{Dates of visit Oct. 11- 14, 2013}

Disclaimer: With only two days to explore the area there’s a chance we didn’t get to see, do, drink, tour, eat or photograph 99% of the things one “must do” while in Boston. Forgive us, please.

Hello Boston!

It was our last stop that would include my sister, Marylou, and brother-in-law, Craig. Our time in the north east was up since we already had reservations in Cedar Key, Florida for winter. We would only have a month to get from Massachusetts to our winter ‘home’. Marylou and Craig had plans on upgrading their truck camper and also had to get back to their lives in upstate New york. But, for one last weekend we were determined to tackle everything Boston had to offer.

Craig and Marylou’s truck camper up ahead…fingers crossed that we can fit in the tunnels!!

We’ve been relying heavy on our Rand McNally RV specific GPS since we hit the road in October of 2012. It’s done us right when it comes to bridges and overpasses, taking into consideration the size of the Mutiny. However, we were now following Craig and Marylou who like to use good old fashioned maps to navigate…maps which do not tell you whether or not a 12’6″ tall RV can fit in cramped spaces. I have to admit, I held my breath (and even uttered a few cuss words as we approached the Boston underground going 50 mph.

Sorry for the blurry picture but I wanted to give you an idea of the tunnel.

We fit! Clark was still white knuckling it most of the way but he never slowed down and drove the Mutiny like a pro. We arrived safely at our campground, Wompatuck State Park and found spots close enough to each other that Marylou and I could continue our early morning (aka freezing cold) yoga sessions. Here’s a series of pics for all of you yogis of my sister nailing her very first PIKE headstand…BOOM.

There aren’t many RV parks near Boston so we had to compromise by staying at a park that was somewhat close to the commuter rail. The good news is not only is Wompatuck cheap…it’s beautiful!

The Mutiny and Chuck at Wompatuck State Park.

Our first challenge (after maneuvering through the tunnels) was to figure out how the commuter rail worked. Lesson one…bring cash for parking (they have those old-fashioned things where you have to shove coins or folded bills into slots for payment). Lesson two…review the time table before you leave the RV (or you may wait around the parking lot for an hour). Lesson three…download the MBTA app while you still have cell service. Lesson four…board the correct train and enjoy the ride.

A rare sight…no one else is waiting for the rail…

Fun socks always help.

Shake yo’ money maker on the rail!

Once you’re safely in the city there are a million things you can do. We exhausted ourselves trying to hit up some of the biggies while also visiting some places recommended by friends who know the city. Our first stop though was coffee. The Thinking Cup is arguably one of Bostons best coffee shops. With miles of cobblestone to cover getting amped up on Stumpstowns best espresso was a requirement.

Someone’s already wired!

Our first night we hit up the Old State House and Quincy Market. Built in 1713, the Old State House is the oldest building in Boston. Quincy Market was built in 1824-1826 as an addition to Faneuil Hall. It’s always been (and still is) a commerce and market square. It’s a great place to buy anything and everything from flowers to t-shirts to lunch. Insiders tip: you’ll find a bar here named Cheers, complete with all of the TV shows paraphernalia, but this is not the original Cheers from the show. For the real deal be sure to hit up the Beacon Street location. 

The Old State Building.

One of two 7 foot carvings (the other is a lion) on the Old State Building representing the British Monarchy.

The Old State Building.

Quincy Market

The next day we toured the Freedom Trail, something I would highly recommend to anyone visiting Boston. It’s a great way to see many of the historical sites and helps you navigate the city. In it’s 2.5 miles you’ll pass 16 historical locations including Paul Revere’s house.

The four of us at the Freedom Trail. Follow the red bricks!

The Granary Burying Grounds, founded in 1660, is still only the city’s third oldest cemetery. Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and many other notables are buried here.

A popular motif for headstones, the Soul Effigy, that depicts the soul flying to heaven after death.

Paul Revere’s tombstone.

Close up.

The trail passes the Old North Church. Built in 1773 it’s this church’s steeple that Robert Newman and Sons of Liberty Captain Pulling hung two lanterns, warning the people of the British invasion (one of by land, two if by sea).

Old North Church with Paul Revere statue.

Paul Revere statue outside of the church.

The famous steeple.

The interior of the church.

The trial takes you to the site of the Boston Massacre…

And past the Massachusetts State House…

Daily protests at the state house. This one is about GMOs.

The shining dome of the state house.

And of course there was the Boston Commons…

 

We took the advise of my good friend, Laura (whose son lives in Boston) and ate at Dino’s Cafe in my favorite part of the city, the North End. It was inexpensive with an extensive menu that included plenty of vegetarian/vegan options.

Real Italian food, something Mr. Bonelli has been longing to find.

Bova’s Bakery, famous for it’s handmade Italian cookies and canolli, is right across the street from Dino’s.

The narrow streets of the North End, combined with the tiny stores and cute storefronts made it feel like we were in another country.

And of course we went to Boston Public Market:

Clark waiting for his oysters.

Shuckin…

My section of goodies.

This place was packed…but oh so worth it.

Since this post is already long enough I’ll just close with a few random pictures from around the city:

 

 

 

Boston Marathon finish line brought tears to my eyes. There was still lots of damage to buildings from the bombing. Surreal.

