This morning during breakfast we had the treat of watching a lone doe feeding outside our window. She stayed in sight for a long time, and Ken managed to get some good shots even through the window.
We learned something new about paying for transit this morning: we could add a specific amount to our Charlie Card (not just multiples of $5), so we added $2.20, enough for both of us to get downtown and back. We ended up spending $27.20 for four trips in town (plus parking at the station). We could have bought week passes for $15 each and then been able to hop on and off of buses too. What a bargain, and the Charlie Cards are free and easy to use.
 View of new bridge cables |  The Big Dig plaza |
We got off the green line at North Station and then walked .9 miles across the bridge to the Charlestown Navy Yard to visit Old Ironsides. We had only a brief wait before our group was given a quick safety orientation and led onto the ship, which is owned and operated by the Navy. Sailors get duty postings to be tour guides aboard the ship, wearing uniforms similar to those worn in 1812. They were enthusiastic and informative about the construction of the ship and life aboard ship for officers and men. (Much better to be an officer.)
 Old Ironsides |  Sailor in period uniform points to grog barrel |
The upper (spar) deck is undergoing renovations, but we got to visit the gun deck and the berth deck. The ship is not actually made of iron, but its white pine and live oak sides repelled British cannonballs, leading a sailor to exclaim, "Huzzah, its sides are made of iron!"
 Heavy cannons |  Officer's quarters |
We also walked through the Constitution Museum and viewed the exhibits in the Visitor Center, both of which were interesting. We learned about the Barbary corsairs (pirates) and the origin of the phrase "to the shores of Tripoli" which I had heard my Marine dad sing when I was a kid.
This is the closest we got to Bunker HillWe spent our last night at the campground quietly, enjoying the peace and the chirping crickets and katydids.
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