Wow! What a great couple of days — with a lot crammed in!
Day 1: We Arrived!
First, we drove from Bruce’s mother’s home in Brookfield, CT
Powder Horn Hill
Circle CG
to Circle CG Farm Campground in Bellingham, MA. We’re learning that these “closest to” major cities campgrounds aren’t that close (about an hour) and tend to be older campgrounds with a number of seasonal folks complete with patios, outdoor furniture, planters, etc. Decent, however, with long, pull through spaces. But they did have a band play on Sunday evening.
CG Band
We drove (yes!) into Boston to meet our Folsom neighbors (Tammy, Darrin and their daughter, Allison) to celebrate seeing each other, Darrin’s birthday and getting the low down on the next day’s project: helping move Allison into her new BU apartment in Brookline.
The plan: meet at Union Oyster House — the oldest restaurant in continuous service in the US.
Zoe lived in Boston for several years in the mid-70’s and it’s fair to say: very little remains constant! We knew where we were going and there were familiar words (like downtown, Union St and the like) but…we got lost both in the car and on foot!
Finally, arrived and had a great reunion and terrific dinner, as well. Ran through the plans for the move and dropped Tammy/Darrin off at their hotel.
Day 2: THE MOVE!!
If you don’t know much about the rental situation in Boston, moving a college student from one apartment to another might not seem like a big deal.
BUT…everyone moves around Boston at the end of August — student or not. They need to vacate their current apartment ahead of Sept. 1, store their belongings somewhere (definitely pays to have family in the area!) and then move Sept 1 (and keep in mind school starts right then, too!).
Allison had pre-planned: her belongings had been moved to a storage unit and she’d rented a U-Haul trailer to get them to her new apartment. Minor detail: they weren’t near each other! And, the storage unit went to lunch mid-day while folks were picking-up so no way to close the account but..that’s just half the story!
Check out Hurricane Ida (remnants were blasting the city that day) and factor in details such as elevator passes (everyone was moving into a multi-floor building that day!). It was a unique experience! Allison’s apartment has a great downtown Boston view — which was totally obscured at times and beautiful at others!
But..everything worked out and we enjoyed a great tapas dinner at Barcelona Wine Bar on Beacon St in Brookline. Allison managed the ordering and …yum!
Day 3: A Bit of Shopping and The Freedom Trail
Moving always involves some shopping for the new place — lighting fixtures (nothing overhead)
Freedom Trail
to paper towels and everything in between. See Day 2: everyone (or so it seems!!) in Boston is moving — especially around the 60+ colleges so stores are sold out of the basics. Fortunately, Tammy/Darrin’s hotel was close to a less popular Target & we were able to find almost everything (keep in mind: the 2-door Jeep doesn’t have a very large storage area!) and dropped things off at helped organize at the apartment (and school started, as well!).
Then, we were off for both a gorgeous weather day and walk around downtown Boston and the North End via The Freedom Trail (Google this if you’re not familiar). The motto: Every Step Tells a Story and we explored from the Boston Common to MA State House to the Granary Burying Ground next door (where many 18th/19th century notables such as Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Robert Treat Paine are buried).
Then, off to Boston Latin School and the Benjamin Franklin Statue and the Old South Meeting House (where the Boston Tea Party began). There’s been a lot of redevelopment in this area so there are nice open spaces with performers, bands, etc. outside. Faneuil Hall — known as America’s First Meeting Town Meeting Hall — was next and then Paul Revere’s Home. All of these sites are well preserved although not all were open (probably due to Covid).
On to Old North Church in Boston’s North End – the site that launched the American Revolution with Paul Revere’s ride and message “One if by by land, two if by sea.”
Freedom Trail
We had more to see but were fairly exhausted & hungry and were located in one of Boston’s best known food locations: the Italian North End. Street after street of restaurants, bakeries, bars — each looking better and better! Allison met us at
We also became better acquainted with the fact that Boston drivers are…crazy! Red lights are just suggestions, lanes are also suggestions, freeway onramps..can also be off ramps! Our summary: it’s a small city with lots of people. Covid doesn’t help as people aren’t using public transport, either.
Day 4: USS Constitution, Bunker Hill and THE BOSTON RED SOX!
It turns out not all of the Freedom Trail is in Boston — some is in Charleston. Which is across the Charles River!
USS Constitution
Another gorgeous day for exploration: the USS Constitution. Known as Old Ironsides when she fought during the Warr of 1812, this is the oldest commissioned warship afloat. It’s possible to board the ship with active military personnel available for talks and Q&A sessions. There’s also a Museum with artifacts and additional information. Interesting factoid: the ship requires over 300 mates to properly sail.
The final Freedom Trail site is the Bunker Hill Monument
Bunker Hill
commemorating the June 17 1775 first major battle of the Revolutionary War. The Monument features a Museum today as well as the 221 ft. granite obelisk initiated by Lafayette. Covid restricted access but the story told by the video and artistic renditions remembers the significant battle that started in Lexington/Concord with British soldiers surrounded in Boston by over 20,000 ordinary citizens from throughout New England.
Fenway Park
The day was capped off by a terrific Red Sox game (against the NY Yankees!) in Fenway Park (itself an amazing site right in the middle of town, surrounded by restaurants, apartments, subway lines). The Sox won!
Day 5: The Simmons head back to CA; B&Z rest and prepare for trip to Cape Cod!