Last year I posted pics of the Mayflower II being towed through the Canal on a very rainy, dark afternoon. It was headed to dry dock in Mystic, CT for repairs. I knew it was supposed to get towed back to Plymouth but I totally forgot to check the marine traffic website that morning. We were headed over to Sandwich and from the lights near our house, you can see the tops of large boats and ships that are in the Canal. We saw the 2 masts and I said, 'Oh my god! That's the Mayflower!' I sped down to the parking lot at the Herring Run along with a whole bunch of other people. We had to double park but everyone was doing it and we weren't staying long anyway.
Looking at the Sagamore Bridge. I stayed up in the parking lot rather than go down on the service road.
Here it comes!
Escort
Seeing it out of port, even though it's not sailing under it's own power, never gets old.
The ship will stay up in Plymouth all summer and then get towed back to Mystic next fall for more repairs. I've heard that it's going to be gone this time for 30 months and will return to Plymouth in time for the 400 year celebration in 2020.
Good pix JoJo. I visited her once when we were in Plymouth some years ago. She doesn't actually have sails does she? It staggered me that so many people could crowd into such a small place - not only that, they had cooking fires in a wooden ship. Amazing she ever made it. When was this one built, do you remember? Could Google I guess.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo! I don't think there are sails, no. Can you believe how tiny it is? People in the 1600s must've been a lot shorter. This was built in England in 1955-56 and sailed over here in 1957. So it must've had sails at some point. The original journey in 1620 was pretty miserable.
DeleteWow, how cool is that? Lucky you! Were you surprised at how small it was? I can't imagine crossing the Atlantic in that. They were some brave people, huh?
ReplyDeleteI haven't been onboard since an elementary school field trip in the early/mid 70s and I remember thinking back then how tiny it was. What an awful journey. They should've set out in May, not September.
DeleteWhat a beautiful sight!phyllis
ReplyDeleteSure is!
DeleteThat is SO cool, it gives me the chills.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week, JoJo.
Thanks Robyn! It's a pretty huge event to see it being towed like this. You would not believe how crowded that parking lot was! Russell stayed with the car so that I could get pics.
DeleteThat is an amazing ship. I can't think of a better way to spark an interest in history than seeing something like this.
ReplyDeleteIt would've been really neat to be on board for this trip but I heard it's 'who you know'. Not even sure how many people got to do it.
DeleteThat Mayflower could very easily become a pirate boat. . - in case the Black Pearl was busy with other chores? Was Cliff Richards or Johnny Depp (Jack Sparrow) about?
ReplyDeleteCliff Richard the singer? lol Yes, this does have a very pirate ship feel to it! You wouldn't believe how tiny it is though. Talk about zero privacy.
Deletewow so cool! we didn't see it when we were at the Mystic seaport. That must have been awesome to see
ReplyDeleteWere you at Mystic recently? I think it was in the shipyard in dry dock, and not on display. I've never been down there to Mystic. I need to check it out! I really want to go to Mystic Pizza cause I loved the movie.
DeleteHow cool!!! So glad you got to see it!
ReplyDeleteGave me chills when you think about such history. Very cool pics
ReplyDeleteThanks! I know that, compared to Europe, the USA is still pretty young. But in terms of US history, we live in the oldest part of it. It's pretty cool.
Delete