NET Hop 2: Foxboro MA to Salisbury MA

Posted by Sparky on June 10, 2017

NET Hop 2

91 miles via US-1, I-495 (around Boston), US-1 (again) and US-1A. Cumulative tow miles: 129. Truck miles: 245. Cumulative truck miles: 1119.

This was an easy, short hop with all but about 10 miles being on I-495. The weather was good and the traffic was moderate. A piece of cake.

Jett followed in the Yaris, going via I-95 instead of I-495, thereby cutting a few miles off of her trip. But the travel time was similar.

Our home for the past 11 days was the Normandy Farms Family Campground in Foxboro (or Foxborough, if you prefer) MA, just a few miles south of Gillette Stadium, home field of the NFL CHAMPION New England Patriots. The Patriots started their conditioning workouts while we were there and I guess we could have gone there and watched some millionaires doing jumping jacks, but we passed.

At the present time the Normandy Farms website claims that the Travel Channel has included them in a list of the 13 best campgrounds in the world. We can’t dispute that as it is in our personal list of the top 2 campgrounds we have stayed at in our 4 years of travel (the other being Gulf Waters). Adjectives that come to mind when describing this place are “superb”, “clean”, “professionally-run” and “exceptional.” Oh, yeah… “expensive.” It ain’t cheap, folks. But you get your money’s worth.

First, the facilities. Our site was large enough for our rig and our two vehicles, with enough space left over to fit in our outdoor carpet, our grill and about 6 visitor vehicles. And the sites are staggered so that I could keep the shades up on both side-facing rear windows and see nothing but trees. Also, a huge recreation center featuring an indoor pool, an adults-only loft, an exercise room and an arcade. Three more outdoor pools. At least two playgrounds, a basketball court, a beach volleyball court, some first-rate bocce courts, the best outdoor horseshoe pits that I have ever seen, a softball field, a baseball field (where the staff set up soccer nets), shuffleboard courts, pickleball courts (still under construction), a huge dog park (over an acre, with a dog washing station), a fishing pond, a great campground store and, most surprisingly, a first-rate disc golf course and a BMX bike track.

Second, the staff. I don’t know who trains these people but they are doing a great job. Despite most of the office staff being young, they were courteous, pleasant, efficient and very professional. No attitude or gum-chewing here.

The only negative thing about our stay at Normandy Farms was the weather. Simply horrible. Most days were cold and wet. We spent at least 4 of the 11 days hunkered down in the RV, with the heat on and the rain beating on the roof. But we did have a few light-rain days (I am not sure that any were completely dry) so I was able to get out to three cemeteries. And Jett’s sisters came to visit and we had some rousing card games. So it wasn’t a washout by any means. But it sure could have been better.

There is also a small but very nice slots-only Plainridge Park Casino about 5 miles away where I was able, against all odds (literally) to win money. Jett lost, though, so it was pretty much a wash.