THE ROCK CLIMB

Mike and I returned to this rock climb at Sandy Beach. He was very reluctant to try it but, I assured him we would go slow and it was not as difficult as it may have looked to him. Truthfully it was very easy. There was a marked trail all the way up. I wanted to add some difficulty to it so at a few spots I went off the beaten path. It was all very easy great for a family climb. Mike admitted it was nothing like it looked.

Here we are half way up. Great view.

At the top. I'm ready for more. This is what I've been wanting to do the entire trip. Enjoy the outdoors, be a part of nature and away from people. There are two types of vacationers. One that travels and stops everywhere, goes into all the tourist spots, buys trinkets from every stop, rides the tours, etc. Then there are the vacationers who goes to most of the same places but rarely hits the tourist shops. They are busy hiking, bike riding, fishing for dinner, exploring where the locals hang out. That's what I want all of our travels to be like. My youngest daughter; Jennifer, has got to be doing something all the time. She would have dragged me willingly up all the hiking trails and then bike up to the summit of Cadillac Mounting. I might have been far behind her but, I would have gladly done it all.

This is Johnathan Livingston Seagull. Mike and I did reach the top and sat down for a bit to enjoy the scenery. I had made us a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a picnic lunch. As we sat there eating, this seagull swoops down and grabs the sandwich out of Mike's hands. For real!!! The gull then lands next to us to finish it's sandwich.

So here is Johnathan and a friend flying away looking for the next generous tourist.

This ends our first trip. We both loved Acadia Park and agreed that this was what Maine is all about. I would like to stay in this immediate area for at least a month. This is so much to do.

Some things that we learned from this trip to help us with our future wanderings:

1. Tow your own vehicle. An absolute must.

2. Plan better. That is, Mike and I would rather stay at a central spot longer than doing 3 days here and there.

3. We also need to pack our RV better. We did not have our own fishing equipment. We may put our bikes on the back. etc.

4. Know the places before you get there. There is so much information out there, there is no reason not to know everything about where you are going.

Again we had a wonderful time. I never felt like coming home. Now is the time to get the house packed up and on the market. I'm already planning the next trip.

Keep following the blog. I will let you know how the house packing is going and when were ready to take off.

ACADIA PARK

We took Olie's Trolley tour through Acadia Park. It is definitely the thing to do. From that, we revisited the places we wanted to spend some time at.

This is at the top of Cadillac Mountain; the highest point in the park. The photo above and below show the abundance of rocks throughout this park. When I saw all the rock formations and all the different kinds of rocks I was reminded of our earth science classes in school. I think it would be most helpful and interesting to have a quick lesson on rocks before or while touring the park.

We are actually above the harbor in the picture above. See the cruise ship way below.

There are many hiking trails throughout the park. There are rangers in each of the information centers to provide helpful facts about the trails and other interesting points of the park. The trails vary in difficult from easy for kids to very difficult. I did see some rock climbers and some people bouldering. I used to do a lot of rock climbing and repelling in southern Illinois. I loved it so much. I would love to do some more. I always wanted to do some ice climbing. May yet, one never knows.

This is the back yard of a summer cottage called Jordan Pond House. There is now a restaurant in this house along with a trinket shop. We had dinner here one night. Very tasty!!

This picture was taken for all of Jack's friends. Jack is carrying his man purse.

Thunder Hole as the park calls it. The sound of the waves hitting these rocks within a natural cut out chamber resembles thunder. Very cool spot.

The photo above and the last few are of Sandy Beach. I was told that this beach is packed with sunbathers in the months of July and August. This was my favorite spot. Mike and I came back here to climb the far rocks.

Real waves.

BAR HARBOR, ME

The correct pronunciation of Bar Harbor is: Baa Ha ba. According to a tour guide, only the immediate locals who have been here forever have that strong Maine accent. I actually didn't hear one person with this strong accent.

