Did Someone Say Cranberries

There are a ton of little Islands around the coast of Maine and we wanted to go over and visit some of them. The Cranberry Isles consists of Great Cranberry, Little Cranberry, Sutton, Bear, and Baker Islands. It got its name from the wild low-bush cranberries that grow throughout the islands in the fall.  The views of the Islands from Acadia National Parks Cadillac Mountain and Mount Desert Island are spectacular.

Great Cranberry Island is the largest of the Cranberry Isles off the southern end of Maine's Mount Desert Island. Access is by private boat or ferry service only so we decided to take the Beal & Bunker Mail Boat over to the Islands and spend the day exploring the Great Cranberry Island and Little Cranberry Island. The most well-known village, Islesford, is on Little Cranberry Island. Acadia National Park has a maritime museum near the public dock there.  Of course we got another stamp for our National Park Passport book.  The ride over was very nice and kinda fun being on the small passenger and mail boat. We passed Baker Island on the way there and saw the lighthouse that sits up high on the cliff of the island. 

Our first stop was the Great Cranberry Island. According to historical records, the likely first permanent settler of Cranberry Island was Benjamin Spurling in 1768. Spurling, a ship builder and sea captain, arrived here from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. During the British war with the American colonies, he was captured and held prisoner in the depths of one of the British ships. Already having a reputation as a "high-spirited man of great bravery," his command given to his son to partly console him as well as being a call to action, inspired many of his day. The words were "Never mind me, Rob, I am an old man; but give it to these dashed Britishers as hard as you can."
The Great Cranberry Island, the largest of the Cranberry Isles, has a truly commanding and spectacular view of Mount Desert Island and the mountains of Acadia National Park in Maine. Located near the southern entrance to Somes Sound, you can view Manser, Southwest Harbor and Somes Sound to the northeast from the public pier. Sutton Island and Northeast Harbor are to the north. Little Cranberry Island and Islesford are to the east.  We enjoyed a leisurely walk around the Island taking in all the flowers and quaint homes.  Along the way we visited a Museum and Church.  When we returned to the piers we had a little lunch at the local cafe which also had the local  grocery store in it too.  We visited the small post office which the mail had been delivered to from the Mail Boat we took over to the Island.

Islesford and the rest of Little Cranberry Island, has a very unique and relaxed lifestyle that is desired by many. The experience is like being able to take informal, safe, and unfettered strolls through out a large extended neighborhood, where soon, you begin feeling as if you are a member yourself. People are relaxed, very friendly, and accommodating.
One of the first settlers of Little Cranberry Island was John Stanley, Jr. His father, John Sr. began the lineage of the Stanley name that exists to this day throughout Hancock County. There are many places that bare the name as in Stanley Brook in Acadia National Park, within Seal Harbor, part of Mount Desert. There were many settlers trying to make a go of agriculture as this was the accepted view of where the area's worth was. It wasn't until Colonel Black was able to effluence the perspective that the area's wealth was actually in the timber industry, that this really took off. It seems obvious today that the rocky soil is not a good bet for agricultural endeavors. It is a great little Island to spend the day wandering around and actually had more to offer then Great Cranberry Island and be sure to eat at the little restaurant at the end of the pier... the Cod Balls are really good ~ YUM!

We really enjoyed our day going from Island to Island on the Mail Boat.

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Acadia National Park II ~ AHHHHHH Nature♥

Our second day had a lot on our agenda ~  Sand Beach, Sieur de Monts a natural spring, Wild Gardens of Acadia, Nature Center and a interpative trail at the same spot.  There is so much nature and beauty here that you can spend hours just strolling through the Gardens, Woods or Seashore and get caught up in the breathtaking beauty.  We started at Sieur de Monts which has the Nature Center where we saw animals of the region and plant life. Then walked outside to the Springs and the interpertive walk.

The Sieur de Monts Spring House was built in Acadia National Park by George B. Dorr in 1909. On a nearby rock he carved “The Sweet Waters of Acadia” which can still be seen today. This serves as an important monument to the Park's formation.

The Wild Gardens of Acadia is maintained by a  group of community volunteers. It reflects the typical habitats as found on Mount Desert Island. More than 300 native species are labeled to make identification easy in nine separate display areas.

