Massachusetts---Day 11

We started our last day by leaving Vermont and going to Groton, Connecticut to go to the naval submarine base and museum. Wouldn't you know it---it was closed on Tuesdays. Bummer.

In Mystic, Connecticut, we stopped at the Elm Grove Cemetery to do some geo-caching. It was such a pretty place and probably the most unusual cemetery I've ever been to. Many of the graves are "decorated"---either with flowers or other odds and ends. This grave is in the midst of a little garden. Can you see the bird bath?

 This one had the Magi and other assorted bits and pieces---shells, rocks, an orange and some incense.

 This gravestone is a bench in the garden. Such a serene setting.

 I've never seen a lighthouse incorporated into a gravestone before.

 I guess this person was a sailor. Why else make the headstone a sail boat?

Geo-caching is global treasure hunting. It is so much fun and the "caches" are all different. This one is called a "nano" and is the smallest. It's about the size of a pencil eraser. It opens to reveal the log that is to be signed by the finder. They are challenging to find. This one was painted green to match the torpedo it was magnetized to.

 This was Butch and Walter's most unusual finds this trip. This is a "fake" sprinkler head. Placed in the yard, you can't tell the difference from the real thing. You have to rely on your GPS to get you to the right spot. Sure enough, it screwed open to reveal the log inside. Clever.

After lunch, we headed to Providence, Rhode Island so that Chris and I could go to the Culinary Arts Museum on the Johnson and Wales University campus. It was so interesting. Do you know why chefs wear double-breasted white jackets? So if one side gets dirty, it is quickly reversible---assuring that the chef looks his best at all times. This is just one little tidbit of information we got here. There were full diners on display along with early appliances, presidential china, airline memorabilia and tons more. We spent nearly two hours here. Diners are making a come back with New Jersey having the most.

The guys went off on their own to do some more geo-caching, but didn't have much luck.

Check out the cost of a manhattan on this Howard Johnson. It's Butch's favorite drink. If he could get it for 75 cents, he would love it more!

 Can you believe that the airlines served a small package of cigarettes with every meal? That's the 1960's for you.

 Not exactly culinary related. But I found this in the bathroom. I've never seen a dispenser that hands out free tampons and free prophylactics! I decided to help myself. Both were empty. Figures.

 Everyone remembers the car hop and the food trays with your order that hooked to your window. This one was a "Dog and Suds." Sure brings back lots of memories. Of course for me, it was A&W and Steak and Shake. If it wasn't for "140 Steak," I never would have met Butch.

 You can still find Skee Ball lanes around. I always loved playing and winning tickets for stupid little prizes.

 A complete diner in the museum. A lot of people think they were made from old rail cars. But, they were actually made by the same companies that made rail cars. They were shipped by truck to the desired location.

This hot dog cart started as a mild truck pulled by horses in 1872. Horses were replaced by trucks in  1926. This cart was purchased and then turned in to a hot dog cart. It was used continuously until 2006 when it was donated to the museum. One couple even had it in their front yard, selling hot dogs for over 20 years. They had 20 to 50 customers a day.

This sign in on the cart. If those were the prices in 2006, I can see why this was a successful operation.

This has been the best vacation! We traveled to 7 states (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island) in 11 days and logged 1850 miles. The guys found about 30 caches. It really went by fast as all vacations do. There isn't anything we would have done differently. Now the pressure is on. The guys did such a good job of planning our route and itinerary---plus all the surprises. Chris and I will have to come up with something the next time.

Tomorrow, it's home again. I'm actually looking forward to it. Saturday, we have a rented a pontoon boat on Center Hill lake for a family fun day. I need to start thinking about the food. Nothing like getting home and hitting the ground running! Plus I have a few layouts I need to finish before AYM on Monday! Sunday is all mine...