Tuesday was the first full day of fall and it happened to be a very warm and beautiful day. Gracie wanted to take Little Gracie (our bigger boat) out one last time.

We set out in the early evening and we took along some Sushi that we got downtown and we dined at a spot called Picnic Point.

We enjoyed a lovely sunset and then made our way back to port.

It was a fitting end to the summer.

Well, not really…but we did go biking last weekend on the Glacial-Drumlin Trail. The trail goes a total of 52 miles one-way, we are not nearly that ambitous. Last summer we did the first ten mile segment, and it was a good ride. Crushed gravel makes for a smooth ride (look out for the occasional pothold were the drainage pipes are run) and there are plenty of shade trees to give a break from the hot afternoon sun.

This time we decided to try the second segment of the trail, which runs 6 miles to Lake Mills. We enjoyed this stretch as much (or maybe even more) as our first ride. The trail was nice and flat, perfect for recreational riders. No big hills to start out or deter new visitors from embarking. There was plenty of scenery, old railroad bridges, wildlife, and even a small tunnel we passed through.

One of the best surprises was the view of Rock Lake. The trail runs right alongside the lake, providing nice water views and a welcome distraction when your legs get a bit tired. There are plenty of rest points, including picnic tables and the nice bench where we took this picture. Next summer, we hope to continue our gradual journey across the divide.

A note on the bicycles – yes, they are identical. We tell them apart by the color of our waterbottles. As all good couples should.

Our adventures took us to Boston last week. The summer months have flown by, and we wanted to savor the last weekend before Barbeque Day. We packed our bags, and set off for a three-day trip to Beantown.

Arriving at Logan Airport showcased the waterfront right away. The airport is completely unique, jettisoned by water on all sides – as C said, “Not much room for pilot error.” We caught the shuttle to the Water Taxi. It was my first experience, and I loved every minute. We arrived just after sunset, and the skyline along the harbor was excellent.

C  booked the perfect hotel, Marriott Long Wharf. Great harbor views, and as it turned out centrally located to all the sights we had in mind. Thursday night we enjoyed a genuine lobster feast, and had an after-dinner drink at an Irish bar named after one of our favorite movies.

Friday was our day to see the sights. We set off on the Red (Freedom) Trail, and loved having all the historical details at our fingertips.  One of our first stops, although not technically part of the trail, was the Massachusetts Statehouse. We enjoyed the capitol, but still agreed ours is better.

Other favorites included the corner of the Boston Massacre, Old North Church (Lanterns in window to notfiy Revere, ‘One if by land and two if by sea’), and Bunker Hill. Down at the Boston Navy Yard, we saw the USS Constitution. As luck would have it, (C says – things break our way!) it happened to be the day of the final sail before Old Ironsides was put into dry dock for a 3-year restoration project.

One of the best moments on the trip for C was when we saw a Carver cruising out of the Boston Harbor during our time at the Navy Yard. It was the exact style of his old Endeavour, and cut quite a pretty path with the sun shining off every inch of deck boards.

Friday night was the Sunset Cruise, a tour of the entire Inner Harbor and outstanding view of the sunset over the Charles River. As the sun disappeared from the horizon, the Constitution fired off her final cannon shot for many moons (we noted even the local harbor police had motored over to mark the occasion).

We explored Boston’s famous North End Friday night, and ate at the oldest Italian restaurant in the neighborhood. We agreed the bolognese didn’t come anywhere near as good as the one we make at home, but we did love the ambiance.

Saturday was…drumroll…the whale watch. Something I’ve always wanted to do, and a new adventure for us both. We chose an early morning cruise, departing at 9am. Located off the coast of Cape Cod is one of the prime whale-watching habitats in the world, Stellwagen Bank. We found a bench seat on the port side, room only enough for two – perfect for us. It was unbelievable the amount of people who were seasick and tettering around the boat…landlubbers. The sea really was very calm, and mariners that we are, we’d dressed in layers and prepared for the weather. It was bright sunshine, and overall an idyllic day in the North Atlantic.

After about 90 minutes of cruising, the captain slowed and our guide announced “Whale! Starboard side at two o’clock!” C maintained our bench while we I went to check it out, but amongst the hundreds of other craning necks I couldn’t see much. But, the best was yet to come.

We turned out to have prime front row viewing as the boat turned and suddenly the mama whale (Nile) and her calf were right in front of us. The guide said they were nursing and resting, but it appeared plenty of activity to newbies like us. The baby whale rolled over, and both whales flapped their fins on the water. The bright sun gave a cerulean blue-green color to the water, and we could see clear through to the white stomachs of the whales. It was an unforgettable experience, and worth every penny.

The New England Aquarium was across the street from our hotel, and we continued the nautical theme with a short visit there. The best exhibit was the giant coral reef in the middle complete with squid, baby sharks, and the greenest meanest looking eels I have ever seen. C also loved the penguin exhibit, especially watching how fast they swim and dart past eachother in the water.

Boston has a fairly well-developed subway system, and C says it is one of the cleanest he has ever been on. We traveled through the various routes to the Cambridge neighborhood, where we visited a very quintessential Ivy-League looking Starbucks and the Harvard campus. We can now say with acclaim, “I went to Harvard. Duh”.

Sunday morning brought the end of our journey. The weather was just as beautiful as upon our arrival, and it wasn’t easy to say goodbye to our great visit. As Lion Tamer says, “If you leave feeling wistful, you know you’ve done it well!” One more ride on our water taxi, and we were on our way home.

We will definitely be back to Boston.