The Time Vortex

From Disappointing New York (properly capitalized because that is its new name), we drove to Massachusetts.  It is surprisingly easy to find camping in Mass. We picked Wompatuck State Park due to its proximity to both Plymouth and Boston.  A two night stay is easier than packing up camp and moving two hours!  We had another late bedtime, but thankfully no wild animal activity.  The next day, we drove to Plymouth Plantation, which was only about 30 minutes from our site.  I'd been there as a kiddo with my parents and looooovvvvveeeeed it.

I wanted the kids to experience the tranquility, the peace, and the stark contrast from our consumer driven, technologically driven lives.  I wanted them to see how hard the founders of our country worked, and how easy things have become.

We paid the nominal fee and entered the park.  

Walking down a berry bush lined path, we noticed the wild grapes overhead and the crabapples that litter the ground.  Through the clearing, the Wampanoag village appeared.  A man sat carving a boat and women were working in the fields.  Now, the Wampanoag people are very helpful in explaining the culture and the work of the 17th century tribe.  Every participant in the home site is an ancestor of a local tribe.  They showed us the winter home, the summer home, and the fields they planted from seed.

Siri and a little boy made fast friends and spent the better part of an hour hunting "sparkle bugs", an enemy of the corn.  They talked about life outside the village, but there was no conversation about clothing or hair differences, just a solid kinship in the hunt for the bugs.

We moseyed at a leisurely pace further down the path, trying to catch the breeze off the bay.

  

The Plymouth Plantation is nestled on a downward slope from a steep hill overlooking the Bay.  The thing you have to understand about this part of the plantation is that the actors portraying the passengers of the Mayflower DO NOT BREAK CHARACTER.  AT ALL.  I tired to explain to Gannon that they are stuck in a time vortex and that we may not interfere with our modern knowledge.  Being an avid Dr. Who fan, he seemed to understand.  

We wandered through the village, speaking to people about their 66 day voyage and then 10 month anchor at Plymouth Rock.  We met Rosie the Cow and saw how manure is spread.

Reverend Robinson gave an excellent sermon, and we sang Psalms, which was really fantastic as my kids were missing their family at True Life Church.

"Where's the air conditioning?!?!?!?!"

We were leaving the village, getting a much needed drink from the "well" as I observed Gannon talking with a wood worker.

"No, no, no, no, you are ACTUALLY in the year 2015!"

"By what calendar do you mind, as this is the year of our Lord One Thousand Six Hundred and Twenty Seven?"

"No, you are stuck in a Time Vortex, you just don't know it!"

GAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

A short drive and a quick jaunt up the gangplank landed us onboard the the Mayflower II.  This ship was built in the 1950s and sailed the rout of the Pilgrims in 1957.  It now sits in the Massachusetts Bay with more people stuck in time vortexes.   

The ships gunman was kind enough to give us a musket demonstration.  He was the fastest shot on the ship, and was able to fire two rounds in one minute!

Just a quick walk around the corner and we were able to see the ACTUAL rock where the pilgrims landed.  An iron fence surrounded the small monument, and "1620" is etched into the sides.

The kids were done with that in about 15 seconds.  We hiked along the town creek to the gristmill where wheat was and watched in awe as the power of the small stream turned the water wheel to turn the millstones.

We left Plymouth with a renewed sense of appreciation for the luxuries of our camping trip.  Boston in the AM!