RHODE ISLAND

 

  

NEWPORT-THE MANSIONS http://www.newportmansions.org/page7016.cfm

There is a beautiful  3 1/2 mile walk called the CLIFF WALK that runs along  behind the oceanfront

Mansions and the sea.

MAINE 2

  

            New and the old Penobscot Bridge                       The Observatory in the pillar in the foreground

 

A wonderful stop along Hwy 1, Fort Knox and the Penobscot Bridge Observatory. An elevator takes

you up 420ft to the observation deck. This is the highest occupied structure in Maine.

View from the top

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Fort Knox built for the Revolutionary War then added onto and reinforced for the war of 1812.

Again in the 1840’s when the US & Britain were having a dispute over the borders of Maine &

New Brunswick. There never was a shot fired from this fort.   

 

Stopping along the way to pick up Lobster for our dinner.

CAMDEN-Very much like Bar Harbor, a cute town set on a lovely cove. It’s a regular stop for the tour buses so it is also very

crowded. But worth it. We found the river that runs through town right under the some of the buildings very interesting.

        Artist in the park

 

Camden-  Ice Cream Shop                                                                          Walkway over the river

                                                                    

 

 

FREEPORT-Has to be the best looking  Outlet Mall anywhere. It’s setup like a charming New England

town, but all the stores are outlets. (well as charming as you can get for an Outlet Mall).  They also

provide RV parking and allow overnight.  Many of the quaint shopping towns along the coast, such

as Camden, Bath, Boothbay, Kennebunkport, Portsmouth where difficult to find a parking space for

our 25 ft pickup camper. Some of the towns charge for parking , but some stated

no campers.

 

PORTLAND MAINE-The weather was mostly sunny but very windy so we had to forego our planned

bike ride on their fantastic  city trail that goes around a lake then down along the city’s waterfront.

Next best thing is a long walk with a hooded coat.

CAPE ELIZABETH-just a little south of Portland we came to the Fort Williams Park, the city

has developed the fort and lighthouse area into a beautiful park. We took a nice walk.

MAINE-ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

BAR HARBOR- Sits at the edge of Acadia National Park. It is full of every conceivable tourist store and restaurants for every

taste. Several bike rental  shops to explore the many miles of carriage trails throughout the park. Cute , wonderful

location but maybe overdone. There seems to be a cruise ship in port every day. Well the four days we were there, one day

there were two cruise ships. Very very crowded. But it still seems to have something special.

 

HIKING-If you love to hike there are so many trails it would be hard to choose. We did

a few short ones one day and rode our  bikes on some of the carriage trails another day. The carriage trails were

put in by many very rich property owners as a quiet peaceful way to get around the island. Many of these same

rich land owners later gave the property to the National Parks system for preservation. 

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FANTASTIC SCENERY!

There’s more to life than scenery. In the park the Jordan Pond House is THE place to have

popovers. Well now we could of had coffee or tea with a popover but after thoroughly

studying the menu our eyes locked onto the words Popover A La Mode, a hot popover

stuffed with creamy vanilla ice cream topped with a fresh blueberry sauce. Well no

contest. And it was so very yummy!

CADILLAC MOUNTAIN-1500ft up the mountain brings you to spectacular views!

MAINE

After our visit to The Roosevelt Cottage on Campobello we crossed the bridge going through

customs at Lubec Maine a small waterfront town with a few artsy gifts stores and a couple

of restaurants serving up local food.

 

LUBEC MAINE

WHAT??????? 

WEST QUODDY THE MOST EASTERN POINT IN CONTINENTAL USA 

MACHIAS-out for a walk with the bay on one side and a pond on the other. We hear a strange loud

sucking sound. See the small whirlpool. But on the over the side of the path as you can see

is this huge out pour of water. Very strange!

MARITIMES-FINAL DAYS

We have a little more time we want to spend in NS. Somehow we missed Lunenburg on

the South Coast. We also wanted to go around the Yarmouth & Acadian Shores but

unfortunately we won’t be doing that as Hurricane Earl is due to hit that area on Sat.

