MASSACHUSETTS

21 June 2012: We started the day at the doctor's office for Sheila's twisted ankle, but were east of Boston before noon. We are skipping Boston this trip, since we have been there many times before (just like we skipped Washington DC and other parts of New York City). Today we stepped back in time and visited the Revolutionary War historical sites of the 1700s, and the inspiring countryside of literary greats of the 1800s. Together they comprise Minute Man National Historical Park, between Concord and Lexington, Massachusetts.

We want to put in a good word for the Visitors Centers that we have been to. They all do a great job of telling about the historical site, and often there is a good film to summarize everything.

Hartwell Tavern, where a lot of revolutionary ideas were brewed.

Biking was easier than walking for Sheila, so we took the bike path of Battle Road from Hartwell Tavern to Meriam House, passing Patriots' homes along the way. What is new in this photo? Certainly not the 1700s house! Thom is transporting Patrick's bike to Colorado for him via our car bike rack - thanks, Pat!

Sheila on Concord's famous North Bridge. Temperatures soared to 96 today.

Thom at the statue of the Minute Man, Concord, Massachusetts

Thom meets a live Minute Man at Battle Green, in nearby Lexington, where the "shot that was heard around the world" was fired by... no-one knows if it was the British or the Colonials who fired the first shot, but eight Colonials were killed. In retaliation, Colonials gathered together and, outnumbering the British 4 to 1, bombarded the British with musket fire for 16 miles as the "Redcoats" marched back to Boston along what is now called Battle Road. The film had a bit of a different take on the story...

On the lighter side, here are some of the homes of the great literary figures of the 1800s who gathered in Concord.

Known as "Hillside" when it belonged to the Alcotts, and renamed "The Wayside" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, who had the tower added that he called his sky-parlour. Children's author Harriett Lothrop (pen name Margaret Sidney) bought Wayside, and preserved it as she lived there.

Sheila at Louisa May Alcott's "Orchard House"

The Ralph Waldo Emerson Memorial House

For ourselves, we housed at billeting at Hanscom Air Force Base,Lexington for the night.

22 June 2012: Before heading north we went back to Walden Pond, which was closed the day before. Walden Pond is where Henry David Thoreau spent two years in the little hut he built himself for, I think it was $28 (fully furnished).

Less is best.

Sheila with a replica of Thoreau's little home, and his statue.

Walden Pond as Thoreau remembers it.

Would he be turning in his grave now? Actually, there is just one beach area, but lots of walking trails round about, and swimmers crossing the whole lake.

After Walden Pond, we headed to the north coast of Massachusetts. Our friend Jean Strong is from Marblehead, and had recommended that we visit there. It was as charming as Jean promised it would be.

Town Hall, Marblehead, Massachusetts.

The cemetery dated from 1630 and many of the homes were dated from the 1700s.

View of a back harbor from Fountain Park.

From Marblehead, we drove to Salem, Massachesetts. In its day, this merchant shipping town was the busiest in the US. So many ships from Salem were in foreign ports that the people there thought Salem was a country. Before the 1900s, 90% of the federal government was funded by duties paid by merchant ships coming back to the US with items from all over the world.  

Customs house in Salem, Massachusetts. Nathaniel Hawthorne once worked here.
He was a disgruntled government worker.

We visited the Salem Maritime National Historical Site. This is a replica of a merchant ship typical of the ones that sailed as merchant ships and also privateers during the Revolutionary War (equipped with guns).

We avoided the famous witchcraft side of Salem, but it is alive and well in everyday living in Salem. The sign says, "City Wide City Pride - sponsored by the Witches Education League."

From Salem we went to the far east coast of northern Massachusetts to Gloucester, once one of  the busiest fishing ports on the east coast. The town has lost thousands of men over the years, but you will remember the little crew made famous by the movie "Perfect Storm." 

From Gloucester we went around the tip of the peninsula and made a stop in Rockport, Massachusetts, before heading north. We camped the night in Wells, Maine; it rained all night!

Sheila and Thom in Rockport, Massachusetts.