Fog is Beautiful

So, if you have been keeping up you know that Maine has fog.  This fog is very interesting, it is thick as pea soup one moment and clear as a bell the next.  Fog is created either by cooler water and warmer air or warmer water and cooler air, I am not sure which but the difference in temperatures creates the fog.  We are staying on in Harrington and I can attest that as you drive around the temperature fluctuates around 7-8 degrees from place to place, again not really sure why, deeper water vs shallow water??  I understand the inland vs on the bay differences since the water temps are around 70 and air has been 65-82 recently, but why would one coastal area be clear and the next foggy???

Anyway, fog is a thing up here…  To say the least, we have seen it so thick it moves inside the bus!!! With the windows open of course.   But I just realized that people actually come here for the FOG.  Who would have thunck.  They are even having a Fog Fest about an hour north of here this weekend in Campobello, New Brunswick!!!  Admittedly it can be beautiful, but it can really limit the views as well.  From here forward I will have a better appreciation of fog and its beauty!!!

These are just random shots around the following areas:  Mt Desert Island – Acadia National Park, Schoodic Point – Acadia NP, Sorrento (ME not Italy), Winter Harbor, Summer Harbor, Prospect Harbor, Jonesport, Machiasport, you get the picture.  Cute and scenic towns connected by sparsely populated state highways and a lot of wild blueberries, hard to tell when one town ends and the next begins.

Fog example – These were taken at the (almost) same spot just before and after having a sandwich, the fog rolled in quick.

Always something new, loving it.  PEACE AND LOVE TO ALL!!!

 

Camden, ME Area

After Hailey and Michaels visit we still had the rest of the week to explore the area.  Camden is a beautiful, touristy, port town on the Penobscot Bay that holds a dear spot in our hearts since we were here almost 29 years ago on our honeymoon.  Our “camping” honeymoon was washed out on the first night when hurricane Hugo revisited our celebration with freezing rain.  After an early rise and quick departure from the WET campground on Hermit Island we arrived in Camden and stayed at the Lord Camden hotel, which is still there.

Like all of Maine, the tides are tremendous.  With the large tides most boats (commercial and pleasure) are moored in the harbors not at docks, this creates the need for tenders to be able to reach your boat in the middle of the harbor.  Every port town has a dock filled with tenders, thought these were cute.

Here again you can see more tenders and what low tide looks like.

And a closer shot of the church and steeple that dominate the skyline.

I have mentioned how beautiful the flowers have been in Maine and all of the northeast this summer, but have never seen squash in a hanging basket, this little garden along the Megunticook River which runs thru downtown Camden used squash and other seasonal vegetables.

We stopped by to see the Curtis Island lighthouse from a small overlook between Camden and Rockport.  The light is only accessible by water since it is on an island, but there is an overlook.  It is located in a ritzy neighborhood and has no parking, guess only neighbors are suppose to enjoy the view, but we found a way.  Beautiful area and nice little park with view of this light.

At the southern end of St. George peninsula is Port Clyde and the Marshall Point Lighthouse.  Port Clyde is a small scenic fishing village, there are so many of these villages that it is sometimes hard to tell when you leave one and enter another.  The harbors are filled with commercial and pleasure boats and buoys for both lobster and crab traps.  This is one of the larger commercial boats we saw and lots of traps.  The buoys do not show up as much in the pictures, but look closely.

Marshall Point Lighthouse was built in 1832 and is only 31 feet tall.  It is surprising how short the lighthouses are, not like the ones we were familiar with on the NC coast.  If this one looks familiar is may be because this is the light house where Forest Gump finished his cross country run.

Just a couple of miles from our campground was Beech Hill Preserve.  This is an almost 300 acre preserve on one of the few bare topped hills in the area.  It was formerly owned by the Gribbels family who built a Norwegian style sod roofed stone structure for summer picnics and leisure on the hills summit.

The shelter was built in 1914 and is in the middle of wild blueberry fields.  The preserve opens one weekend a year to allow people to pick the blueberries.  They were ready for eating, but picking weekend was not until the first of August.  They are different than I was used to very low to the ground and everywhere.

From the summit you could see all the way to Mt. Desert Island, and of course the surrounding area.

Mt Desert Island in the far distance, distinctive shape.

Last stop the Langlais Sculpture Preserve, which was the 90 acre homestead of famous Maine artist Bernard Langlais and his wife Helen.  He created over 3,000 sculptures many of which have been donated to Maine public schools and universities and are still on display.  Currently the homestead is home to a small sculpture garden and hosts children’s summer arts camps.  Here are a few of the restored sculptures.