 Did you ever see a place that looks like it was built just to enjoy? Well, this whole state of Maine looks that way to me. ~Will Rogers

For many full-time travelers in the U.S. a trip to New England in the fall always garners a spot on “The List”. We were no exception. Of course, rushing through it all like we did probably isn’t the best way to really embrace the beauty but we were running out of time. Almost all of the RV parks we checked out closed for season in mid-October. Not to be thwarted by the impending closures (or winter which was soon to be upon us), we did the best we could.

We rushed through Maine, staying only two nights near the coast at York Beach Camping Park but were sure to pack in all we could, including a yoga class (of course).

Marylou and I took a pretty nice class here at Yoga on York and then we saw this place right next door…

Nothing like ending an intense yoga class with bagels and lattes! The best part was that we were able to bring home breakfast for the men folk and no one had to cook (or clean).

The campground was nothing to write home about…not exactly on the beach but within easy biking distance to the small town of York. Bare bones as far as private RV parks but hey, it was slim pickins that time of year as many of the campgrounds had already closed for the season. As a matter fact, when we went for a bike ride to town we noticed quite a few shops were closed as well. However, we found plenty to do in the area.

Chuck (the Jeep) and the Mutiny at York Beach Trailer Park.

A bike ride to the town of York and the Nubble Lighthouse (the most photographed lighthouse on the east coast):

Our bike gang…

We made it!

Nubble Lighthouse

Our rides…

Pretty nice view from the bike path.

A stop in the Union Bluff Hotel to warm up with some cocktails was the perfect end to the day’s excursion.

The next day we headed over to Ogunquit’s Perkins Cove for a hike along the sea cliff and some lobstah dinner.

Such a cute place…just like how the movies depict New England…

Craig and Marylou…

Clark and me…

Cairn…

VIP parking!

Some of the lobster boats tied up for the night.

Sitting at the dock of the bay…

We watched the Lobstermen unload the days catch and walk it directly to this tiny restaurant…that sealed the deal on where we would eat…they also had a veggie burger on the menu for me (Lynn). That’s right, I did not partake in the lobster, especially after Clark ordered and they brought him his lobster alive. Seems the cook likes everyone to meet their food before they eat it.

It doesn’t get any fresher than this!

Although it was a whirlwind visit Maine has remained on my mind every since, especially as fall of 2014 is arriving. There’s a different feeling in the air up there. It’s kinda like the world is slowing down and everyone is getting ready for a sleepy winter. Such a different change of pace from most of California where the leaves change colors and drop before you really have a chance to notice. Nothing is rushed here in Maine…except our visit.

In this part of the world, only Maine gives winter the welcome and the worship it should have. ~ Tom Allen

Sometimes there just isn’t enough time to ‘do it all’. That’s the position we found ourselves in after leaving Vermont. We were still traveling with my sister, Marylou, and brother-in-law, Craig, and wanted to squeeze in as much fun and as many New England states as possible. Our initial plan even had us going to NYC but time was running out and winter was tapping on our shoulder. We felt a bit of relief that the government shutdown meant that Acadia National Park was closed…which also meant we felt no obligation to make the drive all the way up the Maine coast. As much as we really want to go there, it just wasn’t the right time for us.

Hitting a little “weather” as we enter New Hampshire.

The next 5 days were a whirlwind of colorful leaves, fresh seafood and yoga. Our first stop was Sandy Beach RV Resort in the village Contoocook, New Hampshire. The park was situated on a hillside and made for some interesting twists and turns but it’s still big rig friendly…once you find the route that does not involve crossing the bridge (see pic below). Since it closes down for the winter in mid-October we had no problem getting 2 sites together…I have no idea if Craig and Marylou were happy about that or not. =)

Uh oh…if the truck camper barely fits there’s no way the Mutiny will! (Bridge to the campground)

Covered bridges are cool but the rafters make for some low ceilings.

So here’s the thing. It was freaking cold. But it was also beautiful. With my sister’s urging, we braved the frosty mornings and did yoga in one of the gazebos set up in the campground. Thankfully there was a gas patio heater that we could use to take the edge off a little…but mostly we did yoga bundled up and wearing toe socks, leg warmers and beanies.

Early morning yoga in the gazebo…brrrrrrrr.

Contoocook, which is just west of Concord and part of the town of Hopkinton, an area well known for its historical preservation efforts. My sister and I took advantage of the downtime the guys wanted and explored a little.

The Contoocook River

Gettin’ in some history lessons.

The Railroad bridge and some fall foliage.

Contoocook Depot and restored Pullman Passenger Coach.

Yoga on the Pullman.

Daniel’s of Henniker…cute boutique and lovely restaurant with plenty of plant-based choices.

Sisters!

We also managed to fit in a wonderful yoga class right down the road from our campground. It’s still one of my favorite classes to date (and you can read my Rambling Yogi post about it here).

I have no idea what the menfolk did while we were out having fun. Probably built a fire and chopped some wood and drank some beer…all very manly stuff.

With such limited time I feel like we really missed a lot that New Hampshire has to offer. Three days wasn’t even enough time to really enjoy the tiny village we were in, but we made every minute count. New England is still on my list of places to revisit. There’s just a different feeling in the air and seriously, it’s a kind of beauty that is really hard to capture in cell phone pictures.