July 9, Sunday: Imagine our surprise to have a police escort and fireworks display upon our arrival to New Bedford, MA. We had no idea that they even knew us. After following us through the $18 million hurricane stone wall built while the Kennedy's had lots of Washington power, the police eventually stopped us and asked where we came from (the dinghy blocks our home port signage on the back of the boat), who we are, and did we spend last winter in the Caribbean? I guess we fit the profile for drug smugglers. They did not arrest us, but it was very clear it was time to stop my queen's wave to the crowd. The town was completing a week long New Bedford Whaling Town Celebration with a very nice fireworks display which we enjoyed under the dodger, Artie, while it rained lightly.
On Monday, we toured the town. New Bedford is an industrial and fishing port. It has a large population of Portuguese. There is a small, historical district that they are trying to make a tourist attraction (it has a long way to go to rival Annapolis). While we would not recommend New Bedford as an important stop on someone's cruise, we did enjoy the Whaling Museum. They show a 1920's movie documentary that has actual footage of a whaling ship and killing of a whale. They primary fishing here is for scallops. There are hundreds of shell fishing boats in the harbor. It is large, well protected, harbor. We were in a slip on Pope's Island in the center of the harbor. We had a good lunch at the Freestone Restaurant and ate dinner on the boat. There is a memorial just across the bridge in Fairhaven on the spot where Joshua Slocum worked on his boat, Spray, for 3 years before setting off on the first, solo sailing trip around the world. The walk was nice the memorial was not memorable. However, there is a good display in the Whaling Museum dedicated to Joshua.
July 11, Tuesday: Destination Pocasset on Cape Cod. This was a short trip from New Bedford. We anchored behind Bassett Island, a very pretty spot, close to Judy and Mary Jo's (Barry's sister and her highly significant other). We dinghied over to shore and Judy picked us up in her new car. A family tradition of "Lobster 'till ya puke" was given a more civilized presentation with a great wine, corn, salad, and ice cream. No one is actually glutinous, but no one goes away hungry either. We had a good visit with Mary Jo's mother, Mrs. Coughlin. It is the New England tradition for everyone to call seniors Mr. or Mrs. That includes children-in-law, friends of the family that have known them for years, everyone. So, even Judy who has known her for 30 years, and now lives with her in Judy's home, calls Mrs. Coughlin, Mrs. Coughlin. This reminded me of Mama calling Dad's mother, Mrs. Wheatley. . .old times and old ways. The stop gave us an opportunity to do some laundry and a little provisioning, as well as, enjoying a great dinner and visit.
July 12, Wednesday: We motored through the Cape Cod Canal and up to Plymouth, MA. Currents were against us going thru the canal so we had to drop anchor outside of the canal for a few hours and wait for the current to lessen a little. We didn't arrive in Plymouth until 4:30 PM. The Mayflower replica ship was closed for tours for the day. We saw the not so great Plymouth rock and since we learned in Provincetown last year that the Pilgrims actually landed there and stayed for several months before moving to Plymouth, it all seemed a bit over stated. Plymouth was a pretty town and we enjoyed the walk.
July 13 thru July 16, Thursday thru Sunday, Boston Harbor: All I can say is Boston sure knows how to throw a party. The Tall Ships were here. There was a jazz festival and numerous other free musical concerts and street entertainment actually worth stopping to hear. The food every where was spectacular. However, our search for the best pizza in Boston is the best story. We asked a local where to go to sit and have a goooood pizza. He said there is only one place, the place he goes and his father went. . . Pizzeria Regina's in Little Italy. After asking 3 people along the way how to get to Regina's, we came to a joint on a corner with a long line of people waiting to get inside. The building was decorated with yellow, red, and blue lights draped artfully across the front. It has been this way since 1926. Plaques on the wall attested to Regina's reputation for the best pizza in Boston for many years. The ambiance was great, guys in muscle t-shirts, ball caps turned backwards, there with the wife and kids. Lots of noise and truly the best pizza we ever ate. At 8:00 PM on a Friday night Little Italy was hopping with old Italian men singing on the corners, groups of women sitting on benches along the side walk, and just plain good fun being enjoyed by hundreds of people.
On Friday, we did a walking tour of the Freedom Trail (Fanuel Hall, Paul Revere's home, North Church, Copps Hill), we went on the Constitution and through the museum. Walked and walked and walked. This time the history books seem to have kept a least a little of the truth intact.
We are on a mooring in the harbor. It is very bumpy. Sleeping is difficult. The dinghy rides to the pier are uncomfortable. If it weren't for Boston being so great, we would hate it here. And, to add to it, the bed is wet again. This time the rain came in so hard thru the Head hatch that it blew into our chamber. I guess I slept better than I thought.
Judy and Mary Jo joined us on Saturday and stayed the night. I was very concerned about Judy on the boat because it is so roly and she has a tendency toward sea sickness. But, she is such a trooper. She came and seemed to be fine.
There was a fireworks display on Saturday night to salute the Tall Ships and Millennium. They closed the harbor to boat traffic. Magic Carpet was on the mooring and there were no boats between us and the fireworks barges (yes, barges). They had a competition between 2 fireworks companies for $10,000 bonus. What a show! The fireworks were the best we have ever seen and listening to the Coast Guard Commander order the commercial ferry captains around as they tried to clear the harbor for the display was lots of fun.
Sunday, we went to Fenway Park for a Red Sox game. Although I am not a big baseball fan, the park is intimate, there is little advertising on the walls, few vendors shouting. We had a good time and the Red Sox beat the Montreal Expo's. Vladimir Guerrero hit a home run over the screen on top of the Green Monster.
Barry and I are back on the boat and Judy and Mary Jo have gone home. The weather is an issue for a departure on Monday. We will decide where and when we are going in the morning.