Day Thirty Two

At 1.50am we were awoken by a loud beeping noise. Checked around the room to see where it was coming from. Initial suggestion was the fire alarm. Thought maybe the battery was going. Ann phoned reception for advice. I stacked furniture and had a look. Woman on reception suggested taking the battery out. I tried to open it but proceeded to pull the whole thing off the ceiling. Turns out it was wired in anyway. Tried to reattach it. Woman said she'd get us a new room. We then noticed it wasn't the fire alarm it was the carbon monoxide alarm beeping. Ann went off to get the key. I opened the window.

During this process I started timing the gap. It was every minute. Ann returned with the key to a new room which was just across the corridor. She said the beeping was easily heard outside. Moved my stacked of furniture to the CO alarm.  It came off the wall too but this time I had deliberately taken it off. Read the back of it. It had a list of the number of beeps and their meaning. Five meant the battery was low and the alarm needing replacing.

Ann said to put it back and we'd move room. I pointed out we would probably still hear it across the way. Told Ann to take the alarm to reception so they could deal with it and I'd move the stuff across. 

All in all we were back in a new bed by 2.10am. Now awake. Not great. 

Eventually drifted off only to be awoken at 6.15am by the fire alarm in the new room beeping intermittently. Thought oh god. Just ignored it and eventually it stopped.

Eventually we got up and headed for breakfast. There was no where to sit as an entire high school girl's sports team were staying and had taken over the breakfast room. Sat on a couch in reception eating which was slightly awkward.

Packed up for the final time and checked out at 9am.

Headed south towards New Haven to join the I95 into New York. Traffic was ok at this point. We made a quick stop at a Service Plaza at Darien just outside Stamford. Went to get a Starbucks which turned out to be the worst Starbucks in the world. There was a loud constant alarm going off which no one seemed to acknowledge. There were only two servers doing both inside and the drive through. They took forever. Eventually we had our order taken and then waited. And waited. And waited. Some people in the queue just walked out. Eventually the other server not the one who had taken our order noticed our order and actually made it. Ann said whatever we get, we're just going. Which we did. And it was poor.

Got in the car with the drinks and hit the road having what should have been a five minute stop turn into half an hour. As we pulled back onto the interstate we hit the traffic. Slowly eased forward and eventually got moving again.  Crossed a bridge into Queens and saw Manhattan for the first time in four weeks. Stopped at the gas station to top up and then popped the car back to the rental place. 

Met the same woman who had served us when we picked it up. Had a chat about where we had been.

Ann summoned an Uber and we headed to JFK. Traffic was appalling luckily I didn't have to drive.

Eventually got to the terminal and checked in at the Club World desk. Drank all the fluid we had and went through security.

Headed up to the Greenwich Lounge. Looked at the time. It was 1pm. Flight was at 8pm. Last time we flew out of JFK in 2012 we missed the flight. Look back at that year's blog for more detail. This time we had played it safe. Mainly due to the fact the car rental place shut at 1pm.

Discovered most of the USB ports in the lounge didn't work. Past the time. A lot of time.

After what seemed like a decade it was time to board. As normal no one follows the instructions of which groups are boarding. When we got on board we got to turn left for the first time ever as the finger didn't join at the front of the plane. This meant whilst we sat in what has now been christened 'Wanker class' by a colleague of mine, we didn't have to have scum class walk past us. At the end of boarding a bloke got on with his kids who then sat in front of us. Said to Ann is that Eddie Redmayne? He then hit his head on the overhead locker. Turns out it wasn't but looked like him and he had special treatment, so it must have been someone.

His young son was sat in front of me and spent a lot of time climbed up the back of his seat staring at me. Ann thought this was hilarious. I blanked him.

Took forty minutes to get to take off and about six and a half hours to make the journey. We just about spent more time in the lounge than we did in the air.

Deplaned, got through passport control and the baggage came out really quickly. Eventually found our way to the Elizabeth Line station and waited for the next train. It was busy but as we were at the first stop we got seats.

At Liverpool Street I heard a racist on the phone.

