Cape Code, Massachusetts (July 5-July 17, 2016)
Our first official RV stay! The previous stays were with family in Maryland and Pennsylvania.
We stayed at the Thousand Trails Gateway to Cape Cod. https://www.thousandtrails.com/massachusetts/gateway-to-cape-cod-rv/
This is a very nice park with plenty of pull throughs. The first thing that hits you is that there is no assigned space when you arrive – even if you have a reservation. We heard that this is typical for Thousand Trails sites. You need to drive around the campground to find a spot. Then once you find a spot go back up to the Lodge/Office and tell them which spot you are in. Cost for our stay was $0 since we are elite Thousand Trails members.
As I mentioned the spots are very large and most are pull throughs unless you pick the outer circle. Full hookups that work nicely.
The internet provided, however, is very poor and you have to pay for it. TenToGo Internet seems to be the standard for Thousand Trails. Very disappointing. In fact, I am sitting in Buffalo Wild Wings writing this now. I would suggest not signing up for this Wi-Fi. I did and I could not connect 90% of the time. Remember that this Wi-Fi is used by the entire park so you will not get good responses.
Plymouth (Jul 8, 2016)
We went to Plymouth today. Found out today was Free Friday. Apparently Highland Street Foundation (http://highlandstreet.org/programs/free-fun-fridays) offers Free Fridays. You get to go to Mayflower II, Plimouth Plantation and Grist Mill were all free.
One quick note, “Plymouth is considered the modern spelling of the word.” You will, however, see it spelled Plimouth at most sites in Boston. Here is a good website to read about it: https://uspilgrims.wordpress.com/2008/11/02/plymouth-vs-plimouth/
First stop the Mayflower II which is a recreation of the original Mayflower. This is a “a full-scale reproduction of the tall ship that brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth in 1620.” Check out the website: https://www.plimoth.org/what-see-do/mayflower-ii.
You could only go to the bottom area unless you were on a tour. Tours were every 2 hours and we missed the timing for that one. The inside was taller than I expected but was probably no higher than 6 feet. The reproduction of the bedding areas and other areas made you stop and think how they survived (if they survived) on these boats. Here are some pictures.
Next stop was the Plymouth Rock which is about 100 yards from the Mayflower II. This was the rock in a safe gypsum enclosure. We were told that the rock was under water during high tide. Nothing spectacular about the rock and with it being so far inland we didn’t think this was the original spot but it was a memorial of the event.
Grist Mill
“The Plimoth Grist Mill tells the story of the grist (corn grinding) mill built by the Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony. After more than a decade of laboriously grinding corn by hand in wooden mortars, the colony authorized the construction of a water-powered corn grinding mill on Town Brook in 1636.” http://www.plimoth.org/what-see-do/plimoth-grist-mill
Boston (Jul 9 2016)
We didn’t know anything about Boston so we decided to take the Old Town Trolley Tour. First we must tell you that the people who work here are such nice people and very knowledgeable. The Old Town Trolley has been in business since 1984. You pay one price and can get off and on as much as you like which we did. Look for the Orange and Green bus and you will be able to go all over the area. Here is the map of their stops: http://www.trolleytours.com/boston/map-trolley-stop-locator.asp
The Old North Church was amazing and beautiful. Very small but the tower is where the history of “the British is coming” was made. Walking toward it you will see the Paul Revere statute which is awesome.
Off to Paul Revere’s house which was a very small house but they kept it restored.