Above is a typical sight of a cruise ship anchored in the bay. The few days we were there, two cruise liners could be seen everyday. Two ships means a whole lot of people. It was busy but, not elbow to elbow. Our stay in town was short. After awhile all the shops look the same in each town. They seem to have the same trinkets for sale. We got our Maine sweatshirts, had the daily lobster lunch and tried some homemade ice cream. There is much more to do than shop.

I finally found a moose. This is it!!

Aren't we funny? I forced Michael into it. Hi Alex, Gwen, Andy and Joseph. We are lobsters.

There was small Whale museum in Bar Harbor. This is the upper mouth of a whale. Massive!

The picture below is indeed a taxi on the top of the entrance of a restaurant.

Again, we really didn't stay long shopping around. Acadia Park is the place to be.

MORE FROM CAMDEN, ME

That's me on the dock trying to fish. We all gave it a try. No luck.



Just another beautiful scene.




Our camping site. Very rustic. So far the best place.

We did play some more golf. The course was all hills. No great scores to brag about. Mike did the best.

Near our camp site was a bowling alley. I convinced everyone to join me to play just one game. This was a candlestick bowling lane. I have bowled regular pins and have bowled duck pins in Virginia. I have never bowled candlestick pins. They do look like tall candlesticks. You do get 3 balls as in duck pins. The balls are slightly smaller than those of duck pins. The highest score recorded for candlestick bowling is 245. The highest ladies score at this alley is 113, the men's 131. Very tough but we had a lot of fun. Our high score was 71 and the lowest was 52.

I did get to go to a few antique shops. There must be an antique shop every 1/2 mile down the highways. It's always fun to go to different antique stores in different states. The antiques aren't all the same. The regions all have different themes therefore, the furniture is slightly different as are the art that was hung on the walls, etc.

Carol and I went into Ogunquit. The town reminded me a little of Woodstock, NY. Very artsy and very much a tourist trap.

FINALLY.... THE BEACH

We finally made it to Maine. I think the most satisfying or peaceful place to be is near the ocean. I could sit on the beach for hours just listening to the waves slapping against the beach.

Three things have become abundant since we started this trip. The first is the fern. We have a limited amount of ferns in the woods behind our house. They are my favorite. Since Lake George and New Hampshire, now Maine, ferns are everywhere. Absolutely beautiful ferns.

The second abundant "thing" was the moose. Not an actual moose but, signs, key chains, stuffed toys, puzzles, and tee-shirts. Everything with the moose on it. I still have not seen one east of the Mississippi. I'm still looking.

Now the third "thing" is the best. Lobstah!! Everywhere. We went out to eat and guess what we had. Maine lobstah! It has got to be the very best. Everyone but Mike had Lobstah. He is not very fond of it. I knew I would finally find something wrong with him. He had a medley of seafood; clams, shrimp, scallops, and fried haddock. He ate it all so I'm guessing it was very good.

These photos are what the locals call "cottages". They follow the coastline.

This small cottage belongs to President Bush. Kennebunkport summer home. This is the closest anyone can get. Yes, there were a large number of people parked along the road taking pictures like myself. Why do we do this? What I have gained from this? I can now say, "Well, don't you know, I've seen the President's house." Whoopee!!

Back at the ranch....(I had a teacher in junior high school in Rhinebeck School who said that everyday). Again back at the ranch, while in this area of Maine, we visited and made a few contributions to the local businesses in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. The boys actually went fishing while Carol and I did the shopping thing. I'm actually too cheap to buy the tourist traps. The truth is I keep remembering that I am sorting through the house trying to get rid of stuff, I can't add to it. All I need is the memories. There is truth to that statement.

By the way, the boys were not lucky fishermen.

What would a visit to the Maine coast be without a visit to a lighthouse? We went to the Rockland Breakwater light house. A breakwater wall was built that leads to this lighthouse. It was 7/8" of a mile each way. As you can see from the pictures below, the rocks were cut to fit. It took 19 years to finish the break wall and open the lighthouse.

Basking in the sun. The weather has been very good although it has been a bit cooler than I expected.

