July 15: 4 DAYS IN ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, MAINE....WOW!

Ship ahoy, Matees! Thar she blows ... Shiver me timbers! Yesterday was our day for a deep sea fishing adventure. Once again...these days are totally in reverse. It goes back to last Saturday....so here goes. Here's the guys getting onto the Vagabond. There were 26 fishermen; 3 crew. There was a large group of teen agers from a summer camp in southern Maine. The day was beautiful and we all enjoyed the chilly 1 hour ride out to the fishing site. Dawson enjoying the ride.

Chris chatting with the captain.

Stopped by an island on the way to see seals basking in the sun and spotted a young eagle in the tree.

Chris stole my camera to document the fact that I had a pole in my hand...

Here was the deck hand putting rubber bands ont he lobster claws. After we fished, on the way back to dock, they picked up their lobster pots, got out any lobsters and re-baited them. He had a string of about a dozen pots. Got quite an education on lobsters. Then there was a lottery for who got the lobsters....about 10 of them, and the clams. Dawson won a lobsteer and I got 6 clams.

Self portrait...

He had bands on his claws....but we had to do every bit of coercing we could do to get Dawson to hold this lobster up....Didn't have time to get a better background so the lobster would show better. I just got what I got and that was that.

At the dock there was a take out sea food place that cooked our catch for us. They did it for nothing so we felt obligated to buy the fixin's. Lotta work to get a little food....but it was yummy.

Dawson got to my camera after washing the butter off of his fingers and snapped this one. He didn't eat much of the crabs....we sure encouraged him to, though.

Monday morning as we left our drive of the Seawall campground, look what was there to greet us. Isn't she beautiful?

A lighthouse on Dessert Mountain Island....named by the explorer Champlain because the mountains didn't have trees on top and he thought from a distance that it might be a dessert. This is the same island where Bar Harbor is, and the Acadia National Park, and where we spent from Sunday noon-ish to Wednesday noon-ish.

The tide is out.

Dawson at a ranger program in the park: Bird-ology

This was one huge rig in the camp with us....on a Mercedes truck. They brought it over on the boat from Germany. It is HUGE. That is 7 steps to get up to it. It's on a Military vehicle. No power steeri.ng, no AC, veery bumpy. A bit of over-kill I would say, but the owners hope to go to Iceland some day. Personally looks to me like it'd be great in Alaska

Dawson on the dock in Eastport, Maine, the furthest east town in the U.S.

Ordering our food at the little fish carry-out that the "locals" told us about. No tourist could ever find it. It was down a dirt road and on the shore. We had lobster rolls. From seeing how little meat you actually get from a whole lobster, I think I will continue to order the lobster roll...ya get lots of lobster and it's very yummy. Dawson doesn't know what he's missing when he doesn't order one.

OK....now jumping back in time. On Sunday we left Deer Island by car ferry and in the rain and went to Campobello Island, where Franklin D. Roosevelt spent most of the summers of his boyhood, as did most of the victorian wealthy of his era. The room above is the school room in their home (They had a tudor).

The living room. Has an awesome view of Passamaquoddy Bay (spelling???)

The Roosevelt home. This island is in Canada, but the home is a historical site run by both countries as a symbol of our friendship.
Quite a beautiful and lavish place. FDR was quite an athlete and sailor. It was here that he was struck with polio as an adult.

July 11, 2009 Deer Island, New Brunswick, Canada
This is a glorious little island right in the middle of the Bay of Fundi, off the eastest city in the USA, Eastpoint, Maine.
Our camp is right on the bluff beside the exact point where Old Sow Whirlpool may form just before high tide. So, I’m going to be out there with a camera watching for it.

(The above is the best picture I got of the disturbance that I could tell from the whirlpool. All the conditions have to be just right)
You may or may not know that the Bay of Fundi is the one place in the world with the highest tide. The second place is the Turnagainarm south of Anchorage, AK….and we saw that last year.
We drove around the island after we found the camp site. It’s about the size of Mackinac Island. Took many beautiful pictures. There are about 700 year round residents. We took the car ferry here from Eastpoint, ME. From here we have to hop another ferry to Campobello to tour that island tomorrow. Then we take the bridge back to Lubec ME. It’s kind of nice to have these passports because we can just pop over to Canada. And would you believe that getting off the car ferry here on Deer Island and going through customs, it was the FIRST TIME that the customs officer asked if we had a permission letter to have Dawson along with us. She said that they are real big on lost children here in New Brunswick.

Our evening on Deer Island was lots of fun. A primitive camp right over-looking Passamodoquoddy Bay (right across the island from Bay of Fundi). We were camped where we could have a ring-side seat for one of God’s spectacular shows of the Old Sow Tidal Whirlpool. If all the conditions are right, it is the western hemishpere’s largest whirlpool….like it can open a 40 ft. deep hole in the center. (I’m not going to bore you with all the factors that make this phenomenon). Well….we were waiting, sitting and watching….but no whirlpool. We saw definite disturbances in the water; saw little areas where the water current was going different ways….but alas and alak…no whirlpool. But it was fun trying to see it.

