Base Camp
After a week on the water in Bar Harbor, we traded ocean views for privacy in the trees at Pinewood Lodge and Campground. The site was close to the grocery store and had the fastest internet service we’ve had in a while. It was spacious and peaceful, which inspired us to plan for a classic camping night later in the week. The campground itself was large and well managed, although the bathrooms were a bit creepy and required quarters for the showers.
Monday, July 14th
We kicked the week off with a drive around the campground and another visit to Plymouth after work. We followed the coast for a while and passed several classic New England style homes with thatched roofs and flower beds filled with bright blue hydrangeas. We stopped by Men’s Wearhouse on the way home to browse suit options for Zac’s wedding look.
Tuesday, July 15th
The air conditioning began giving us trouble during the day, so we shut it off after work to let it rest. After some troubleshooting and a sweaty afternoon, we cooked dinner and delayed our outing to align with sunset. Around 8 p.m., we drove to Plymouth and walked about a mile down the breakwater jetty. The ocean air smelled ripe on this hot evening, but the gorgeous sunset made up for it.
Wednesday, July 16th
The A/C continued to act up today, so I called my HVAC-certified brother for advice. He recommended opening up the unit and giving it a thorough cleaning. Zac drove to Walmart for a ladder (which we later returned) and climbed onto the roof while Scout kept watch. Using a toothbrush, Zac started cleaning the coils until a neighbor generously lent us a handheld leaf blower. That made a significant difference and helped the unit run more efficiently. When I returned the blower, the neighbor admitted that he had never cleaned his unit either, which was oddly reassuring. We are clearly not the only ones figuring this out as we go.
Later that evening, we drove to Cape Cod as fog began to roll in. We reached Chatham Lighthouse just before dark and waded into the water and watched small crabs scurry across the sand. On our drive home, we took the long way through neighborhoods to admire the houses again. Many had names posted by their doors or mailboxes. A few favorites included Chatty Shack, Peace of the Sea, and Shore Thing.
Thursday, July 17th
Wanting to experience Rhode Island without dedicating an entire week to it, we planned a short evening trip. We drove west to Providence and timed our arrival for a special lighting of the basins along a pedestrian bridge at sunset. A group of Rhode Islanders drove a boat down the river with a large torch to light the 5 basins in front of a large crowd. The display doesn’t happen often and felt like a special treat for our visit.
Friday, July 18th
We had a reservation for the Sam Adams Brewery tour at 5:30pm., but heavy traffic in Boston made us nearly 20 minutes late. Fortunately, the staff still let us join and we arrived just in time for the first beer sample. We started with the Summer Ale while the guide explained the brewing process, then moved into the tasting room for a glass of Boston Lager. There, we learned how to play the role of a Cicerone (aka a certified beer expert). The final tasting was a blueberry shandy, one of their R&D brews. This particular facility is where new recipes are tested, and some are released exclusively in the area and even seasonally. I would definitely revisit this tour to catch the portion we missed.
After the tasting, we sat in the outdoor beer garden, played a few hands of Bitch, and enjoyed a couple more pints. We continued into the city afterward to explore some of Boston’s historical landmarks. We ended the night with bowls of clam chowder and lobster bisque, an odd choice for a warm summer evening, but still enjoyable.
Saturday, July 19th
The morning began slowly, followed by a two-hour drive north to Salem. Most of the day was spent exploring the town’s history and pop culture sites. We visited the Witch Trials Memorial, an old cemetery, and several eclectic shops filled with crystals and tarot cards. We also found a few filming locations from Hocus Pocus. While Salem leans heavily into its tourist image, you can still feel the weight of the town’s history.
To wrap up the week, we grilled bbq chicken and played lawn games back at camp while Scout supervised like the campground king he is. We picked up some Summer Ale from the nearby gas station and lit a fire as soon as the sun went down. We read scary stories generated by ChatGPT, which featured us as the main characters. A fitting end to a spooky day.
Sunday, July 20th
We were on the road all day, weaving through Rhode Island and then Connecticut, making a pit stop in Hartford to see the Capitol building and then grabbing lobster rolls and fish & chips near New Haven. The final leg of the trip was spent sitting in heavy traffic outside of New York City, due to having to avoid roadways with height restrictions. It was a long, exhausting day and we made it to our next campsite right as the sun set.
Thanks for reading! Check out the reel for the week below.