When we strolled into the beautiful gardens, which we  wondered through and a interpative trail we walked along, it was such a beautiful feeling of peace and serenity.  I could have sat here for hours.

Our last stop for the day was Sand Beach ~ Sand Beach is a gorgeous little beach nestled between mountains and rocky shores. The beach is largely comprised of unique sand of shell fragments created by the pounding surf.  The ocean temperature rarely exceeds 55 degrees in the summer but the children don't seem to mind much. There is approximately one half a cup of salt per gallon of water.   We dipped our toes in and believe me ~ no swimming for us!

We had a GREAT day exploring more of Acadia National Park and there is still so much to see and do here... We have more then exceeded our last visit here several years ago and we are having so much more fun this time!  I guess we have learned finally to slow down ad smell the Wild roses ~ LOL!

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Acadia National Park ~ Baa Haa Baa

Acadia National Park in Mount Desert Island is really a majestic park.  With everything from lush forrest, mountains and rugged shore lines ~ it is a wonderful place to visit and spend time at.  This was our main purpose for coming to this area and we are glad we did.  We arrived here on the 18th of June and were excited about exploring the National Park and surrounding area... not to mention eating lots of great seafood!
It took us 4 of our 7 days here to visit this park and enjoy all it has to offer. The very first thing we did was visit the Hulls Cove Visitor Center which was right down the road from our campground, Mount Desert Narrows RV Park, click here for complete review of park. At the visitor center we watched a movie on how glaciers formed the lakes and mountains and how it formed the granite that many of the mountains are made up of. We also got information and maps to many of the stops at this park along with how many Passport Stamps you can get here ~  12 that is how many!!! Woo Hoo :-D Looking for the places to get the stamps was a fun thing for us to do....

The first day we did part of the scenic drive around the park with a stop in Bar Harbor... What a quaint little town with it's harbor, shops and restaurants.  In town there is a National Park building where you can get a Pasport stamp.

After a visit to Bar Harbor and picking up brochures of things to do while here we headed out for something to eat ~ well I can never get enough of the fabulous seafood that New England has to offer.  We saw a few places when we came into the Island and we decided on Trenton Bridge Seafood Pound and what a good choice it was.  I highly recommend it for great lobster or steamers.

After a great lunch we traveled onto Seawall Harbor and the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.  Now as I have told you before we LOVE Lighthouses and there are a lot to see here.  This one is run by the US Coast Guard.  The cliffside Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Acadia National Park, Tremont marks the entrance to Bass Harbor on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island, Maine. The lighthouse was built of brick in 1858 on a stone foundation, stands 56 feet above mean high water and is accessible by car.

Construction started: 1858 Height: 32' 0" (9.75 m) Automated: 1974 Opened: 1858 Address: Tremont, ME Materials: Brick, Stone

This was our first day here on the Island and we had so much fun visiting the area.... There is a lot to see and do here.  The next day we visited Sieur de Monts, Wild Gardens of Arcadia, Nature Center and Abbe Museum.  Come on back and check it out!

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Beantown USA!

Train from Newburyport into Boston

We decided to take a day and head into Historic Boston and spend the day.  After doing some research we found out that we could take the train from Newburyport directly into North Station in Boston ~ that sounded good to us since we didn't want to drive in or around town.  I love Boston and all it diversity & history so I was pretty excited about our adventure.  Not to mention we'll add another Capital to our list of ones we have visited.  Also we can get several Passport stamps there too at the National Park.  So we got up really early and went to the train station ~ once on the train we bought round trip tickets so we didn't have to do it on the way back.

Boston Upper Deck Trolley Tours

An hour later we were getting off the train and heading outside to pick up the Upper Deck Trolley Tour.  After some Internet research and we had taken the other trolleys when here last we chose this one and so glad we did.  They sit up high for better views and picture taking and the seats were a lot more comfortable. Our tour guide/driver was full of information and they had more stops then all the other tours.  So I highly recommend them as your guide around the town.  They picked us up right in front of the Train Station. 