On the train to Stowmarket we heard a woman on the phone who spoke very loudly, mainly about an egg woman. The woman behind us muttered 'We don't need to know dear' to herself.

Arrived at Stowmarket to find the taxi company had no record of our booking. Luckily a bloke turned up with his taxi to see if there was anyone needing a lift from the station. We got in and got home. He was a nice guy and we had a chat about the States the whole way home.

Got in and watched Everton's first premier league game at Hill Dickinson Stadium. We won which is startling considering what we saw live in the States.

Now trying to stay awake as I got up 29 hours ago. Also hungry but having to wait for the Tesco delivery to turn up.

States visited - 14

Total mileage - 5598 miles

Day Thirty One

Bathroom got very wet this morning as our shower curtain was missing. Presume the previous room occupant had been murdered and wrapped in it before being disposed of. Breakfast in the hotel and asked for a shower curtain before heading out for the final day of activities. Travelled north into Hartford and parked for free at the Legislative Office Building Public Parking Garage, which was nice. We then tried to work out how to get to the State Capital without being run over. Eventually figured it out although later on we found out it could have been a lot shorter and easier.

Went through security and set off the metal detector. Had to be wanded by an officer to find the problem which apparently was my belt. Took a self guided tour booklet and set off for a gander. This definitely was the tallest state capitol we've been to but also the least accessible. Both the Senate and House of Representatives were not open which is not usual in itself but both public viewing galleries were also not open. Had to take photos through windows.

Civil War cannonball in a tree

House of Representatives

Gold rotunda

Senate

Stained glass ceiling in the East Wing

Having seen everything we discovered an underground walkway from the Capitol to the Legislative Office Building. In there was a small shop. It wasn't great.  Woman starting talking to us about the UK. The best fish and chips she'd ever had was in London. Didn't have the heart to tell her that is probably the worst place to get it. She thinks Camilla and Charles look like horses. Got a magnet but not ideal. Discovered her eyesight was atrocious as she had to use a magnifying glass to see anything. We managed to get away and into the cafe. Picked up what we wanted but there was no one at the till. Worked out it was self service a bit like a self checkout at a supermarket.

On leaving we walked out and about two seconds to the carpark. Realised we could have entered that way when we had arrived. In the car and headed north to the New England Air Museum. It was quite big with a whole load of stuff. Highlights were a section all about women in early flight, an F19 and a B-.29.

Plane

Huey

F15

Bottom of an airship

B-29

Jeep

Saw a sign on a lift that I didn't believe.

200 people, sure it can

Made Ann go in it to see. She said she didn't think it would.

Got a decent magnet from the shop and then headed for lunch at the Vernon Diner. It was really good. I had a grilled cheese and lattice fries. Ann had something. Our waiter was a young lad and we had a chat with him about the differences between the US and UK. Picked up some desserts to go to have tonight. 

Then just as we were about to leave it happened. We've waited the entire trip for this moment and I suddenly noticed a man who had come in and sat down across the room from me. Managed to sneak a picture.

Dan Doppelganger!!

He may have white hair and a white beard but there was no mistaking it, the normal trip viewing of Dan Thomas had occurred. Celebrated although Ann had no idea what I was trying to communicate to her until we got outside.

Headed back to the hotel to drop the desserts off and found shower curtain had arrived. Headed to Safari Golf just across from our hotel. We both started with a hole in one and then I managed a second in a row but that was as good as it got.  It was the first course we've ever played which had African animals littered throughout.

Giraffes

Elephants

There were three shots in it at the turn and then a triple bogey from me on 14 brought it down to one shot. Unfortunately three bogeys in the last four holes undid Ann's challenge. Final result was:

Knightley - 43

Roffe - 47

We then headed to a garage to top up with cheap fuel ahead of tomorrow's final trip back to New York.

Now about to eat the dessert and pack everything neatly ready for the flight home.

States visited - 14

Day Thirty

Packed up everything and left the house which had been home for six days at 11am. Made the short journey east to Acushnet. Parked in the cemetery and then went looking. Unlike in Cleveland we didn't have a map, just a photo which gave us a clue that it was near a wall, had a hill behind and a couple of trees. Told Ann this as we set off looking and within three seconds she said there it is.

