Day20 Monday...Oh Canada

We crossed the border at 11.45am. No border problems, they didn't even come inside. Our days journey was tedious. The roads were remarkably quiet all the way to Shediac, which is where we are at present.Typical of our journey nothing runs smoothly. The camp site is doing extensions so the place is a little muddy... great. They also told us that we may not be able to get WiFi which would have made me one unhappy bunny. As luck would have it we can get a signal otherwise we would have had to have found somewhere else tomorrow. I just couldn't cope being without the internet. Anyway we will see how it goes.

We worked out that we have done a total of 7,300 Kms or 4,536 miles. We travelled the length of Mexico and travelled through 13 States and 1 Province.It took us 20 days with a 5 day stop over in Massachusetts.....Phew.


The weather ...... don't know if I should even tell you this for fear of getting the mick taken out of me but it is  grey,cloudy and chilly and dare I say reminiscent of good old Blighty.


Oh well as the song goes......

Gray skies are gonna clear up,

Put on a happy face;

Brush off the clouds and cheer up,

Put on a happy face.

Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy,

It's not your style;

You'll look so good that you'll be glad

Ya' decide to smile!

So to leave on a happy note...heres Hannah. One lucky pooch.

Hannah with Raquel and Bob.

Day14/15/16/17..Heaven I'm in Heaven

Bob and Raquel's house.
Setting up the badminton net
for The Dodwells v The Mullaneys.
 They won!

We arrived at Raquel and Bob's house in Plymouth Massachusetts on the 14th Tuesday. We have had such a fabulous time that nothing I could say would begin to do it justice. We have been bowled over by Plymouth , had a blast in Boston and  been captivated by  Cape Cod. We watched Vancouver Canucks loose to The Boston Bruins, played badminton on the lawn, ate at some fabulous restaurants ( including Chef Bobs) and laughed endlessly whilst playing Mexican train ( a type of dominoes). All this and much much more . Five days of endless pleasure. Where do I begin?

Raquel and her infamous martinis.

We have had a guided tour of Plymouth which is a fabulous town.It is like stepping into a Disney movie all quaint and pristine with chocolate box houses and picture perfect ocean views. We had lunch at East Bay Grille overlooking a perfect view and eating food to die for. It was a little cool at first but the sun came out and it was perfect.

Musselicious.

The Mayflower

Our tour included of course the very famous Plymouth Pebble, Oops sorry Plymouth Rock. In this case although disappointing in it's size this is one case of where size really doesn't matter. Plymouth Rock signifies the founding of the colony by Pilgrims of the famous Mayflower in 1620.Plymouth was where New England was first established and is one of the oldest municipalities in The United States.

Nooks

Nostalgia oozes from every orifice of Plymouth as you meander it's memorable nooks and crannies. It will certainly be etched in our memory banks forever.

and crannies

Checking out the new
Italian restaurant.

Boston was next on out agenda and it was decided that the best way to see the city was on Bostons most famous 'Duck' tour. A 'Duck' is a World War amphibious vehicle.Renovated for sightseeing purposes. It tours all the places that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts.It then takes you into the Charles river for a view of the city from a different angle. I have listed some interesting trivia if you are interested in trivia this is for you ? if not skip it...you're choice.

1632

The first windmill is built on Copp’s Hill.

1632

The first public anti-smoking law is established.

1634

Boston Common becomes the first public park in America.

1635

Boston Latin School is established as the first public secondary school. It is still operating.

1672

The first U.S. mail route is opened between Boston and New York.

1704

The first regularly issued American newspaper The Boston News-Letter is published.

1714

The Union Oyster House opens. It is the oldest American restaurant still operating under the same name.

1716

The first American lighthouse is built in Boston Harbor.

1765

The first chocolate factory Walter Baker Company is opened in Dorchester.

1780

The first State Constitution is created.

1784

The Bell in Hand Tavern opens. It is now known as the oldest pub in the U.S.

1806

The first African-American meeting house is constructed. It is the country’s oldest existing black church.

