New Parts of Maine

 It was great to pack in the 5th wheel and get rid of the excess cobwebs and what-nots that accumulate when you sit for 3 months.  Our trip to the mountains was uneventful, other than the microwave door swinging open and clearing out its contents and then closing again on the drive, which seems like a magic trick, until you have to clean up all the salt that has spilled everywhere :(

We stayed at Big Moose Campground at Lake Millinocket which is near Mt. Katahdin and Baxter State Park.  Mt. Katahdin is where the Appalachian Trail ends (or starts) and sits at 5000 ft.  "The Golden Road" is a 96 mile-unpaved road built by the Great Northern Paper Company and stretches from Lake Millinocket  (where the mill used to be) to the Canadian border and leads to many remote areas of Maine wilderness.  It is amazing to know that this Maine wilderness has been logged 3 times over!

Our friends were also staying at our campground which was nice to have our meals together and the dogs had another place to hang out.  We ate a lot, boated a lot, and enjoyed the company a lot.  

Here's the crew thanks to JP and Madelin

Our friends have a summer home on lake Millinocket  (they were renting it out while we were there, so they were in their RV at the campground),  but everyone up here calls their summer cabins their "camp".  There are a lot of islands on Lake Millinocket and Lake Ambajejus which people buy and set up their "camp".  You too could have an island for $100k!

Most camps are built in the winter when the lakes freeze over.  They have solar, propane and compostable toilets.  Some islands are really big with lovely sandy shores, some have tree houses too!

Just wait to see what this Lobstah Roll looks like!

That is some meat!  I could only eat half.  I liked mine with mayo, lettuce and chives.

Madelin and JP introduced us to these delicious rolls (and tolerated our dogs!)

Lunch with a view! This is next to class V rapids on the Penobscot river.  We were hoping to get a show with the experienced kayakers or rafters coming down.

The next few days were spent on the boat, going around islands, up rivers, and enjoying sunsets.

Otis is always on the lookout

Otis wanted something out there in the water

This blog program is not letting me put a caption unless it moves the picture to a place I don't want...yes, there is swearing going on....so, I will talk about the last 2 picture:s:  1st one- this is a loon.  They are so pretty, and make an interesting call to others.  They were all around the lakes and rivers.  In the rivers we were trying to look for moose and bald eagles.  We saw some bald eagles, but no moose :(  2nd picture - is the boys (50 yr olds) having some fun by finding a rope and zip line!  

The boom house was where the logs came from the river into the lake and where the loggers spent the night and ate.  It was amazing to see old pictures of logs stretching across the lake headed for the mill.  Great to see a piece of the Maine paper mill history.

The boys loved riding at the front of the boat with their ears flapping in the wind

Jason and JP went on a sea plane ride around the lakes and Mt. Katahdin.  They loved it.  JP was even given the controls to fly the plane for a while.  Jason said the landing was really smooth.

We really loved our time in the mountains with JP and Madelin, that we made plans to visit with them again a week later.  Jason offered his help building a deck and steps for their container "ice shack" which we stayed in.  The ice shack is a container 20 ft long that they cut out windows and a door and made it into a little cabin-ish retreat.   We spent more time on their boat when all the work was done, and lots of time just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.  This type of living is definitely more our style, and we could see ourselves here.....except for the winters, and being across the country from our family. 

This was the inside of the container.  We had a very comfortable bed, eating and sitting area.  Our toilet was one you would use on a boat, which was new to us.  Also the shower was a large water trough with a handheld shower head that was perfect.  Our sink was a small aluminum bucket with a hand water pump the water came out of.  It was really cute and felt rustic, but doable.  The Keurig was just steps away!! Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the outside of the container or of the new deck.

JP is from South Africa, he and Madelin cooked in their Poike pot; marinated chicken, vegetables, potatoes and broth....so yummy!  Especially beautiful with the lake right behind.

Sunset from their camp looking at Mt. Katahdin

"magic" fire happening

Otis and I were frog hunting, we saw a few, but Otis scared them away

They blend in so well

Beautiful views from their property.  

We all went floated the Penobscot river, down from the class V rapids!  Otis came with and was in and out of the kayak or float raft.  There were some little rapids that threw Jason off his float, but other than that, uneventful.  We had a tasty lunch at a little waterfall/waterslide area (Lobstah rolls were involved!).  We saw lots of fish jumping and lots of eagles swooping.  It was a really nice ride.   We really like this part of Maine!

