Popham Beach, Maine and our last day in Maine !

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse located on Pemaquid Peninsula in Bristol, Maine. In 1826, President John Quincy Adams commissioned and Congress appropriated $4,000 to build it and it was built in 1827.  At the time , Maine was a major supplier of timber for new ships as well as home for many merchant marines.

In 1835, 8 years later, the original tower was defective and was rebuilt.  The stone dwelling met the same fate as the original tower and was rebuilt in 1857.

The lighthouse tower stands 30 feet above ground. The lantern is 48 feet above ground and 79 feet above sea level. The light can be seen for 14 nautical miles.  The white light flashes every 6 seconds with a candle power of 11,000.

Pemaquid Lighthouse

 

This is the Atlantic Ocean Coast with rocks just below the lighthouse.  It is very different terrain then you will find on the Oregon or the California Coasts.  Just nice to hike down and absorb the sight, sounds & smells of the coast of Maine.

  

 

As we drove north on the coast we had to stop for this bridge in the middle of nowhere.  It's kind of like a draw bridge but it goes sideways instead of up.

Andy had been looking, weeks before we even got to Maine, at reviews for Lobster Restaurants.  She found this place in Round Pond, Maine. She insisted "we just had to go".  We found it 1 1/2 hours later ! This little trip reminded me of another trip in Maui, Hawaii !  Isn't that right Larry and Tammy !  Hard to find fish in Hawaii as it is to find Lobster in Maine...LOL

Waiting for dinner

Dinner is on the way

Here it comes

Dinner is served !

There is that Gnome again !

We have drove and visited the entire east coast of Maine from Portsmouth to New Brunswick, Canada along US Highway 1.

Andy really doesn't like bridges in the RV.  There are many here in Maine.  I think it is funny myself !

Many Steeple Churches like this one here in Maine

We will be heading south towards Boston this weekend for a week. then another week on Cape Cod.  After that on to New York City, NY.  After NYC we will be in Baltimore, MD in mid-August.  We will be staying mostly at military bases for a while which we welcome.  They are so much less expensive and close to places we want to visit.  Also, it is usually a whole lot nicer!


We plan on leaving the Motorhome in Baltimore, September 3, so we can go home for a few weeks.  We will be stopping in Vegas on the way, I am so excited to finally meet Tommy & Tootie.  Then Portland here we come.  We are both a bit homesick and can't wait to see all of our family & friends,

Andy here....thought I would put my 2 cents worth in!  I have loved Maine.  If you ever have a chance to come here it is everything you've seen in the pictures.  Beautiful coasts, delightful fishing villages, & awesome lobster.  The only thing that would have made it better was if we had been here in the fall to see the leaves change.  Off to Massachusetts and more adventures!!

Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor, Maine

 
We made it to Maine!  Zoomed through New Hampshire and Vermont, maybe 100 miles, but we did see a lot of beautiful country along the way.  We decided Ellsworth, Maine would be our base camp for the week since it's only 20 miles from Acadia National Park.

Our first day, after our arrival day, we went to Acadia National Park. We drove up to the top of Cadillac Mountain.  We were surprised that it was only 1500 ft!  But then again we started at sea level. 

 At the top you can hike a short distance and have a 360 degree view of the entire island.

View towards Bar Harbor...look at my sun glasses...still have them and Andy hates them !

View from where we had our fantastic Andy picnic lunch

Andy loved Bar Harbor! She said this is her favorite town so far. Well, to be honest, she always says that every time we go somewhere new she likes...lol  We went through many of shops and spent a lot of time deciding where to have lobster!

You poor creature...you taste so dang good...lucky me !

We found some!!

There was a moment where we were thinking  What the Heck? Really !

The marina was gorgeous and mostly "lobsta"boats

 

While we were at Acadia National Park we did the loop road which is 27 miles around the park. There are lots of places to pull over and hike or just enjoy the scenery. It is well worth the trip.

Water bottle- the new Gnome.

Sandy Beach (that is the name of it) part of the park

Andy with her toes, though you can't see them, in the Atlantic Ocean for the first time.

The next day we decided to do a Sea Kayaking Tour on the west side of the island.  They shuttled us over there and it was a 4 hour tour.  Why is the Gilligan's Island song running through my head, lol.

Here we are in our skirts... all suited up and ready to go!

