Third Report, Fall Colors September 29, 2019

Last night we participated in the grand lobster feed.  This was the first meat I have eaten meat since 2006.  It was tasty and sat in my stomach as I imagined a piece of lead might feel.  I am glad I did it and am happy to return to being a happy vegetarian. 

Today we had nice coach ride to North Conway in New Hampshire and went on a interesting hour and a half train ride on a train where were served a tasty three course meal.  The ride was very beautiful and we saw the drama of leafs which is in the process of changing.  We took pictures.  We then took another small bus ride to the loon mountain were we were taken on a dramatic Gondola Skyride high into the mountain.  We saw ski trails and mountain bike trails.  People were using the mountain bike trails.  I underestimated the beauty of these changing leaf collars and it very dramatic to see them.

Our hotel rooms on this trip have been good to stay at.  We are presently staying at the Mountain Club on Loon. 

We are enjoying the company of our fellow travelers and have met many interesting people.  There are 47 people on our bus and on this trip.  It requires patience to have all these “old” people shuffle off the bus to participate in our many activities. 

Please see the pictures on binghamevent.blogspot.com.

Fall Colors, Second Report

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Today we drove to the Maine Maritime Museum.  We also did a river cruise on the Kennebec River.  At the museum site is an area where up to 5,000 large wooden ships had been built in early U.S. history.  Many of these schooners were 4,5 and six masted.  The site had mock ups of a front of a ship and its rear along with long poles representing masts.  Many of these ships were monsters in size and would carry coal from the southern U.S.A. to the industrial north to fuel the many factories in this area.  To feed this ship building area, Maine was nuded of much of its trees and then they had to be imported from the southern U.S.  A favorite wood from the south was white oak and southern pine.  The wooden ship named Wyoming was the largest schooner made here and could transport up to 6,000 long tons of coal at a time.  Each ton weighed 240 pounds capacity.  The ship had a 13 ½ million pounds of coal capacity.  This ship made the trip from Norfolk to Boston 10 to 11 times a year. The masts for this large wooden ship was 150 feet long.  The masts were constructed of Oregon furs and took 3 railroad cars to be transported from Oregon.  The ships had a 14-year life and it had taking 8 ½ months to build the Wyoming.  It was launched in 1909 and in 1924 went down with all hands in a storm off of Cape Cod.  The ship had an 8-inch thick skin.  The river banks were considered ideal for launching the ships based on the gradual slopes here. 

We also were taken on a nice hour long river cruise of the Kennebec River in the vicinity of the merrymmeeting Bay which is 11 miles from the ocean.  On the cruise we saw light towers, and a bell tower.  We also did a slow pass of the Bath Iron Works where we saw a number of U.S.A. war ships being worked on.  One ship had a capacity of 91 missiles.  The Zumwalt Class warship which is very modern looking was also being worked on and had a capacity of 86 missiles.  The Zumwalt is designed to cut through waves. 

We then went to the L.L. Bean store for shopping.  In the evening we had an included lobster dinner.  I intend to break a 13 year non meat eating record with my first shell fish lobster meal.  Hope I do not get sick.

To see the pictures go to binghamevent.blogspot.com

Fall Colors, Scenic Trains & Martha’s Vineyard (First Report) by Gary Bingham.

Linda and I are participating in a tour named above starting in Boston commencing on September 25, 2019.  It is a combination train, bus, boat trip.  The areas to be visited are:  Maine, Portland, Bathe, Kennebec River, Lake Winnipesaukee, Connecticut River, Mystic Seaport, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyards.   Some of the activities include: Boston City Tour, visit Maine Maritime Museum, Martha’s Vineyard tour. 

I became motivated regarding train trips after reading two books on trains.  One of the main books is called “All Aboard, The Complete North American Train Travel Guide”, 4^th Edition by Jim Loomis.  It is a very good book to read for anyone considering taking a train trip.  Good preparation.

We flew Southwest airlines from Sacramento Airport to Baltimore Maryland and had and extended lay over due to rain in Boston.  We took lyft in Boston to our nice hotel.  In the morning we started our Boston City Tour which allowed us to see many of the land marks of the city.  Our city tour guide: Carol was very detailed in her presentation.  The city is 90 percent land fill from near by hill tops.  The major buildings in the city require pilings to be driven deep into the ground to strike hardpan.  The old Trinity Church had used wooden pilings and as a result needs water surounding  them to keep them from decaying.  We stopped by Fenway Baseball park and took pictures of statues that represent famous Red Sox players.   I am not a fan and took some pictures anyway.  We saw great Italian brickwork throughout the city made by Italian immigrants.  We also saw the Boston Marathon memorial after the tragic past bombing.  The city has had a recent Hemp Festival (legal in Massachusetts) which allegedly made residents high in close vicinity to it.  We saw a nice looking statue of George Washington, The State House, Benjamin Franklin Statue (our son is named after him), Paul Revere’s statue and building he lived in.  We also went in and heard a presentation on the oldest church in Boston.  We saw the USS Constitution ship (old iron side).  We then had a bus ride to Portland, Maine.  On the way we saw the Nubble Lighthouse.  On the whole, we had a terrific first day of touring.  Please see the pictures on binghamevent.blogspot.com