Another trip to Battle Road

[upacreek]

A few more of us were able to visit Boston and Battle Road last week.  Mechanic (GA), WileyCoyote (was GA, now TN), and I (GA) took a short road trip.  Driving is so much easier with 3 drivers, except going through NYC in a huge truck - never recommended!  Our first stop in MA was Boston.  I know it's not Revolutionary War history, but we wanted to see the USS Constitution. While there, we got to visit a destroyer (USS Cassin Young).  We wanted to see a lot more but took our time on the boats. Driving and parking in Boston is only ever so slightly better than driving in NYC.  We drove by Bunker Hill a couple times and Paul Revere's House before giving up.  Dinner was at the Menotomy Grill and Tavern - where the Bloody Butcher and Brown Bess hang on the wall among other historical items.

The next morning brought us to the North Bridge.  Jake1918 joined us at the museum.  The bridge and fields are beautiful in August!  We started walking at the opposite end of Battle Road, by Parker's Revenge, and met up with Lupis42 somewhere near the Bloody Angle.  Wiley drove the SAG wagon (drove from spot to spot to make sure we had water and a ride if needed).  We all made it to Meriam's Corner before driving over to Leyden (far NW MA) for the weekend shoot. 

We made it to the range just in time to set up camp.  Leyden has an awesome range.  The hospitality from our New England cadre was very much appreciated.  It was a busy event with 21 shooters all with the awesome accents and vocabulary that I miss down here.  Saturday night the volunteers had a very moving to a tribute to goodpiper, a clearly cherished volunteer who passed away last month.

We stopped at Valley Forge for a quick visit before driving the rest of the way home.  It was a lot bigger than I pictured it'd be. 

As nice a vacation as this was, we were all happy to get back to our 2 and 4 legged family members.


Mechanic poses on some Arms of Friendship sculpture.  Wiley would have none of it.


USS Constitution - Old Ironsides - the world's oldest commissioned ship - fought in the War of 1812


What a gorgeous ship.


Wiley checks out his first cannon of the trip.  There are British emblems on them???  Turns out the guy that ordered the cannons during a renovation accidentally got the wrong ones.  Oops.


A comfy bunk with plenty of room.  The bunks for the masses had no padding and were just a little closer together - I'd guess there'd be 3 or 4 in the space of this guy's area.


The Bloody Butcher hangs in the Menotomy Grill and Tavern in what's now Arlington.


Proof I was there too - standing next to a marker honoring the women of Menotomy.


The tavern is now a Starbucks.


We found it.  We took a walk through Arlington after dinner searching for a couple of markers.  This was the last one we were searching for.


Gage's orders for the morning of April 19th, 1775 along with a laundry list of what the colonists stashed.  I had no idea there was so much!


A plaque of an Emerson poem overlooks the North Bridge


A view of the North Bridge from Major Buttrick's house.


There was soooo much poison ivy!


I've gotten water from the bridge a few times.  There seems to be less questions if we make a show of dumping clean water out before getting bridge water.  I always bring Appleseed business cards too.  I've gotten the okay from a park ranger before, but inevitably get concerned looks.


Mechanic collects some water from under the North Bridge.


Wiley and Mechanic stand next to the Isaac Davis statue at the North Bridge.


The field near the North Bridge is so pretty this time of year.


Wiley checks out another cannon.  He needs to make his already.


North Bridge


We made it to Meriam's Corner


A mile marker next to Meriam's Corner.


We're within a mile of Meriam's Corner


New England's idea of central heating.  This chimney is massive and a typical chimney for a bigger 18th century house.




Mechanic and Jake at the spot Paul Revere was captured.


Harrington's house.


Mechanic cases a witness house.


We reached the Lexington Green


Mechanic, Wiley, and Jake stand at the base of Parker's statue.


I heard the (root)beer from Buckman's Tavern was good.  We all shared a drink together.


Wiley and Mechanic inspect a spinning wheel on display in Buckman's Tavern.  I have the feeling that both of these guys have a room or garage filled with stuff they recreate after seeing it.


William Diamond's drum sits in Buckman's Tavern


Jonas Clarke's tombstone in the Lexington Cemetery


Parker's marker in the Lexington Cemetery.


We were fortunate enough to get a quick shower on Saturday afternoon.  It cut the 95% humidity with temps to match.  This was not expected and brought the shoot to an early halt.


A glimpse of what the log cabins looked like at Valley Forge.  There were about 2000 of these all built within the first month of arrival in December of 1777. Common soldiers were packed 12 to a cabin, which helps explain why so many died of illness.


Mechanic compares pocket knives between then and now at the Valley Forge Visitor's Center


Wiley and Mechanic check out another cannon.  This one protects Valley Forge.


Lucy!  We made it from Valley Forge to Wiley's house in one long day of driving.  Lucy greeted us outside and helped us empty the truck the next morning.  She's clearly asking us to bring her next time.  I'm still jealous of Mechanic - she stayed in his room. 


I'm almost home and met with an odd welcome wagon.  This beats Boston and NYC traffic any day. 

Thanks for tagging along with us.  Hit up the New England crew next time you're in the area - they were awesome!

[JustKim]

that is SO COOL!!!  we really want to make it up there some day -- hopefully sooner rather than later!

[Roswell]

I am so jealous! This looks like an awesome trip! Thank you so much for sharing all those pictures.

[Google]