Andy didn't realize sea kayaking is much more difficult than river kayaking. She was glad when we stopped for lunch.  Me too, since she lets me do most of the work! She was being a "Lilly",  just dipping her paddle and making it look like she was paddling.  It was a 5 mile trip and I was tired but I would do it again...if I had to !  No it was fun !
 

Only one other couple with us on the trip and they were fun to hang out with.

With our guide Jessica, she does two trips a day!! She was a sweetheart and a stud!

Our new friends Raz & Suz from Conn. with Jessica

OK... so maybe she did paddle a little.

Since we don't seem to be driving enough already we decided to take a road trip from our road trip.  We took the car all the way up the north coast of Maine.  Stopped in this little village and walked around a bit.

All the buildings are so old compared to what we see in Oregon.  Some of the towns we went through were established in the mid 1700's!

Old bank building

Never saw one of these things. The darn thing lights up and sounds a alarm.

Since we were so close to Canada we decided we really should go into New Brunswick, Canada.  A 30 minute wait to get across the border.  It is not like Mexico that's for sure. 

There was nothing on the other side!  Well there was "something" of course but nothing we wanted to see or do.  We stayed 17 minutes and went back across the border to America.  The customs guy was really scrutinizing us and our very short stay.

No !  I am not mad !

Look guys !  We are so far north we can see the dark side of the moon !  No Really !!

265 miles later we are back home.  Sun is shining... all is good.  I decided to put the awning down to keep the sun off the side of the RV.  Andy always asks me to so I did it without her having to ask.  Yes, I know. I am a sweetheart.

Big mistake !  Out of no where... the rain & wind hit!  HARD!  By the time I got my shoes on and got outside to put the awning up, all of 45 seconds, maybe, too late!  The wind ripped off the awning and it is now on the RV roof.  People were running around the RV Park picking up their stuff and helping people.  4 RV's lost their awnings. We were the ones on top of the small hill.  Lesson here...no parking on a hill.  LOL

Andy was so glad she didn't ask me to roll out the awning !  LOL   I must have heard that 20 times !  Am I that bad !

Temporary fix..  Too bad Chuck wasn't here ... he could fix it with a Band Aid

But there is always a rainbow at the end of the storm.

Randy, owner of  Ellsworth RV, came out to the RV Park.  He had all the parts on hand and was able to fix the awning without if being horribly expensive...thank goodness!

Otto this is for you!

Brent this is for you!  Too hot..too cold.  No Problem !

Does anyone know what kind mushrooms these are ?  Can I eat them ?

nnn

Niagara Falls, Canada

Today we drove across Rainbow Bridge and spent the day on the Canadian Side of Niagara Falls.  Much different than the American side.  There are lots of shops and places to eat.  Andy got her "Hard Rock Cafe" shirt.  She always get a item from every Hard Rock Cafe we visit.

As we were heading across the border to Canada this morning, in the car, there was a line all the way across the bridge try to come into USA.  The Canada Side was quick and easy. Later this afternoon the traffic was light coming back across.

When we drove our RV across the bridge yesterday it was a very tight fit. I had maybe an inch on both sides of the motorhome.  For a minute I thought we would have to take the motorhome apart just to get it out of the checkpoint.  LOL

Falls on the left is the American side and on the right is the Canadian side.

Had to beg her to get this close to the railing. Fake smile !

American Falls

Canadian Falls also known as Horseshoe Falls

ohhhh...awwwww !

 Up a little closer

I climbed a tree over looking the falls to get this shot !  NOT !!

We decided to take a boat trip, Maid of the Mist, from the "Canadian Side" to check out the base of both Falls.  It was worth it !  I was going to ask for a military discount...Oh yea, we are in Canada !  LOL

Maid of the Mist

Andy was determined not to get wet. Heck it's only 82 degrees. She stayed dry !

Very very close

She loved it

I was in awe !

Near the base of the American Fall

Tomorrow we will be heading towards Boston, Mass.  We will take our time as always.  Never in a hurry!  Make sure you get your " Easy Pass" for all the tolls.  Thanks Donna and Chuck.  What would we do without you guys !

This what we ran into on our way to Albany, NY.  Had to give water to an little doggy and the owner. Over 90 degrees today !

Sat here for over an hour

P.S. Chuck and Donna; Casino trip yesterday...yes bad luck lady was with me...I lost again..she lost less though !