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Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Pinehirst RV Resort is very close to the pier. One evening we went for a stroll on the beach. The pier is uneventful, but I did get a good picture from the shoreline. As luck would have it, at the park’s entrance was a place where we could purchase fresh whole lobsters. They even steamed them for you. Dinner was two bright red, soft shell lobsters with no fussing with boiling water. Absolutely delicious!
Portland was our day trip, and it was worth the drive. Its restaurants, shops, and harbor were a delight. We wanted to take a ride on the schooner, but once again, the winds were more than we wanted to tackle. I don’t think a schooner ride is on the agenda for this visit to the New England Coast. The array of fresh fish was so different than those caught in Florida. The fish market was tantalizing, but I didn’t have room in the freezer, so we had to pass. Lunch was fireside pizza along the boardwalk, and we had the most humorous waiter, which made the experience much more enjoyable.
The Eastern Promenade Trail paralleled the coastline and ended at a park overlooking the ocean. The park was a field of grass where blankets, children, and picnics were all around. Various types of food trucks were bustling, and YES, we had ice cream. It was a beautiful sunny day to enjoy the beautiful surroundings.
I have fallen in love with the numerous lighthouses and was not disappointed. There were several in Portland, but we rode to Ft. William Park, where the lighthouse was in excellent condition. Good thing we now have digital cameras, or it would be a small fortune if I had to develop the film of all the pictures I have taken.
Kennebunkport was suggested to us as a town to visit. It was bumper-to-bumper traffic leading into this small town which was perplexing. At last, we could find a parking spot and walk into the town. People were everywhere! We soon realized the streets bustled with people celebrating Pride Week. They had a live band, an art show, and various entertainment to celebrate. We went into a few shops but quickly realized we didn’t want to hassle with the crowd. There was a lighthouse not far, so we hopped in the car and took off. Mitch is still miffed I didn’t take a picture of it. I didn’t think it was worthy. Hilariously, this lighthouse was in a little neighborhood and stood about 8 feet tall. Smallest lighthouse ever. On our way out, I noticed a private residence whose yard sculptures were picture worthy. I hope you agree.
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Working our way back to Florida- Camden, ME and Surrounding Areas
Camden State Park was nestled in the woods and offered many hiking trails. The spectacular view of the summit of Battie Mountain is stunning as it overlooks Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay. The stone tower is a memorial for all those serving in WWI. The hike up Megunticook Mt. was arduous but worth it. It is the second-highest mountain on the east coast, with Cadillac Mountain in Maine coming in first.
The quaint town of Camden did not disappoint. It has it all! Shops, restaurants, a beautiful harbor, and a library where most of the facility is underground. From Camden State Park, one has to go through Camden’s Historic District. The homes are outstanding. Typical of summer homes in the New England area. We would have set sail on one of the majestic schooners if it was warmer.
We searched out Curtis Lighthouse Overlook on our way to Wiscasset and almost missed it. A tiny sign perched on a tree only indicated we were there. A short walk ends, and across the bay is the Curtis Lighthouse. Glad I have a zoom lens on my phone to capture this wonderful lighthouse.
Wiscasset, ME
Mitch kept saying he had to go to Red Eats the entire trip. The tiny shack boasts of having the best lobster roll in Maine. Many famous people have gone there to try its delicacy, and this establishment has been in various notable publications as the best. People told us that the line is about 2 hours long in summer. It did not disappoint. The much sought-after lobster meat was piled high on the roll. A thumbs up from Mitch. As a side note, they only take cash!
Boothbay, ME
We enjoyed this town. Lots of little shops to meander in. Places to grab a bite and an ice cream shop where everything was handmade. Delicious! The Boothbay Footbridge is a 1000 ft wooden pedestrian bridge connecting both sides of the harbor. There is also a place to put your love locks on the fence for all to see. It offers a fantastic view of the harbor and the boats moored on the docks. The sight is tranquil and takes you away from busy life. We took time to relax and enjoy ourselves.
