King George III said, “A traitor is everyone who does not agree with me.”  You can say this belief George III had, may have contributed to why there were grumblings (to say the least) amongst the colonies.  Ultimately we all know where this story ended for George III and Britain, a Declaration and 240 years of Independence from British rule.

The briny breeze welcomed me to Massachusetts and Natalie’s home. It was an ancient aroma that ties Natalie’s Massachusetts to the Massachusetts of the 1620’s. A fragrance that carries a history of the old world meets the new world. I didn’t know it when I first arrived but I would get to know that scent. I would get to know that scent and what it meant to the lonely, hopeful souls who left everything they knew for “something better.” The scent surrounding those who stayed and ultimately formed a new nation.  I would walk and listen and smell the history and try to understand how it is still here 500 years later.

I arrived in Scituate Massachusetts to an empty home on the beach and a welcome text from Natalie.  I met Natalie in Phoenix, she was there for a meeting and she chose to stay at my home through AirBnB.  AirBnB started as a way for me to make some extra money and I quickly realized the happy byproduct was the opportunity I had to meet people from all over the US and the world.  And so it went for my time with Natalie.  And now Natalie is hosting me, but this time it is as a friend and I am grateful.  Our chance encounter has me in her home reading post-it notes with a big smile on my face.  During my trip I have slept in my car, my friend’s homes, at AirBnB’s, in a tent and at hotels.  My plan was to stay in a tent at the Canoe River Campground until Natalie returned from her business trip; but the caterpillars were camping with me and eating the oak trees and when you eat, you poop (I’ll spare you the pictures and the details) this is why I was at Natalie’s home early and why I had a big smile on my face; I was thinking about how we laughed at the caterpillars (and me).

Natalie arrived a day into my exploration of Scituate Massachusetts.  She was my conduit to the local and ancient history of the area.  We drove to a marina and had some lunch, I had the lobster roll, and we made our plan.  Just as with the other cities I have explored on my road trip, I want to get the flavor of the place I am in.  We talked about Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower, and the Cape Cod Canal.  I said let’s go!

A replica of the Mayflower is docked near the Plymouth Rock.  I wanted to see the Rock.  Natalie explained that it “just isn’t that big.”  As we walked to the Rock, I listened to the park employee speak about how the Mayflower anchored well out in Cape Cod Bay and a dinghy was brought into shore.  The story is the only discernible landmark in the area was what is now referred to as the Plymouth Rock.  It isn’t that big, but it made a big impression on the tired and hungry people who first laid eyes on it after such a long and arduous journey.

Michael joined me and Natalie the next day.  Michael was excited about my road trip and was eager to show me some more history.  Michael suggested Lexington.  I was all in.  We traveled together and talked about “the shot heard round the world.”  Michael narrated the drive from Scituate to Lexington and there was a joyful exuberance about how he told the stories.  I was so caught up in Michael’s excitement, I was surprised when he said we had arrived.  We parked and walked through a local cemetery and then it was on to Lexington Green.  We caught up to a docent as she was explaining what happened that fateful day.  She explained how the “Americans” (still British subjects) were waiting for the British soldiers for so long that they assumed the soldiers weren’t coming.  Some “Americans” went home and some went to the local pub.  Soon the soldiers did show and the “Americans” mustered.  The British Commander told the “Americans” to turn in their weapons and go home.  At this point the “Americans” were given some time to decide if they wanted to do that.  (Crazy how things used to be done.)  The “Americans” chose not to turn in their rifles but also chose not to fight because shooting at a British soldier was shooting at your own countryman and considered treason.  The “Americans” turned their backs to the British and started walking away and that is when a shot rang out.  No one knows who shot, the only true facts known are that 8 “Americans” were killed and no British soldiers were injured.  Concord was next and there would be no more worry about treason as the 400 Americans would now engage 100 British Soldiers.  The Americans were no longer British.

Our time together ended the next day with a trip to Fenway Park for a baseball game and one final history lesson.

I left my friends in Scituate with a promise to return soon and hopeful that they would be out to visit me in the future.

As I drove away, I was once again greeted by the briny breeze.  The breeze whispered good bye softly, slowly loosened its grip, changed direction and nudged me towards my next adventure.