Escape the Room Boston

Located on the third floor of a none descript building in Boston's financial district is a fun interactive game designed to challenge the players analytical and problem solving skills and their ability to work as a team.  "Escape the Room" as its called offers players two options; the office and the dig. Each challenge or mystery puzzle is intended to keep its occupants locked inside unless they can crack clues. We choose the original "office" challenge.

What looks like any other office with a few desks, chairs, and file cabinets is filled with hints clues and mind games. This isn't going to be an answer key but I'll give you a few hints not to leave you completely in the dark.  Everything in the room serves a purpose. Check them top to bottom and side to side for hints and clues. You can use your smart phone and might even need them to solve some of the hints but there is no need to research anything online everything you need to solve the puzzle and escape is in the room. 

It took us 56 minutes and 46 seconds to crack the code and escape our office prison. It's a maximum of 10 people in a room at a time and you have 60 minuets to some the room. We finished with pi on the clock. I would highly recommend it as we all had a very fun time. 

Whalers Brewing Company

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Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum

Located just off the Congress Street Bridge in historic Boston, is a floating museum unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before. The little known fact is that the current museum floating in the Fort Point Channel is roughly only a few hundred yards from where the Tea Party took place on December 16,1773. 

Authentic tea ships, live actors, high-tech interactive exhibits, multi-sensory documentary called “Let it Begin Here,”  and an original tea crate from the Boston Tea Party are just part of the experience. 

After entering a town hall style room we are each given the identity of a early American revolutionist and a feather to use as a symbol to others fighting the English that we are part of the cause. Next we participated conversation with Samuel Adams who explained that they offered Governor Hutchinson an opportunity to send the three tea ships back to England with their cargo but he refused and said they must be offloaded before returning back to England.

He also used his words to enrage the crowd calling on one such colonist asking James Brewer how he managed to pay for the new windows he needed on his house.  With the Townshend Acts in place he revealed that it was at the cost of feeding his family. 

After a spirited debate about what to do we headed down the gang plate towards the Eleanor, one of three ships that were in Boston Harbor that fateful night, where we boarded and systematically destroyed every tea crate. During the destruction one revolutionist was  knocked unconscious. That identity belonged to Grace's mother.  Try thought that he was dead and brought him to a barn to be buried the next day only to find him in the pub the following morning.

The Eleanor was a small and very cramped ship where crew shared the hold with its cargo. Before disembarking the historic vessel we each took the opportunity to throw a crate of tea into the harbor. 

Once off the ship we entered the museum its self where observed a discussion between two colonist woman. One a Tory and one a rebel arguing their perspectives. It was a riveting example of the opposing perspectives in the colonies. 

Next we entered the portrait gallery where one of only two surviving crates from the Boston Tea Party is on display.  The Robinson Half Chest as it is known washed up in the salt marshes where it was saved by a young man who hid it away to protect against any loyalist reprisals before it got passed along many generations before being given to the museum for display. Next like the portrait hall of Hogwarts the portraits of John Handcock and King George III came to life as the corresponded about the affairs of the colonies. 

Next we enjoyed the multi sensory "Let It Begin Here" presentation recalling the ride of Paul Revere, the Battle of Lexington and Concord and thus the start of the revolution. Once done we exited into the Tea house where visitors could sample the various blends of tea that were destroyed. While I didn't sample any of the tea I did enjoy a cinnamon scone fresh from the oven.  
 

Meigs Point Nature Center Canoe Trip @ Hammonasset State Park

Named after Johnathon Meigs a American Revolutionary hero and recipient of a congressional sword for the Battle of Sag Harbour, Meigs Point Nature Center offers a weekly 2-hour guided tour of the Hammonasett River. The tour is by reservation

Dan and I brought our own kayaks for the tour while my parents reserved a canoe. The cost of the tour was $5 and departed at 12:30 from the Nature Center. After a brief drive down a trail we arrived at the launch zone. We were almost immediately uninvited by mosquito's and horse flys. Dan and I unloaded the Kayaks while tour leader Mike and his helper unloaded 9 canoes and related life jackets and paddles. As they reviewed safety rules Dan and I launched the kayaks to escape the attacking insects. 

Once on the water we were thankfully left alone and the first canoe to launch was my parents. Having canoe'd before they had no problem and we made our way out the small canal towards the Hammonasset River. As the remaining tour participants joined us we crossed the channel and followed the salt marshes with our tour guide Mike pointing out the various birds and other wildlife we encountered.  We traveled roughly 1.3 miles up river to the bridge at route 1. There Mike told us a story about the history of the area before we began the paddle back to the launch spot. 