Ellen Beattie nee Bird

Ellen Bird, my Great Great Aunt, who I mentioned back along in the blog, moved to New England and died in Newport, RI. We'd noticed out of sheer coincidence that she was buried along with her husband within a few miles of where we had been staying. Whilst we were stood there, Ann then noticed other names on the back of the headstone. 

Birds

Had a look and saw it was William Bird and his wife. Said to Ann that looking at the dates it could well be her brother. After paying our respects we went back to the car and went on Google. Indeed she had a brother William born in 1885 matching the inscription.

Next we headed an even shorter distance back east to Battleship Cove. It had three large vessels to look at, USS Massachusetts which was a battleship, USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jnr, a destroyer and USS Lionfish, a submarine. From the outset it was clear that these vessels were in a much worse state than every other place we have been over the years. We started on the Massachusetts and it's deck was in an awful condition, with the wood all rotten. Went and had a drink in the cafe which was in the Mess Hall and then set off on a tour. Most of the rooms up top had nothing in as though it had been ripped out. Down below had a little more but overall it was quite disappointing. Lots of places had water in where holes have been eroded and are letting the rain in.

Massachusetts

Not sure he'll survive that hole in his chest

All the vessels

The state of it!

We went back to the mess to have lunch but they had run out of food. Decided to finish the museum then find somewhere else to eat.

Headed onto the Lionfish next. The entire top deck of the submarine was missing, jut corroded away. Inside it was actually not too bad. 

Met a man from the museum in there. Ann said you are the first old guy we've met so far and normally these places are full of them. He told us that he just likes talking about submarines. We discussed the condition of the vessels compared to other places and he said quite simply this place doesn't have the money to look after them unlike the likes of the USS New Jersey which we had seen three weeks ago. Also these ships have been decommissioned for far longer so have had longer to be eroded. 

We finished the Lionfish and then went on the Kennedy but really didn't stay very long on it. Got a magnet and left. We had a packed lunch with us but Ann had suggested we save that for tea tonight. So we decided to go to a Sonic Drive In for lunch. I was pleased as early on in the holiday she said we couldn't go to one for the entire trip.

We got lunch delivered to us by the carhop on roller skates and then headed east to Connecticut. Made our way to the Best Western Plus in Berlin just south of Hartford.

Ate the packed lunch for tea and now preparing for our final activity day tomorrow.

States visited - 14

Day Twenty Nine

Up at 4.30am. Set off at 6.30am and drove to Woods Hole ferry terminal in Massachusetts. Uneventful journey at that time of the morning. Advice was to arrive an hour before your sailing to Martha's Vineyard which we did exactly. Got put in a lane to wait for the 8.35am ferry to Oaks Bluff. Then some cars in our lane started moving. Got to the front and was asked if we wanted to catch the 8.15am ferry instead. Said yep, so drove onto the ferry. 

Ensured parking brake was on. Unlike the Lake Michigan ferry we could stay in the car but eventually we decided to go up to the passenger deck. Went and looked out the front of the boat but it looked too cold and windy so we didn't go out. Sat down and thought about how to use our bit of extra time when we arrived. Also had to see which dock we were going to. Turns out we were heading to Vineyard Haven.

Got called back to vehicles and then were unloaded very quickly. We drove to the Black Dog Bakery Cafe. Got drink and doughnut and sat for some time. Was fascinated by the man making the orders because every time he called a name out it sounded exactly the same no matter what the name was.

Eventually we left and drove to our first stop, Martha's Vineyard Museum which opened at 10am. Took the first photo outside when we saw this.

I want them hung up by their Buster Browns

Went in and then did the museum, they had a special Jaws exhibition to celebrate 50 years since it premiered. Went straight to the rest rooms and as we did so, saw this model which had been made.

Der dum

Had to

and again

Got annoyed by a family who seemed to think it was ok just to move and stand in front of you whilst you were reading the information about an exhibit. Was some interesting stuff although there wasn't a massive amount of things to see other than the Jaws stuff.