Historic Fanueil Hall

We rode the trolley through the historic streets enjoying everything we saw... Around noon we decided to get something to eat and made the choice to go to Historic Fanueil Hall aka Quincy Market and eat at the HUGE food court.  There were so many activities outside ~ vendors, street entertainers and just plain old people watching... We ended up getting a Cheesesteak with fries.  Last time we were here we ate in Little Italy which I recommend if you like Italian food.  Faneuil Hall Marketplace is actually four great places in one location - Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market, North Market and South Market, all set around a cobblestone promenade where jugglers, magicians and musicians entertain the passers-by.  In 1742 Peter Faneuil, Boston's wealthiest merchant, built Faneuil Hall as a gift to the city.

The best way to see Boston is do a go around on a tour trolley, which I highly recommend the Upper Deck Trolley Tour, then get off and walk the Freedom Trail.  The Freedon Trail is a red line painted on the sidewalk that you follow through Historic Boston.  It is a 2.5 mile walking trail  sites in downtown Boston & Charlestown which starts at the Boston National Park located at Fenueil Hall.

I took so many photos on this day that the only way to show you the sights of Boston is with a slide show ~ so sit on back and enjoy.

Welcome to my latest follower Patty from My Rving Life ~ she is just getting started in the Good Life so go on over and welcome her & her husband and the greyhounds to our RVing community!

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Where did I park my broom?

I was excited today as we went to visit one of my favorite cities ~ Salem, Massachusetts. Best known for the witch trials that took place in 1692, Salem sure does bewitch you with its seaside charm, its maritime history and spellbinding beauty. We followed the Red Line along the sidewalks which took us on our journey through historic sites, including the Witch Trial Memorial, the Old Burying Point Cemetery and more. The Bewitched statue, the Witch Museum and the Witch Dungeon which conjured up diverse takes on witchery through history. Salem  is also full of old homes that are huge and full of  history.

We spent the day visiting the city ~ We have visited Salem many times and today we had decided to take the trolley that goes around town even though you can pretty much walk around the city ~ you can ride the trolley if want to just to hear some of the history and that is what we did.   Also there is the Salem Maritime National Historic Site on the wharf that you can visit and then perhaps stroll the waterfront and eat at one of the local restaurants.  We ate outside on the patio at Capts'... Great Clam Chowdha!

The port of Salem was at its prime between the end of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. By the time the crisis with Britain was reached in 1775, aggressive sea captains such as Richard Derby and George Crowninshield had accumulated great wealth, primarily due to the cod fish export and molasses import trades. Trading cod brought valuable cargoes of Valencia oranges, Malaga grapes, Bilbao iron, Cadiz salt and Madeira wines back to Salem, while molasses from the West Indies fueled the very profitable rum industry.

 I just love this Mystic City from the witch trails - to the history of the port and Nathanial Hawthorne who wrote House of Seven Gables... which is here and you can visit it too. If your into fortune tellers and physics then there is plenty of that here too along with great little shops and restaurants.  We had a great day revisiting Salem and I know I'll be back.

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Where There's Ore ~ There's a way!

History is a huge part of the way we live today ~ It is amazing to me how the early colonist came to this country and thrived with hard work and determination.  Do we still have that drive today?

We visited the Saugus Iron Works National Site here in Saugus Massachusetts and our history lesson continued on the beginning times of this grand country of ours.

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site is the site of the first integrated ironworks in North America, founded by John Winthrop and in operation between 1646 – 1668. It includes the reconstructed blast furnace, forge, rolling mill, shear, slitter and a quarter-ton drop hammer.

The facility is powered by seven large waterwheels, some of which are rigged to work in tandem with huge wooden gears connecting them. It has a wharf to load the iron onto ocean-going vessels, as well as a large, restored 17th-century house.

Here was built the first successful plant for the integrated production of cast & wrought iron in the new world.  When John Winthrop found significant ore deposits in the Boston area, he was offered incentives by the Massachusetts government to establish the Iron Works.

After the initial effort failed Winthrop was replaced by Richard Leader, who chose the site on the Saugus River for it's water power, water transport, woodlands and raw materials. The Saugus works was producing iron products for Massachusetts and England.

The people who worked at the works were not Puritans settlers but artisans from England and Wales, brought to Massachusetts as indentures servants.

In the early 1650's it was having financial problems which it could never recover from.  The last recorded blast was in 1668.  Despite it's short life, the Saugus Iron Works introduced a complex and demanding technology into what was still a  roughhews world.

