8-7-2012

Hi Folks - the map thing...

I was just a junction short of my theory being proven but I folded and bought a map. This is just too sad, it really was just a half a mile and I would have been insufferably smug. But you know if I had carried on, mapless, we could have become lost in the Carolinas.

I write from the Tap Room of the Griswold Inn, the oldest Inn in America, listening to some very good live Blues.

Today has been a Revolutionary day. We left Boston, as smooth as you like - without a map, and headed on South to Plymouth - it is in Essex that they built the Oliver Cromwell (look it up) you get the flavour.

Taking Route 95 south we found ourselves going north west very shortly after leaving the City limits. But we kept our bottle and the route veered back south. With brilliant navigation by Philip we managed to fine Route 44 and head to Plymouth. It's tiny. We turned left at the rotary (roundabout) rather than right which took us another 45 minutes to correct - but we did call at Bert's Landing - for those in the know, this is seriously cool Kennedy country.

Eventually, we arrived at the Mayflower II. A rather less impressive exhibit than the Golden Hind. The highlight being the Plymouth Rock (which was free as opposed to the 20 bucks to go on the Mayflower II) with it's date stamp of 1620 (we think). That's it - the Founding Father's and all the Bostonian pride associated with being related to the Mayflower passengers we were really expecting to see more, get more of a feeling about these people who really risked everything for a better way of life. There are more documents of interest in a pub in Rotherhide than in Plymouth.

Anyway - we set off for Providence with the intention of ending up at Spikes Dogs - a hot dog stand. Again Philip's navigation got us onto the Interstate. We hurtled through Providence in a blur with the remarkable sign choice of Colchester and N.Y. City.

Then we set off toward Essex.

From leaving Boston to getting to Essex we have travelled through unbroken forest. With the roof down the smell of pine was extraordinary. The skies were blue, blue, blue - the skin is now a beautiful shade of pink!

Essex is impossibly beautiful New England. Clapboard houses leafy lanes, beautiful yachts on beautiful river moorings. Its just so perfect one can only imagine intrigue behind every perfect shuttered window. The general store even had perfect after sun cream!

We have feasted on cod and steak, in wonderful surroundings with great music. Glowing quietly...