One of the two actual Ben Gardner heads used in filming

Quint's actual harpoon gun

One of the barrels.

It started to get busy so we left. Next stop was Edgartown which was used as the backdrop for the town in the film. Drove south and soon found out it was very busy in the centre of town. Very very busy. Tried to find somewhere to park but it was rammed. Eventually gave up and started heading out, but suddenly we saw a space in some on street parking so nipped in.

Had a walk about the town to see some of the filming locations and to do some shopping.

Where Mrs Kintner slaps Chief Brody

The ferry where the Mayor tells the Chief it wasn't a shark

Bought some stuff from a shop. Got chatting to the guy in the shop.  He asked how Europe was viewing the States at the moment and thanked us for coming over on holiday. He spoke about how the island has changed from being very sleepy pre Jaws to the mayhem it is now. He then gave us a photo of people outside the premier of Jaws fifty years ago.

Free gift

We headed back to the car and drove out of town towards, quoting Independence Day, 'the big Tomali', the iconic Jaws bridge. Parked up on the roadside and went to have a look.

Shark! in the pond!

The pond

Intrigued by the people climbing on it and jumping off into the water despite the large sign saying not to do so.

Went back to the car and watched the bit the bridge features in on YouTube to work out where each bit was filmed. Satisfied we'd done that we drove along the road and parked up so we could see the beach. Ate a packed lunch in the car as it was very cold and windy outside. Found out that all return ferries from Oaks Buff were being moved to Vineyard Haven due to the conditions.

We were going to head over to the other side of the island to see Menemsha and Aquinnah but realised it was an hour and a half round trip and we would barely have time there. Headed instead to Oak Bluffs to have a look around there instead but it was rammed as well and we could not find a parking spot despite two attempts going round. So we decided to head back to Vineyard Haven and park up there instead. Found this also rammed however did get lucky again and managed to get an on street spot. Mooched around the shops but they weren't great. 

Eventually it started raining so we headed to the car and back to the ferry terminal. Sat in the queue before boarding. Didn't bother getting out the car on the journey, just reclined the seat and tried to sleep.

Got off the ferry quite quickly again despite being parked at the side amongst all the support poles. Drove the hour back home in the pouring rain. Had dinner watching Jaws of course so we could see all the places we had been.

Now absolutely knackered and ready for bed. Tomorrow morning we pack up and leave for our very last spot before heading home at the weekend.

States visited - 14

Day Twenty Eight

Up early again as we had pre bought tickets for a 9am entrance. Headed back down to Newport to The Breakers. It is one of the so called Newport Mansions, a selection of grand houses you can visit. The Breakers is the largest of them and Rhode Island's most popular tourist destination. It's named after the waves which crash against the cliffs at the end of the garden. Arrived a little late due to roadworks on the way, but it wasn't an issue. Headed in and grabbed a leaflet for a self guided tour.

The house was built between 1893 and 1895 on the site of another mansion that had burnt down. It was owned by the Vanderbilt family, at the time the richest family in the USA. They made their money through ships and trains. Cornelius Vanderbilt II who had it constructed died four years after its completion. The tour took us from the great hall around the downstairs and then up to the first floor. 

Dining room

Indoor fountain

Morning room

Music room

1st floor balcony

The Breakers

House is made of metal and stone with no wood in the structure so it wouldn't burn down. This made it grand in some ways and also a little harsh in others. It had a complete different feel from an English equivalent. A lot less carpets and soft furnishes making it a little less homely and a bit more brash. Also lacks the historical features, a real lack of paintings and antique furniture of any note.

Bought a magnet and went to the cafe. Amazed that for a place so busy no one was using the cafe. Maybe the prices had something to do with it.

We then went for a walk in the garden to take a photo of the house. Obviously I was then asked to take a photograph by a couple of chaps. It was a polaroid camera which makes a change. Enquired of Ann why it is wherever we go I get asked to take someone's photo. She could only come up with because I'm tall.

Once we had a look at the breakers rolling in towards the cliffs we headed back to the car. 

