Gloucester, Rockport, & Salem, Oh My!

Day 9 - Saturday - September 16

EC/NE Camping Adventure 2022

Today was a move day from Cape Cod to Cape Ann!! We love the Gloucester/Rockport/Salem area of Massachusetts. You really feel the quintessential seaport vibe in that area. It almost makes me want to jump on a lobster boat and head out to experience an episode of “Deadliest Catch”! 😜 Not really, those guys are nuts!!

When visiting Rockport it is an absolute must to get photos with and of the “little red fishing shack” known as Motif No. 1. What stands today is a replica of a former fishing shack well known to students of art and art history as "the most often-painted building in America." The original structure was built in 1840 and destroyed in the Blizzard of 1978, but an exact replica was constructed that same year.

Built in the 1840s as Rockport was becoming home to a colony of artists and settlement of fishermen, the shack became a favorite subject of painters due to the composition and lighting of its location as well as being a symbol of New England maritime life. Painter Lester Hornby (1882–1956) is believed to be the first to call the shack "Motif Number 1," a reference to its being the favorite subject of the town's painters, and the name achieved general acceptance. It appeared in the work of Aldro Hibbard and of impressionist Harry Aiken Vincentwho arrived in Rockport in 1917.

In the 1930s, painter John Buckley used the shack as his studio. In 1945, the town of Rockport purchased the Motif as a monument to Rockporters who had served in the Armed Services. The town, recognizing its iconic value, has taken pains to preserve both its structure and appearance, finding a red paint which appears weather-beaten even when new, and keeping the area clear of overhead wires, traffic signs and advertising.

After a great seafood dinner in Gloucester, we closed the night with a trip over to the Fisherman’s Memorial statue. We have seen this memorial a few times, but had never visited it at night. It made it feel so much more solemn.

Our Sunday features a visit to Hammond Castle, Salem and Marblehead!

Martha’s Vineyard

Day 8 - Friday - September 16

EC/NE Camping Adventure 2022

I’ve been looking forward to this day ever since Jeff planned it! We explored Martha’s Vineyard for the first time ever!

I did a little investigating regarding the island and found that the oldest continuously working carousel was on the island - The Flying Horses Carousel! The carousel was built in 1876 and features hand-carved wooden horses with real horsehair tails. Another unique feature is that the glass eyes of each horse have tiny lead animals embedded in them. AND, it was first used at Coney Island!! How cool is that? Needless to say, that truly excited me!

Generations of children and adults have enjoyed riding this beautiful carousel and grabbing at that elusive brass ring for a free ride!

It wasn’t in service the day we visited the island, as they only operate the carousel on weekends after Labor Day. BUT, the carousel manager was there and after talking to him about my love of all things related to amusement parks; my love of Coney Island; and, my book about the Lost Amusement Parks of Kentuckiana, he said “You know what? Let me turn on the music and give you non-motorized ride!” WHAT?!!

He then told me to sit on the horse of my choice, turned on the organ music, and began to push the carousel around and around!! I was SO delighted and he was such a super nice man. He told us of the history of the carousel and we talked about Coney Island and amusement parks in general. I was thrilled and left thanking him profusely. He made my day!

The island has quite an interesting past, and has made the news in many ways over the past few centuries.

For instance, several US Presidents have visited the island, including Ulysses S Grant! The gingerbread houses that make up the one-time Methodist campmeeting campground in Oak Bluffs are delightful and a big tourist draw. The 1975 movie Jaws was filmed on the island. Comedian John Belushi is buried on the island. John Kennedy, JR along with his wife, lost their lives when the plane he was piloting crashed just off the coast of the island. President Obama bought a 30-acre homestead on the island in 2019.

We took the Falmouth Ferry to the island and spent a good portion of our Friday exploring, before taking the ferry back to Cape Cod at sunset. We definitely needed more time to explore. I’m thinking a night stay or two on the island would be best to get a complete feel for this unique piece of paradise. I will say that visiting is probably all you’ll want to do. The cost of living on the island is around 60% higher than the national average. The average home price is around $1.3 million.

Up Next?! We head to the Gloucester/Rockport/Salem area!

Cape Cod

Day 7 - Thursday - September 15

EC/NE Camping Adventure 2022

This day was a little bit of a travel day up to Brewster, MA where we set up camp at Sweetwater Campground for a couple of days. Brewster is about halfway up Cape Cod on the bay coastline.

After getting settled in our site, we headed up to Provincetown, which is at the very tip of Cape Cod. The population of Provincetown is about the same size of our hometown of Corydon, IN - right around 3,000, but that’s about where the comparison ends. 🤣

Our favorite spot in P-town is the Lobster Pot restaurant! 🦞 Some of the best seafood you can get on the Cape!

Our Friday has us heading down to Falmouth to catch the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard! It will be our first time on the island!