Home Again, Home Again

I'm sorry it's been a few days since the last post. I've actually been putting it off because this will be the last entry and I don't want it to end. Rain again on Thursday made us decide to leave a day early. We had pretty much seen everything we wanted to anyway so we took our time packing up and checking out.
Back across New Hampshire and into Vermont to a place that a patient of mine had told me about that we didn't make it to on the way to Maine. Known as the "Grand Canyon of Vermont", Quechee gorge is an impressive 165-foot-deep canyon cut by the Ottauquechee River. We stop for pictures and go into the village to stretch our legs and get a few more souvenirs before heading on thru Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and into Pennsylvania for the night.
The next day we take our time travelling to Lititz, stopping at antique stores along the way. Into the Amish country of Lancaster County, PA we go where you really feel as if you've stepped back in time as you share the road with the horse and buggies of the Amish people. A few more stops are made here before heading home.
We're welcomed back to reality coming into Baltimore as the traffic slows down to a crawl and doesn't let up until we are south of DC. It's been such a peaceful New England vacation that you forget sometimes what it's like being back in the big cities. One last stop in Tappahannock for dinner at Lowery's and home.
I hope you've enjoyed my blog for this year's trip. Thanks for coming along for the ride!

Rain, Rain Go Away

Oh well. I guess the weather couldn't be perfect the WHOLE time we've been gone. We wake up today to rain but it's okay because so far the sun has been shining on us everywhere we go. Gorgeous 70 to 80 degrees during the day and 50 to 60 degrees at night.
We decide to take a little drive, just an hour or so up the road, where there is another covered bridge. Lovejoy Bridge was built in 1867 and is the shortest covered bridge in Maine as well as the first one built in the area. On to Andover, ME where we find the perfect place for breakfast. The Little Red Hen is a hole in the wall building that unless the bartender at our resort had not told us about we would never have noticed it. By far the best breakfast we've had all week! Homemade goods are their specialty so we must get a couple of things to go. The Whoopie Pie is the official state treat of Maine. It is a baked good that may be considered either a cookie, pie, or cake. It is made of two round mound-shaped pieces of chocolate cake, or sometimes pumpkin or gingerbread cake, with a sweet, creamy filling or frosting sandwiched between them. We have to get one of those for later! The molasses cookies also look incredible so we get one of those as well. On through Rumford and back home where we prop ourselves up and chill for the afternoon and night.

 

 

Down Route 1 on the coast of Maine

What a day! The coast of Maine has got to be one of the most spectacular places to see with the fury of the crashing waves against the huge rocks, ancient lighthouses in the background and lobster boats working in the bays. The day starts in Boothbay overlooking the harbor and then driving down Route 1 to Old Orchard. We stop in the city of Portland for a visit with Ben's 94 year old uncle and his daughter. The three of them have not been together in over 30 years and it could not have been any better. Lots of catching up and reminiscing take place before heading to Cape Elizabeth where Two Lights State Park is located and a little restaurant called The Lobster Shack for another lobster roll for lunch. The lobster roll here is the best I've had by far and my first sighting of a Maine lighthouse (or 2) is exciting but still looking forward to going on a little further to Portland Head Lighthouse which is the oldest lighthouse in the state of Maine completed in 1791 and the most photographed lighthouse in North America. Beautiful!

Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park

Today was the day to head to the coast and explore. We leave the resort at 8:00 am to get an early start knowing we have lots to see. After 4 hours on the road and driving back roads through the heartland of Maine, we arrive at Bar Harbor. What a sight to behold! After picture taking at the harbor itself we stroll down main street to Stewman's Lobster Pound for lobster bisque and a lobster roll. A tall glass of Shipyard ale brewed in Portland is used to wash it all down. A little shopping is necessary before jumping back in the car to Acadia National Park. Destination...Cadillac Mountain!
The park itself is not that huge, only 12 miles around the loop, but the vistas make up for it. Many stops are made along the way for beautiful scenery viewing and photo ops. There are many hikers and bikers here and the weather is perfect. Finally, the ascent to the top of Cadillac Mountain. From the top of the mountain you can see the whole island and beyond. Looking down at Bar Harbor is breathtaking! Back down and out of the park we go and on to our next stop Boothbay.
We decide to take Route 1 down the coast and so glad we did. Seeing all the quaint (there's that word again) towns along the way was like stepping back in time. Lots of water and picturesque harbors with sailboats anchored and lobster pot buoys bobbing around the islands make you realize just how special the oceanfront lifestyle is. We make it to Boothbay around 7:30 and check in our motel. More exploring tomorrow.

