Our Trip
This spring Paul and I did a road trip up the coast of California. It was quite far removed from the philosophy of slowtravel and I felt unsettled. I convinced myself that I'd not do something like that again; I felt like I just never got to see anything.
This summer we decided to rent a cabin in Maine to avoid the 'unsettling feeling' of a road trip - this would provide a slowtravel feeling however it would also provide a bit of a road trip because it is such a long drive from home!
This was our itinerary:
Day 1 - leave Burlington late in the afternoon (after Paul finished up work), drive to Syracuse NY
Day 2 - Syracuse to Portsmouth NH, explore Portsmouth
Day 3 - Outlet Mall shopping in Kittery, ME; explore York ME, Yarmouth ME, and shopping at LL Bean in Freeport, ME. Finish the day in Augusta
Day 4 - Deer Isle
Day 5 - Deer Isle (Eco Cruise on Captain Bill's lobster boat in the afternoon)
Day 6 - Deer Isle (sea kayaking)
Day 7 - Deer Isle (4th of July)
Day 8 - Deer Isle and Bar Harbor
Day 9 - Deer Isle
Day 10 - Deer Isle
Day 11 - Deer Isle - Albany NY
Day 12 - Albany NY to home
The parts of the trip there and back were really just a blurr consisting of driving, buying gas, eating, and sleeping. We had a wonderful first dinner in Syracuse at a restaurant called Dinosaur BBQ, followed by great dinners at BGs Boathouse in Portsmouth, and the Whale's Rib, in Deer Isle.
California used to be my favourite US State but now I'm not so sure. Maine was amazing. The cottage was great, boating was great, the day of sea kayaking was great, the lobster, scallops, crab, haddock, halibut etc was great, Deer Isle was great, the art was great. Oh, did I say Maine was great?
The highlight of the week for me was spending the 4th on Deer Isle. The parade was wonderful - not the glitz you'd find in a big city but honest local emotion and feeling. We followed the parade with a trip to Ames' Pond - a HUGE pond (formerly used for ice blocks to send to Jamaica) that is now filled in with the most brilliant pink, white, and yellow water lilies; it made those paintings by that Monet look like washed out scribbles. Then we went to the Masonic Hall where we enjoyed the lobster supper - $ 15.99 got you a lobster, corn, salad, cake, a drink, and lots of great conversation and fun. We rested in the afternoon and then went to the Stonington Pier for the fish and fritter fry - YUM The evening finished off with a ride on Captain Bill's lobster boat out into the harbour to watch the fireworks set off on an island. WOW It was so amazing to share the 4th with the folks on Deer Isle!
It really was relaxing (once we got on the island) I finished up the last 2 books in the Anne Perry WW I mystery series, read the latest Stephanie Plum mystery, and plunged through the first 2 Harry Potter books. . . 4 more to go before the 19th . . . I miss the birds, the fireflies, and sitting on the deck at night sipping martinis.
I wish Maine were closer dammit!
Oh yeah - the outlet shopping was great! Far too great. I am now afraid to go on-line and look at my VISA statement. OUCH Thank god the Canadian dollar went up to 95 cents US last week.
We spoke to so many locals who just wanted to chat our ears off. They apologized for W, coveted our health care, and many even knew we had some problems of our own with our prime minister. Never have I met such friendly people (well, away from Slow travel anyway).
Deer Isle is a hot bed of art and crafts. We spent a number of days gallery hopping. I bought 3 paintings, some pottery, glasswork, and some hand woven linens.
The weather was great. Nice temperatures, it only rained for a prolonged period once. I am dieing in this heat and humidity here at home.
The cottage was everything we had hoped for -nestled in a stand of pine trees, it was private, very well equipped, and had the most comfortable beds we have ever experienced. I wanted to bring them home!
like i said before, you gotta love the east coast! People are great, food is great, atmosphere, scenary, shopping are great!
Posted by:Rose | July 11, 2007 at 10:21 PM
Rose - I'm not sure one can say that about all of the east coast! New Jersey - ARGH
Just because you live out east and all . . . stop bragging. You don't eat seafood, don't visit the sites . . . LOL
Posted by:Jerry | July 12, 2007 at 08:02 AM
Jerry - I want to hear more about LL Bean - I think that would be like a little slice of heaven for me.
Oh and Rose, I feel I must defend my home state with a little story I received today; trackback to follow. :)
Posted by:Kim | July 12, 2007 at 06:24 PM
The pictures could be small town Alabama~ no lobster here though!
Posted by:sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | July 12, 2007 at 09:31 PM
Kim - that tracback feature was cool - how does it work? Now in fairness to my sister it is I who cast aspersions on New Jersey. I have never been so I presume that the books I have read have painted an inaccurate picture of the Jersey coast?
Sandi - and without the 'W' loving rednecks as well (or are my preconceived notions about Alabama out of whack as well?)
Goodness . . . could perceptions formed from media and popular culture references be wrong?
Posted by:Jerry | July 13, 2007 at 08:06 AM
Jerry - you need to accept or publish the trackback on your blog similar to you would a comment. Then a snippet of the entry from my blog with a link to it should appear under the trackback section of your blog above - does that make sense?
Ah so I misread the post. My apologies to Rose. Jerry, you bad boy will have to come for a visit and we'll show you the Jersey shore.
Posted by:Kim | July 17, 2007 at 08:25 AM
Kim - it worked! See above! Woo hoo!
Posted by:Jerry | July 17, 2007 at 08:30 PM