CAPE COD ODYSSEY

AND THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ... JUNE 10 2013 ...

Arrived back home late Saturday afternoon after a great trip, lots of history, lots of stories, lots of food, lots of fun and a great group of folks to travel with.

While my mind is still working properly (well, as properly as it can) I want to share a couple pieces of history and not so much history as a tale.  Tales are always the best.  Later on I will go into more depth and share pics.  Once I have them organized and edited.

Our first day was spent at Plymouth Mass and, of course, the ROCK.  After the rock we visited Plimoth Plantation. 

Did you know - the first landing the Pilgrims made at - what is known today as - Provincetown, the very tippy top of Cape Cod.  Upon spying land, they anchored and a landing party came ashore, to scope out the area.

All they found was sand, miles and miles of sand. There was no way they could settle there and raise any crops.  And so they re-boarded the Mayflower and continued their journey along the coast.

Their second stop is what is now known as Plymouth.  The Mayflower anchored off-shore and the Pilgrims came ashore.  Plymouth Rock is actually just what the name says - a big flat rock.  The arriving Pilgrims stepped out of their dinghy (a little boat bringing a few at a time) on to this rock, then onto the shore.   The Pilgrims had arrived!!!

But it was not until 7 years later (1627) that the first Thanksgiving was celebrated with the friendly Indians.  It took seven years of hard labor to build their first community, which is now known as Plimoth Plantation.

What an unique experience, to visit the plantation, see the thatched roof huts, the gardens, the livestock, and the view.  There are folks on the plantation dressed as they had in 1627, working, and welcoming us, their guests.  They knew nothing of today's world, were still living in 1627, talking old English, explaining what they were doing, blank expressions on their faces if you mentioned cars, or TV's or computers or such. 

It's sort of sad how the Pilgrims landing, Plymouth Rock, and the first Thanksgiving has all run together as happening  in 1620.  There was 7 years of hard work, sickness, birth and death, building, and learning.  I can't begin to imagine what they went thru.

How desperate they must have been for a better life.  How determined to keep going.  How grateful they were that the Indians proved to be friendly, and taught them about their new home.  How sad how it all ended years later.   Friends became bitter enemies.  

You leave Plimoth Plantation and Plymouth with an entirely new perspective, and respect, for the hardworking men and women, willing to face who knows what to make a better life for themselves.  And we complain.

Have a good day and God Bless.