about.

One of the awesome views along the parks drive.

A nice view of Bar Harbor City and the harbor.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.

Another view of the lighthouse.

Day 20

Happy Birthday Sue!!!

Today was a travel day. We drove from Portsmouth Maine to Belfast Maine where we camped at the Moorings RV Park. Our RV parking space was litterly on the ocean. What a nice view.

Heres Dug looking out the front window at rainy weather wondering when it was going to clear up.

Sue got up before sunrise to take this photo. What an awesome view.

Day 18

Today we visited Franconia State Park in New Hampshire. Our first stop was the Flume. This is a narrow canyon carved by water over volcanic rock surrounded by granite walls. The Flume was opened in the mid 1800's to the public.

Our second stop was the Basin. This is a bowl carved in solid granite rock from water and small rocks that wash down from the mountains.

This is a look up the narrow canyon. You click on the photo for a better view.

Here is the river below the Flume.

This is called table rock. The rocks have been ground smooth by the water and rocks over thousands of years.

This is the tallest waterfall that feeds into the flume.

This covered bridge that spans the gorge up river from the flume was built in 1932, what a view.

We saw many trees that grew in and around rocks trying to find better soil.

This is another water fall that feeds into the gorge of the flume.

This is the water below the Basin. Very clear and very cold.

This is the actual Basin. The bowl is almost perfectly round and smooth (kinda like a giant cereal bowl) that was carved by water and rocks over the eons.

We will be posting again either tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for looking

Day 17

Today we moved camp from Claremont New Hampshire to Ashland New Hampshire. The weather is definitely cooling off. Highs during the day has been around 55 degrees and lows overnight is in the low 40's. We will be posting more tomorrow.
Thanks for checking us out.

After putting Kevin (our motorhome nickname) in our new campsite, we drove the CR-V into Center Harbor New Hampshire and visited the nations largest Quilt Store.
Quilting anyone?

During our travels we have been looking for covered bridges to photograph. The photo below is the only one we've seen so far.
Squam River Covered Bridge

Squam River Covered Bridge

Day 16

Today we packed up and moved from Springfield Vermont to Claremont New Hampshire. We took in one quilt shop in Chester Vermont.

Dug found this quilt store in Chester Vermont. As you can see he is begging Sue to go inside.

Once inside, Dug finds more quilt Jelly Rolls than you could shake a stick at.

Dug makes his first quilt purchase.