Today took a drive down along the coast through New Hampshire and into Massachusetts.
We stayed right on the coast. Here the highway is along the coast with the houses on the other side of the road. In a lot of coast towns we have found the houses get the ocean front property and the highway is behind the house, giving little opportunity for tourists to even see the beaches. Here it's much better. And those houses along here, I think they belong to some of those "not so poor" people, that we only hear about.
Maybe should throw in an offer for this one, EH! Should be within our range. How about a trade for a motor home?
Fort McLeary
Through the Rifle Slot at Ft. McCleary!
Where we turned back we were only about 40 miles from Boston, but had no real desire to go there. It would be nice to see some of the history there, but we would have had to try to find some sort of organized tour. For us to try to find our way around Boston was just out of the question. We turned back and returned home for lunch, and then went north along the coast for a few miles to Nubble Light House.
Nubble Light House
Check out that big "Turkey!!"Oct 10th
Moved on south today. After reaching Bangor Maine on 1A, we took 395, and 95 all the way to almost the new Hampshire border before turning off and going out to the Atlantic and to Libby's RV Resort in York Maine. Route was partially on toll roads so had to pay 3 times, $3.50, $3.50, and $7,00. Twice we only had to travel a very short distance on the toll road, before turning off, but there are no exceptions, but to pass through their pay booths. Checked in at Libby's RV Resort, "Choke, choke," $75/ night. That I guess is the most we have ever paid, In Bend Oregon we paid $60, but there we had interlocking brick pads and all the amenities, Here, only a view of the Atlantic.
It was only 100 ft from the front of ELTORO!! Oh well. just the cost of doing business!! Remainder of day just relaxed and enjoyed the $75 view!!
Oct 9th
Spent the morning trying to get our new cell phone to work. It had been activated two days ago and all you need to do to call Canada is dial 1-800-706-3898, listen for message and then for Canada dial 1 for English, then the number in Canada. Easy!! NOT!! it would not go through. We tried several times. Call TracPhone Help line, Push 3, push 4, push 1, push 1 for representative, put on hold, finally talk to someone very far away in some almost foreign language. She asks number of phone, then serial number of phone, and then after consulting with her supervisor advises before dialing the Canadian number, clear the "1" for English, then dial Canada. OK. I hang up, try it. No Good!! Call help line again. Push 3, push 4, push 1, push 1 for representative, put on hold, finally talk to another person very far away in some almost foreign language. He asks number of phone, then serial number of phone. He says we do not have the phone set up to make International calls. Now how would I know that?? I search through the manual, and in very small print at the bottom of one page find the text saying that International calling must be set up. How am I supposed to do that. He says he will do it but will take 48 hours before activated. OK so much for that! We will wait 48 hours.
Back to Bar Harbor again, and drove down to south-western harbor to see a lighthouse, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, on highway 102. It was a bit of a let down as it was quite small, but still an interesting trip down to there, just enjoying the fall colors. This road does a loop around the southern part of the Island along the coast. Some good picture taking point along the way, but today was cool and windy again, so stops were short and to the point! Then we changed coarse and went into Bar Harbor Town.
Here is outdoor Lobster Cooking Pots
More Colors
Another neat little tourist town with about a thousand restaurants, and the same number of tourist gimmick stores. We did stop and have lunch, Denice Oysters Rockefellar and I, the Clam Chowder. Today two Cruise ships were in the bay.
The Queen Mary II
The Costa Atlantica
The Costa Atlantica and The Queen Mary II. The one that was in yesterday has left. We returned to Trenton, where we are camped and bought a few groceries at Walmart. Then home
Oct 8th
This morning sunny, calm and 10 degrees C. Guess as we are in USA better change to F. OK, how about 55 degress F. Bar Harbor, here we come!
Bar Harbor is out on an Island, although there is only a very short causeway to get out onto it. About half the Island is private land with many, many tourist outlets. The other half is Acadia National Park. One of the unique things about the Island is the private and Park land is separated, and each has there own road system, although there are several cross overs, but they are almost non visible,hidden in the trees with stone bridges over intersecting points. Went down and into Acadia National Park and completed their entire loop Road of the park, after registering and buying a yearly National Park Pass. Lots of "Pull Outs" along the road and some great photo Ops.
Colors
Water tumbled gravel on a beach
The Thunder Hole
Sand Beach
The Aida above and the "Cat" below
In fact much of the route was one way, but two lanes, and you could stop at will anywhere in the right lane. Speed limit was 25, 30, or 35 MPH at the greatest.. Main points of interest were, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Point, Jordon's Pond, Eagle Lake and Cadillac Mountain.
From the top of Cadillac Mountain
It rises to 1530 feet and you are right on the top with a 360 degree vista of the entire area. It was sure nice, but it was a cool windy day, so didn't stay long enough to see it all. From the top a large cruise ship was clearly visable in the bay. It was the Aida, with a rather unique paint job, with lips and eyes on the bow. On the way home stopped at the Chart Room Restaurant for a lobster and shrimp dinner. A fine dinner it was too!!
Oct 7th
This morning went back to Walmart and had them activate our new phone. We will be sending an email to all our friends and family with our new phone number, but prefer not to put it in my blog. We are now official Maine Residents, at least we have a phone number! Returned to the RV park. It is a rather cold, windy, and wet day, so we decide to just sit it out. We were going to go down to Bar Harbor, but it would not have been very enjoyable so just stayed at home. I spend a fair share of the rest of the day planning our route ahead,
As a lot of the RV parks are closing in the next week or so, I had to do a fair amount of research to find ones that are open, at least until the end of October. Changed our route slightly, as we were going to go west through some crooked, hilly roads, but was unable to find RV Parks that were open on this route, so changed to a more southern, and more traveled route. We will go south on I 95 to just south of Kennebunkport, stay two nights there, and then head west, and eventually south. Looks like about 10 travel days to San Antonio, although will take much longer as we will be staying at several of the places longer than over night. Seeing as we did not get down to Bar Harbor today booked for another two days stay here. Its a nice park and are only charging $25 per night.
Oct 6th
Left Oak Bay by about 9:00AM and crossed into Maine in about 5 miles. Very little hassle crossing the border. The man asked a few questions about our timing and how long we were planning on being gone. I answered all his questions about what our plans are and He said, You know where I am going with this." I advised him we were well aware of how long we were allowed out of the country in one fiscal year. I told him the full story of the last year and this trip and that we would be out of Canada less that the 183 days allowed for 2010. He was happy with that, then asked me to move ahead 25 or 30 feet so he could v=come into the motorhome. I complied, and he took a quick look through and then opened the frig. We had made sure that we had no fruit that could be banned, but he took out tomatoes, peppers, limes and lemons. Not a big deal. Then we were on our way. Today was another short day, and already we had gained an hour as at the border we changed from Atlantic time to Eastern time. Then we took a "Short Cut" toward our destination. It was shorter alright, but slightly rural. Very narrow 2 land somewhat paved road. It was Ok, but not really recommended. At one point crossed a one lane bridge a couple hundred feet long with only a 10 foot width. We had 6" on each side of the mirrors, but there was no other traffic so slow and steady won the race, Denice panicked a little, but was happy to be across. Shortly we joined Highway 1 and passed though Ellesworth and arrived at Timberland Acres RV Park, Checked in by 11:30AM and got set up, Went back to town later and picked up a netphone and a 450 minute card with double minutes. Should last a while. The service person was rather surly and told us we had to activate it ourselves, but of course now that we are in the states, we have no phone. Will go back tomorrow and find a different person to activate it. That is their job!
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