Peace and Love

Sister Love

Hailey and Michael made Maine their vacation destination this summer.  After a whirlwind tour of Boston with Michael’s sister Meg and family they met us at Megunticook Campground and spent a couple of days with us on the western side of Penobscot Bay.  We were so pleased that they wanted to spend part of their well-earned vacation with us.  They even let us cook for the at the bus, but who wouldn’t love live lobster on a picnic table.  It was so good we did it both nights.   The steak, clams, haddock and other misc. sides were just icing on the cake.

Our adventures started in Camden with lots of fog.  Beautiful harbor, but the fog was so thick you could barely see across it.

We spent some time shopping around downtown and even found a small “fairy” house next to the library.

Next stop Rockland for a wonderful lunch at Café Maranda.  We don’t eat out often, but this lunch was well worth it.  Randy even tried to duplicate our appetizer gorgonzola, mushroom, roast garlic and spinach dip on focaccia bread, theirs was better but he gave it a good try!!!  Next was Farnsworth Art Museum, of special interest were the Wyeth collection, mostly Andrew, but N. C. and Jamie as well.  I neglected to get pictures of their work, but here is a sculpture from the museum.  Note the detail of shells on the dress.

Strangely, Rockland was not foggy at all it was a beautiful day and we enjoyed a walk around the waterfront.  Notice the difference 20 miles makes in fog from Camden to Rockland.   Rockland harbor is also protected by a “breakwater” with a lighthouse on the end.  This breakwater is almost a mile long.

Then another 6 miles to Owls Head Lighthouse and it was socked in with fog too.   As short walk and another beautiful Maine lighthouse which was lit in 1825 and is still operational.

Hailey and Michael the adventurers even rappelled down to the beach.

We all enjoyed a quick stroll on Birch Point Beach before returning to the campground for more LOBSTER.

Hailey and Michael continued their adventures further north in Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, Schoodic Point, Castine and more.  Including a special moment on Cadillac Mount at sunrise.  On their way back south we met up for lunch and got a non-foggy view of Camden harbor.

Maine is known for their boat tours, from whale watching, birding and lighthouse tours they have it all for a price.  But they also have state ferries that transport vacationers and residence from the mainland to various islands.  We decided the best way to get out on the water without spending a ton of money or all day, was to take a ferry to Islesboro from Lincolnville.  A beautiful ride (30 minutes each way) and special time with very special people.  And bonus another lighthouse!!

Peace and Love

 

 

Freeport, ME

First time back on the coast since April, the Maine Coast is not at all like our NC coast.  We found a nice city park campground Winslow Memorial Park in Freeport, ME.  Although there were no hookups and we had to move partway thru the week it was a beautiful spot and inexpensive.

The site was right on the water with great views of Casco Bay.  Lots of working and pleasure boats on the bay every day.  The bay is full of little islands and rocky points some just come out at low tide, most of Maine’s coast is rocky with cliffs.  The shore line is so jagged that there about 3,500 miles of coast line, over 5,000 if you include all the islands.  Another big difference is the size of the tides.  In Freeport where we were staying the tides were over 10 feet.

It was crazy how the tides changed, one day’s low tide was not as low as the next one’s.  I am sure that there is a cycle to this, but in a week, we could only see them getting lower each day.  Hightide covers a lot of rocks while low tide reveals very large mud flats.  Note the change of tides, these pictures are of the same area as the tide changes.

Freeport is the home of LL Bean and has several outlet stores, LL Bean outlets and others.  We went to one LLB just because we had to, but did not find anything that we had to have.  We did get a new baking dish at the Corning outlet, useful.

South of Freeport is Kennebunk and Kennebunkport mostly known to us as the summer homestead of the Bush’s.  Of course we had to give it a visit, but on the way stopped at a Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge for a picnic and short hike.  It is located on a tidal marsh and is used to study the marsh and the effects of sea level rise on the marshes.

Kennebunkport had one of the nicest beaches we have seen in Maine.

The Bush estate is located on a private gated peninsula with several homes at least 3 or 4??  But this is the main house on the property.

Another wonderful part of main is all the lighthouses.  With such a rocky coastline no wonder there are so many lighthouses.  There are over 60 historic lighthouses, so these are just a few.  Goat Island light is on an island by itself, off of Cape Porpoise near Kennebunkport.  It was established in 1835.  It is only accessible by boat so this pic is from a restaurant parking lot…

Portland ME is between Kennebunk and Freeport and has a great peninsula Cape Elizabeth.  Really a beautiful area with large homes and wonderful flowers, guess July is Maine’s spring at least flower wise.  The oldest lighthouse in Maine is on Cape Elizabeth, the Portland Head Light.  It was commissioned by the George Washington and lit in 1791.  The quintessential Maine Light House, with one in the background.

