BOSTON and THE WEDDING

We arrived at our campground SW of Boston on Wednesday night and  it was our first campsite NOT on the water, but one of the nicest we've ever stayed at.  There were many activities there, but unfortunately it was a “stop and drop”.  We also discovered that it was right by Gillette Stadium in Foxborough where the Patriots play.  That stadium was really interesting.  Much of the parking was across a 4 lane divided highway and surrounding the stadium was an outlet mall!!  I guess if the wives don’t want to go to the game…. Mmmm not a bad idea!!   After the obligatory laundry, we settled into steaks around a campfire and needed it as the temperature had dropped significantly.  In fact in the middle of the night Dave was setting up our heater and digging out blankets.  We needed the air conditioner and the heater in the same day!  I understand that SC and NC have been having their notorious high summer temperatures…. Eat your heart out!!

Moon over our campfire in Foxborough

Up early on Thursday, we got Bessy to her RV Doctor appointment.  When we picked her up Friday afternoon, her brakes were fixed, but the gear cable is still a gear or so off, as it shows on the indicator.  David is planning his “Come to Jesus” meeting with the mechanic in Charlotte.

Going on the Duck Tour

Then we got into the Brookline neighborhood of Boston and got our bearings.  We delivered the wine for the wedding parties and ate lunch with Keith and Diane and his brother Forest and Sherrie.  Brunch at the Zaftigs was terrific, especially with good friends.  We left the Wassums to wedding and family chores and checked into the Longwood Inn where we met up with the O’Rourkes and Browns.  We decided to conquer the T and go downtown.  The Duck Boat caught our fancy and we were able to get tickets without any problems. (Those who left it for Friday and Saturday found it booked or only available at limited times and places.)  Our driver was good (not great), but it gave us a great overview of Boston and his suggestion to end the tour with drinks on the 52^nd floor of the Prudential Building was spot on.  We truly enjoyed the views of the city as the sun was setting and lights were coming on, not to mention the amazing appetizers which became our supper!! Back in Brookline, we partied in Keith and Diane’s “penthouse suite” until the wee hours of the morning.

At the top of the Prudential Building

Partying in the Wassum's pent house!

Friday, our only wedding commitment was the rehearsal party that night, so we were free to sightsee.  After breakfast at “the best Jewish Bagel shop in Boston”, Dave and I decided to go into the Museum of Fine Arts and see a special quilt exhibit we had seen advertized on the T.  It was amazing!! Most of the quilts were from about 1820 – 1920 and were collected as pieces of art.  The fine stitching (one Log Cabin quilt had strips that finished out at less than ¼ inch!) and use of color and unusual techniques fascinated Deb and made her think of her friend Kasey who quilts.  One quilt was made with a santine cotton that actually changed color in the light as you moved around it.  There was a log cabin quilt that was built on an octagon instead of a square, 3-D quilts made with spirals, and a feather pattern that had over 500 1 ½ inch squares divided into  2 triangles just to outline the feather pattern!!  The pictures do not do the quilts justice!! 

This spiral was 3D

Each block was SO small!

An octagonal Log Cabin

Note how the grays change!

I didn't mention the Chihuly, 'but of course it caught my attention!

That night we got to meet Sam’s parents, their friends, Sam’s brother, the Lutheran pastor and many young people who gathered at Sam’s favorite bar to wish him well.  As the festivities were winding down, we decided to go out to supper with the Bostains and find a quieter venue.  We chose a restaurant in a nearby hotel, thinking it would be quiet, and there was a singer/guitar player with a very loud amp playing very bad cover songs from the 70’s!!   Then it was back to the suite for more fun with the Wassum family.  By now all of Allie’s cousins had gotten in by now and the crowd was much younger.

The Kelly's on their way to the Rehearsal Party!  May Sam and Allie's marriage last this long and well!

After 2 days of late night partying, we laid low on Saturday.  I shopped some of the shops I had passed several times in Brookline and after lunch we tried to ride our Segways down to Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall.  We got about ¾ of the way there and realized that we had not charged the batteries up since our long ride around NY Harbor, so we had to turn around. 

The bus picked us up at the Hotel at 5 to go out to the wedding which was at the Endicott Estate in Dedham.  The setting was absolutely beautiful and was only enhanced by Allie as a radiant bride.  Her dress was breath taking (and Kate reported they needed a diagram to fix the bustle for the reception!! LOL) and Keith and Diane were beaming. The little town was having a Flag Day parade that went right by during the ceremony.  Allie, they even had a parade for you!!  Keith really treated us right, having the waiters pour the NC tables (there were 14 of us there!!) wine from his cellar which we had transported up in the RV!!  Allie and Sam set the tone for the reception with a special first dance that included a waltz, tango, and special choreography!  We danced and watched the young people REALLY dance until the last bus left to go back to Boston at 11 p.m.   Dave’s GPS skills saved the day when the bus driver’s went out!  He also was one of the best dressed men at the wedding!!

Sunday we got our segway ride in and in doing so discovered a bicycle path to get to Quincy market that took us along the Charles River and right by the band shell where the Pops  play.  We thought of Sharon and Richard and their honeymoon several times! 

I have written this through Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and we just came into Maine and are already seeing lobster shacks on US 1, the scenic highway.  We hope to set up camp before dark and then ride into Portland and meet the Kelly’s for supper…

Stay tuned….