Plymouth Rocks!

Just north of Plymouth, Mass. we park our UAV near a place called Humarock, MA.  We were the only ones camped at the Fourth Cliff Recreation Area, which is an annex of Hanscom Air Force Base. This place is in a superb location, sitting high on a cliff at the end of a peninsula, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the North River on the other.   Truly gorgeous views! 

This is the view from the dining window of our UAV!  Million dollar view, baby! 

I think the sign pretty much explains where we are! 

Hailey points out..."Hey, here's the rock"!  There is a lot behind this rock.  You can read about it here: Plymouth Rock

We visit the replica ship "Mayflower II".  She is a faithful replica of what the original Mayflower may have looked like and she is fully sea worthy. 

The Mayflower II, in the background, was built in Devon, England and sailed across the Atlantic to Plymouth in 1957.  You can read a bit more about her here: Mayflower II

Onboard the Mayflower, we chat with one of the passengers.  All the crew onboard are fine actors and remain "in character" and talk and act as if it is 1620!  Great fun and like having a first hand account of what it was like. 

The Master & Commander of the Mayflower discusses his leadership style onboard ship!

Wendy, who was born and raised in England, points to her connection to the pilgrim story.  She is pointing to the Isle of Man, where her father lives and was home to Miles Standish.  Mr. Standish was the military leader of the pilgrim group.  He taught the pilgrims how to use the weaponry of the day, in order to defend themselves.   You can read more about Miles Standish here: Myles Standish

Just south of the actual Plymouth, we tour a full sized reproduction of the 1620's Plimoth and the near by Wamponog Indian village.  

Hailey points out that we are about to venture "back in time" to the 1620's.  The exhibits are manned by actors portraying actual pilgrims (by name) and dress, speak and act as if it is 1620-something.  

But before we meet the Pilgrims, we pass through a reproduction of a Wompanoag Indian homesite.  It is a recreation of single-family home of the leader known as Massasoit.  He lived in close proximate to the English.  The staff at this exhibit are not "role-playing" as in the pilgrim village and  shared information about 17th Century life from a 21st Century perspective.  The staff was comprised primarily of descendants from the Wampanoag Nation (which still exists) and other indigenous Nations.   Here a staff member displays traditional  techniques for making a canoe. You can read more about the Wampanoag people here: Wampanoag people

The gals get a lesson on traditional bead weaving.  This lady told us that women were tasked with things associated with the nurturing of life while the man would be tasked with things associated with the taking of life (e.g. hunting).  This maintained the natural order, in their eyes. 

Inside a lodge, we learn about how a structure like this is made. 

We've "landed" at Plimoth Plantation!!  

Heidi and Chris come across a couple of ladies looking thru their book of Psalms, which they would practice singing. 

Hailey and Stacey visit with one of William Brewster's daughters.

I visited with Mr. William Brewster, the pastor of the village. You can read more about him here: William Brewster (Mayflower passenger)

We went to the actual site of the Pilmouth village, which is now Burial Hill.  We found the grave sites of many of the Mayflower passengers.  

I had missed the opportunity for making a beach fire in Oregon, but not this time.  I made a nice hot, roaring fire on the rocky beach near the mouth of the North River as a send off to our good friends, the Hodgsons!  Any other friends want to come join us for a bit!?  We are off to explore Boston and environs...the birth place of the American Revolution!