It was a beautiful day on the water. When we reached the laugh ramp we quickly got the kayaks out of the water and on the roof rack.  We moved quick as the mosquitos and horseflies were still hanging out.   We thanked Mike the tour guide for the experience and headed out. 

Kayaking Lake Boon

With the sun shining and having a rare day off I decided it would be a perfect day to go kayaking. Dan and I arranged a time with my brother and his family to check out Lake Boon. Lake Boon is a 163 acre lake located on the Hudson/Stow line.

Located a short distance from his house we loaded up the kayaks and their canoe. The lake is long and relatively narrow made up of four basins. 2 larger areas called Boon Pond and the Ramshorn Meadows as well as two swamp areas.  The meadows and swamp areas formed when a dam was built on Barton Road in Stow. The dam is a by-product of our industrial age.

We began our exploration from Dawes Lot located along Sudbury Road in the smaller of the two swampy areas.  From there we paddled along the shores of Ramshorn Meadows before passing through the Narrows into Boon Pond.

Many of the homes surrounding the lake are merely summer cottages while others have morphed into much more luxurious year round homes.  Historically Lake Boon was a hit amongst city dwellers who had once taken the train out to the area during the summer months and staying in lake side hotels. With the introduction of the car the Lake lost favor and today is surrounded only by homes.

With the sun beating down on us we all decided we would take a dip in the cool refreshing waters. I taught Dan and Grace how to exit their kayaks with out flooding it with water or capsizing. They each did a nice job. Chris pushed Aidan and Elyse off the canoe and into the lake with a splash. Those two are like fish they love the water so much.

We enjoyed the cool water and a chance to swim but after a short while we decided to get back underway. I quickly showed Dan and Grace how to reenter a kayak from the water without capsizing the boat while my brother taught Aidan how to reenter the canoe.

Once we were all back aboard we continued along heading for the dam. Having reached the other side of the lake we headed back. I could feel the sun since the dip in the lake had washed off my sunscreen but continued on.

The return trip seemed to go quicker and it wasn't long before we were back at the ramp. It was then we discovered Grace had taken her car key swimming and it was no lost to the depths of Boon Lake. We managed to get all three kayaks on the roof of my car and brought them back to my bothers while we decided what the best course of action would be. It all worked out after picking up her spare key and on the whole the day went great. Its a nice little lake to float around on and enjoy on a hot summer day.

Class A - License to Carry

As some of you may remember I began the process of getting my Class A License to Carry over a year ago. My adventure began after visiting a co-workers sportsman’s club where he officiates as the club safety officer. I took aim on the shooting range under his guidance and did exceptionally well with each of the 5 guns he had my try.

With the majority of my family already having their license I decided it was time for me to get mine. I started checking into what I needed to do to get it and I learned from another coworker that the process requires a few prerequisites before applying. As it turns out he was running the required NRA gun safety course at his sportsman’s club and suggested I enroll.

The 2-day class wrapped up the day before my birthday a year ago.  Since then I will admit it wasn’t a priority of mine to finish the process and I let the quest go idle. With renewed vigor this year I completed and submitted my application in mid-March. The waiting period in the City of Worcester is 2 months from submission to find out if your application was approved.

Waiting until Memorial Day as requested I called first thing and got the good news. Excited I swung down to the Police headquarters before heading into work to pick up my new license. Knowing exactly which gun I plan to purchase I have already ordered a new biometric gun safe and all the tools and equipment to keep it safe and in perfect operational condition.

With an expensive trip to China looming on the horizon I'll update you as soon as the budget allows the purchase of a firearm.

Destination China

Travel is a great way to reward an individual’s curiosities as it affords the traveler the luxury of experiencing wonderful new things and expanding their memories. Often even mundane activities are brought to life as if for the very first time.  With my unquenchable thirst to explore I couldn’t be more excited having booked a trip to what will be my 30th country, China!

I am looking forward to visiting some of the wonderful locations that make China a travelers dream. I am going to walk along the Great Wall built before the birth of Christ and stretching over 13,000 miles. Admire the 7,000 terracotta soldiers, horses and chariots buried with the first Emperor of China. Explore the world’s largest palace complex known as the Forbidden City which served as the home to 24 different emperors. Travel along the Huang Pu River in the City of Shanghai in one of their famous river boats. Enjoy the serenity of the Grand Canal, the longest canal in the world, in the city of Suzhou knows as the ‘Venice of the Orient’.

