MASSACHUSETTS--Summer 2010

What a trip of a lifetime!  I loved all the places we went along the North Atlantic area.  And we, Brent and Vickie Richey, had the best time and best traveling companions ever:  David and Luci Richey!

MASSACHUSETTS--Boston: 

We earned a new appreciation for our country and those who walked in these trails before me.  It was exciting to see the places that have existed for hundreds of years.

 

MASSACHUSETTS--Plymouth: 

The Mayflower II was wonderful.  The people on the ship are completely in character including wonderful English accents of the time period. They said, "Julee" instead of July and "Novembree" instead of November.  We asked, "So how is the water on the ship?"  This girl answered, "Oh we don't drink water.  'Tis not safe.  We drink beer.  Much more healthful."

MASSACHUSETTS--Cape Cod: 

Lighthouses in Cape Cod are truly a wonder!  We visited two lighthouses Chatham and Highland.  This lighthouse is the Highland Cape Cod lighthouse.  It had to be moved in 1990 because it was only about 100 feet from the eroding cliff.  It now sits about 500 feet from the ocean.

 
Here is Brent at the Chatham Lighthouse.  He is looking like the typical tourist:  hat, sunglasses, shorts, camelback, binoculars,  and purse.  

 



 MASSACHUSETTS--Concord: 
Walden Pond was beautiful.  We can see why Thoreau wanted to spend time here--July 1845 to September 1847. The water was clear and warm.  The beach was sandy. The trees were everywhere.  We could hear the occasional chipmunk chatter.  Very peaceful.  It is truly an inspirational place.

The current cabin was reconstructed following Thoreau's detailed descriptions.  The original cabin sight is along a little path, back behind the trees and along the pond.  One hundred years after Thoreau lived here, his chimney stone was unearthed and in 1965, Walden's Pond became a Registered National Historic Landmark.  

 

MASSACHUSETTS--Quincy: 

Adams Family pew

We toured the Church of the Presidents.  Both Adams presidents are buried in the basement there, along with their wives. The tour guide let Vickie played the organ there.  Vickie played a hymn from the hymnal that we know in the LDS church as, "Guide Us, O Thou Great Jehovah."

Decorated pew

 A fascinating thing about these churches was the pews.  Families can purchase a pew and decorate it any way they would like.  They can put chairs in their pew, pictures, upholstery, wallpaper, etc.  

Also in Quincy, we toured the John Adams Family homes.  And the library of John Quincy Adams.    A large room full of books from the floor to the ceiling.