Cape Elizabeth is also home to Twin Light State Park and the twin lights.  These two lights are about a block apart (300 yards) in a residential area, this one is privately owned and no longer lit.

While this one actually further inland is still functioning.

Last but not least is Bug Light.  The breakwater light for Portland.  They build “breakwaters” to protect harbors, which are basically rock jetties but built so you can walk out on them some as long as a mile.  This one has been filled to create a city park in South Portland.

Another plus for Maine has been the weather.  Although we have had a little rain and a couple of foggy days, the temps are 70s to low 80s during the day and 50s to 60s at night, we have not used our a/c in over two weeks in July!!!    Peace and Love

 

Gorham, NH

We basically jumped across Vermont to New Hampshire.  Vermont deserves a better visit and maybe we will have the opportunity later this summer, who knows.  The only views of VT I have to share are these wonderful bird houses scattered all over the woods and around a wetlands area near South Hero on Apple Island and a glimpse of Lake Champlain.

Gorham a small town in northern New Hampshire has a 6 day 4^th of July celebration so we decided to check it out.  Well cute little town and from what we can tell small celebration as well.  There are rides for the kids open for 6 days and bands playing each night, but the night we went there were maybe 50 people in attendance.  Too hot today for the parade at 2pm but may make the fireworks tonight.

One of the biggest attractions in the area is an “auto road” to the top of Mount Washington.  It is touted as Americas first man-made attraction a road to the summit of Mt Washington at 6,288 ft built in 1861 originally as a carriage road.  Currently it is a “toll” road accessible via private vehicle or on a guided tour it is 7 miles long and has an average gradient of 11.6% and is very narrow since it was built before automobiles were around.  The “toll” is quite high, $31 for driver and car and an additional $9 for each passenger, we did not go.   We did ride by and saw the first snow we have seen in quite some time, not much but a little left on the shady side of Mt Washington, sorry no picture…

We did manage to visit several waterfalls and swimming holes in the area all very pleasant, scenic and refreshingly cool in this oppressive heat.  Don’t misunderstand, we realize that other parts of the country as also in extreme heat conditions but going from 60s to 90s in a matter of days is a real shock to the system!!!

Glenn Ellis Falls was just off hwy 16 south and down a number of stairs.  There was an underpass for pedestrian travel under the highway to get there, but not a long walk at all.

We found a nice little picnic spot on the river.

And just happened by this lovely waterfall – Silver Cascades just off the road.

For the next waterfalls we traveled east to Maine.  Our first stop was Step Falls which is on 24 acres of Nature Conservancy property.  This was their first purchase in Maine in 1962, the river Wight Brook flows over granite criss-crossed with veins of milky quarts.  The large granite base allows the water to create pools and natural water slides connecting the pools.  Would have been a wonderful place to play as a kid.  We did our best, but not 12 anymore!!!  They promote the water slides, but the few that looked doable were not adult sized kids had a blast.

Frenchmen’s hole was also a nice swimming hole with a high (10 foot) jump into the pool.  Many people were jumping and flipping and flopping into the pool.  Fun to watch!!!

Some may remember our post last summer about the honor system corn stand???  Well this year we found am honor system bakery!!!  Figuring we would never eat a whole pie we settled with two whoopie pies and they were good.

New Hampshire and Maine also have numerous covered bridges, here are a few.

Peace and Love

 

 

Wilmington, NY

Had to stay in Wilmington for obvious reasons.  Wilmington, NY is in the Adirondack mountains near Lake Placid, NY.  The Olympic were held in Lake Placid in 1932 and again in 1980, some of the Olympic venues are still there and used for training as well as tourist attractions.  Below are the high jump towers which we found to be very impressive, and the slopes on Whiteface Mountain.   By the way, for a hefty price you can take an elevator to the top of one of the ski jump platforms, tempting but not for us.

We keep seeing these signs

Although we have not seen any moose, which I would love to, we did find Moose Pond.  We had a wonderful kayak around the lake and heard a large animal “grunting” (or what ever you call it) a couple of times.  I like to believe it was a moose watching us paddle???

Also right around the corner we hiked up to Cobble Lookout with a great view of the Adirondack Mountains.  Notice the sweat shirt, it was a cool day probably in sixties can’t ask for more in the middle of June, blue skies, cool air, a view to kill for and your best friend!!!

Sure could use some of that cool weather about now!!  Record breaking heat in New Hampshire for the 4th of July so sharing some recent memories during the heat of the day!!!

Oh yeah forgot to mention the wild flowers, they have been wonderful.  Looks like spring at home in the middle of June, have even seen azaleas blooming!!

Peace and love