We had to say goodbye to one of our fellow workamper couples who left this week for home.  It's like losing your arm after working and enjoying life with them for a few months.  The leaves are starting to change as the nights are getting a little cooler, but at the coast our days are in the low 70's and sunny.  We are looking forward to exploring more of Acadia Nat'l Park with the crowds gone, and maybe make it to New Hampshire/Vermont to see a bit of the apple action going on there.  

I've got my Autumn Leaves candle burning, thinking of making pumpkin this or that, and eating all the Honeycrisp apples I can manage (my favorite!).  I'm ready, but not really ready to end summer and welcome fall.  I think it's going to come fast!

Our Maine Adventure(s)

 

It has taken me a long while to get to this blog since arriving in Maine.  We've been busy, yes, but there's also been technical issues and some "I don't feel like it" issues because as Jason puts it, we're retired! LOL!!!  We have been in Maine for almost 3 months now, so let me tell you what we've been up to.

First off, our RV park is amazing!  There are 45 sites that are on 4 tiered levels and every site has a view of the water.  We sit on the Penobscot Bay which is on the mid-coast of Maine.  When we first arrived, the weather was cool and rainy and we were told that it had been like that for the past 2 weeks.  That continued, but then we got a beautiful day:

Beautiful RV site and view, on the top level!

       

We can say that the weather in Maine is wonky: sunny and beautiful, then windy and humid, to foggy and warm, to rainy downpour, but then humid and clear....I think we've covered it all being here.  It has given us reasons to go for car rides and venture further out, just because of the weather.  We went to LLBean flagship store(s), drove to Portland, ME to go to Costco (margarita's!) and enjoy Blueberry beer at Sea Dog Brewing.  

It's like Disneyland for everything LLBean and then some!

Otis was ready to attack this deer inside LLBean's hiking/fishing store

With blueberries in the beer

We are close to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.  Our E-bikes came in handy when riding the carriage roads through the park.  One of the few National Parks that allow dogs on their trails, Otis was happily running along with us.  We were only able to do this before busy season hit.  We drove through Bar Harbor, but didn't see any shops that we needed to stop in, and it was SO packed with people.

The most fun about being at this RV park are all the projects Jason gets to be a part of.  Yeah, that's part of the problem of opening your mouth with suggestions!!!LOL  This is his favorite piece of equipment to use so far (in my opinion), the tractor.  He will find a reason to use it almost every day we work, and some days we don't.  Some of the projects he and others have done : build a deck, steps, planter boxes around the office, a firepit, more planters, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. 

He loves this thing!

There's a ton of photos that I'm gonna post on here, some have stories to go along with, and some are just great photos that I want to share.  

I've always thought that LL Bean was out of my price range, however, when we visited it was on Memorial weekend and there were sales!  We picked up this 2-person inflatable kayak for $300, which I think was an amazing price (though, I didn't shop around 😬).  It's made of very durable material, and Otis proof.  He has enjoyed being captain of the kayak when we have set out, making sure every buoy we see is not a bird or anything that could be chased. 

The lupines were popping up everywhere and oh so pretty! Purple, pink and white.  It was amazing to enjoy them while they lasted and then one day, poof, they are all gone!

We took a trip to Quebec City with the dogs.  We did not take our trailer with us, but instead found a hotel that allowed dogs (and they got a queen size bed for the night!).

It was raining the first day, so we visited Montmorency Falls, which is about 15 minutes outside of old Quebec city.  It is taller than Niagara Falls and as the sign reads, 487 steps up or down to the falls....we chose to go down.

The "4-legged boys" were with us and enjoyed going down, but having to wait for us 2-legged people to catch up with them who were afraid of slipping.

The boys got to go on the gondola back to the top to cross the bridge back over to the other side.  Duke did not like it.  Otis wanted to get up on the rails to see what was on the other side and scared everyone that was watching.  

Looking down from the bridge.

On to Quebec City!

These are steep stairs that lead from the lower old city to the upper city.  There is also a funicular that you can ride to avoid the stairs or the glute burning steep hill road climb.

Nothing special, just a cute looking store with the cobblestone street and red painted store front.

Chateau Frontenac in Upper old Quebec

Sharing my bread and cheese with the dogs

Our wine and cheese overlooking the St. Lawrence river

Cool lights with "lamp shades", didn't get to see them at night

Otis finds Jason's heel very comfy.

Old Quebec City

This is a side of a building painted as a village, it looks SO real

more of the same painting on the side of the building.

