Rob Keeble
Member
- Messages
- 12,633
- Location
- GTA Ontario Canada
Well we home after a long drive. Thought i would share with you some of the things that came to mind after visiting the North East briefly.
The English left some indelible marks on the USA...
Here i am driving the 90 interstate and we come across Toll after Toll.
Now I am not against road tolls it makes those who use them pay for them to be kept. But having just visited the sites related to the birth of freedom from the Crowns tax collectors, i found it quiet funny that the Freeman themselves set up Tolls like the King had back in the day to collect a tax. This "freeman" would really prefer a different name to it. Dont ask me what but i had visions of a tax collector each time i entered a toll booth. It sure stirred the revolutionary colonist in me to want to revolt.
I never got time to do all i would have liked but that leaves something for next time. One thing i have to go back to Boston to do is throw tea overboard. Yup even symbolically this is a bucket list item for me. Kinda a journey like a journey to Mecca for some people. Next time i go though i shall do so on my own, so i can spend more time at all the historical places in Boston and pause to ponder history. Will also do so in winter perhaps so that there are less tourists.
Historical events around the world where people have stood up en masse and changed their circumstances have fascinated me ever since being taught history in high school.
There are lessons in this for all of us to heed. From my observations it mostly occurs when a large group of people either have nothing or very little to loose and even hope of a better future leaves them. But there is always something that sparks the tinder box and sets off events. Event in modern day city riots it all seems to start with one little spark that sets off a whole bunch of grief.
Good news i observed is FED DOT finally seems to be getting funding to fix the roads or at least the toll money is going where it should go. Also noticed loads of bridges being repaired or refurbished in MA and NY. Spare a thought though for just how much asphalt there is out there when you want a 100 mile section of a 3 or 4 lane one side interstate resurfaced and then give some thought as to when and how you do it when its 24x7 365 full of traffic.
Observed a number of other things but those are best left alone.
Really nice break and long over due visit. Cape cod Beaches rule. Will be going back there for a longer visit next time. Best beaches I have seen in the US so far. Sorry CA, you guys have too many telephone wires dangling around those houses that clutter what you call a beach. Oh and the Baywatch chicks are old now so .....
The English left some indelible marks on the USA...
Here i am driving the 90 interstate and we come across Toll after Toll.
Now I am not against road tolls it makes those who use them pay for them to be kept. But having just visited the sites related to the birth of freedom from the Crowns tax collectors, i found it quiet funny that the Freeman themselves set up Tolls like the King had back in the day to collect a tax. This "freeman" would really prefer a different name to it. Dont ask me what but i had visions of a tax collector each time i entered a toll booth. It sure stirred the revolutionary colonist in me to want to revolt.
I never got time to do all i would have liked but that leaves something for next time. One thing i have to go back to Boston to do is throw tea overboard. Yup even symbolically this is a bucket list item for me. Kinda a journey like a journey to Mecca for some people. Next time i go though i shall do so on my own, so i can spend more time at all the historical places in Boston and pause to ponder history. Will also do so in winter perhaps so that there are less tourists.
Historical events around the world where people have stood up en masse and changed their circumstances have fascinated me ever since being taught history in high school.
There are lessons in this for all of us to heed. From my observations it mostly occurs when a large group of people either have nothing or very little to loose and even hope of a better future leaves them. But there is always something that sparks the tinder box and sets off events. Event in modern day city riots it all seems to start with one little spark that sets off a whole bunch of grief.
Good news i observed is FED DOT finally seems to be getting funding to fix the roads or at least the toll money is going where it should go. Also noticed loads of bridges being repaired or refurbished in MA and NY. Spare a thought though for just how much asphalt there is out there when you want a 100 mile section of a 3 or 4 lane one side interstate resurfaced and then give some thought as to when and how you do it when its 24x7 365 full of traffic.
Observed a number of other things but those are best left alone.
Really nice break and long over due visit. Cape cod Beaches rule. Will be going back there for a longer visit next time. Best beaches I have seen in the US so far. Sorry CA, you guys have too many telephone wires dangling around those houses that clutter what you call a beach. Oh and the Baywatch chicks are old now so .....