Solo Day

Today Ginger had to work so I took her car and headed to Plymouth. It was a beautiful drive and I stopped a couple times just to take pictures


and drive some residential streets.



I got to Plymouth about 45 minutes after I left immediately limped into a waterfront diner for lunch. That is right, I am still limping... I got the best bread bowl I have ever had!




It wasn't sourdugh, it was soft french bread filled with yummy sweet potato soup.

I visited Plymouth Rock next. It is a lot bigger than this picture shows....



I still haven't grown out of my thriftiness while traveling so I didn't pay to go into the Mayflower museum. I just took a picture of the replica.



Then I started aimlessly driving down the coast. I stopped at a beach and took this pictures.



Before I knew it, I was at the bridge that connects Cape Cod to the mainland. Well, I might as well go to Cape Cod right?

Here is a bench I saw in Sandwich.


Couldn't help pulling over and taking a picture. Soon, it was time to head back to Boston and pick up Ginger. I felt I should at least get a picture of some salt marsh before I left!


So I did and then took off, thinking I would be late picking Ginger up. In fact, it only took me about an hour and 15 minutes. I actually got to Ginger's early enough to see her in action as a nurse practitioner.


I had a very good solo day!

Long Day!

Today was a long day but we had a lot of fun and were very productive! I wanted to drive north up the coast so that is what we did. Marblehead, MA is an exquisitely cute sea town. Here is my favorite of the coves we passed.


I want to live in that house.


We stopped in Beverly, MA for my haircut appointment at the Aveda Salon. My hairdresser was named Lauren and she was excellent! She gave me exactly what I wanted without me having to explain too much and she gave me a great cut that was 'me', not her 'signature' on my head.

Anyway, as we were waiting for my appointment time, we ate at a vegan organic restaurant. This was the special of the day, Pumpkin ravioli.


The ravioli is not actually pasta as you might have noticed but turnip shavings. It was excellent! The owner came over and chitchatted with us. Then brought us over some RAW chocolate with gogi berries in it to sample. Since he was so nice I bought another piece.


It was pretty good though! I was surprised. I thought that the consistency would suffer but it was excellent.

After my haircut, we realized we weren't very far from New Hampshire so we decided to keep going. I had never been to New Hampshire so I was very excited.



After about 20 minutes we came to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. That is when I realized that we were only a couple minutes from Maine! Well, I had never been to Maine either!



After our sightseeing across the Maine border, we hit up Portsmouth

where I got some pumpkin pie ice cream even though it was quite cold.


That is one thing I really like about hanging out with Ginger, she does stuff like eat ice cream when it is almost snowing out, just like me! After that, we walked the streets trying to decide where to eat. Apparently there are something like 200 restaurants in Portsmouth and believe me, it is not a big city. Anyway, we finally decided on "Loaf and Ladle" which turned out to be a soup place that also makes its own bread.


It was amazing!

It was time to head home and I prepared myself for the long drive. To my surprise, it only took and hour and a half! It takes me longer just to drive to San Diego!

On the way back, we stopped for some gas. I was pleasantly surprised at the gas prices. In Boston, the gas was $2.70 for the lowest grade!


Later on the drive I even saw some gas for $2.03.

Ahhhhh. What a satisfying day. Good food, good sights, and good gas prices. What could be better?

Day 2: Concord

Today Ginger and I went to Concord. Concord is famous for many things. Which is amazing because it is such a small little town. First of all, the first substantial battle of the American Revolution was fought here. Remember Paul Revere's ride? Well one of the places he rode to was Concord to warn them that the British troops were coming to confiscate the ammunition stored there in Concord. The militia met them in what is now "Minuteman National Historic Park". Here is a picture of the bridge where the first shots were fired.


This battle happened basically in the backyard of the "Old Manse" which is the former home of Nathaniel Hawthorne and his wife.


We walked back towards town and reveled in the beautiful fall scenery.


The next stop was the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. No, it isn't the one from the scary story. Actually, this cemetery is where many famous authors were buried. There is even a section of this cemetery named author's ridge. This is where Ginger and I headed.


I was limping by this time due to my insufficiently supporting shoes and it was quite annoying to have to worry about the arch of my foot when I just wanted to soak in the history. Here are some of the illustrious authors who lived and died in Concord.



After that, we got some lunch at a little deli and took it to Walden Pond to enjoy.


As you can see, the pond is beautiful and untouched.


This pond's rise to fame was thanks to Henry David Thoreau who wrote the classic "Walden Pond". Here is the best paragraph from said book.


Here is where Henry built his little shack.


For Halloween, Ginger's roommate threw a party and we had a great time playing a rousing game of Catch Phrase. One interesting thing... some people just set a bowl of candy on the front porch for trick-or-treaters.


I guess the parents that accompany the kids keep them honest?

Day 1: Harvard, Freedom Trail

Today we went to Harvard where we saw all kinds of smart people


and amazing buildings. This, for example, is their cafeteria.


We hit an amazing Indian restaurant, had a run-in with a metro guard, and finally found ourselves at the Boston Common, the 'central park' of Boston. The Freedom Trail begins there and we followed it all through Boston. The Freedom Trail is a red line on the sidewalk that you can follow past all of the historic attractions of the city. I will just post pictures of some places in the post because I don't want to ruin the surprises (i.e. I 'm too lazy.) Here is a very cool cemetery near Boston Common.


It has a lot of famous people buried there. Here is Paul Revere's tomb.


This is the back wall of the cemetery.


Hmmm, have you ever been in a cemetery that had walls? Anyway....

The balcony in this next picture is famous because this is where the Declaration of Independence was read to the public for the first time. Yup!


Next is the interior of Quincy Market. This is Boston's idea of a food court. Wow!


Another stop on the Freedom Trail? Paul Revere's house.


Most of you know him from his famous ride began on April 18, 1775. I remember that date because it is my birthday... But did any of you know that Paul Revere looked like Jack Black? Here is his portrait!


Here is an unofficial dog park that meets right near the Old North Church.


The Old North Church is where Paul Revere told another patriot hang two lanterns to signal that the British were then coming by sea. Here is the steeple of the church where the lanterns were hung.


It is a beautiful church that still has church services. Here I am ending the day with a Boston Cream cupcake.


Not as good as I was hoping. But now I know!

BOSTON!

I am here!!! "Here" is in Ginger's living room near Cambridge, MA! I am very excited to be here for a whole 5 days.

Money goes a long ways at Trader Joe's

I got this whole cart full for $127!

Happy Birthday Mosey!

Ok, so we celebrated late. His real birthday was the 21st, but that was the day I had my lia sophia party so I couldn't do it then. Here is Mosey being a party animal.


Here is a video of him opening his presents!