It’s going to be a jam packed always on the go trip with just 10 days to complete. I will also manage to log over 16,214 air miles along the way. It will be my second longest distance travel in a single trip. Second only to my trip to South Africa where I logged over 19,000 air miles.

I will update you on my plans and all the necessary todo's before I go. I already completed the VISA Application. I just need everyone else to complete theirs and then its a trip down to NYC and the Chinese Embassy.

Bunker Hill Monument : All 294 Steps and 221'

After a fun and exciting trip into the harbor on one of the Super Duck Tours we headed up the hill to a historically significant location known as Breeds Hill.  The battle is popularly known as the Battle of Bunker Hill while the majority of the fighting actually occurred on Breeds Hill.

While technically a defeat the American's inflicted such significant casualties against the British that it provided a necessary confidence boost to the colonialists. It is said that over 1000 British died while only a little over 100 American's died. This showed the inexperienced American's that their patriotic dedication could overcome superior British military might

The confusion in the name is a result of orders to build fortifications on Bunker Hill but the men built instead on the smaller Breeds Hill because it was closer to Boston. To honor the dedication of the Patriots a monument was built in 1794. It stood only 18 feet and made of a gilded wooden pillar.  In 1823 a group of prominent citizens decided to build a more permanent and significantly larger monument and formed the Bunker Hill Monument Association. They selected 40yo architect Solomon Willard. Construction began in 1827 and would take 16 years to complete.

The monument was not only a symbol of National Pride but also a feat of great engineering.  The first commercial Railway in America was built to transport the granite to build the monument from the quarries in Quincy. They also built a special hoist apparatus to life the 5-ton blocks into place.

19 Years after the Association formed and 16 years of construction the monument was dedicated by Statesman and orator Daniel Webster  on June 17, 1843 in the presence of the then President John Tyler and the last living veteran of the battle. The monument caps out at a height of 221'5". At its base the walls are 6' thick and at the top only 2' thick. At the top of the Obelisk is a 18' tall chamber with viewing windows. It has 294 steps with are each 8" tall. Admission is free but you must get tickets at the Adjacent Bunker Hill Museum before climbing the 196' to reach the viewing chamber. It was a fun experience and provided amazing views of the Boston skyline and the surrounding areas.

I'll admit that after racing to the top my legs were a giggly. As such I would recommend that you may want to pace your ascent to the top. It also didn't help that it was 89-degrees out.  It is a must do for anyone visiting the Charlestown area.

Ice Skating

Living in the Boston area there is one iconic place to ice skate in the winter. The Boston Common Frog Pond sits in the oldest public park in the US and was my intended destination for the day but sadly it had already closed for the season. The recent stretch of warm weather has made maintaining the ice impossible and has resulted in most outdoor rinks have closed.

As an alternative we decided to try some indoor ice skating at the Daly Rink in Newton. Like the Frog pond it was an outdoor rink until 2010 when it was enclosed to provide an extended season and a more comfortable skating environment. My friend Grace knew they ran a Public Skating on Sunday’s so we checked the hours and learned that the Public Skate was from 2-4:45. 

We arrived to find the parking lot jammed with cars and people which set the expectation that the ice too would be packed. It cost a modest $5 for admission and another $5 for skate rentals. We took a seat on the benches after getting our rental skates and laced up. It didn’t take long before we were rink side ready to skate. 

It was perfect timing as the Zamboni was out resurfacing the ice. After several passes the ice looked great and the all clear was given for everyone to get on the ice. As expected the rink was packed with people of all ages. 

As we made our way carefully around the ice we each got more confident and were doing fairly well except for a few falls caused by young kids cutting us off. It was fall down or run over a child. As the time went on we played a game of tag with each of us getting more at ease on the ice and increasing our speed to less than a crawl. After about an hour we took a break on one of the team benches and watched as everyone skated by. It was also time again for the Zamboni to come out again.

As we got back on the ice we were all feeling pretty good and our game of tag was in full force. We skated and played another round of tag for another hour before deciding it was time to call it a day and turn in our skates. 

Sons of Liberty Spirits Company

Mike Reppucci, founder of South Kingstown’s Sons of Liberty Spirits Company recently gave us a tour of his 3,100 square foot distillery where he craft's superb whiskies, vodka's and the occasional beer. It was the first tour of the day for Sons of Liberty and thankfully there was a limited number visitors in attendance.

The distillery was as you would expect a warehouse feel with the walls lined with barrels of whiskey surely aging to perfection. In the corner a tasting bar with many of their varietals ready for the end of the tour and another room where all the magic happens loaded with all kinds of equipment.

