Wednesday 5 October 2016
We have a little trouble finding the breakfast room this morning – it is downstairs and does not seem open when we get there – we are up quite early as we have not quite adjusted to the time differences. An adequate if not an outstanding repast this morning. Here is the clock in the breakfast room – although I have no idea which Southampton is the source of the clock!
Great Rail are very keen on inserting free days to ensure that their clientele do not overdo it – although their customers do tend to be the older age group which these days includes me but not Jackie! So our first day in the USA is a free day which helps adjust to the time difference.
Our first task this morning is to walk along the main street to find the post office and despatch a couple of post cards. Also they helpfully tell us where to find the bus stop – which might seem an odd form of transport on a rail based holiday. The tour guide recommendation is to take the bus to Hyannis which is about 20 miles east of here. Whilst reckoned to be about an hour the journey is closer to 75 or more minutes.
When I was growing up in the Sixties there would often be mentions in news reports of the “Hyannis Port Compound” which was the summer residence of the Kennedys away from Washington and where they could enjoy some privacy. This was someway out of Hyannis itself along on the coast.
These days on Main Street of Hyannis there is the John F Kennedy Hyannis Museum which we wander around – I think they are somewhat limited in the material to which they have access as I spot the same photo being used several times – which perhaps confirms the privacy which applied. An interesting reminder of that period of history.
In need of sustenance we head to “Spanky’s Clam Shack and Seaside Salon” for lunch. It is right by the water and we are able to watch boats coming and going. Once again stunned by portion sizes, hopefully we will adjust our ordering to match before too much longer. Photos of Hyannis are here.
We catch the bus back. At one location outside (I think) a supermarket we circumnavigate a huge selection of pumpkins as we are not far from Halloween. When we get back to Falmouth there are some wild turkeys walking on the green.
All the photos of Falmouth are here.
This gives me a chance to use the indoor pool and to spend some time by the side of the pool reading and listening.
In an effort to get something more suitable in size terms we eat in the local pizzeria this evening and do not overload ourselves, having had a decent lunch as well!