Bridge by Fort Knox

July 31, 2011
Last day of July. Where does the time go to. Today we packed up our tenting supplies and headed back to the interstate. It was hard to leave such a beautiful place but all things have a season, and time had extinguished this experience. So we punched in our destination and let the Garmin lead us onward. I wanted to go to Freeport, Maine, where LLBean is located. But before we got there we passes Fort Knox and the most amazing bridge. The bridge is a conservatory. You can take an elevator to the top of the tower over 400 feet and look around. If someone would of asked me where Fort Knox was located I would of had no idea. but there it was, built into the side of a hill. It was built in 1844 to keep the British under control.At first I thought it was a penitentiary but it is a fort. Not the one in Tennessee that handles money. Freeport, Maine was like a Mall of America but outside. Every name brand you can think of had a store in swanky brick buildings. Frank and I definitely felt outclassed. Remember, we have had yet to shower!!! But it is a beautiful place on the ocean. Fun to look at everything. We actually left town with a purchase of lightbulbs from the drugstore for LeAnns new apartment.
After some stop and go traffic we finally found our evening campground called The Minuteman Campground. It is located right by Concord, about an hour from downtown Boston. However we will not have time to site see tomorrow as we drive into Boston for the big move. Hope I sleep tonight. By the way, I took a shower tonight, we cooked some haddock we bought before we left Acadia, and now for some sleep. Airplanes, traffic, and trains. I might have to dig out the earplugs.

Thurston's Lobster Pound

This is the lobster pound we ate at from the outside. Not very fancy but good food and very busy. One man said he has eaten there four times during his 10 day stay in the area.

Last night in Acadia

July 30, 2011. Last day in Acadia

It rained last night but not seriously. No thunderstorms like predicted. Just a steady rain. Got up , ate breakfast of hard boiled eggs, yogurt and granola , and a little bacon. For coffee we are using a French press and coarsely ground coffee. Gotta have my coffee. We drove to the place we thought had showers but they didn't open until 10:00; two hours away. So it was laundry time instead. We got right into the laundry mat with a very helpful owner. It is a relief to have clean clothes. There was an outdoor artshow in the center square of Southwest Harbor with many gifted artists. I didn't buy anything but was extremely tempted. I do have their websites incase I change my mind. We shopped at a market that had all kinds of fresh fruits, vegetables, organic and gourmet foods. Bought some more coarsely ground coffee for the trip home. Also purchased a couple salads with many vegetables, assorted lettus and watercress with a dilled cucumber dressing. Fun little shops with narrow streets make the town a great place for exploration.
We drove up the west side which had been unexplored until today. We took a gravel road up to bald mountain and down to a little pond. Just when you think you are totally alone in the world, another car pops up and you have company.
Finally, the grand event of the trip, we stopped at a lobster pound for lobster. It was a great place with lobster, corn on the cob, a bun, coleslaw and blueberry cake. There was a view of the harbor and as luck would have it we had a corner table right on the harbor side.
After eating we burned up the rest of then firewood from the wood fairy, took one more walk and went to bed listening to campers talking quietly and the crackle of their fires.

Docks and lobster traps on Cranberry Island

July 29, 2011

Luck. A trip such as this does make you believe in it. For instance, a woman is sitting on the outside seat of the ferry where one can see a panoramic view of the islands.(we were headed for the Cranberry Islands on a passenger ferry). She notices that I am trying to peer over everyone to view the landscape because I am seated inside the cabin due to the number of people on the ferry. She says "I am a regular and work on the islands. I take this trip daily. Would you like my seat?". That is luck. Luck is finding a parking spot right outside a National Park site that hundreds of other people are trying to find as well as you. Luck is returning to your campsite after a long day and finding that the firewood fairy left a pile of cut wood outside your campsite for anyone to pick up and use, service of the National Park. Luck is not having it rain, as you cook your evening supper of fettachinni and green beans, as the weather announcer said it would.
One more full day here and we will start back to Boston for the "Big Move " as in moving LeAnn to her new apartment. Thunderstorms are in the forecast for this evening and tomorrow. I am prepared with my umbrella and rain jacket under my cot. I haven't taken a shower besides a sponge bath for two days. Tomorrow might be laundry and shower day. However, if it is raining, the entire island will be doing their laundry as well. Luck will really be necessary. We plan to end the day with a big lobster dinner at a place being researched for price, charm, and ambiance. More to come as far as the winner in the lobster category.

View from Jordon Pond House

July 28, 2011

Sunset at Seawall
Frank and I had a big day today. We went over to Cadillac Mountain and did the "loop". This includes many of the main sites of Acadia. There is a beautiful sand beach that rivals any other I have seen. Rocks, bolder, the tide coming in and going out. Pristine fresh water lakes with mountains reflecting. I definitely have the "I'm not in Kansas anymore" feeling. Today is why we traveled 1500 miles; to view the spectacular sites of the natural world.
Frank and I had tea and popovers on the lawn of Jordan Pond House. It was a restaurant that had been in existence since the early 1900s. People in the day would lounge on the lawn and have tea while overlooking a Jordan Pond and "Bubble Mountains".
This evening we took our chairs out to the Seawall and watched the tide come in and the sun go down.