1827

Francis Leiber opens the first swimming school and pool in America. Among the first students to enroll is John Quincy Adams.

1829

The first school for the blind is established as Perkins Institute.

1835

The first public school for African-American children, the Abiel Smith School, is opened.

1837

Samuel Morse invents the electric telegraph based on Morse Code, a simple pattern of dots and dashes.

1838

Boston becomes the first city to establish its own police department.

1848

The Boston Public Library becomes the first publicly supported free municipal library in the world.

1865

Robert Ware of M.I.T. begins the first professional training program for architects. Prior to this, architects trained in Europe or learned through apprenticeship 

1875

The first American Christmas card is printed by Louis Prang.

1876

The first telephone is demonstrated by Alexander Graham Bell in Boston. 

1877

Helen Magill White graduates from Boston University and becomes the first woman in the United States to earn a Ph.D.

1879

Mary Baker Eddy founds the Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston.

1881

Boston YMCA staffer Robert J. Roberts coins the term “body building” and develops exercise classes that anticipate today’s modern fitness workouts.  

1896

Fannie Farmer publishes “The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book” – the first cookbook in America. Her cookbook provides scientific explanations of the chemical processes that occur in food during cooking and also helps to standardize the system of measurements.

1897

The Boston subway opens as the first underground metro in North America. Today it is affectionately known as the "T” and is run by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

1897

The first Boston Marathon is run.

1903

The first modern World Series is played in Major League Baseball as the Boston Americans beat the Pittsburgh Pirates five games to three in a best of nine series. 

1928

MIT professor Vannevar Bush constructs a Differential Analyser, an analog computer that could solve differential equations with as many as 18 independent variables. This is one of the first advanced computing devices used for practial research.

1944

Harvard professor Howard Aiken develops the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator – the first automatic digital computer. 

A 'Duck'

 It was such a fabulous day I can't begin to describe everything , let alone remember all the places we saw so I think it best if I at least try to do it a little justice in pictures .

 Her we are on our 'Duck' tour.

Now this was one place I was really excited about............Any guesses as to where/what it's significance is?.........

Just let me say one word.........Cheers?

The John Hancock Tower.
Photo by me the other stuff
I stole from Google.

In 1972, Cobb's design of the Hancock Tower took the glass monolith skyscraper concept to new heights. The tower is an achievement in minimalist, modernist skyscraper design.

The sky is reflected on the mirrorlike facade of the John Hancock Tower

Minimalism was the design principle behind the tower. The largest panes of glass possible were used. There are no spandrel panels, and the mullions are minimal. Cobb added a geometric modernist twist by using a parallelogram shape for the tower floor plan. From the most common views, this design makes the corners of the tower appear very sharp. The highly reflective window glass is tinted slightly blue, which results in the tower having only a slight contrast with the sky on a clear day. As a final modernist touch, the short sides of the parallelogram are marked with a deep vertical notch, breaking up the tower's mass and emphasizing its verticality. In late evening, the vertical notch to the northwest catches the last light of the sky, while the larger portions of glass reflect the darkening.

A major concern of the architects while designing the tower was its proximity to Boston's Trinity Church, a prominent National Historic Landmark. Their concern led them to redesign the tower's plans, as there was a public outcry when it was revealed that the Hancock Tower would cast its shadow on the church.

John Hancock was one of the original men who signed the Decloration of Independence and was supposed to have signed with quite a flourish . Hence the Americans can be heard to say' put your John Hancock here' meaning your signature.

All interesting bits of useless information I know and I have more.........

Trinity Church...I think?

This is T.D Garden. The home of The Boston Bruins. For those of you non American or Canadians. They are the hockey team that just beat the Vancouver Canucks in game 7 of the final to win the Stanley Cup.A bit like the F.A cup in England, Stephen said.

Boston in the evening light.

The three of us also in the evening light.

Now here's a great story.........Look at Raquels shoes........ Can I tell this story Raquel? O.K , so suffice to say Raquels feet hurt so she bought a new pair of shoes . As you do? .............I say no more........... I wont tell them how much they cost Raquel ...............

