WE JUST LISTENED TO A PODCAST ON BBC about the unreliability of our memories. Paraphrasing Ken Kesey, it may be true even if it didn't happen that way. And I can believe it as I attempt to reconstruct our trip for this blog. After only two months I’ve forgotten so many things. Connie’s journal and the photos help with the big pieces but the details that make a story interesting are lost for all time. So bear with me.
Paul and Noreen at home in Vermont
We could hardly be within 500 miles of Vermont without visiting Paul and Noreen. Loyal readers may recall that Paul was a big part of my childhood and that he and Noreen are about the nicest couple you could meet. It’s always wonderful catching up with them and listening to Paul’s tales — he always has something interesting to say.
African American Trail
There is so much history in the Boston area it was worth another visit. We’ve “done” the Freedom Trail, Lexington and Concord and all that stuff years ago. Today we were following the African American HeritageTrail, stops on the Underground Railroad and historic homes of free Blacks who aided escaped slaves on their journey to freedom.
Civil war rifles, Springfield Arsenal
Travel can always supply you with an “ah ha” moment. It never occurred to me that the Springfield Armory was where the famous Springfield Rifle was developed. Or the just as famous M1 Garand, staple of millions of GIs in WWII.
Mark Twain House
After Boston we set up our HQ in Falmouth, the gateway to Cape Cod. I had hoped to do some surf fishing but it was not to be. Either the tide was wrong or it was too windy or . . . . And while Falmouth isn’t exactly “in the neighborhood,” we used it as a base to visit the Mark Twain House in Hartford, CT. No matter how much you think you know about S. Clemens, there is always something witty or urbane he wrote or said.