Rockland, ME
Rockland is a short ride from Camden and worth the trip to see the Breakwater Lighthouse. A lighthouse! I’m there. One must go one mile over the uneven sea wall to get to this lighthouse. We did this late in the afternoon, and the wind was nasty, but we trudged forward. Along the way, we spotted a baby seal on the side of the seawall. Someone explained mothers often leave their young on a ledge because they don’t have the strength to handle the rough waters. The moms search for food, return to their pups with food at high tide and take them to calmer waters.
We covered a lot of ground on our stay at Camden and loved every minute of it. Wonderful memories were created, and we hope a visit will be in your future.
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Acadia National Park (Part 4) Schoodic Peninsula, Maine
On recommendations of a local, it was suggested we visit the third part of Acadia National Park. It is the only part of the park on the mainland. The other two areas are on Mount Desert Island. As you can surmise, it’s a pretty big park. It was a fifty-minute ride from our campground.
Thankfully, we enjoy car rides, and the roads were planked by beautiful trees, including Birch. (I love these trees) When we arrived, we were greeted by huge boulders and the roaring sound of the Atlantic Ocean. It was mesmerizing to watch the waves crash against the rocks, exploding into a magnificent spray of water, and then cascade back to the ocean. We wandered along the rocks with the camera in tow, hoping to capture the sensation of the moment to share with you.
As usual, on the way back, we went exploring, and lo and behold – I spotted another lighthouse. Stop the car, let me out and snap away. (Like I don’t already have enough pictures of lighthouses). If my husband tires of my affinity for lighthouses and the need to stop to capture their beauty, he never lets on. He is most accommodating. However, marriage is a give and take. I take him to lighthouses, and he takes me on scary hikes up the mountain. Hmm – is that a win-win scenario?
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Acadia National Park (Part 3)– Bar Harbor, Maine
If you don’t have much time to see the park, the way to do it is to take Loop Road. This paved road has many turn-offs and leads up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Along the way, there are many scenic overlooks for one to visit. Our first stop was the sandy beach. At 47’, it wasn’t tempting to venture in, but it was low tide, and roaming among the enormous rocks was the highlight.
Next was the visit to Thunder Hole. One to two hours before the high tide is the best time for viewing. The water crashes into the rock formation, and of course, it sounds like thunder hence its moniker. Luckily, we arrived at the park before the Memorial Day crowds arrived and could enjoy nature’s show without feeling rushed.
The winding trek up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain was beautiful. From there, one can see the Atlantic Ocean’s vastness and the town of Bar Harbor. The sea vessels looked minuscule from this vantage point. Mitch and I decided we would wake up at 4:00 am and venture to watch the sunrise at 4:50 am. From here, one can be the first in the US to see the sunrise. The next morning, the friendly alarm goes off, and in the next few minutes, Mitch says, “Go back to bed. It’s overcast. We won’t see anything.” That scenario played over the next few days. We never did get to see the sunrise.
Maine is as I pictured it would be. I was enamored with the old lighthouses whose job was to warn the sailors from crashing into the rocks. Each is unique. I admire they still stand after centuries of violent storms, and angry waves pounding at its doors.
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Taste of Maine (Part 2) Acadia National Park Hikes
This park is rich in its history. The park was established in 1916, but uniquely it was the first whose land was donated entirely by private citizens. It has more than 47,000 acres. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. not only donated 10,000 acres of land but was responsible for 45 miles of carriage roads that wind through the park. As bikers, we appreciate roads where you don’t have to worry about cars coming too close or streets not having a bike path. These carriage trails are limited to hikers, bicyclists, and horses. Carriage rides are available. An enjoyable respite was a stop at the Jordon Pond House, known for its popovers.
Like most national parks, it beckons its visitors to enjoy its many hiking trails. The first was the Great Head Trail. This trail starts at the only sandy beach in the park. The water temperature rarely goes above 55 degrees, yet, believe it or not, there were people in the water. This hike was 1.4 miles with views overlooking Frenchman Bay and Gorham Mountain.
Our second hike was the Gorham Mountain trail. It’s a two-mile hike that boasts some spectacular views. The wind was pretty fierce but well worth the scenic view at the summit.