But just let me say that when my shoes began to rub blisters in the past I bought a pair of flip flops to ease the pain . Mine cost $5.00.......................

Raquel in a pair of $5.00 shoes no! aint gonna happen. 



Friday Raquel and Bob had to go into their workplace so we headed for Cape Cod.

If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air,

quaint little villages here and there,

you're sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod.

Patti Page 1957

Our car was having a quick fix at the local mechanics ( nothing serious). Raquel let us borrow her car for the trip , so we did it in a posh car , such a nice change from the yellow banana.

It seems since the 1957 song Cape Cod not a lot has changed. The villages along the way are still quaint. Province Town or "P-town" as it is known is the furthest town in Cape Cod and something I didn't know was that it has a very large gay community and rather than me describe it I stole this information off the internet for you. It gives you a much better picture  than I  ever  could.

Provincetown is proud of its rich heritage, history and natural resources.  Provincetown is America’s oldest art colony, the birthplace of American playwriting,named “best gay resort town”, and is a bike ride from two of America’s best beaches.  

Additionally, we are proud that PTown is the number one destination for same sex weddings in America.

Where is Provincetown is an easy question to answer. It’s all the way at the end of Cape Cod at the very tip of Massachusetts. But the more interesting question is what is Provincetown. By definition it is a small coastal New England town, but culturally Provincetown is a concept, a living idea, an institution of free thought, imagination, creativity, fun, freedom and equality. The gay community is represented in all its forms throughout the season, kicking off with Memorial Day Weekend, which coincides with “Baby Dyke Weekend”, a self-named phenomenon of young lesbians that come to party and play in Provincetown.  The heat rises in July with Circuit Week  (buff gay men dancing to disco music) followed by Bear Week (big, hairy guys “woof” it up at tea dance) and then Girl Splash (young lesbians dance the night away at one of the famed bra parties), and August kicks off with Family Week (gay and lesbian families finger paint and enjoy puppet shows). At the same time the town’s visitor population is rounded out by families, Europeans, couples, and fellow Cape Codders - straight and gay  - now, that’s diversity! Province Town This is me now...........P town is a very touristy town.It is a very busy town, full of crafty cutesy shops and artsy cafes and restaurants. Well worth seeing and we are so glad we did. It was somewhere we have heard of but never thought we'd visit. Next time we come I would love to see Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket  and, oh  a million other places too. So as Schwarzenegger said 'I'll be back'. Our last day with the Mullaneys was as every other day had been......a delight. It was a gorgeous day and you can walk to downtown Plymouth from their house. Through the woods and by the babbling brook.... honest I'm not making all this up it really is that beautiful. I will let you into a tiny secret though. Locals call it Taxachusetts.... it's an expensive state. Just thought I'd tell you before you all sell up and move to Massachusetts . Oh well nothing's perfect. Coffee and breakfast midway through the walk.  You've just got to have an incentive ? Both dogs came with us too. Hannah is one lucky dog she has settled down really well and had already learned how to use the new doggie door so she can come and go as she pleases. I see on F.B that she has already got a new doggie bed and her own toys............ We do miss her but she couldn't have got a better home. Our final day finished with the opportunity to go with Raquel and Bob to Bobs daughters high school graduation party just a short drive away in Millbury. We have been very fortunate to have spent time with new friends.I know Raquel and Bob will read this so I just want to tell them to stop reading now..... Stop reading now you two. We couldn't have spent the past few days with nicer ( translation into American...awesome ) people. They are the quintessential good hosts..... Thank you for making us welcome, for being great tour guides and thank you chef Bob for some great meals.... When we find somewhere to live I hope we can return the favour. I knew you wouldn't take any notice when I said stop reading............

Day 12 and 13 Sunday and Monday...Ain't no mountain high enough?

Day 12.

Drive wise...boring. The mountains over the last two days just went on and on.The elevations signs have said....2500ft,1272ft and 965ft. This is not good for the old bone shaker we call a motor home. We literally crawl up the hills ( mountains whatever) on  wing and a prayer and I really mean prayer never knowing if we will make it. It's been around 500 miles of this tedious, stressful and boring journey.

