Sheryl and I caught the 9:44 a.m. train to Boston from the Middleboro/Lakeville station - only 7 minutes from our KOA where we are parked. We didn't know what to expect. When we got there, we paid $5 to park and got on the train when it arrived.
We started into Boston and it wasn't long until a conductor showed up to collect our fare (cash only). $15 round-trip for two. A bargain. We just sat and enjoyed the hour-long ride to the South End Terminal.
And that began our walking experience. Walking the Freedom Trail. Rather, we walked some of it.. it was a LOT of walking.
We passed the waterfront first.
From there, we headed to Paul Revere's house, and then the Old North Church (one if by land and two if by sea).
The British were going to send out troops to put down the upcoming rebellion. The colonists needed to be warned of their coming. They needed to know if the British were coming by land or sea. Two lanterns were hung in the steeple of the Old North Church to warn Paul Revere that the British were coming by sea.
Then Paul warned the colonists that "the British were coming" and coming very soon. And the first battles of the revolutionary war began in Lexington and Concord.
The inside of the Old North Church is interesting. The gentleman speaking to a tour group is speaking from a lectern. The pulpit is high about is head (notice the thin microphone). And yes, the church is still active today.
Notice that the people are sitting in little cubicles. Those were rented out to the parishioners. The best cubes were in the front and center. In today's dollars, they would have leased for about $25, 000 per year. But for that, you could decorate your "cube" however you wanted. You might want to have a little iron box at your feet in which you would place hot rocks during the winter and maybe some pillows and chairs from home.
After the Old North Church, we visited Copp's Hill Cemetary that dated back before the revolutionary war. According to the gravestones, people died at a lot younger age back then.
We went to Boston expecting that each historical site would be surrounded by green space and "stand out." It just isn't so. Almost every historical site is crowded out by buildings around them, just like the picture of the Old North Church Church.
The "Old Meeting Place" was where the Sons of Liberty met to plot and plan. Sorry, no picture.
We saw Boston Common, walked along the waterfront AND did you know that some of the historical sites are located in the north part of Boston which is home to a lot of Italian Americans. Here are some images.
About 2 p.m., we decided to take a break, get a coffee and figure out the rest of the day. It sure tasted good and it got us out of the wind and cold.
We met some very nice people on the train this morning from Denmark who were travelling via a rented motor home around the northeast. We found out they were staying in the same KOA we were in. They had been in Boston for three days so they were able to give us some tips.
People were friendly as we walked around. Some even offered to help as they saw us standing on a street corner looking dazed and unsure of which way to go. It was a positive experience.
By 3:30 p.m., we were tired of walking. We had just seen Boston Common so we headed east, back to the train station, got inside and waited until the 4:40 train back to Middleboro was ready to board.
Everybody is watching the "big tote board" to see what trains are in, ready to board, and on what track. But after taking the train once, I'd say it's pretty easy, now that we are "veterans." While we were watching the tote board ourselves, Sheryl said she was going to check out the McDonald's menu. A few minutes later, she came back with a styrofoam box - I knew couldn't be from McDonald's. Inside was Chinese sweet and sour pork with noodles.. Yum, yum, yum. We finished that off just as they announced that our train was boarding.
Tomorrow we leave the KOA and head out. Along the way, I'm hoping to find an RV store to get a proportional braking unit for the trailer. The one we have isn't "cutting it" at all.
Until later....
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