Our last hike was the one I feared the most. Mitchell was itching to go on the Beehive Trail. In our discussion with the park ranger, he felt this was the scariest trail in the park because it’s very steep and goes along the cliff edge. Dread filled my body, but no way was I going to let him do it alone. We arrived at the park by 7:30, and hikers were beginning to start this epic journey. It was a gorgeous morning. The sun was up, the skies were clear, and the wind was a non-issue. We began to hike up the rocks when we came upon a sign forewarning the danger of this hike. Mitch looked at me and asked, “What do you think?” My response was, “Let’s go for it. If I can’t do it, we can just stop and go back down.”. Well, there was NO turning back! I am not afraid of heights, but my more significant concern was climbing rocks, with me being 5 feet tall and not being in my 20s anymore.
This trail indeed was like rock climbing. Some spots had rails to grab to get up. Even with the rails, there were a few times Mitch had to give me a push-up. We made it to the top, and the view was undeniably magnificent. The panoramic view was well worth the harrowing experience, but I felt I had earned my badge of accomplishment. Would I have done this on my own? Absolutely not, but the love of my life pushes me beyond my comfort zone, and we get to reap the reward together.
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Taste Of Maine (Part 1) Bar Harbor, ME
Maine was our “Big Rock,” as Mitch affectionately refers to those places #1 to visit on our journey. We arrived on the “Off Shoulder Season.” Translation – before Memorial Day and the summer crowds arrive. We spent two weeks in Bar Harbor, Maine, and crammed as much as we could in that period. There will be multiple videos to share our experiences.
Mt. Dessert Narrows Campground was our home for those two weeks. It had a beautiful water view and was a short distance from Acadia National Park and the town of Bar Harbor. It was interesting to see the drastic difference between high and low tides. The birch trees were refreshing as I hadn’t seen them since leaving New York.
The quaint town of Bar Harbor met our expectations. The sea town is brimming with restaurants, shops, and gorgeous views of the harbor. It fascinates me to see the buildings still standing since the 1700s. On the day we visited the town, the skies were clear, and the cruise ships had not yet arrived. We could enjoy a leisurely day shopping without the crowds and relax with a glass of wine (OK – plastic cup) and just people watch. There were a few good weather days when we were there and grateful today was one of them.
Mitch had his first lobster roll at the Chart Room. The restaurant was on the waterfront, the atmosphere delightful, and the company was excellent. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end the day.
Our visit to the local farmers market Sunday morning was intriguing as Martha Stewart was strolling and visiting many of the booths. There are many beautiful and over-the-top summer “cottages” as many of the prominent families such as the Morgans, Fords, Astors, and more spent their summers in Bar Harbor.
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What a View! Over the Moon Farmstead – Pittsfield, NH
Over the Moon Farmstead is a wine/craft beer establishment. It is situated on top of a hill, and the view is spectacular. The view overlooks the rolling hillside, and it takes your breath away. Mike, the owner, said the view sold him on buying the property. It was a horse stable a mere fourteen months ago. The transformation in such a short time is astonishing. The stable is now a tasting room with huge glass windows, which brings the outside in. Plans to establish a stone pizza restaurant were in the works. There have been a few Harvest Hosts where properties were purchased and then transformed. Creativity and entrepreneurship are commendable, and glad to see folks pursuing their dreams. The outside grounds have tables with covered umbrellas. We were fortunate to be there on a night when they had a solo guitarist. Listening to music, enjoying charcuterie, and spending time with my honey. A girl can’t ask for anything more. Actually, she can.
Across the road from the farmstead, there was an apple orchard. The trees were blooming with beautiful white flowers. Harvesting would happen around the August-September time frame. Bummer we won’t be around to enjoy fresh-picked apples. On the bright side, they sold ice cream! We chose our flavor and then sat outside on Adirondack rocking chairs overlooking the orchard—a great way to end the evening.
We wanted to find out what time the sun rose so we could set our alarm clocks. We knew it would be amazing and didn’t want to miss it. Alarms were set for 5:00 am. Sunrise 5:20. We were up before the alarm, dressed, and walked outside to see God’s glory. Below is welcoming the day.
Not what we were expecting, but, on the bright side, we got an early start on our five-hour trip to Maine.