Newry, Maine

Hello all! Today was a day of rest and relaxation after a couple of days confined mostly to a car. Our first mission this morning was to find a place for breakfast. We decide to venture out instead of eating at our resort. Bethel is the closest town and not very big at all but has a great little diner with a parking lot full of cars. Always a good sign! After filling our bellies with eggs, bacon, ham, raisin cinnamon toast...you get the idea, we decide to familiarize ourselves with our surroundings. Beautiful scenery with covered bridges, streams and mountains are all around us.
Once back at the resort, we have a fun-filled afternoon of hiking and ping pong. Then to the outdoor deck overlooking the grounds with a bottle of wine and cheese and crackers. I know, not too exciting today but tomorrow it's back in the car and off to the coast. Heading to Bar Harbor and on to Portland with lots of stops in between. We might even see an elephant or two! 
I hope all is well in Virginia and will continue to update when I can. Good night!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Von Trapp Family Inn

Today was a day for traveling. Our adventure started with Burlington waterfront pics on Lake Champlain, on to Stowe, VT where the von Trapp family, of Sound of Music fame, bought and built an estate of 2500 acres after leaving Europe. We make a pit stop to stretch our legs and explore the grounds of this beautiful estate and it's memorabilia. The original family home was burned to the ground in 1980 but was rebuilt as a resort and today the Trapp Family Lodge is an inn run by the only living son of Maria and Captain von Trapp, Johannes, and his son Sam.
Traveling east on Vermont scenic Route 2 the next stop is made in Bethlehem, NH where a much needed lunch awaits us at Cold Mountain Café. Great little place with shopping for souvenirs next door and antiques galore. Many stops are made along the way for browsing in antique shops to Newry, Maine where our home for the next few days will be. The Grand Summit Resort Hotel at Sunday River is everything we hoped it would be after the long ride from Burlington.

 

Lake Champlain and Ticonderoga

Hello to anyone and everyone interested enough to read my blog yet again! Welcome to this year's trip to New England! 

Have been wanting to get to this area for awhile but not until after the west had been conquered. Well here I am! This is the year!

This trip starts a little sooner than planned. Ben and I weren't going to leave until Friday morning but I happened to be able to leave work a little early on Thursday (thanks Doc Render) and pick Ben up, drive to Hanover, throw my things in a suitcase, say good-bye to the men in my family (you know who you are) and hit the road. Heading up Interstate 95 in the rain wasn't much fun but knowing the weather was starting to let up made things much easier to swallow. 

We catch 81 in Winchester and drive until we get tired stopping in Carlisle, PA for the night. After a continental breakfast and showers we hit the road heading north into New York towards Albany. Gorgeous weather is with us and actually a little chilly compared to the hot and humid weather we've been having in Virginia the last couple of weeks. Once in Albany we turn east to Arlington, VT. What a quaint little town! The first stop I was interested in was a HUGE antique store I had read about. We get there and it is closed! Not closed like for the day but CLOSED in like FOREVER!! BUMMER!! But just to get on a smaller road and slow down a bit was worth it. Arlington was the home of Norman Rockwell and you can see where he got his inspiration of small-town life.
Next stop Manchester where Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd, built "Hildene" a 24-room mansion where he and his descendants lived from 1905-1975.
Vermont is very mountainous. Lots of green landscape and quaint little towns everywhere. (I can see right now I'll be using the word quaint a lot in this blog) We head back north into NY to Fort Ticonderoga to catch the ferry across Lake Champlain into Middlebury, VT but get there after the ferry stops running so instead we head up through Adirondack National Park and cross the lake at Chimney Point via bridge. Check into hotel, freshen up a bit and into Burlington we go. College town atmosphere with plenty of choices for food and drink.