The tide is in. Saw this little boat as we got on the island.

The tide is out.

While watching for the whirlpool, this "pirate ship" sailed past.

Look close. As we were waiting for the fery to Campobello, these divers were going down. Saw lots of divers. They said this area is fantastic for diving. The conditions were awesome. And...doesn't matter if it's raining, right?

Our camp on Deer Island, accross from both Eastpoint Maine, and Campobello Island, Canada.

The car ferry that took us to both Deer Island and Campobello Island.

Sorry these pictures were patheticly out of order and I turned you all into schitzophrenics trying to remember what I wrote earlier.....I can blame the program, computer, or what have you. But, that's the way it is. Don't have a lot of time when I post the blog to mess around and make it perfect.

So, until we connect again.....

Evening of July 10: Northern coast of Maine

Yup....another awesome view behind us....and plenty of blue sky. OK....here's another breath-taking view....rough to take isn't it? And note: plenty of blue sky! We headed off today toward the world's longest covered bridge. It wasn't more than 1/2 hour from the Route #1 that we've been following down the east side of Maine. It was well worth the stop.Dawson got a certificate for walking the bridge.

Good thing I took a picture of it, because I placed it for safe keeping (?) on my seat while we went inside the gift shop. Of course, Tommy jumped in on the seat. But it just got wrinkled a bit.

These pictures aren't in a chronological order, of course. This is the first view we had of the bridge....impressive, huh? Thanks Andrea

This is also supposed to be the "kissing bridge"...because the elders preached against the cover on the bridge; it would cause the moral decay of the young, they thought. Yes, young folk used to head their buggy across and then stop in the middle for a smooch. And, yes, we did.

This bridge has been around 110 years. Quite a testament to the workmanship.

Hopefully heading out tomorrow to see Campabello, the restreat of President Roosevelt (in Canada)

So...until we connect again...

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......

Well....It's not exactly SUNSHINE....but the rains have stopped!

The rains finally halted about 5 pm tonight. This is how we have rigged up camp to have a little space to stay dry outside of the camper. Didn't really walk around too much in the rain to take pictures; didn't think that was good for my camera. But like I said before, full rain gear was the order of the day. Dawson spent most of the day in the game arcade playing with his friends. But when the rains stopped, he headed to the playground. Glad he made that kind of decision....because I would have run him out of the arcade if he didn't get out there first. He's having such fun playing with kids his own age, instead of us old fogies...
Told you that there were bunnies everywhere. Yup, here's the proof. Note the long grass. These folks here can't get a day with no rain to cut the grass; but the bunnies love it.
I think this little guy got splashed by a puddle. Doesn't seem to bother him anyway.
Heading north tomorrow; end destination is the furthest north town in Maine, Fort Kent. Then comming down the coast. But, on the way to the coast we will pop in to New Brunswick, Canada to see the longest covered bridge in the world, over 1200 feet long!
But even better....no rain to the north. We should enjoy the sun.
So, until we connect again....

July 7th....IT RAINS EVERY DAY!....EVEN IN MAINE!

Heading north in Maine….raining and misting since we left camp this am. At least last night the rain held off until we were ready to watch our installment of the “Band of Brothers”.
Stopped at WalMart to do some re-stocking of supplies.Nothing much to see other than a beautiful falls in Rumford (where Edmund Muskie was born and was Sec. Of State in 1980).

Don't know what Paul Bunyon has to do with this town....I should have taken Dawson's picture with it....It's probably 30 ft. tall.
This looks more like a rapids to me...but they call it a falls. Any way you look at it, it's beautiful.

These were some iron art figures on the shore by the falls....very cool.

Tried to stop at about 2:30 at a state campground where Dawson could fish for trout, but the last level site was taken just before I got there. Heading down the road about an hour to another place….that even has a pool (heated I hope because it’s 55 degrees outside). Chris just had the bright idea to put up the ”bug hut” (i.e. a screened in tent for mosquito protection) and put a tarp over the top so that we can get out a bit from the shelter of our mini camper. We also thought of putting up our portable shower to put the bins in so that we don’t have to wipe them off in the a.m. if it’s been raining. Guess we’re getting into rain mode. Yuk!

July 8th RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY...COME AGAIN SOME OTHER DAY!

It rained all night and it's 11:30 a.m. and it is still raining. Full rain gear is the order of the day. But, we're prepaired. The tarp over the bug hut works fantastically, as does the portable changing room/shower. This is a wonderful campground we're at: near Millinocket, at Rt 11 and 157, in the center of the state. There's lots for Dawson to do here , so we're staying an extra day... AND there are domesticated bunnies EVERYWHERE, which drives Tommy crazy! I'm doing the wash now, so afterward I will go take some pictures....including the bunnies and post them.

