Bradley Family 4: July 2015

We are up and going again early. We finally make it to Massachusetts. Our first stops were in Concord and Lexington. The Minute Man National Historical Park was our first stop. We stopped at the visitors center and watched a short video so we would have a little more understanding about what we were going to be seeing.

This was were Paul Revere was captured.

During the summer, many of the buildings are open for visitors to go inside. This is the Hartwell Tavern.

We were peeking out the window to get some cool air.

Some of the rooms in the tavern.

This shows how tall David is or how low the ceilings are.

The bar in the tavern with the "bar tender"

Just a cool pictcure

Here's some other info that David learned: This is Hartwell Tavern, where in 1775 Ephraim and Elizabeth Hartwell raised 9 kids in the back, ran an inn upstairs, and a bar in the front. On April 18 of that year, Dr Sam Prescott woke the Hartwells after Paul Revere was captured a short distance from their place. One of the Hartwell's family members went on to help warn the folks in Concord that the British were coming. Later that night the Red Coats would pass the tavern on the way to the skirmish at the Old North Bridge. Three of the Hartwell's sons were in the Lincoln Minute Man Company that was there when the "Shot Heard Around the World," was fired. The ensuing battle would travel back down the road past the Tavern as the Militia pushed the British soldiers back to the coast.

The next stop was the Robbins House. This early 19th century house was formerly inhabited by the first generation of descendants of formerly enslaved African American Revolutionary War veteran Caesar Robbins, and by fugitive slave Jack Garrison.

The kids even learned a new game from that time period.

This is the Hancock-Clarke House----Anybody ever heard of William Dawes? One mid April night a long time ago, he and another man where dispatched from Boston, to this house in Lexington to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that "The British Were Coming!" Fearing they might be caught themselves, the two men were sent on different paths. The other man Paul Revere, got here first!

The North Bridge

After this stop, we had lunch and then headed to find the battle green.

What happens as soon as we get to it????

RAIN!!! Thankfully I had a few ponchos with me so we didn't get soaked!! The rain didn't last long.

When looking for things to do in the area, I found Wilson Farms. So before heading out, we decided to give it a try.

Here are the fields where they grow many of the fruits and veggies you can buy. I thought I took pictures of what we bought but I guess not. All I can say is that this place was amazing. There are no words to describe the fruits we bought.. They were delicious.. We got strawberries, a cantaloupe, plums, oranges, and tomatoes. These were the reddest tomatoes I have ever seen. They also sold the cider donuts.. so we bought more... not as good as the fresh ones, but they were still delicious!!

Our next stop was Plymouth. This is hard to read but it basically says that this marks the site of the first house built by the Pilgrims, on February 27, 1621.

That plaque is on the side of this building..

That building is on this street which also has a sign that says America's first street and home of William Brewster, the Pilgrim's spiritual leader.

Posing with William Bradford, the Plymouth Colony Governor.

Where the Pilgrim's landed.

PLYMOUTH ROCK

MAYFLOWER II

After leaving Plymouth, we drove to our resort, where we will stay for the next 2 nights. The kids are excited because it is right on the beach.

Once we got checked in and unloaded the car, it was dinner time. We thought we would try a place that has clam chowder... well.... we got to Skipper's (which was our second stop because the first place had over an hour wait)..and the wait was 20 minutes.. so we waited and waited and waited well over 20 minutes. Finally I went inside and just stood for a few. Finally I heard one of the hostess say that they had a few tables ready.. I spoke up and said what about Bradley party of 4.. she said it would be 20 minutes.... I told her we have already waited more than 20 minutes and she said it would still be 20 minutes, so I gave them back the pager, and we left... so this picture is how I felt after the ordeal. We left with two crying children and an "embarrassed" husband... really... he has done a lot more at places that have been way more embarrassing. After 2 places, we were done trying to eat out...so we went by the grocery store and sandwiches it was for dinner!!!! At this point, the kids really didn't care what they ate, they just wanted to get to the beach!!!

FINALLY!!! they were on the beach..

After a stroll on the beach... a delicious strawberry shortcake with strawberries and angle food cake from Wilson Farms was calling our name!!!

We were up early again and on the road. We stopped at an Apple Cider Mill. I am not really a fan of apple cider but this fresh, cold cider was very good.

They also use the cider to make Cider Donuts... warm, delicious donuts... I'm glad we didn't eat them until we left or we probably would have bought several dozen. They were so good!!

We drove out of the way to find a covered bridge. This was has been redone so we could actually drive over it.

Our next destination was New Hampshire.

Our first stop was the capital building.

New Hampshire is the location of the first presidential primary. This is were the candidates have to come to file and pay a fee, that they want to run for president.