Cape Cod, the Freedom Trail . . . and Cheers!

We had three goals in mind as we drove into Massachusetts by way of Connecticut.  The first was to walk the Freedom Trail in Boston.  The second was to see the Atlantic Ocean for the first time and the third was to dip my toes in the Atlantic Ocean at the tip of Cape Cod.

Yummy clam chowder

View from our table

Our first full day in Massachusetts was spent touring Cape Cod.  We wanted to have lunch at the tip which is Provincetown or P-town as the locals call it.  We found a nice little cafe on the harbor where we were able to sit outside in the sunshine and enjoy a lunch of New England clam chowder.  After lunch we wandered around town and then drove out to the Cape Cod National Seashore where I saw the Atlantic Ocean for the first time!  It was warmer than the Pacific Ocean and the waves weren't nearly as big.  The air didn't have the same ocean smell.  It was beautiful though.

Toe dipping in the Atlantic

We drove along the coast and came to a lighthouse called Cape Cod Two Light Lighthouse.  It was commissioned by George Washington because of all the shipwrecks in that area.  This is the lighthouse that was moved further back on land due to erosion of the cliffs.  What a job that must have been!

Cape Cod Lighthouse

We drove to Hyannis and hoped to see Hyannisport and the Kennedy compound, but we ran out of time, because we needed to have dinner in Rhode Island before heading back to Tumbleweed. (Our rule for claiming a new state on our wall map is that we must walk on the ground and also eat a meal in that particular state). Our server at dinner gave us valuable information about using the subway system in Boston and we left Rhode Island feeling more confident about our visit to Boston the next day.

Paul Revere's tomb

Boston is a busy city with many important historical sites to visit.  Our intent was to walk the Freedom Trail which is a 2 1/2 mile walk along a red brick path which meanders through the heart of Boston.  The historical places that we learned about in school are now surrounded by modern day buildings.  The Freedom Trail is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, homes of important key figures, parks, a ship and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution.  It begins in the Boston Common and ends at the USS Constitution and Bunker Hill monument across the harbor.  We particularly enjoyed seeing the Old North Church where Paul Revere's lanterns were displayed in the steeple warning the city that the British were coming. One lantern if they were coming by land and two lanterns if they were coming by sea.

The Old North Church

Sign from the old school

Statue of Benjamin Franklin at old school site

Old South Meeting House

Other sites that we saw were the Old South Meeting House where the decision to dump the tea was made, the first public school in America where Benjamin Franklin attended as a boy, the Massachusetts State House, the USS Constitution, commissioned by George Washington and a World War II destroyer, the USS Cassin Young.

Pete and the USS Cassin Young

After completing the Freedom Trail, we took a ferry from the Harbor back to mainland Boston.  We had a beautiful view of the Boston skyline.  We walked back to the Boston Common and had dinner at Cheers, the site of the 80's comedy show.  The burgers were great, and . . . nobody knew our name.  Cheers!

Cheers!

The Big Apple

We arrived at Newburg/New York City North KOA on Saturday, the 18th.  It was 196 miles from our campground in Pennsylvania and should have taken approximately four hours to drive.  There was a horrible vehicle accident on I-87 in New York approximately 30 miles from our campground and the entire north bound freeway was shut down and traffic was redirected onto minor roads.  It took us an additional 3-4 hours to drive the 30 miles to our campground.  Welcome to New York.

Welcome to New York

It was difficult getting Tumbleweed maneuvered into our campsite in the dark.  We were exhausted and ready to cancel our tour for the next morning but decided to make the best of it and we are so glad we did!

Our tour bus left the campground at 7:30 the next morning for an hour and a half ride into New York City.  It was Sunday so the traffic wasn't as bad as during the week.  We went through the Lincoln Tunnel which travels a distance of a mile and a half, 92 feet UNDER the Hudson River.  Fortunately we sailed through and weren't stuck in traffic down there.  When we emerged we had our first close up look at the big city.  So exciting!  Again, all of the places you read about are right before your eyes!

