After Day 3's 104 miles ride, Day 4 was a local pleasure cruise -- a chance to let Ian work on his own bike, a day of relaxation for Dad. Carlisle is always a favorite destination -- pretty, rural -- lots of straight rolling roads.
Day 5 -- April 18th, brought SNOW! Followed by cold rain. I channeled my inner postman and put in a few chilly miles -- mostly to visit Norwood, accidentally bypassed on Day 3.
Massachusetts is known as "The Old Colony State". For a long time, I never understood -- Massachusetts is not the oldest colony (that would be Virginia). But "Old Colony" is everywhere on the South Shore. As in the "Old Colony Railroad", etc.
What is now the Commonwealth was created from the 1691 merger of two colonies: Massachusetts Bay (founded 1630 in Boston) and Plymouth (founded 400 years ago, in 1620). Making Plymouth Colony -- the Old Colony! That diagonal line on the map -- is the boundary between Plymouth and Mass. Bay colonies (today, the boundary between Norfolk and Plymouth and Bristol Counties).
Today's ride was a tour of the Old Colony. A long stretch through seaside towns like Duxbury, where we passed the final resting place of failed lover Miles Standish. An obligatory visit to Plymouth Rock (IMO, one bogus historical artifact ). Then turning inland, miles through cranberry country, including Ocean Spray's headquarters in Carver. It was a gorgeous day, and Ian and I had a great time on the tandem.
402 miles down, 3098 to go!
PS -- note the diagonal line on the southern border of the map -- we will return to this later!!
230 miles down -- 3270 to go!