The days are definitely cooler now. I'm still in shorts but only just and I have a long sleeved hoodie on. Although the roads are boring it is nice to see a panorama of lush green trees and the roadside littered with wildflowers.








However although a little boring, there has been some special moments .... little gems of happenstance!

It all comes down to people.................




We pulled into a gas station in Akron Ohio. In front of us were a group of bikers. Big bikes , leather gear the whole shebang . We had to wait our turn but when they were done we pulled in and they moved to the side and congregated.Some went into the store and some just mooched around. 


 It's fascinating watching people don't you think ? These guys were older bikers with the usual trappings. All leather clad with do-rags under their helmets and well cared for bikes. Where were they going ? where had they been ?

So I decided to find out. I walked over to one of the women and started chatting. They had all been to an A.A convention in Akron which apparently where Alcoholic Anonymous was founded by two guys 76 years ago. She told me that she had been sober 27 years and no one in her group drank or did drugs. The convention was held in the local stadium and there were 11,000 attendees. She was a lovely person to talk to and gave all the credit to the founders and the hand of God. Although I did point out that they as human beings deserved some of the credit too.  She wanted to know our story so we chatted awhile and exchanged stories.They had a 7 hour journey back to Syracuse so we said goodbye and she gave me an unexpected hug which was really lovely moment.Then Stephen had a beer !


People huh.............. interesting, fascinating and more often than not surprising.




Another Crackerbarrell experience........busy Sunday breakfast, the place was heaving and the table and chairs were quite close together. A waitress , not ours was passing back and forth behind Stephen's chair with some difficulty. Oh why am I being so polite..... she had a rear end on her that should have had a sign on it that said 'wide load' and she could barely get by. Someone at one of her tables passed comment something to the effect that there was not a lot of space between tables and she replied...... 'yes we could do with extending the room a couple of feet '.......... when I heard this I looked at Stephen, my eyes must have been the size of golf balls but I'll not tell you what I said................... oh twist  my arm then .................. .... I leaned forward and said ........... losing a couple of feet on the rear end might help before extending the dining room to accommodate your back side .........  No I am not fat prejudice honestly but even America admits it has a problem. Sheez!

Hillbillies.

And so to my  last people story..............We stayed in a motel last night. It had a huge car park as it was close to the gas stations and truckers need space to park which is great for us. It had a good size grass area too.I noticed as Hannah and I went for out usual evening walk that there was a group of guys playing horse shoes. As I walked passed them on my way back they were say at a pic nice table and shouted across... nice dog. I said thanks and wandered over for a chat. What a motley crew they were but what nice guys. Again as with the bikers we exchanged stories. They lived on the border of Tennessee,Kentucky and Missouri and were truckers who worked the pipe lines. They also admitted to being hillbillies. They showed me photos on their phone of where they lived and some of the work on the pipe lines that they do.We chin wagged for quite awhile............... as I left  I could almost hear the duelling banjos  from 'Deliverance' ...........................


Tuesday. Day 13 was like Ground Hog day. As a matter of fact we saw quite a few of those little critters at the side of the road. Obviously they have no road sense as all the ones we saw were squished.


Oh we called in a Walgreens for some bits and bobs. I thought I was in heaven.  I picked up a hair colour ( Oops now you know it's not naturally red..... as if? )  I have been various shades of red over the last three years because I couldn't read the hair colour obstructions as I call them. It was shear bliss reading labels without having to ask for a translation or using guess work.... ah. little things please little minds.


So today Connecticut....tomorrow Massachusetts. Just spoke to Raquel and Bob to let them know that their trailer trash house guests are arriving sooner than planned.............. Can't wait you guys XX

Talk about the life in Massachusetts,

Speak about the  people I have seen

And the lights all went out in Massachusetts

And Massachusetts is one place I have seen.

                                       The Bee Gees.

Barney and Hannah. Happy together.

On the table.One spoilt dog.