The Sphere from the World Trade Center

We drove past Ground Zero, which is under construction.  They are putting up another tower, 1776 feet in height.  There will be a glass parapet at the 1368 foot level, the height of the original Twin Towers.  There will also be a memorial museum there.  There is a temporary memorial in Battery Park.  It is known as The Sphere and is a sculpture that stood between the Twin Towers as a symbol of world peace.  When the towers went down, they fell on this sphere.  When the wreckage of the twin towers was removed, they found this sphere, almost intact and moved it to Battery Park as a temporary memorial.  It also has an eternal flame.

Memorial to 9/11

California tourists

Lady Liberty

 Our first stop was the Statue of Liberty.  We took a ferry over to Liberty Island and were one of the first boats over so it wasn't very crowded.  Again, to see something like this up close is indescribable.  It brought tears to my eyes to stand at her base and look across to where immigrants would come in by ship and try to imagine the excitement they must have felt to be entering this wonderful country.  We were able to explore (and shop) for about an hour and then boarded the ferry to go back to Manhattan.  On the way, we stopped at Ellis Island but were unable to disembark.  This is where the immigrants were processed to come into this country.

A few people at South Seaport enjoying a beautiful day

The Brooklyn Bridge

We had lunch at Seaport South where there was more shopping.  Pink and I were able to each buy a hat before we were rushed back to the bus by our husbands for the rest of our tour.  Our next stop was the Empire State Building.  It is 102 stories high and there is an observation deck on the 86th floor.  There is actually an elevator that will take you to the 86th floor in less than 60 seconds.  The views from the top were amazing!  Depending on which side of the building we were on, we could see Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Ground Zero, Brooklyn Bridge...you name it.  It was neat to see rooftops with trees and gardens growing on them and pools.  King Kong was even there to entertain us while we waited in line.  Again, something we've always wanted to see.

Central Park from Empire State Building

 

Rooftop gardens

Looking for King Kong

The Fair Maiden

Our last stop on the tour was Times Square.  We were able to see the ball that's dropped on New Year's Eve, the NBC Today Show studio and several other things.  We were given thirty minutes off the bus so we found a hot dog stand on the street and ate our hot dogs while we watched the people.  We were actually on camera and Bob took a picture of us up on the big screen in Times Square.  After our hot dog, we had cheesecake that was to die for.  Our tour guide recommended both the hot dogs and the cheesecake, so of course we had to have both.  That was dinner.

The ball at Times Square past part of the bus

This is the first tour we have done on the trip and we were so glad we did.  Our tour guide, Mitch was fantastic.  He was born in Brooklyn and was able to point out so many things we would have missed if we had tried to go on our own.  Our bus driver, Michelle was fearless.  She whipped the bus through city traffic like it was a little convertible.  Both of them helped to make our visit one we will remember for many years.

We decided to spend extra time at this campground as we have been going non-stop.  We are staying until Wednesday the 22nd and will head to Boston area from there.  We had hoped we would be able to see Larry's (Julie's husband) parents in West Hartford, Connecticut but they are in New Jersey with their daughter and her family.  We are sad that we won't be able to see them this trip but look forward to seeing them in Seattle next summer for Larry's graduation from the University of Washington.

The leaves are starting to turn now and we can feel autumn in the air.  I put our flannel sheets on the bed and got the warm clothing out.  We are anxious to head north and be among the 'leaf peepers'.  We are a little sad because our trip is waning, but we have seen so much and have so many wonderful memories.  We really miss you all and look forward to seeing you when we get home.  We especially miss our grandchildren.  Thank you all for following along with us and for sending your comments.  We really love to hear from everyone.  Cheers! 

* Editor Pete's note: try clicking on the pictures to get a full screen view.

Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love

The name Philadelphia, which means brotherly love, is an ancient name found in the book of Revelations in the New Testament.  William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia, used the name because it's meaning represented his philosophies and aspirations for his city.  William Penn was a devout follower of the Quaker religion.

