The Black Dodge Avenger

Chicago, mmm technically we landed there, caught a bus and drove the Avenger right out the other side, I guess we spent 1 hour in Chicago, not much to report other then the car rental bus driver liked to sign blues songs and the music was really loud.
We pointed the Avenger towards Fremont. Known for its . . . mmmm actually I will have to look that up – oh yes, famous to have some connection to Rutherford B. Hayes, nineteenth president of the United States, its farming country as far as the eye can see and a very convenient stop for us on the way to Niagara Falls total travel time from Chicago is around 9 hours so we definitely had to stop somewhere.
Wow, the fury of the falls, fantastic to see definitely a highlight of the trip, we even went on “Maiden of the Mist”, it’s that teeny weenie boat that you can see compared against the falls. We got soaked but it was worth it. We then walked into Canada, It was great to see the horseshoe falls (more spectacular then the USA ones) but I think technically we spent more time in customs trying to come back then we did in Canada – still worth it though.

Little Falls – NY – Brad drove this afternoon, no we are still together, yes I did a little bit of backseat driving, yes he has forgiven me and yes I think I am a better navigator, at least I gave witty little comments about all the attractions that we were passing at 120 km/h like the baseball wax museum, the bike and classic car museum, all the lakes, rivers, towns and forests we passed. I think I was very entertaining. Only one moment of panic when we approached an intersection that wasn’t on our maps took a wrong turn but we managed to get where we were going and that was to Little Falls . . . it’s about 3 hours away from Niagara Falls. The main feature of Little Falls is that its only 4 square miles, has less than 5,000 people and has doors that are unique – or so Brad read somewhere, mmm I guess I will have to look that up as well. Funny thing was even though the town was tiny we still managed to take the wrong exit but eventually we got to Kitty Creek, Maine.
Before you ask, yes it was worth, travelling over 1000 miles towards a hurricane for Lobster, mmm yum... Chauncey Creek Lobster, James my new best friend that works in the Lobster shack even helped us out with accommodation recommendations, food, bars, and entertainment and even lent us his phone to make the bookings – Thanks James, you Rock! We had Oysters, Clam Chowder, Lobster and really yummy pies. Lynda I even had a Jack Daniels Pecan Pie, just for you. Excellent, off to do all the stuff that James told us to, secretly I think James is an alcoholic, everything he recommended involves grog. Should be fun – I will write again when the fog lifts.
Brad wrote: I really like Portsmouth. A quaint, if very quiet, town on the border of New Hampshire and Maine that has a good feel about it. Lots of shops, cafes etc with lots of civil war era architecture that they have gone to great lengths to preserve. Will be interesting to see what Boston is like tomorrow. Plenty of plaques on walls and statues of people on horses striking heroic poses, I'm sure!
Boston - Yep Brad was right, plaques, statues, ships even a red brick road for us to follow. I was extremely impressed with the guided tours the one starting from Boston Common on the Freedom Trail was wonderful, 2.5 miles of history.
Michael was our guide along with being a history teacher, and he asked everyone to question history and learn from it. I tell you if he had been my teacher at school I would be less of a philistine. Michael was very entertaining, highly controversial and memorable. His account of Paul Revere’s belated fame, The Boston tea party, the Boston Massacre that led to the deaths of five civilians at the hands of British troops in 1770 all really interesting.
The 2nd tour guide was from a naval seaman who was obviously delighted to be serving on “the world’s oldest floating commissioned naval vessel”. The USS Constitution also known as “Old Ironsides”. It’s a wooden-hulled, three-masted heavy frigate launched in 1797. We finished our walk at the 221-foot granite obelisk marking the site of the first major battle of the American Revolution, known as the Bunker Hill Monument. I must admit America definitely knows how to entertain and put on a good show along with preserving their history. Brad and I finished our walk sitting in the shade of the obelisk reading our books. This was definitely a highlight day of our trip so far.
We are off to Nantucket for 2 days and Washington DC via Harvard and Princeton. Brads turn to write next – stay tuned.