We first took the train from Holland, MI to Chicago and then caught the Lake Shore Limited to Boston. We spent a couple days walking around Boston and then took a bus to Maine. We had 4 lovely days, well one was pretty wet, on the Riggin. It was a knitting cruise so not only sails, good food, but knitting too! We then reversed the procedure and arrived home in Grand Haven Wednesday night.
The views from the train were not as dramatic as the view seen when traveling West. One sad thing is all the abandoned warehouses and factories.
The book I'm indexing makes the point that these jobs aren't coming back. Or if they do it will be be decades from now and at very low wages. So basically, not really coming back as they were.
There was pretty scenery as well.
And coming into Chicago on the return trip.
It is great to travel across the country instead of over it. There is so much to see and enjoy.
On the way out we had two days in Boston just walking. On day one we just randomly walked about the city. We started from our great hotel in Back Bay in the former YWCA building.
Churches
I wonder how many cities permanently mark the end of their marathon?
Community and Private Gardens are the Best
Yarn Bomb
On day two, we took a guided walking tour of the Freedom Trail.
Our guide for the tour was the best selling author, Susanna Rowson.
If in Boston, take the tour. It is three hours of history and walking in one of the best cities in the country.
On the return trip we had an evening and morning in Boston. A must stop for breakfast while in Boston is Charlie's.
On to Maine
The J. & E. Riggin is a schooner built in 1927 as an oyster dredger. Her two captains are Jon Finger and Anne Mahle. The last night on board they entertained us with guitar and song. Anne is also the chef on board. She works wonders with produce from her garden and locally sourced foods. Using a wood burning stove in the galley she produces the most amazing of fare. Most meals are served and eaten on deck. Then everyone pitches in and cleans up. Anne's breads have inspired me to step up my baking a notch or two.
The knitting instruction was provided by Bill Huntington of Hope Spinnery. Bill provided a mixture of group and individual lessons. No knitting needed to be done. Or, one could knit continually. I didn't get too much knitting done - too much to see and so nice to just relax with no media, no noise, nowhere to be. I did however pick up some great tips. And of course added to the stash.
Pictures can not do this sail justice, but here goes.
An evening ashore, it rained but it didn't matter. It was wonderful, wet, but wonderful.
Osprey have been nesting at this location for 200 years.
Osprey at the Rockland dock.
Our cabin.
Bill teaches Jack to cast on.
Captain Anne sings as crew and passengers bring up the anchor.
Captain Jon takes a group ashore for sightseeing. It took multiple trips to get all ashore.
This was the best trip ever. A wonderful slow pace. No electronics to distract. Just relaxation.
The Riggins website: http://www.mainewindjammer.com/
Hope Spinnery website: http://www.hopespinnery.com/
And the final afternoon before returning home, a walk about Chicago.
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