Jeanine and I took advantage of the perfect winter day for a half-day road trip to Boston’s south shore. Our first destination was the Scituate Lighthouse, which we reached by way of a 3-mile walk around the Scituate Harbor. We rewarded our effort with lunch at the Lucky Finn Cafe, which lived up to its reputation.

Our next stop was the Lawson Tower. Described as the most beautiful, most photographed, and most expensive water tower in the world, it is said that Lawson’s wife Jeannie was thrilled with her new home until, in 1901, the Scituate Water Co. decided to build a 276,000 gallon, 153’ high steel water tank in the town center. Mrs. Lawson saw this massive standpipe as a monstrosity and urged her husband to do something about it. Having made a fortune in the stock market, he was happy to oblige her wish.

Our stop at Cohasset Cove was the first place we observed sea ice. The cove is fed by a brook whose fresh water mixes with the salt water, resulting in a brine that freezes at higher temperatures.

Glastonbury Abbey in Hingham, was founded in 1954, and is part of the Swiss-American Benedictine Congregation.  This property was previously the summer estate of William Skilton, a wool merchant who had died in the early 1930s. After Skilton’s death, the estate served various purposes, including being used as an inn, dance parlor, bachelor officers’ quarters during World War II, and a day camp. Pictured below is the observation tower.

We ended the day beach-combing on Nantasket Beach where we collected several lovely shells and completed Jeanine’s 10,000 steps for the day.