August 2 Newport Rhode Island or Bust

August 2

Arrived at Jill's after a long trek on the Minutemen Trail - between Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts.  Hot, humid, and very historical.. this trail is a MUST for out door enthusiasts and history fanatics alike!  One thing I love about this state is that with every historical monument there is a colonial dude dressed and ready to make history come alive.  I've heard plenty of stories and seen reinactments!  Just by showing up.  The North Bridge in Concord is really spectacular - to see where the two sides met - causing the 'Regulars' to turn and run back to Boston because thousands of militia where ready to fight - was surreal (Similar to Gettysburg- but not as intense).  Concord is also a cradle for intellectual thinkers and writers - visited 'Author's Ridge' in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery - during the daylight, of course!!! (Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Alcott) Kind of creepy even then as this ridge is in the furthest part - deep into the cemetery.  Overall, Concord is so charming.  I felt totally safe- I even went for a jog in the evening!  Couples walking around, hand in hand.  Very sweet.
Stopped for lunch in Lexington and had a lovely conversation with an older gal - tried to share my lunch, but she was content with her Starbucks.  :-).   (We hit it off right a way)

Welcome to the Ocean State!!!! I finally arrived to Jill,Joe and Ned's (cousins) around 8 pm -  Had to take a tour around Newport first!!! It looks the same - as I remember 25 years ago ( we also were here in 1998 for a quick weekend). My internal GPS worked like I never left!!!  I could give Garmin a needed break.  Ahhhh........ smell the salty Narragansett sea air...

August 1 Graduated from Harvard

August 1

Earned a certificate of achievement now it's time to put into practice.  I have a lot of thinking ahead about the year's curriculum.  Said our goodbyes.  I took a picture of the two gals I immediately bonded with - and it is uncanny how the resemble my two dearest friends at school - can't wait to share the photo with them.  One gal, Stephanie, from rural New Hampshire, the other, Anne,  a prominent Cap Codder/NewYorker.  Packed up at Estee's and made my way to Concord, Massachusetts.  Famous for many historical figures...Henry David Thoreau.  The Colonial Inn too is a historical landmark (1716).  This colonial village was where the British and Minute Men clashed for the first time in 1775.  'The shot heard round the world', coined by Ralph Waldo Emerson, happened here.  Tomorrow, I'll start at the Visitors Center.  

July 31 Overloaded with information

July 31

Practicing some interactive presentation sites.  A bit overwhelmed, but will try to impliment some or parts when school starts.  AT History would have been a great practice group - but alas, don't get them this year. 

Technology today - below is a practice of uploading an image and attaching tags of information. 
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/286862117577949185

This could be a multi media presentation..Voice Thread
http://voicethread.com/share/3277090/

This should now have a video clip added to a thinglink about the Massachusetts 54th
https://www.thinglink.com/scene/286886407891320833#tlsite

Here is an audio boo - for my family...
http://audioboo.fm/boos/904151-voice-recording-for-family

Here is a Google Forms I just created and could use perhaps in class... with modifications/additions..
http://tinyurl.com/bqvk55f



But, I am finding that they are not private - once you are in them you can change my settings. 
Please don't :-)

July 30 Small world for sure

July 30

The first day of what made this whole trip become a reality happened today - The workshop 'Teaching History with Technology' at Harvard University has started.  There are about 25 of us, from all around the globe...not really... but all around the country.  I heard someone say he was from San Diego and there are a few mid-westerners.  There also is another person from Traverse City!!! Our small corner has two students attending this very prestigious workshop!  (Smiles).  Go Traverse City!  This was a day filled with tools for immediate classroom use.  The instructors are amazing and so very tech savvy.  I am trying to keep up with the learning curve - I am glad I started a blog!  You may notice my blogs now have pictures and videos.  I'll be improving all earlier blogs soon.   I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!  Strolled around Harvard Square sipping my Starbucks after class.

Civil War Statue 

July 29 Big small city, Boston

Sam Adams Monument

Long Wharf and city view

July 29
Sunday morning driving into Boston would be considered relatively easy.  It's just that the roads/highways/turnpikes, and tunnels are all so confusing.  I parked at Long Wharf, deciding it would be the center of the 'tourists  hot spots'.  Made my city tour, being the only one on the on/off bus at 9:30 a.m., I got a great historical narrative.  A misty day for the 45 minute harbor tour, but well worth it.  The Freedom Trail was the next activity to bring me closer to Revolutionary history.  Boston Visitor's Guide

Paul Revere's House

 Monument at Bunker Hill 294 steps up

Walking many miles and feeling a bit overloaded with history, it was time to see my niece, Estee.
Had a lovely dinner at 'The Red House' in Cambridge.. I guess maybe in the Harvard Square area, not really sure yet :-)

The Red House

Me and Estee after our delicious dinner :-)

July 28 Nothing like family!

July 28

Slept great, the first time in a few days.  Carol and Rob's Natick home is beautiful.  Carol and I spent the day walking, talking, eating, walking and talking some more.  When the welcomed storm opened up, we watched two movies with no conclusive endings.  Feeling a bit frustrated, and not wanting to watch the Olympics, time for Sam Adams and to get psyched up for tomorrow's Boston adventure!!! 

July 27 Crossing the Delaware

July 27

Memorial to Washington crossing the Delaware

After no sleep and brief sunrise run to the river front in Philly, it was time to move on.  Last night, I was rained in, so after some mapping, I discovered how close Trenton, NJ is - and that reminded me of the great Christmas Day story when Washington's surprise attacked the Hessian mercenaries!  His timing was a bit delayed - and the fear of losing the surprise attack effect was doubtful - but his troops pulled it off!  It was definitely a needed morale boost - though this was before the horrific winter at Valley Forge we all know about. 

This journy is really chronologically messed up -
1860s, winter 1777, Spring 1776, May 1787, Christmas 1776..next stop in Boston will bring me to 1770's and ending this adventure with 1775. 

The national park is located in Taylorsville, settled after Washington's crossing.  It is absolutely lovely.  Charming, charming, charming!  Foot/narrow car bridge will get you across the Delaware to New Jersey.  Absolutely a lovely park, colonial bed and breakfast, and quaint shops.

Single Car/Foot Bridge crossing the Delaware River

I should have appreciated the serenity longer because the hours that followed were nothing but traffic enroute to Natick, Massachusetts!  My friend, Garmin, took me along I 95 North through NYC !!!!  Not sure if that was the best route.  Focusing on traffic and the Empire State Building was tricky.  She guided me into the Bronx, but she pulled me through.  Ours is a relationship built on trust.  Again, NYC is just a drive by....Someday...  Pennsylvania drivers have been the nicest, Connecticut's the most crazy, and Massachusett's Turn Pike, east of I 84, is absolutely gorgeous.  I arrived at Carol and Rob's a bit late, cracked open my first patriotic Sam Adams beer... ahhhh, time for some r & r with my family.