Reflections of Saugus Iron Works

After we finished our visit at Saugus iron Works we took a drive over to Lynn, Massachusetts where we drove by to see my childhood home.  It brought back a ton of memories and was so glad the house looked like it did in the olden days.

It was another GREAT day in our adventures ~It is nice visiting where I lived as a child.  I also got another Passport Stamp for my book! YaY♥

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

Textiles Anyone?

Lowell ~ Massachusetts

We are all for visiting and supporting our National Park system ~ so we got up early and headed for the town of Lowell to check out Lowell National Park. I never knew there was a park there even though I knew about the town. The park has several places you can go and visit including a ride on a trolley and a boat ride down the canals to a lock you will pass through and down to the river.

Boott Cotten Mills Museum

The History of Lowell is closely tied to its location along the Pawtucket Falls of the Merrimack River, from being an important fishing ground for the Pennacook tribe to providing water power for the factories that formed the basis of the city's economy for a century. The city of Lowell was started in the 1820s as a money-making venture and social project referred to as "The Lowell Experiment", and quickly became America's largest textile center. However, within approximately a century, the decline and collapse of that industry in New England placed the city into a deep recession. Lowell's "rebirth", partially tied to Lowell National Historical Park, has made it a model for other former industrial towns, although the city continues to struggle with deindustrialization and suburbanization.

Massachusetts Mills

Trolleys played an important roll in the early days ~ Getting the workers to & from the factories

Trolley Tour

The canal system allowed transportation around Pawtucket Falls and was also a part of the power canal system ~ which provided power to the mills.
 

River Ride down the Pawtucket Canal to Pawtucket River Dam

This was a thriving textile area and in the the late 19th century, the city's industrial prominence was fading ~ A brief resurgence during World War II led to renewed hiring and  production ~ but by the mid 1950's the last of the original mills closed down and only a few smaller textile producers remained.  It was very interesting learning about the history of Textiles in Lowell, Massachusetts and as always I loved getting another stamp for my National Park Passport Book.

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Another Passport Stamp

I know you think I am traveling out of the country when in fact it is a Passport Stamp in my National Park Passport book.  For those of you who don't already know about it ~ the National Park Service has a book or notebook you can purchase along with stamp collections they release every year (since 1986) of different parks.  Well when you visit a National Park, Monument, National Seashore, anything sponsored by the NPS you can get a cancellation stamp in your book.  Also on the blank pages I get other stamps ~ visitor centers, site seeing places and even Post office.  OK now here is why the title ~ we got a stamp at the Cape Cod National Seashore.... It is a fun thing to do!

A great hobbie for travelers!!

So we headed off early in the morning for the Cape Cod National Seashore which runs from Eastham to Provincetown on the cape. Our first stop along the way was the NP Visitor Center located in Eastham.  There we saw a movie on the development of the Cape and how the Ice Age played an important roll in it its shape and lakes... They also had exhibits that you could stroll through and learn the different sea creatures, birds and plant life that is in the area.  After that we picked up our National Park map and headed out to explore. Oh yes and got our stamp♥  Also along the way we ran into several Lighthouses which we always enjoy visiting.

Three Sisters Lighthouse ~ Nauset Lighthoust ~ Chatham Lighthouse

 There are many many miles of beaches and small quaint towns included in this drive.  Also just getting there and back to our RV park we saw a lot of great things like Historic houses and Cranberry bogs. We didn't go all the way to Provincetown since we have been there several times but if you have never been there, then it is perhaps a place you should visit at least once.  A different kinda town with a lot of artsy shops and people.  Fun to explore!

Of course you can't visit Cape Cod without over indulging in Seafood ~ Especially Clams, Lobster and famous Clam Chowder ~ so todays feast was at the very popular Arnold's Lobster & Clam Shack in Eastham.  Very close to the Cape Cod National Park Visitors Center.  This place is a must when you visit Cape Cod. Now be forewarned ~ go early to beat the crowds and bring cash because they don't accept credit cards BUT they are well worth it all.  It is a Calm Shack that grew & grew....

Yes you are seeing clear ~ that is a very yummy 3# lobster with drawn butter ♥

You get a ton of food and it is by far the best seafood we have had on this trip!!!