Courtroom in Independence Hall

The Liberty Bell

We drove into the city on Friday, the 17th of September. This date, coincidentally, is the date the U.S. Constitution was signed in 1787.  We had our maps and our GPS and were confident that we could find the historical section of Philadelphia.  We did, after driving down Market Street, which it turns out, is one of the most depressed parts of town.  We parked in an all day parking lot and set out for the Visitor Center.  We were able to get tickets for the tour of Independence Hall, which was formerly called the Pennsylvania State House.  After a delicious Philly Cheese Steak sandwich for lunch, we headed over there.  This is the birthplace of the United States.  It is where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and adopted by the likes of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and many others.  It is made up of two large wings.  One is Congress Hall and the other is the Supreme Court Chamber.  It was quite a moving experience to stand in the room where these documents were debated and signed by the leaders of our country.  We were also able to see the Liberty Bell.  This is something I have always wanted to see.  According to the National Park Service brochure, the bell has become an icon of freedom and the crack is a reminder that liberty is imperfect.  I can't describe the feeling one gets just standing in front of these monuments.

We also hoped to see the graves of Benjamin
Franklin and other signers of the Declaration of Independence.  They are buried in the Christ Church Burial Ground, but it cost $2.00 to get in and they were selling souvenirs inside the cemetery!  We refused to go in on principle.

Traffic in Philly

Log Hut at Valley Forge

George Washington's headquarters

On our way back to our campground, we visited Valley Forge National Historical Park.  This is where George Washington groomed his Continental Army into a fighting force in the winter of 1777-78.  No battles were fought there, but over 2,000 soldiers died due to hunger, disease and extreme weather conditions.  The soldiers lived in little log huts, twelve men to a hut.  George Washington stayed at the home of a man named Isaac Potts.  I guess rank had it's privileges even back then.  The severe conditions did make those that survived into a more professional force according to the brochure.  The area has been preserved and recreated very realistically.  The trenches the soldiers were in are still there.  The log huts are recreated, but very authentic.  The peacefulness of the area was quite refreshing after the craziness of Philadelphia.

The cannons at Valley Forge

We enjoyed our day in Philadelphia.  There is so much there we didn't see.  It might be worth another trip in the future.  We left for New York on Saturday the 18th and will have a tour of NYC on Sunday, the 19th.  On to the Big Apple.  Cheers!

Gettysburg Battlefield

So many men fought.  So many lives were lost.  We were struck by the enormity of this horrible event.  We toured the battlefield with Bob and Pink in our own vehicle with an auto tour CD.  The battlefield covers 25 square miles and was the turning point of the Civil War.  At the end of three days in July 1863, 51,000 soldiers were dead, wounded and missing.  We thought it was interesting that this battle wasn't planned.  The two armies touched by chance on June 30,1863.  Neither side knew the other was there but it ended up being one of the bloodiest battles in Civil War history.

Cannon pointing out to the battlefield

Hole in the side from a cannonball

Virginia Memorial showing Gen. Robert E. Lee

The park has recreated the battles using monuments and statues that depict where individual battles took place.  To look out over the battlefield and see markers and monuments gives you an idea of how big it was. There were cannons lined up on the ridges pointing in the direction of the battle.  Sound effects on the CD made it more realistic.  It was a very moving experience and you could almost hear the ghosts of the North AND the South.

After our tour was finished, Pete and I took some personal time to get some much needed things done, such as a haircut.  We had a very nice afternoon together and topped it off with a great pizza and glass of wine at a little Italian restaurant in Gettysburg.

We left this morning for Philadelphia and are in a KOA about 45 miles from there.  The four of us took a short drive this evening across the Delaware state line for dinner and to say we were there.  We've decided we can't say we've been to a state unless we at least have a meal there.  Delaware makes number 17 for Pete and me on this trip.

Tomorrow we will go to Philadelphia to see some of the historical landmarks and monuments.  We are certainly learning a lot about the history of our country.  I love it!  Cheers!

Monticello at last!