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Back to Our Roots Tousey Winery – Germantown, NY
Very excited to be back in New York, even if it is for only one night. As the road took us into New York, the signs listed places we recognized. Traveling through the Catskills Mountains reminds me of some of our summer vacations. I loved to stare out the window and watch the beautiful trees and stone formations as the exits passed until we reached our destination.
Tousey Winery was where we spent the night. Their vineyards overlook the notable Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains. After traveling for over three hours, it was a wonderful respite to enjoy a wine tasting and a charcuterie board. Instead of the usual crackers, there was a dense brown bread with a side of strawberry jam. Mitch enjoyed the unusual taste. It was a Danish Rye-Sourdough bread. A combination of two of Mitch’s favorites. Lucky for him, the bread was for sale. The winery had a gift shop and areas to sit, relax and enjoy the afternoon. It’s interesting to visit the various wineries as the wines differ from place to place. We enjoyed the Rose wine as it was refreshing and had a unique flavor.
Tomorrow, we head out early and head toward our next stop – New Hampshire. Did you know the movie “On Golden Pond” was filmed in Squam Lake, New Hampshire? This movie is 40 years old, and it sparked my desire to live on a lake. The influence certain movies have on us is fantastic.
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Stone Lake Winery – Saylorsburg, PA
This journey is not only about seeing this glorious, beautiful country we live in but about interacting with people. We enjoy engaging in conversation with those we meet along the way. We learn about where they grew up, what jobs they held, and where their journey will lead them. We have only been disappointed in one Harvest Host in our two and half years of travel.
This stop was no different. The property we stayed at was once a sawmill with a soothing, babbling brook running in the back and thick forest trees lining the pond. The property once consisted of a covered bridge, silo, and three buildings where wood was cut and stored. The property was sold, and the new owners converted one of the buildings into bed and breakfast and turned the other into a small chapel where couples pledge to love one another in matrimony. One building was transformed into an airplane hangar as a small airstrip was situated across the street.
Five years ago, Scott purchased the property, and once again, the property was transformed. The airplane hangar was turned into an event center where we tasted the wines. Scott and his family host weddings, showers, and special events such as Sangria night and Food truck festivities. (I wish we were there for Sangria night.) We enjoyed conversing with Scott as we tasted his white and red wines. There were many similarities between us as he said his wife was Italian and how close she was with her family. He said he never received as many hugs until he met his wife’s family. Of course, we had to discuss food. What Italian doesn’t discuss food. Before we knew it, an hour and a half passed before we said goodbye with two bottles of wine in tow.
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Bring on the Northern Trees Lums Pond State Park – Bear, Delaware
For the second time on our journey, there was a 30-minute delay. This time it was a semi that must have flipped and caught on fire. The scary part of accidents is having to merge into traffic. Unfortunately, not all drivers are as courteous as my husband, as so many cars passed before one would allow us to move into the lane.
As we entered the park, the trees were the first thing I noticed. It has been a while since we have been up the east coast. It was great to see the dogwood and rich red maple trees around the campground replacing the palm trees of Florida. The temperature was also a great relief from the hot, balmy weather we are accustomed to. Most of the days were in the mid-sixties. Great weather to get on our e-bikes and go for a twenty-two-mile round trip to historic Delaware City. We enjoyed the scenic ride as it paralleled the C&D canal. The water was smooth, and even though it is ranked as having the busiest shipping traffic out of the port of Baltimore, the only boat we saw was the police boat speeding by. Unfortunately, when we arrived in Delaware city, all the stores were closed. However, we enjoyed seeing the historic buildings, some dating back to the 1700s.
One morning, Mitch was out to take some drone footage but was quickly shut down as the restricted air zone popped up on the screen. The restriction was until 10:30 am. A bit later, he spotted two Marine One helicopters flying over Lums pond. Being so close to Washington, D.C., we surmised some government official must have been traveling. The restriction was then lifted, and he could fly the drone.
While we didn’t get an opportunity to kayak, we were able to squeeze in another bike ride. Don’t tell Mitch, but the electric bikes I fought him on, seem to be working out well on this journey. When we depart Friday morning, we will have a mad dash to make it to Maine by Monday, staying at Harvest Hosts each day.
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