Thanks for the advice on the porta-loos! We're much relieved!!

We'll also take your advice and put a post on a couple of weeks before we arrive to see if anyone fancies meeting up with a couple of old Aussies (well I was born in Texas but have been in Australia since the age of 14) to show us the monuments by night. I also just found a site for free guided walks to see the monuments and the last one begins at 6pm. Considering it will be the end of September that might be getting dark so that might be a very good option. www.dcbyfoot.com

As for the locales we'll be visiting - my great great grandfather came over from Germany to Pennsylvania to the area we're going to and as for the rest, we're driving (Australians love to drive - we have lots of space to do it in) to see the autumn leaves and enjoy a glimpse of New England and the history of Boston.