ANOTHER DAY OFF

A girl has just got to take a day off to get her toes done. I feel refreshed to keep going. While I was relaxing, Mike was watching the laundry. No he's not that bored. What he is watching is something very new to both of us. It not only is a washer but, it is also a dryer. All in one. The laundry did get done. The clothes washed, then dried and were left with more wrinkles than my 80 year old mom. Gotta go..the clothes need to be ironed.

BRAGGING RIGHTS

This is what I call Bragging Rights. If you walk through a campsite you will see a map like this or similar on RVs or even sewn on the side of a tent. I first saw this "bragging plaque" when traveling on motorcycle throughout the northern and western states. (Long ago). I attended many motorcycle rallies and noticed the geeky vests worn by many of the old timers. (I may now fit into the old timer category, surely not geeky; although I did belong to the AV club in high school). That's another topic to talk about. Anyway, the cloth maps on the vests were colored in with markers; each colored state indicating the wearer has rode his/her bike through that state. So, we RVers do the same thing. Are we so proud of our breakout from the life we left behind or are we like children yelling, "Nay nay, pooh pooh look what I've done and not you!" I think We (Mike & I) are just so over excited about our new adventures. (Maybe I stick out my tongue when I say that.)

So the map above is ours. We have just begun our great adventure. Another important factor of this is when does one fill in a specific state. Everyone has there own rules. If they just drive through does it count, do I have to camp in the state, or do I not only have to camp but participate in at least one day of activity in the state. We have chosen the later. Every state we add to the map we have not only camp overnight but, have done the touristy thing in some way or another.

The map below belongs to our traveling buddies, Jack & Carol. The are well seasoned travelers. Yeah I'm jealous. I know Carol is sticking her tongue out at us now.

STRAWBERY BANKE, PORTSMOUTH, NH

Strawbery Banke is a museum composed of restored and furnished buildings of New England life from 1695 through the 1950's. Several of the buildings had costumed role-players performing daily activities. I've been to several of these type of Museums throughout the US. This one seem to be still in restoration state. It was interesting if you've never been to a "live" museum but, could be better. I love looking at antiques and did see a few pieces that I've never seen before. The M & M grocery store was most fun. They had a good supply of authentic food jars and packages on their shelves. "I remember that"... was said often by all of us.

The craftsman above is making wooden barrels. Apparently he does this for his business. He is currently making barrels for other museums.

I really liked this "couch". I have a more traditional fainting couch with the additional half side in one corner along with the reclined end. I don't know if they call this a fainting couch. Beautiful craftsmanship.

As always, there seems to be a beautiful garden at all the estates. This garden was behind the house at the start of this tour.

INSIDE THE COTTAGE

Just a few pictures of inside the cottage. I really need to get a lap top.

Again, my beautiful dishwasher and my KitchenAid mixer. I have used it. I made a banana nut bread last night. No mix everything from scratch. Great little kitchen.

The candle burning is for 911. Thanks to Wendy Lown's facebook entry as a reminder to us all to burn a candle. Thanks.

This is a typical "site" for the larger RVs. Very comfortable. Have not yet felt that we were crowded in.

THE END OF FORT TICONDEROGA

These are photos of the house and grounds of the family that owned the fort for several generations. The house is closed up. I don't know if there are plans to renovate inside. I hope so.

The grounds are massive and a well kept today. I want to know how they mowed the grass back then. The first lawn mower was invented in 1827. They must have used just a scythe and grazing animals. So the highly manicured lawn of today is a modern need. Need? As we make our way in and out of the cubby holes of this country, I'm becoming more and more aware of the artifical "needs" that many of us have convinced ourself are necessities and not luxuries. (You all made fun of me when I talked about getting a goat.)

Above is a bronze statue in the middle of the gardens. I have no idea who it depicts but, the attempt to "depict" it below by Jack gets my vote.

This ends out Fort Ticonderoga visit. Sept. 10. Now heading for Concord, NH area.