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!

The Sunken Road

We arrived in Fredericksburg early in the afternoon and pulled into the Fredericksburg KOA. To see a complete review of this campground click here.  As soon as we set up we headed out to visit Fredericksburg National Military Park Visitor Center.  There are a lot of Civil War battlefields in this National Military Park and it was here that I found out that 60% of the Civil War battles happened in Virginia. Here are a couple of the stories that I found interesting and wanted to share with you.

The Story of Sunken Road

photo taken in 1863

Same photo taken 2012

On May 3, 1863, this photo was taken during a second Battle of Fredericksburg which was part of the Chancellorsville Campaign

The other photo was taken from about the same spot as the historic view above. In the early 19th century a stone wall was built along this three block section. During the first Battle of Fredericksburg on December 13, 1862, the wall protected Southern soldiers fortunate to stand behind it. Behind the wall, only around 300 Confederate soldiers were shot. By contrast in front of the wall, approximately 8,000 Union soldiers were hit. After the war, much of the wall was removed. A portion was rebuilt in the 1930's and in 2004.

Sunken Road

Map of Sunken Road/Marye's Heights walking Tour

The Story of General Thomas R.R. Cobb

Early in the battle, General Thomas R.R. Cobb was mortally wounded within sight of the house where his mother was born. As the primary writer of the Confederate Constitution, Cobb was the best known soldier killed in the Battle of Fredericksburg. For more information on Cobb's life and death.

Several years after the war, Rufus B. Merchant, a former member of Cobb's Legion, suggested that the state of Georgia purchase Martha Stephens's house along the Sunken Road and create a small park in memory of Cobb's Georgia Brigade, the centerpiece of which would be a monument to Cobb. Merchant found some support, but the Cobb family disapproved fearing that a public fundraising effort might "have the semblance of ostentation, and perhaps excite jealousies...." Instead the family erected a small monument, shown here, in 1888 on or very near the spot where Cobb was mortally wounded.

The Story of Martha Stephens

Martha Stephens (also spelled Stevens) lived along the Sunken Road. She had several common law husbands and interchangeably used three different last names, apparently a reflection of her mood at the moment. She also owned the adjacent Innis House, one of her other last names. Martha's social status rose considerably in the aftermath of the Battle of Fredericksburg because of her help to Confederate soldiers. This monument was erected to her by the United Daughters of the Confederacy and dedicated on December 18, 1917. The inscriptions states "Here Lived Mrs. Martha Stephens Friend of the Confederate Soldier, 1861-1865 U.D.C.

House pre Civil War

The Stephens House was built prior to the war and lived in by Edward Stephens and his common law wife, Martha Stephens who interchangeably used three last names in written records. During the Battle of Fredericksburg it was used as a headquarters by General Thomas Cobb and General Joseph Kershaw.

House 2012

The Innis House was built about 1861 on property owned by Martha Stephens. In 1861 it was lived in by John Innis, one of Martha's common law husbands. Today it is owned by the National Park Service and is open on special occasions such as during the anniversary of the battle and on the Saturday evening of the Memorial Day weekend.

The Innis House was lived in until the 1970's. After the house was sold to the park, restoration work returned the house to its 1862 appearance. Work crews removed modern layers of wood and wall paper revealing hundreds of bullet holes like the ones seen here.

This 19th century view shows the Sunken Road, Stone Wall and Innis House

This modern view is from about the same place as the photo above. Note the stone walls on both sides of the road which are original. Also note that the road is sunken in this section. The wall beyond the Innis House was rebuilt in 2004

The Story of Rowland Kirkland

Richard Rowland Kirkland, 2nd South Carolina Regiment

On December 14, the day after the major assaults, thousands of injured and suffering Union soldiers in front of the stone wall cried for help. Richard Rowland Kirkland, a 19 year old sergeant from South Carolina, voluntarily risked his life to take water and provide assistance to the suffering Union soldiers. He later became famous as the Angel of Marye's Heights.

These are just a few of the many stories we read or heard about on this afternoons outing and the walking tour was a nice leisurely stroll throughout this part of the

Fredericksburg National Military Park.

Drum used in the Civil War

Have Fun, Travel Safe & Stay Healthy!!!