JUNE 21 - 24

Saturday June 21^st - Our next move was 62 miles to Concord, NH where we camped at Great Meadows Campground. As we were setting up camp the cutest dog at the site next to us came out to greet us followed by his lovely owner Judy. We really enjoyed getting to know Judy who was traveling around the US in her camper van with a goal to visit all the states. She and “Chief” were a great team but missing their third family member Gary, Judy’s spouse who recently passed. We left to see the Canterbury Shaker Museum. We enjoyed a guided tour of the village and learned so much about the faith of this community. Their primary beliefs were rooted in 1) equality in all ways; gender, race, etc, 2) sharing of all possessions except clothing, 3) celibacy, 4) pacifism, 5) confession of sins, 6) separation from the world, and 7) simplicity. They were known for their strict daily schedule with specific times for work, worship, meals and other activities, always with men and women separated. Their worship was marked by singing and dancing again with women on one side of the church and men on the other. Shakers were renowned for their high-quality craftsmanship particularly in furniture making, textiles and other practical items with emphasis on functionality and minimalist design. They developed the famous Shaker broom. Surprisingly they were not opposed to use of technology and since they did not reproduce they were a great, loving community for orphans at that time. When we returned to our campsite we discovered we had no electric power so we sat outside and visited again with Judy while waiting for the electrician to fix the problem. Then we ate dinner and retired for the evening.

SHAKERS IRONED EVERYTHING - EVEN SHEETS

SPIN DRYER USED FOR 75 YEARS AND STILL WORKS!

DUMB WAITER TO HOIST LAUNDRY TO 3RD FLOOR DRYING RACKS

DRYING RACK SYSTEM

HIGHLY PROFITABLE SWEATER KNITTING BUSINESS. PIONEERED COLLEGE VARSITY LETTER SWEATERS

VARIOUS HAND IRONS KEPT WARM BY OLD GRANITE HEAD STONES

Sunday June 22^nd - We awoke early and went to mass in Concord, NH at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. We stopped for breakfast sandwiches at McDonald’s afterwards then drove into charming downtown historic Concord. We parked Boo-boo then walked through the streets to enjoy the beautiful buildings so well restored and preserved. We have noticed how so many of the communities in New England have appreciated and preserved their history. Next we drove to Pawtuckaway State Park and took a beautiful 6 mile hike. We were very tired and ready to return to Boo-boo but as we approached the end Michael said, “I think this path is a short-cut to the car”. Well, IT WASN’T! It felt like we added a mile to our hike. Ughhh. We ate dinner out at Texas Roadhouse on the way back to Yogi; 2 meals out in one day!

EXACT REPLICA OF THE LIBERTY BELL

VIEWS FROM PAWTUCKAWAY BEACH AREA

PAWTUCKAWAY BEACH AREA

Monday June 23^rd - We enjoyed a beautiful but hot day in Portsmouth, NH. First we visited the Moffatt-Ladd House and Garden established in 1763. We took an excellent tour of the house and garden where we saw a Horse Chestnut tree planted by William Whipple in 1776 when he returned home from Philadelphia after signing the Declaration of Independence. We saw a 200 year old rose bush planted when the house was being built. We saw the beautiful interior of the home and learned of the history of it’s inhabitant’s most notably William Whipple, one of our Founding Fathers. Next we went to Strawbery Banke Museum. The original homeland of the Abenaki people that then became home to settlers for multiple generations from many countries. The buildings were restored on their original sites and the museum curators represented homes, establishments, races and cultures in the buildings as their research supported at their earliest dates. They represented later generational lifestyles in a museum-like building as well as 3 other buildings showing the restoration processes. It was all a very interesting visit. We ended the day with grocery shopping and laundry.