| American history doesn't get much older than | | | | dining with normally expensive seafood. |
| Plymouth Rock, the pilgrims, and the | | | | Wood's Seafood is an institution. Here's what |
| Mayflower. It all starts in Plymouth, | | | | they have to say about themselves: "During |
| Massachusetts. Peg and I, along with long | | | | the prime summer months, we carry fresh |
| time friend Al Burrage, began our own journey | | | | bluefish and striped bass caught locally. Our |
| from West Dennis on Cape Cod to Plymouth on a | | | | live lobster tanks are stocked with a large |
| day in late September.Although the pilgrims | | | | selection of live lobsters ranging from 1-10 |
| landed first in Provincetown further east on | | | | pounds as well as live rock crabs. Live |
| Cape Cod, they quickly made their way further | | | | lobsters are caught by local fishermen from |
| inland across Cape Cod Bay to Plymouth. | | | | the clear waters off Cape Cod Bay."On |
| Nothing appears in print about the rock until | | | | September 2, 1992, a local lobster trapper |
| over one hundred years later. The information | | | | brought a huge blue lobster into Wood's |
| was passed from father to son. Elder Faunce | | | | Seafood Restaurant and Fish market. Caught |
| at the age of 95 pointed out the actual rock | | | | off the coast of Martha's Vineyard, this blue |
| where his father and the other pilgrims | | | | lobster raised a stir accross the nation as |
| landed a hundred and twenty years or so | | | | the story was covered by the APA and United |
| earlier.Plymouth Rock has been broken in two, | | | | Press as well as the local media. Thousands |
| moved and chipped at over the years. The two | | | | of people flocked to Wood's Seafood to get a |
| broken pieces were reunited in 1880. Only the | | | | peek at this rare find in nature. The odds of |
| top half is visible. Plymouth Rock is roughly | | | | finding a blue lobster is approximately 1 in |
| 1/3 to 1/2 its original size. The visible | | | | 20 million. Although blue lobsters are rare, |
| portion of Plymouth Rock weighs approximately | | | | lobster cooked just right is not rare at |
| 4 tons. The portion under the sand weighs | | | | Wood's Seafood.The prices at Wood's were |
| approximately 6 tons.Although Plymouth Rock | | | | unbelievable. Peg had the single boiled |
| is placed inside a protective monument, it is | | | | lobster dinner for $11.95. I chose the twin |
| still open to the weather just a few feet | | | | lobsters for $19.95. I was not disappointed. |
| from the lapping waves of Plymouth Harbor. | | | | Those lobsters were the best lobsters I'v |
| Even in the rainy off season there is a | | | | ever had. I skipped the french fries and the |
| constant stream of visitors. During the short | | | | cole slaw (I never found any cole slaw in New |
| time we stood inside the monument, there were | | | | England to my liking, anyway), but added a |
| always another four or five people there. | | | | pound of mussels for another $4.95. Both the |
| Nearby rough-hewn cabin-size buildings sell | | | | mussels and the lobsters were truly |
| books and brochures about Plymouth Rock, the | | | | wonderful. Al had the deep fried scallops, |
| pilgrims, and the Mayflower.There was a | | | | which he almost drooled over. Although both |
| family visiting Plymouth at the same time we | | | | Peg and Al enjoyed their lobster bisque, they |
| were. I should have asked them where they | | | | felt it wasn't as good as it could have been. |
| were from. They were dark skinned and looked | | | | I got Peg's left over bisque to which I added |
| Indian or Pakistani to me. Such is the draw | | | | my half-filled container of drawn butter with |
| of this solid piece of history. If they were | | | | a few little pieces of lobster. Now, that was |
| visitors to this country, they were | | | | tasty . . . very tasty.After lunch Al wanted |
| interested in our history. And if they were | | | | us to see the first church built in Plymouth. |
| citizens, they were taking an active part in | | | | He wasn't really sure where it was, but knew |
| teaching their children. The little boy and | | | | it was close. We easily drove past it minutes |
| girl strained to see the rock behind the | | | | after leaving the restaurant. There was a |
| protective barrier. Later they ate lunch at | | | | small driveway. We let Al out to shoot |
| the same restaurant we did. The parents had | | | | pictures. Peg and I stayed in the car. |
| lobster. I think the kids had fish and | | | | Actually, we didn't want to move. Al joined |
| chips.A replica of the Mayflower (Mayflower | | | | us after I drove around the driveway a couple |
| II), which brought the pilgrims from England | | | | of times to accommodate other tourists. Al |
| to America is birthed only about a hundred | | | | gleefully showed us his digital images of the |
| yards from Plymouth Rock. Just a block away | | | | church. I think there were about two dozen |
| from the dock where the Mayflower is tied up | | | | photographs . . . maybe more. "Do you think I |
| is the town pier.We never tire of looking at | | | | missed any archetectural features," he asked. |
| visual humor. On the pier Peg stopped and | | | | I said, "Yes, I think you missed a stone on |
| stared at a skiff perched atop a roof. So, of | | | | the right side." He was not amused.The day in |
| course she needed a photo of the fisherman | | | | Plymouth was perfect. We saw historical sites |
| and his skiff. Quaint names and signs abound | | | | and attractions, met interesting people, and |
| in New England. We always take our humor | | | | ate great food.Don Doman is a published |
| where we can find it. The name of another | | | | author, video producer, and corporate |
| business came to mind looking at the boat | | | | trainer. He owns the business training site |
| ontop of seafood restaurant, Ketch of the | | | | Ideas and Training ( which he says is the |
| Day. There's a million of them.One of the | | | | home of the no-hassle "free preview" for |
| great attractions of New England (for me and | | | | business training videos. Don and his wife |
| many others) is the low price of lobster. To | | | | Peg also travel in the Pacific Northwest |
| make the price even less expensive is the New | | | | writing of their fun and adventures. |
| England practice of combining self-serve | | | | |