September 14, 2010

Monticello

 

We drove down to Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday to see Thomas Jefferson's primary home. It was a three hour drive one way but well worth it.  At least to me, but Pete had to do all the driving.  Monticello is on top of a mountain a few miles from Charlottesville.  It is surrounded by cherry trees which must be beautiful in the spring.  I think it would be beautiful any time of year.  It has been restored beautifully with a lot of the original furnishings and art work intact. Including the bed where he died in 1826.  On the 4th of July.  50 years after he drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence.  He was a brilliant man and put some very innovative ideas into his home.  Monticello and Poplar Forest have a lot of the same ideas in them, such as beds in alcoves to save space.  (I wouldn't want to try and make them, but I guess he didn't have to), double pane windows to keep out the cold and triple sashed windows that could be opened from the top, the bottom or the middle.  He even had a dumbwaiter along the sides of his fireplace where a bottle of wine could be brought up from the wine cellar on one side and the empty bottle sent down on the other.  Amazing!  There is ongoing archaeological excavation as they try to learn more about the area where the slaves lived.  Jefferson was a paradox in that he believed that all men are created equal, but he kept over 200 slaves.  And unlike Washington he did not free them when he died.  He only freed five slaves during his lifetime and four of them were most likely his offspring.  The rest of them were sold at the time of his death to pay off his debt.  Still a very fascinating man.  And a beautiful home.

We arrived in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania today and will stay a couple of days.  We are staying in a quiet tree covered campground.  Tomorrow we will tour the battlefields from the Civil War....and maybe walk with the ghosts of the past.  Cheers!

Mount Vernon

September 12, 2010

Mount Vernon

What a beautiful place George Washington had!  It sits on the banks of the Potomac River with  gardens and trails surrounding it.  The house has been restored to reflect what it would have looked like in 1799 based on a inventory taken at the time of his death.  We toured the house and surrounding outbuildings that were used by his slaves in the management of his household.  We were also able to walk to his tomb which holds the body of George and Martha Washington.  There are other family members buried on the grounds as well.  George Washington was quite a man.

Tomb of George & Martha Washington

We had lunch at the food court there and went through the museum.  George Washington's false teeth were on display but before we got to them in the exhibit, the power went out.  We were able to see them as we left but without the lights on, it was difficult.

From Mount Vernon we went to the Iwo Jima Memorial, or the Marine Corps Memorial as it is also known.  It was so moving to look at that statue and imagine those men and the pride they felt as they raised that flag on the island of Iwo Jima.  While we were there a group of Marines in their dress uniform came to the statue.  They were there to have their picture taken in front of the statue.  What a beautiful sight it was.

Iwo Jima Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

From there, we went to the Jefferson Memorial as that was the last one for us to see.  There was a lot of construction going on.  The have to shir up the seawall as the memorial is sinking.  It was still impressive and something we have  looked forward to seeing.  This was the last thing we really wanted to see in Washington D.C. and will travel down to Monticello tomorrow to see Jefferson's estate.  Can't wait to see it!  Cheers!

Washington D.C.

September 10, 2010

We arrived in College Park, Maryland, home of the University of Maryland, on Monday, September 6th.  We are in an RV park called Cherry Hill Park.  It is one of the closest parks to Washington D.C.  We spent our first day catching up on housekeeping duties such as laundry, cleaning and grocery shopping.  Our friends, Bob and Pink arrived at 2:00 on Tuesday and it was very exciting to see them.  A little bit of home so far away.  We celebrated with dinner and a glass of wine and then Bob took us for a drive into the city to see the monuments at night.  I had my first look at the Washington Monument and it was incredible.  To see something that you are used to seeing only in pictures, right in front of you is very moving.  We returned to the RVs and celebrated our reunion with a glass of champagne.

Wednesday we ventured into the city again.  This time we took the Metro bus to the Metro Rail station and took the subway into the city.  It was quite an experience.  I assume it is like the subway in New York but it took all four of us to figure out where to go and what to do.  We were quite proud of ourselves when we actually made it to our destination.  Our first day we visited two of the Smithsonian museums, the Museum of Natural History and the Museum of American History.  The original Smithsonian Institute was housed in one building.