We heard that NS had an unseasonably warm & dry summer and this last week it

has broken long standing records for high temperatures. It has been in the 90’s

most of this week.

We visited Chester a charmingly quaint seaside village. Then Mahone Bay a cute seaside

town along a pretty cove. Lunenburg is a colorful old seaport town full of gift & galleries

stores and many many restaurants terraced up along the hillside. If you want cute towns

these are a must. I’m glad we went.

 

LUNENBERG NS 

HALIS BEACH, WEST OF LUNENBERG-It was very hot so we spent more time at the

beach than shopping Lunenberg.

FIVE ISLANDS-Low tide on the Bay of Fundy 

One of the islands off the town of Five Islands  NS                                 The mud flats at low tide NS

 

We would have liked to stay longer continuing  around the SW Peninsula but we ran out of time. We wanted to be

inland in a big city when Hurricane Earl hit. We were almost to Frederickton  NB when it was downgraded to

a tropical storm. Oh well we still feel more comfortable being off the small roads where trees and

limbs will be scattered about. We stayed downtown behind the visitor center. Day of the storm was wet, windy

and warm. We walked about five blocks to the Saturday Farmers Market. Wow nothing keeps these people

home, it was packed. Mind you some of this was outside! We bought some delicious Donairs for lunch. So big

we had some for lunch the next day also. This is the best Farmers Market we have been to all summer.

Sure wish we had taken the camera. We were soaked by the time we got back to the RV but it’s

amazing how it’s just not so bad when your not cold. After changing clothes we drove up to the

mall/theater walked around in the mall for awhile with thousands of other people. Then went to see

a movie. The American with George Clooney. We would have to rate this right up there with the

worst. We can’t figure out why anyone felt the need to make this film. Slow, boring, with the

weakest plot ever. Go ahead ask me how I liked this movie!

Good news about 6:00pm the sun came out so we drove back downtown to walk the trail along the

river. Just a beautiful evening and gorgeous sunset. Too bad we forgot the camera all day long!

 

Hurricane Earl hit SW Nova Scotia with 100km winds causing trees to be uprooted and power poles

downed, leaving thousands of people without power. Peggy’s Cove was closed off for the safety of

people wanting to go wave watching the rocks there are just too slippery. After Halifax the hurricane

veered out to sea missing Newfoundland.

 

FREDERICTON NB –got a few pictures as we were leaving. It really is a nice city, a college town so there is plenty

going on.

YES FALL FOILAGE! WELL A LITTLE. 

TRAVELING DOWN THE RIVER TRAIL TOWARDS SAINT JOHN NB

THE MARTELLO TOWER A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE-at the entrance to Saint John

Harbour. Different design then anything we have seen. Note the interior concave

shape made of brick, for stability.

SAINT JOHN AT SUNSET-This was from our boondock spot

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          MARKET PLACE                                    BINGO IN THE STREET                            HORSE AND BUGGY RIDES

SAINT JOHN NEW BRUNSWICK-It being a Holiday there was a huge yard sale going on downtown.  Everyone brought

whatever they wanted to sell and set up along the main street in downtown. They get to do this every long weekend

I was told. But what I thought was amazing they were playing Bingo! There was a Cruise ship in port so the place

was hopping.

 

    1909 Covered Bridge in Little Lapreau NB. Note the sign inside. Looks like the part

broken off may have said Pay the fine 20 cents

Us at Lapreau Waterfalls NB  

         THE LANDING DOCK ON CAMPOBELLO                      THE ROOSEVELT COTTAGE

CAMPOBELLO ISLAND-We took the ferry from Saint Andrews to Deer Island(free) then another ferry to

Campobello Island($21.00) to visit the Roosevelt International Park(the only park to be shared and

governed by two countries)It was a nice 37 room summer cottage.

 

OUR LAST DAY IN THE MARITIMES. We drove off the island over the bridge to Lubec Maine.

There were no lineups at this border crossing.

It may change from year to year but this year you could not bring back tomatoes or green peppers.