This is part of the Million Dollar Birdhouse Wall in Moscow, Maine (on our way to/from Canada).  It features hundreds of handmade birdhouses such as hardhats, oars, license plates, teapots, engines, snowmobiles, etc.  It's a sight to see, but you're unable to pull off anywhere on the side of the road to really see any of them!

The dogs are pretty much with us everywhere, even on our days at work.  Either with me inside the office or riding around in a golf cart with Jason.  Here's Otis checking to make sure I'm doing my job.

Mom and Dad came to visit with us in July for about 2 weeks, part of which we spent exploring St. John in New Brunswick, Canada and Lubec, Maine.

Proclaimed to be "The Best Seafood Chowder they've had" by Mom  and Dad eating at the Caves Restaurant in St. Martins Beach New Brunswick.  It was pretty delicious, and the restaurant has signs posted everywhere that they have the best seafood chowder!

I convinced everyone to go on a little nature walk with me.....hahaha!

"Are we done yet?"  "I'm heading back!"

Cheater, cheater.....but a good sport!

A well deserved stop at Moosehead Brewery.  We found some Radler (grapefruit) and Chelada (lime) beers that are light and juicy and refreshing....and per the law you are able to bring 2-12 packs back with you through the border, so of course we did!  These are not sold in the USA.

They sell this (seriously!) to get you through a presidential term, 1 beer a day

We walked a lot of the town of St. John, but didn't really see much.  The bay of Fundy is in St. John and is where the tide comes in and the rushing waters of the river meet and create "rapids".  It would've been neat to see, but it occured as we were driving over the bridge one day oblivious to the time of the tides.  

After St John we traveled to Lubec, Maine.  Along the way, and before the border, we had some time to kill so we went to a cute little town, Saint Andrews.  I can't remember why, but I'm glad we did.  It would be a great place to spend the weekend.  There is a beautiful hotel/resort, the Algonquin, that I believe the Royals stayed at when they were in country(we didn't go, but drove through the grounds).  The town has beautiful boutiques, charming homes, a botanical garden and I'm sure much more that we didn't see in the few hours we were there.  We walked the main street of town, visited some of the stores, then went to the Botanical Gardens, (which are all the photos).  We had a great lunch at their outdoor patio cafe overlooking some of the grounds.  

Lubec Maine:

How cute is this?!?

Views from our Airbnb

Looking across the waterway in Lubec to Campobello Island in Canada

On Campobello Island, the Bay of Fundy.  Amazing how clear the water is!

There's a trail somewhere here that you can only trek at low tide.  The tides change as much as 29 feet.

Stairs leading to the mysterious trail

The trail emerges from the water and takes you to Head Harbour Lightstation.

This is about as close as we could get to the lighthouse.

We were able to tour the Roosevelt Summer house on Campobello Island.  Lots of craftsmanship in that house.

Jason cracked his way through this bad boy.  Mom and I had Lobstah Rolls and Dad had yummy scallops.

The Woodshed is an outdoor Bar & Grill of Maine Cabin Masters that wasn't far from where our RV park is.  Food was very good!

Mom got to meet one of the designers who is on the show while we were visiting their store.

LLBean Boot pic

Dad putting on the big backpack at LLBean.

This is what most evenings look like from our RV site....awe shucks!

We took a Schooner boat ride.  Funny story though: We purchased tickets aboard Lazy Dave's Schooner, they were a great price!  We get out to open water, 3 sails are up and we are gliding, no one is talking.  This feels relaxing.  There are about 10 guests aboard and 2 crew.  After about an hour of this, they take the sails down, say "watch your head", as they shift the sails to the other side and up they pull them up again.  Again, no talking. We're headed back.   What the heck?  No explanation what we're seeing, where we're going, what's the purpose, will we see any sea animals, sea stories, interesting facts.....something!!!  Well, we got back to the dock and they asked for tips, uh no.  I guess that's what you get when you book with Lazy Dave's.

We really have been enjoying being here in Maine and meeting so many different RV people from all over the country.  The other workcampers we work with have become family, with dinners, drinks, commiserating and finding good company in each other.  They really have made this adventure what it is.  This RV park and the owner are also one of a kind we are finding out more and more everyday.  I don't know if we will ever do this kind of thing again (never say never with us!).

New adventures though in the making: We have become friends with a couple who stayed in the RV park and invited us to join them.  So, we are going to the mountains of Maine for about a week to enjoy a different atmosphere, have some fresh water lakes to boat, swim and play in, and explore new territory.  We will stay at a campground taking our trailer.  It's fun to have something to look forward to again!

Thanks for sticking with us!  I'll try to be better with the blog.