Bar Harbor

July 27, 2011
Today I thought a great deal about water, in all its various forms and purposes. So far on this trip we have drove through torrential rain, saw flooded areas due to excessive rain, camped by a muddy river in Ohio, sweated through excessive humidity, searched for ice for the cooler, taken chilly showers and wonderful hot showers. This morning we woke across the bay overlooking Cadelac Mountain and Bar Harbor. The campground was for one night only in order to get a good start to get in line at Seawall Campground in Acadia National Park. The morning was foggy with drapes of haze floating across the water. All day the sky changed from sunny to rain squalls in the distance to ominous and then sunny once again. After about a one hour wait in line we were admitted to the park and got a spot. Without reservations we literally had to wait until someone checked out. But there are 200 spots in this campground alone, half of them reservable. We had no reservation.there is a shuttle bus that runs here that will take you for free ( thanks to L.L.Bean) anywhere on the island. We planto make use of that later. Today we put up the tent, and drove to the top of Cadellac Mountain. There we could see 360degrees and the entire island and then some. Next we attended the visitor center to get our bearings. I can't send pictures until tomorrow due to little to spotty Internet service. We spend some time in Bar Harbor looking around. Lots of boat rides to look at whales, watch then trap lobsters, look for Puffins and seals. We didn't sign up for anything yet.beautiful little town but so crowded. Our campground is far away from the more touristy places. We found a very out of the way place for our lobster splurge in a small town on the westside. We were both so tired we went to bed early. It has been three and a half days to get here besides getting up early this morning to get the camping spot. Now we have three full days to relax and sit by the ocean or hike the trails. Wish we brought our bikes. The trails are amazing. President Rossavelt devised a carriage system through some areas of the island for horses only. Today , they serve as walking trails, horse trails, bike paths and carriages. Guess what, no showers at the National campground. There is running water not far from us in the bathroom area. Thank heaven I am close to the facilities. I guess the shower is about 1/2 mile up the road.

The Journey is the Destination

July 26, 2011. The Journey is the Destination

It rained during the night, a steady drizzle dripping off the trees. When my little cellphone alarm went off at 5:40 a.m. It had stopped raining and was just dripping. We packed up with a wet tent once again and headed out. It was a pretty park. Before we returned to the interstate/expressway we traveled through a few small towns with churches with amazing steeples. Also a flock of Guinney hens wander across the road in no big hurry, obviously having no place in particular to be.
One more day of driving and we should arrive close to our destination. We want to be close so that tomorrow morning we will get a campsite as the previous occupants vacate their spot. We rounded New York, went over the Hudson River on an amazing bridge, circled around the outskirts of Boston metro area and headed up interstate 95 North to Maine. We decided to visit the L.L.Bean store in Freeport, Maine on the way back to Boston.

Rain, rain....go away

The camp ground last night was nothing to write home about, therefore I will not dwell on it's inadequacies. However, we were next to the Huron River, however a rather brownish color due to high water. We left again this morning bright and early. I am putting much faith in the Garmin for directions. So far the trip across Pennsylvania on Interstate 80 has ben scenic with many forests and hills. This is the same route if you went to D C with the 8th graders from Lake Mills. Right away this morning we went through a huge rainstorm and passed a car on fire on the otherwise of the interstate. Doesn't do much for casual driving. Frank does an exceptional job. We are now in the flow of it, passing the divide between the Atlantic and the Mississippi. Also passed the town where the groundhog comes out every February. Cannot spell the name of the little critter. I can see how Iowa cornfields would hold quite a novelty apart from this terrain. It is all large hardwood trees for miles. Reminds me of the books "A Light in the Forest"and "The Education of Little Tree".
Camping tonight in a county park in New York State. It rained while we set up camp and while we ate. But we were prepared with rain gear. It is actualy very peaceful with the large trees all around us. And the restroom facilities close at hand. Water dripping from the trees.

Frank in Iowa City

On the road again.....

Had a interesting first night in the campground. It was dark before we had finished eating and therefore had to clean up by lamplight. There were two thunderstorms during the night. During the first one I thought about the Native Americans and their survival in primitive dwellings, possibly not much thicker than what I am sleeping in, keeping the elements out. Thank heavens Frank has camping knowledge with all his Boundary Water experiences. We had a break in the weather and got everything packed up this morning about 5:30 a.m. Rules of the road....if you want to make miles you have to start early. Tonight I will be so tired I will not be thinking about anything.
Straight east across Iowa, the Mississippi River, close to Le Clare where I spent several years of my childhood. Across IL and road construction south of Chicago....across Indianna tollroad and now on the Ohio tollroad.
I recommend the grilled chicken Asian salad at McDonalds. Only a little over 1000 miles to get to our destination.

Ready, set, go.....

It takes an amazing amount of stuff to go camping. It is a constant struggle between what is essential and what is frivolous. The limits are space, weight, and convenience. Should I take the heavy hardbound book my sister gave me to read but I haven't got around to for six months or a paperback with incredibly small print but fits into my purse.
How many sleeveless shirts...will I ever do laundry? How long can a cabbage last without refrigeration? At what temperature does my makeup melt or Pam explode. Things to obsess about.
Anyway, we finally shut the door of the house at 2:00,which was good considering we were going to leave at high noon. The car is running a little sluggish due to the excess weight but we are at least making miles. Destination Iowa City.

Cherry tomatoes

This is a plant I paid one dollar for at the end of the school year. It will soon be bearing small tomatoes. I can't wait.