Until we connect again....

July 6th??? IT MUST BE NEW HAMPSHIRE

New Hampshire is merely between Vermont and Maine....our two destinations. It is not very wide and we only traveled a little over 100 miles today to cross it. But when I saw DIXVILLE NOTCH on the map I perked up. This news and history buff thought I would love a picture from Dixville Notch....remember???? It's the place that casts the very first ballots in a presidential election. And they cast them right after midnight of election day....and they are tallied shortly there after. I think that their results are always in by perhaps 1 am or so. Well....here's the only sign that I saw for Dixville Notch.

Perhaps you can read this.....and right next to these signs are the graves below....

So, we went and battled the mosquitoes at the picnic area for lunch....then took the beautiful hike up to the Huntington falls....about 5 min. from the picnic area. Well worth the short walk.

Dawson took this picture.

I took this one.

Then we went back out to the road to hopefull see the rest of Dixville Notch....it never came. Not a cluster of houses, not a general store, not a meeting hall....nothing. It must have been just a group of the folks who live in the "notch". Now I can't even say "I was there"....because I never found it!!!

Until we connect again....

July 3 to 6th; Vermont to Maine

This is the falls on the creek at Barrewood Campground where we stayed Sunday night, July 5th in Vermont. Can you imagine owning property and having your very own falls!!!!! Positively gorgeous.
Now for the following....haven't had internet since days ago....so I'm just going to put up the blog I typed and try to caption the pics that are below. Don't have enough time to sort out everything...and believe me....it needs sorting....so try to keep your eyes from crossing....

July 4, 2009 Happy Birthday, America! And we are truly blessed being on the road enjoying the beauties and the bounty of this great and God blessed country.
We left the rainy and muddy camp this am and headed east just a few miles to the Eisenhower Locks on the St. Lawrence Seaway. Very interesting. It was a bit nippy in the wind. There was a wonderful movie in the visitor center (that had obviously been a program on Modern Marvels on the Discover Channel) about the making of the Seaway. It was very interesting. Then we went down the way to see the huge hydroelectric plant built on the seaway. Everything was on such a huge scale. There was a nice inter-active visitor center at the hydro plant where Dawson had some nice time investigating electricity.
Continuing on eastward in northern New York, we stopped at a charming little restaurant in Malone and had a nice lunch. Then on to Lake Champlain and Vermont. Crossed onto the islands that run down the center of the Lake. Beautiful drive down these loooong islands. Found a state campground at the bottom Long Island. The camp sites were kind of split in two. There were a couple of sisters that Dawson had the best time playing with; riding bikes, taking their kayak to the Lake Champlain, looking for stones in the water, etc. They had a good time.

July 5, 2009 Sunday
Woke to a morning without rain; a novel idea. Nice enough, the Garmen found us a nice little church about 9 miles down the road in Milton, VT. Liesurely got ready and drove to church for Mass. Then on to our hunt for some coved bridges. We found four within a few miles of each other. Very beautiful; built around 1880’s by the same builder. So we only saw one type of architecture in the four bridges. What a nice find.
Then on to the Jay Mountain Tram. We found ourselves in the ski area. Looked a lot like the area was really growing and lots of $$$ being put in the area. We found the tram and Dawson and I took a ride to the top of the ski mountain…a mountain of about 4000 ft. A mere foot hill by Colorado standards; very chilly and windy on top. When we were half way up and it got real windy by one of the towers, the driver tells us that if they hit (!!!) the tower d/t the wind it would have to be shut down. Luckily it was not that windy. We could see forever from the top! All the way to Lake Champlain in the far distance.
Dawson managed to find his Vemont maple syrup today…but I couldn’t find my maple sugar candy. L
Then on to a beautiful Barrewood Campground. They even have a quaint little creek running through it; a 5 min. up the hill by it they have an awesome and picturesque water falls. I couldn’t imagine why the owner didn’t have his personal home right up there! I sure would. Had a wonderful campfire and visited with Mark, the owner of the campground. Very enjoyable.

July 6, 2009 Monday
We woke to a beautiful morning; pretty chilly last night. Vermont is not very wide. We’ll be in Maine within 50 miles when we leave here. Don’t know what’s in store for us today….but can’t wait to see it.

Barrewood Camp falls.

A quaint little restaurant where we had lunch yesterday....or was it Saturday???? Golly, can't keep things straight.

And mom....look at this dessert Dawson had! All he wanted was a bagle and cream cheese for lunch. I personally think that he was saving room for the dessert. But Papa and I got a taste of this "chocolate volcano" cake. Yummy!

We went on a covered bridge hunt and found 4 close around one town in Vermont. Here's the pics of two.

So, until we connect again....