The original Smithsonian

There are now several individual museums, all part of the Smithsonian.  All of the museums are incredibly large...and all free.  The Museum of Natural History had a wonderful exhibit on the oceans which Pete and I enjoyed very much.   The elephant display in the foyer was magnificent.

Museum of Natural History Oceans

Museum of Natural History, Elephant display

Museum of American History; First Ladies dresses

The Museum of American History had a wonderful display of the First Ladies dresses that dated back to Martha Washington.  Also on display were some of the china and other items used by the First Ladies, as well as some wonderful portraits.  I took a picture of the inauguration dress worn by Michelle Obama.  Pink and I loved this display.  Pete and Bob chose to explore elsewhere.  We don't know why.... It was also amazing to stand in the middle of the National Mall and be able to see the U.S. Capitol on one side and the Washington Monument on the other.

U.S. Capitol

The Rotunda

On Thursday we started our day with a wonderful tour of the U.S Capitol thanks to the sister-in-law of a good friend of ours.  She is the sister of our friend Marcia's husband Tim.  These tours are free but you must have a ticket and the ticket must come from someone such as your Senator or Congressman.  Shannon works on Pennsylvania Avenue and was gracious enough to get tickets for all four of us.  Our tour began at 9:00 in the morning and was of the Rotunda as well as views of the Old Senate Chambers and the Old Supreme Court Chambers where Thomas Jefferson had been sworn in, among other historical events.  We were in awe to be able to stand in the same places that Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and others stood before.  So much symbolism here.  And we discovered so much about government, past and present.

Pete and the Wright Bros., Orville & Wilbur

Theater box where Lincoln was sitting

From the Capitol, we went to the Air and Space Museum which, according to the brochures, can take a full day.  We saw everything from the Wright Brother's plane to U.S. missiles to an actual Space Lab.  From there, we walked up to the Ford Theater.  This is where President Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth.  It was a very well done presentation and museum which included several artifacts from that night, including the gun used and the booth where Lincoln and his party where sitting. Our last stop of the day was the Smithsonian American Art Museum, where they featured a display of Norman Rockwell paintings now owned by George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.  We have both always loved Rockwell's work and saw many we had never seen before.  Pete grew up looking forward to seeing his illustrations on the cover of Post and Look magazines.

JFK gravesite with eternal flame

Changing of the Guard

Our last day of touring Washington D.C. was focused on the Memorials.  We started our day at Arlington National Cemetery.  We were able to see the graves of the Kennedy brothers, John, Robert and Edward Kennedy as well as Jackie Kennedy Onassis.  I think the most moving part of this tour was the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.  There are three buried in the tomb at this time.  One from World War 1, World War II and the Korean War.  The soldier from Viet Nam was identified thanks to DNA in 1998.  This tomb is guarded by an Army Honor Guard 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of the weather.  It has been guarded since 1921.  The dedication of these soldiers is amazing.  From there we took the subway back under the Potomac River to Washington D.C.  We went to the Washington Monument, although we weren't able to go up inside as tickets had sold out early that morning.  From there we went to the Lincoln Memorial, World War II Memorial, Korean Memorial and Viet Nam Memorial.  Of all of them, our favorite is the Lincoln Memorial.  To walk up those steps and stand in front of that statue brings tears to my eyes.  He was such a great man. 

Lincoln Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

On our long walk back to the subway, we passed by the White House.  It too was impressive.  I was hoping to get a glimpse of Beau, the dog but alas, the only things moving were the armed spotters on the roof!

We didn't make it to the Iwo Jima (Marine Corps) Memorial or the Jefferson Memorial but will see them on our way to Mount Vernon.  There is so much to see in this city.  It would take weeks to see it all and absorb it all.  We feel good about what we were able to see.  Security was extremely strict everywhere we went.  We were searched at every place we visited and a lot of areas were closed to vehicle traffic. 

Pete at the Viet Nam Memorial

In front of the White House

Tomorrow is September 11th and we will take a day of rest.  I have already done an entry for that day.  On Sunday, we will visit Mount Vernon.  Cheers!