Day 12 - Boston, Massachusetts and home
Today's activities and visits were very much time fillers prior to catching our flight home out of Boston but were, nonetheless, fascinating from a historical perspective regarding the sparks that lit the fire that led ultimately to separation from the UK and the USA declaring independence. However we started the day with a fabulous breakfast at the Splash beach side cafe overlooking the beach at Ogunquit - idyllic.
We left Maine behind, passed briefly through the little slice of New Hampshire that reaches the Atlantic coastline and arrived back in Massachusetts and the outskirts of Boston. Our first stop was at Concord and the infamous North Bridge where British soldiers faced British colonists on effectively the first day of the War of Independence, April 19th 1775 (a struggle that actually dragged on for the next 14 years). As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "The thunderbolt falls on an inch of ground; but the light of it fills the horizon". The consequences of that small skirmish changed the course of history. There is a plaque and memorial to the fallen Kings' troops on one side of the bridge:
And, on the other side of the bridge, a similar plaque and monument to the fallen colonial militia:
We also spent some time in the North Bridge Visitor Centre and learned, amongst other things, why the militia's Minute Men were so called (they were the rapid reaction force within the militia and were expected to be ready at a minute's notice).
We then made the short drive to Lexington Green along the Liberty Ride road passing as we did so the house once occupied by Ralph Waldo Emerson, US 19th century literary figure, and also that of Louisa May Alcott of "Little Women" fame.
Lexington Green also has a rather fine monument to those that fought for liberty:
We lunched in Lexington at Panera Bread, a chain of casual dining/fast food restaurants that we had not come across prior to this trip before enjoying some last minute shopping at the Prudential Centre in the heart of Boston. On then to Logan airport and home.
Our trip was made all the more enjoyable by the tour group leader, Christine, the ever-patient driver from Florida, Mario, and the half dozen other couples that shared the coach - special mention to Sue and Alan from Preston in whose great company we enjoyed several meal times and many laughs.
Thanks to those that have joined us by way of reading this blog. It was only ever intended as a diary to remind us of where we went, what we did and who we saw along the way and if others enjoyed it, too, that's an added bonus. Look out for the next one in 2020, "Route 66 Revisited"!
We left Maine behind, passed briefly through the little slice of New Hampshire that reaches the Atlantic coastline and arrived back in Massachusetts and the outskirts of Boston. Our first stop was at Concord and the infamous North Bridge where British soldiers faced British colonists on effectively the first day of the War of Independence, April 19th 1775 (a struggle that actually dragged on for the next 14 years). As Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: "The thunderbolt falls on an inch of ground; but the light of it fills the horizon". The consequences of that small skirmish changed the course of history. There is a plaque and memorial to the fallen Kings' troops on one side of the bridge:
And, on the other side of the bridge, a similar plaque and monument to the fallen colonial militia:
We also spent some time in the North Bridge Visitor Centre and learned, amongst other things, why the militia's Minute Men were so called (they were the rapid reaction force within the militia and were expected to be ready at a minute's notice).
We then made the short drive to Lexington Green along the Liberty Ride road passing as we did so the house once occupied by Ralph Waldo Emerson, US 19th century literary figure, and also that of Louisa May Alcott of "Little Women" fame.
Lexington Green also has a rather fine monument to those that fought for liberty:
We lunched in Lexington at Panera Bread, a chain of casual dining/fast food restaurants that we had not come across prior to this trip before enjoying some last minute shopping at the Prudential Centre in the heart of Boston. On then to Logan airport and home.
Our trip was made all the more enjoyable by the tour group leader, Christine, the ever-patient driver from Florida, Mario, and the half dozen other couples that shared the coach - special mention to Sue and Alan from Preston in whose great company we enjoyed several meal times and many laughs.
Thanks to those that have joined us by way of reading this blog. It was only ever intended as a diary to remind us of where we went, what we did and who we saw along the way and if others enjoyed it, too, that's an added bonus. Look out for the next one in 2020, "Route 66 Revisited"!
chris and tracey welcome home have really enjoyed reading your blog first thing every morning with my cup of tea x
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