Mike welcomed us to his distillery and explained how he got his start 5 years ago. He explained that he does things different then most distilleries. He got his start as a student in London who went on a series of scotch tours where they explained to him that scotch is a distillers beer. Scotch is whiskey made in Scotland. Whiskey starts as a beer. Its a non-hopped un-boiled beer that has been distilled. He thought and asked why he has never heard of a stout beer whiskey or a Belgian whisky or any seasonal whiskey.

One of their whiskey's is called Uprising which is a stout beer turned into a single malt whiskey. They also make Battle Cry which is a Belgian beer turned whiskey.

They also do seasonal whiskeys like their pumpkin spice whiskey in the fall and an IPA whiskey in the summer. When he started everyone thought that he had no idea what he was doing but 15 gold medal winners and worlds best from Whiskey Magazine for the pumpkin spice. That distinction made them the first craft brewer to win that distinction.

When he returned from school in London he trained with the master distiller from Makers Mark. While there he learned all the tricks of bourbon makers. He choose to do it a little differently to produce a smoother products. They start at the mash lauder ton using a darker roast barley. Next they move to the mash to the fermenters where they are temperature controlled. topping out at 70-75 degrees for 2 weeks. That gives them a better flavor. They focus on the flavors instead of volume. Most have a three day fermentation cycle.

There are one of two distillers that temperature control. Next they move to the still which they use 250 gallon Vendome stills. they strip the beer to 30% alcohol and then double distill to only 120 proof. that keeps the product clean but flavorful. Each time you distill you are cleaning out a lot more of the product. anything to 190 proof is vodka. 1,000 gallons of beer yields 90 gallons of whiskey.

In their spirit safe there is three compartments where they remove the heads and tails keeping just the hearts. The heads and tails should not be consumed. He trusts his pallet versus testing the product. He said that the heads taste like jolly rancher green apple notes and when that dissipates then he cuts to the hearts. When the product becomes oily then he cuts again to remove the tails.

Then they barrel the products into fired oak barrels. That helps them add more complexity to their product. He also showed us how they can use the same still to make vodka.

After learning the process we moved onto the bar where we tried four different whiskey's. We tried Uprising and Battle Cry as well as their two seasonal whiskey's Pumpkin Spice and their Summer Seasonal. Then we sampled three of their vodkas. Plain, Vanilla and Mint Cucumber. I enjoyed the vanilla and mint cucumber.

I will be honest that whiskey isn't really my thing and I found most of them very harsh and bitter. This isn't specific to Sons Of Liberty as I feel this way about all whiskey. I will admit that I did enjoy their beer's I loved the brewed Battle Cry Beer. On our way out I picked up one of their cool t-shirts and Dan picked up a bottle of Battle Cry for his father. Grace like me got a t-shirt. 

Factory of Terror - Worcester

I had seen signs for weeks now about the new haunted house attraction in Worcester and just had to check it out. Located in an abandoned factory building in Worcester's Grafton Hill area is the Factory of Terror. The entrance to the attraction is through an old delivery door where visitors queue up while some of the characters in all their spookiness keep you entertained. Some such characters were the scary clown, the deadly doctor and the silent child.
While you wait you also have a photo opportunity. They take your picture with a few of the props and text you a link to retrieve your group photo after. It was a pretty cool idea and a great way for people to get a reminder of the experience.

After paying the admission price we entered a room where we got a quick introduction to the attraction and a quick scare from yet another actor. As we moved through the next door we entered a more open area that looped around where as you walked along the path you were spooked by hidden actors mixed in amongst the scary props and behind hidden windows. This area while very cool with design wasn't particularly scary.

The next area we entered required 3D glasses which were handed out by a scary fella guarding the entrance. Once inside you were awe inspired but the 3d effect of the colorful and spooky art.

Everything glowed under the blue lights and amplified the feeling that the eyes were following you as you went. Whoever the artist is they did an amazing job and really captured the spookiness of each character.

 

 As we made our way from the maze of eyes and faces we entered a very snug entrance to another spooky and dark section. To pass through you had to squeeze your way through a tight passage. (It was like a balloon entrance that just pressed firmly against you no matter now small or big you are.) Once inside it was darkly lit and you had to follow along the narrow pathway's being greeted by even more actors who used their creepiness to intimidate and spook. Some snuck up close to you only to be discovered when you turned their way.

As we wrapped up the urban alley section we found ourselves finished and walking out the exit door. Over all it took about 15-20 minutes to make our way through the different sections of the Haunted Factory of Terror.

It was a good time and a great evening. I thought the price was fair for a seasonal thrill and I thought the actors really did a great job both spooking and entertaining each and every visitor.