RUN FOR THE WALL Jean and Larry

Saturday, October 8, 2022

October 8, 2022 - Cambridge MA

Today was again a very nice day. 50s but sunny. Remember what was said yesterday: Jamie was not going to get back on his bike until Monday. Well.....he did. :-)

We decided to go to Plymouth. Since it was about 40 miles, we figured to uber that would cost a lot. Back on the bikes to Plymouth. Maybe a little history lesson from the day. It was a great day.

We needed to go thru downtown Boston. Figured it was a Saturday, should not be too bad. We guessed wrong... We were going south but north bound is crazy!!!

Went across the Zikam bridge. Then into a tunnel. It was at least2 miles long. We did not want to go thru downtown on the way home and we did not.

Fun Fact:

The bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in a harp configuration with cradles carrying each strand through their pylon. The main portion of the Zakim Bridge carries four lanes each way (northbound and southbound) of Interstate 93 (concurrent with U.S. Route 1) between the Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill Jr. Tunnel and the elevated highway to the north.

The Bridge dramatically transformed the Boston skyline when it was completed in 2003. It rises 745 feet over the Charles River, is 1,407 feet in length and, at 183 feet in width, it is the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world.

(Not from my camera)

In the tunnel. It even had exits within the tunnel. Can you image the engineering on this project.

Jackie and Jamie coming out of the tunnel. Check it out, it has 4 lanes!!! In a tunnel !!!!

We get to Plymouth and there is so much history here. We go to the Mayflower first.

This is an exact replica of the Mayflower and it is fully sea worthy.

Few of the many facts we heard today:

There were 102 people on the ship
One was born on it
No one died on the ship
66 days to get here
All but the crew stayed below deck
It was not originally a ship for people
It carried small animals too

This is the most of the ship. Not very big for 102 people.

If you look here, Larry and Jamie almost hit the top.

Jackie is sitting next to a bed. Better learn to sleep curled up.

And I am standing in the middle of the floor of the place where

most of the people lived. Most of the tourist had to duck here.

This is called the "Whip Stick" They had no steering wheel. The captain will call down thru a grate in the floor and the person manning this would move it left or right to move the rutter. The steering wheel invented early 1700s.

This is the first GPS system. Helped them navigate the ocean.

Ask Larry, he may have understood this. I sure did not.

They travelled about 2 knots to America and 10 going back to England.

Here is a replica of the original bell. What is special about this bell is that there were many veterans that add their medals in the melt down process to make the new bell. Every time the bell rings, they will be ringing it with all veterans being a part of this great history.

Pic from lunch.

Head over to see Plymouth Rock.

Just a rock....to mark the spot.... nothing special. ☺

We then visited the Burial Hill. Sound weird to go there but is was very interesting. Jackie was telling me to read the tombstones. And several were form the 1600's. They not only had name on the tombstones but some had history of their families.

Example:

Headed home. Have to show at least one pic of the colors.

I would imagine next week will be in full color

Sorry Jamie for all the miles but it was well worth it. I PROMISE no bike riding tomorrow.

Temps: 48-59

Miles: 154

Friday, October 7, 2022

October 7, 2022 - Cambridge, MA

Today was overcast but NO rain. We headed down the coast to Cambridge MA. Yesterday's theme was color. Today is reflections.

Check out the size of this pumpkin:

All of a sudden Larry is laughing. Then I hear Jamie trying to say something but cannot understand him as he is laughing too. Then I see it. I guy on an electric bike going up hill at 50 MPH. He is keeping up with traffic. They said "nice"..... no helmet, no license plate, ....he was flying....

Traveling the coast to Massachusetts, there are a lot of cool towns.

Still some great color

More reflections.....

Larry noticed several mailboxes on chains.

Finally asked someone. It is if the plow get too close,
the mailbox will swing and not get knocked off the post. LOL

But what about the mailman putting the mail in it?

At the end of the day yesterday, Jackie's headset went out. Larry and Jamie tried to fix it last night but wires were broken. We looked to see that there is a Harley dealer in Portland, which is on our way to Boston. So we stop at Big Moose Harley.