July 10: THERE ARE BLUE SKIES IN MAINE!!!

July 9 We left Katahdin Shaddows Campground on a bright and sunny morning. Was a truly glorious morning to see so much blue sky. We headed north to Ft. Kent. There we saw the old fort that was managed by Boy Scouts. They were such a breath of fresh air to talk to; so mannerly and knowledgeable. There we picked up the northern terminus of U.S. #1 which runs all the way to Key West, Florida; a distance of2209 miles. We are going to follow that down the state of Maine. We then went a bit further north to Madawaska….the most northern city on the northeast corner of the US.

We stopped in and had some wonderful flurries in a little shop that looked kind of crowded….everyone was coming out of the woodwork because of the sunshine. One of the high school boys that stopped in told us that we were now at one of the 4 corners of the continental 48 states. Again, they were such nice boys. This part of Maine has a very strong Catholic and French influence. The Canadian border is just across the river. Until late in the 19th century the folks talked almost exclusively French; and then schools made the kids talk only English in class….and voila’….they began to be English speaking throughout.

Ft. Kent, Maine; managed by Boy Scouts

Is that Dawson in the stocks????

With our tummies satisfied with the flurries, we headed further on down US #1, paralleling the Canadian border for about 30 miles. Heading toward a campsite in Presque Isle, we spied a Wal Mart off to the right….and sure enough we set up camp on one edge of the parking lot….backed up to a huge grassy park. It is just perfect.

July 10 : Woke up this a.m. to a totally cloudless blue sky. Slept with all the screens open. Was wonderful.As we were having our coffee, sitting in our chairs in the parking lot….up drives a truck. Out pops a gentleman who “requested permission to come ‘aboard.” It was Bruce, the manager, stopping by to chat. He asked if everything went OK last night and told us that he had the parking lot light turned out for us when the store closed! How cool was that??? (He was also an Eagle Scout) When he left, he talked into his walkie talkie….”I’m here….I’m just out in the parking lot quieting down some roudy campers…” When we break camp today we are headed down to cross into New Brunswick to see the longest covered bridge in the world. It’s not far from here….

We're at a truck stop getting gas and it has wifi.

So, until we connect again......