Drove the short distance to Fort Adams. Got self guided tour tickets and headed in. We didn't know much about it before we went and we were surprised to find most of it in a state of decay. Learnt that it was left to rot from the mid sixties until the mid nineties hence the terrible state internally. You couldn't go inside anywhere, just walk around and look through windows at the devastation. It was the opposite of Fort Snelling we saw in Minnesota. That was all restored and rooms set out like they would have been but the surrounding area had been left to grow so you couldn't see out of it. Here the views from the one bit of roof you could access were stunning across the water.

Whilst we were up on the roof we spotted the chaps from Breakers who had asked me to take their photo. Luckily they didn't ask again.

Outside

A room which wasn't totally destroyed

Inside

View from the roof

At one point you could go in the tunnels which went under the walls at the front. Ann didn't want to. I did. They had hard hats and torches to take. Woman staff member on that section said she hit her head more wearing a hat as you can't tell how tall you are. I didn't take one having done that a lot before.

Shining a torch down the tunnel

The reason there were tunnels was so they could go in and hear people trying tunnel under the fort and then blow them up.

The other highlight was there were two coach loads of passengers having a meal in part of the fort. The coaches were waiting outside for them. They were from a cruise. They all boarded the coaches and then the coaches drove them to the other side of the fort to get on the cruise ship. It was about a 400m walk.

Once we were done we sat and ate lunch on the quayside watching the ships. It was lovely.

Drove back to Somerset. Topped up with fuel ready for tomorrow and nipped to Stop and Shop for a couple of bits. Whilst in there we bumped into this.

Cheeky

Apparently all Stop and Shops have them. They check floors for spillages and shelves for missing items. They are called Marty. It was wandering around aimlessly. Bit like the other staff.

Headed home. Went for a walk to the local beach at the end of the road as we hadn't been yet.

Bridge with battleship under it

Got a view of the bridge we keep driving over. Stuck toe in the water, it was quite warm. Back home for dinner and to bed early as we have to be up at the crack of dawn tomorrow.

States visited - 14

Ship watch - high

Day Twenty Seven

Up early and out just after 8am. Much cooler day to start. Headed the short distance into Providence and managed to park on the street right outside the the Rhode Island State House. Went through security. Had to take off belt this time too. Completed a self guided tour. 

Rotunda

Replica of the Liberty Bell

House of Representatives

Senate

State Reception Room

State House

Rhode Island being a small state showed as this was nowhere near as grand inside as Pennsylvania or Minnesota. It is quite funny visiting the state capitols as they are public buildings so you can just go wandering around anywhere you want. Woman just said if its locked you can't go in it, otherwise you can go anywhere.

Fun and games at the end when we went to go into the last part which was the Royal Charter Museum in a room next to the visitor centre/shop. The door was locked. The woman said just push it. Tried but it was locked. She came over with another woman and said that's odd, it shouldn't be locked. Other woman said I'll go and get my badge. Instead she came back with one of the Capitol Police Officers whose badge and keys wouldn't work. Woman said I'll go and get my badge. The officer said well mine works everywhere so it's not that. Other woman went to get her badge. We just left.

Headed the short distance to Roger Williams Park Zoo. Got there to find parking chaos despite the fact that further in there were lots of spaces. Went in and checked out the animals.

Stripey horses

Speed cat

Big nosed cow

Neck horse

Tree Kangaroo

Lesser Spotted Digger

Lump horse

Baldie Eagles

It wasn't the biggest place in the world and as Ann pointed out it was the sound of the I95 next door which made it quite disconcerting. Some of the enclosures looked like they were just the gardens of a house where the owner had died and it was awaiting sale, all a bit small and scruffy.

As normal when we go somewhere, I got asked to take a photo of a family, probably the biggest group yet. Not sure why it is.

Ann wanted to see the lions. There weren't any. Couldn't see the bison as the path past there enclosure was closed.

Eventually we had seen everything so headed home for lunch.

Then watched Everton play in a typically Everton way.

We had planned to go out to the Waterfire this evening, which is where things get set on fire in the middle of the river in Providence, but we decided we couldn't be bothered to go out again so didn't.

States visited - 14