Up and out mid-morning, heading south. After reviewing Google Map and the tour books, we decided to head to Cape Cod with one stop along the way at Walpole Mass. Getting to Walpole involved three toll highways and I495, one of the 'ring roads' that allows traffic headed up and down the coast to bypass the traffic zoo of Boston. We dicided to head to Walpole because I lived and worked there for a while in 1973. I had worked for MacMillan Bloedel since graduating from UBC, and transferred to their US lumber sales group as IT manager. That group, The Blanchard Lumber Company, was based just outside of Boston in Walpole. After about half a year in Walpole the whole office was moved to Atlanta.
I'm not sure what I really expected, but told Jan what I thought we would find there in terms of the town and the 'common' (a town center field) though my own memories were clouded by the passing years. On arrival, nothing was familiar except the stadium in Foxborough where the Patriots play. Nothing. So we wandered about, had lunch, bought some trinkets, and chatted with some locals. But as a trip down memory lane, it wasn't. It seems that things change in 35 years. And some things fade, like my memory. But check out the neat cop car, the name above the door handle is 'Chief Stillman', rank hath its privileges.
On the ring road again to spend the night in Hyannis, Mass, on Cape Cod south of Boston. Went for a long walk around the small but beautiful town in the evening. A breeze was blowing in from the sea, smelling all salty and warm, and the resaurants were full of locals enjoying their Saturday evening out. Very few tourists around, ours was one of three cars in the motel we stayed at. The season is passed but the charm remains.
