July 9 = Day 13

Synopsis:  397.5 miles driven; 6 hours on the road; Middleboro, MA to Binghamton, NY; Visited Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II

OK, if you don't know it, Holiday Inn Express has these great cinnamon rolls for breakfast. I'm not sure how many we ate altogether (besides the eggs, bacon, biscuits and danishes)! We headed out for Plymouth (about a 30 minute drive). We got there early so we could see Plymouth Rock and some of the displays and monuments around the area. Go early and take time for these things - there is some great information to learn.

At 9:00 am, we entered the area for going onto the Mayflower II. Again, while they are merely displays, take the time to read them to be better educated on the Mayflower and the Mayflower II. It's quite amazing to learn of the history of both ships - I guess I forgot that no one knows what happened to the original Mayflower.

We got on board the Mayflower II, which has several guides and several people playing the parts of the Pilgrims. You can visit below deck and see where the 102 Pilgrims stayed for the 9 week voyage. It's not only incredible that they spend most of their time there (only several were allowed on deck at a time when they were allowed on deck), but that they also had their livestock there as well as the smaller boat that would be left with them (it was in pieces). While it isn't the original, it really gives you a great understanding of what the original was like.

After leaving the ship, we looked around the area at some of the statues and monuments including one to all those that died during that first winter in America. Some quick souvenir shopping and then we got on the road for Uncle Scott and Aunt Weezie's house in Binghamton, NY. This evening the kids stayed with family while Lisa and I got together with my high school graduating class (Central Baptist Christian Academy - Class of 1985). It was so good to see friends from long ago - to see how we all have changed and how we haven't. We have a really good class! We're getting together on Saturday for a "family" picnic including all our kids (there are 3 or 4 of us who have 5 kids and 3 or 4 who have 4 kids so there should be a lot of kids.

Hotel Deal of the Day: One night at Uncle Scott and Aunt Weezie's for $0 including time with cousins and free child care!