This 'n That

  Pictures of places and things that we have experienced in the last couple days.

We visited the L.L.Bean flagship in Freeport, ME and since it's open 24 hours a day they have no locks on their doors.  It's not as big as I thought it would be overall, but there was so many things to look at...a little overwhelming. I know it's hard to believe but we didn't buy anything!  Actually, the dog scored a new lead!

Whoopie Pies are a special treat in some areas of Maine so of course I had to try one.  I guess they come in different flavors but I can't imagine why anyone would try any flavor but chocolate! It's about 5" in diameter and weighs about a half a pound.  It is very good too.  I still have half of it left.  This thing is huge! 

Speaking of huge...we went to Portland, ME to visit the International Cryptozoology Museum and we found Big Foot again!  This replica is 8' tall!  Sure makes you feel small.

As we were driving along the road in rural Maine I kept seeing these white bundles in the fields.  On closer inspection they are hay bales with plastic coverings.  Looks to me like someone prefers 'whitie tighties'!

We ventured back into Vermont so we could visit The Vermont Country Store.  I have gotten their catalogs for years and am always intrigued by all the "things" they have listed.  The store pretty much has all those "things".  It's a conglomeration of everything you could ever need.  Toys, household items, bathroom items, clothing, cleaning, food stuffs...you name it they have it.  They specialize in carrying things that are hard to find and they have things you probably would never want!

The area is very pretty anyway and today with it being a rainy day it was made more so with the clouds hanging low in the hills.  We visited the store in Rockingham, VT and they have another store in Weston, VT. If you visit, make sure you are hungry...they have samples of so many things!  We are living proof that it's impossible to leave without a food item or two!

Coastal Maine

We spent some time driving around the ports and harbors of Maine and found many of the houses facing the harbor had these enclosed railings around  a porch area on the second or third floor of the houses. They call them a "widow walk". 

The name comes from the wives of mariners who would watch for their spouses' return, often in vain as the ocean would take the lives of the mariners, leaving the women as widows.

The following pictures are just some candid shots we have taken of different harbors, houses and boats.

This guy's boat is in front of a bunch of lobster traps!  Maybe he just brought in our supper!

September 29, 2010

Seafood Frenzy

When in Maine......

While visiting Acadia NP we visited a couple of lobster pounds.  Lobster pounds are "sort of" restaurants.  You can pick up your seafood and take it home or you can eat it there.  You pick out your lobster or the size you want, then the sides you want to eat with it, they throw it in the pot and cook it for you, call your number and you pick it up and chow down!

Some of the lobster pounds have seating indoors but most just have picnic tables either in a screened in area or just outside.  The first place we visited was the Down East Lobster Pound that only had the screened in area and with the rainy day we had it was a little cool!

Even though it was chilly the food was delicious!   A 1+ pound lobster, corn on the cob, coleslaw and roll was $15.00 each...for the whole lobster!

We didn't get enough lobster the night before so we went to the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound the next night.  This time Gene picked a 3# big boy and I stayed with the smaller guy.  They sure are good when they are that fresh but it did make me feel bad to watch the workers put the lobsters in a rope bag.  I knew where they were going!

The lady at the campground sent us to Graffam Bros.Seafood Market in Camden, Maine for lobster rolls.  She said they have really good ones but were cheaper than anywhere else.  She was right...they were great and the price was right.

This is a lobster roll...lobster chunks mixed with a little mayo on a very soft roll!  Delicious!

We went into Camden to look around a little bit and about an hour after we had eaten our lobster rolls we came upon Cappy's Chowder House.  Since it was on my "list" of places to eat we HAD to go in and order the "white" chowder!  Needless to say we won't be having supper!

This was the small cup!   It was fabulous, the best chowder I have ever eaten!

Acadia National Park

I have always wanted to go to Acadia NP because I had heard it was so beautiful and it is.  Such a variance in terrain.  From pine forests to broad leaf forests to the rocky shore of the ocean.

In certain areas of the park there is lots of color and in other areas there is very little color due to the numerous pine trees.  In some places you could see forever it seems.

There is a 20 mile loop that goes through the park and some of the roads pass over stone bridges.

There were pretty streams and lots of ponds and lakes in the park.  Every place you stopped it was just beautiful and pictures don't always do justice.

My favorite side of the park was the ocean side.  I just love hearing the waves crashing in on the rocks.

There is only one sand beach on the whole Mt. Desert Island where Acadia NP is located.  The rest is rocky coastline.  We were able to take Belle down to the beach with us and with the combination of the waves coming in and lapping at her feet and the roar of the water she was very excited.  She jumped and turned and ran in circles as fast as she could.  Would have loved to see what she would have done if she was off lead.

And just to prove that we are ALL on this trip, here we are on Sand Beach in the rain!

Moving on east to New Hampshire

We saw a lot of these signs along the road....didn't see one moose though!

This was at the base of Mt. Washington where you could take a cog railroad or drive yourself up the mountain.  With a 12% average grade we didn't think we wanted to submit the car to that challenge.

New Hampshire had a little more color going on than did Vermont. It should be beautiful in a few days.

We walked along this waterfall as far as we could climb.  It was just gorgeous with the water falling over the large rock formations.

There are so many pretty streams running through the campgrounds and along the roads.

Bark In The Park

We left the campground this morning to drive around and look at the fall colors and stumbled across a Bark in the Park going on in North Conway, New Hampshire.  Since Belle, our dog, has never participated in this event and needing  "doggie socialization", we decided to stop and take part.

They had a beautiful day and a beautiful location for their event.  Lots of people and lots of dogs.

Belle was a little over whelmed at first and wasn't too sure if she liked the whole idea of Bark in the Park, but after a bit she relaxed and started enjoying herself.

Part of the event was an agility course that you could take your dogs through.  Belle had never done one before and although she balked at the tunnels at first she tackled the ramps, teeter totter and bridge with ease.

This was an easy one for Belle.  She does this all the time in the woods!

The first tunnel took a little coaxing but she did pretty well with the second tunnel.

Belle displaying her agility course "Participation" ribbon.

Another activity checked the smartness of your dog.  They had them go through a hoop, find a treat in a ball and commands of sit, lay down, shake and a trick of your choice.  Belle rated a score of Einstein!  Of course we knew that!

September 25, 2010