Day 9 - Trenton, ME (Day 2)

You could call this a "nesting" day.  We went out for breakfast, returned to the trailer to watch the OSU-Florida Atlantic football game and wandered around the rest of the day, getting used to the area.

The Route

We drove the few miles to Ellsworth in the morning, and took a scouting trip to Bar Harbor and Acadia N.P. in the late afternoon.

About the Day

It was a cool 53° last night.  We were grateful for the furnace again.  Today was mostly sunny with a high in the mid-70s.  We had a pleasant breeze, too.

Along the Way

Ohio State beat Florida Atlantic 45-21 to begin the season and brighten an already delightful day here.

We went exploring late in the afternoon.  We drove to downtown Bar Harbor, first.  It was alive with tourists and streets were parked to capacity.  15 minutes in that chaos was enough, so we headed for the Cadillac Mountain entrance to Acadia N.P.  These scenes are from the Park Loop Road.  Frenchman Bay is in the distance.

We decided days ago that this trip had to include at least one seafood dinner.  Tonight was to be one of them and Downeast Lobster Pound was the place.  Carol had lobster (what else?).  Dick had a fried combo of haddock, scallops and clams.

What a way to end a delightful day.

Travel Trivia

Bar Harbor and Acadia N.P. are built to attract tourists.  We've seen many "No Vacancy" signs this weekend.

We remembered many of the downtown Bar Harbor shops and scenes from our visit here on September 9-10, 2011.  Remembering stuff is quite reassuring at our age.  

The Campground

We decided to head south when we leave here on Monday and picked a campground in Boothbay as our next destination.  More on that in a few days.

Tomorrow

We'll go back to Acadia N.P.

Day 8 - Skowhegan, ME to Trenton. ME

Today was all about getting into a campground for the Labor Day weekend.

The Route

This 80 mile trip was like a walk in the park.  We headed NE out of Skowhegan on US-2 and took a "shortest route" GPS turn onto Higgins Rd. (a narrow, bumpy, county road ride to I-95 at Pittsfield).  We left I-95 for US-1A at Bangor and followed it to Ellsworth where we followed ME-3 for the last two miles to Trenton and our campground.

About the Day

Sunny, in the mid-70s with a pleasant breeze.

Along the Way

Cruising along I-95 toward Bangor

Travel Trivia

GPS estimate = 79 miles, odometer actual = 80 miles.

The Campground

We're at Timberline Acres RV Park in Trenton.  We're about 2 miles south of Ellsworth and 14 miles north of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

We originally made reservations for 2 days, but added a 3rd after we checked in.

Site 245

Tomorrow

Well ... the OSU-FAU game is at noon.  Can't watch, but will follow on ESPN.

We'll go to Acadia National Park in the afternoon.

Day 7 - Milton, VT to Skowhegan, ME

Leaving Dave's was the hardest ever, by far.  He was feeling awful after yesterday's treatment.

The Route

Today's trip was a very scenic, 244 mile drive through Vermont, New Hampshire and into Maine.  We left on I-89S from Milton to Montpelier and then US-2 to Skowhegan.

Think this is beyond a fixer-upper.

Our first blush of color.

Did we miss a turn?

About the Day

Clouds from last night's rain cleared by 8:30 and we enjoyed mostly sun and a high of 78°.

Along the Way

The day held an unexpected treat and memories from prior trips.

Rainbow Sweets Bakery and Cafe

We started looking for a breakfast place after exiting I-89.  There was nothing until we got to Marshfield, VT.  We'd been driving over an hour and were getting hungry.  We discovered this place ...

William (Bill) Tecosky is one of the owners.  He's a born actor, a comedian, a chef, and our server.  We didn't have breakfast, we had a lunch experience.  Our desserts were out of this world.  Go there if you get there.

Timberland Campground in Shelburne, NH.

We drove by it on US-2.  It brought back memories of a bad experience from September 17, 2011.  That was the day Dick got dragged down the hill by the car and crashed into camper awning and a picnic table.  We didn't consider staying there.

Mooselook Restaurant (outside Concord, VT)

We gushed over this place when we stopped there on August 2, 2014.  It caught our eye today ... in a different way.  It's closed and abandoned.  Too bad.

Two Rivers Campground

See below.

Travel Trivia

GPS estimate = 248 miles, odometer actual = 244 miles.  Not bad for a 7 hour trip.

The Campground

We arrived at Two Rivers Campground and noticed right away that it looked familiar.  We stayed here on August 2, 2014 during the Canada trip.  Nice folks and a nice campground here.  We didn't remember having stayed here when we picked it.  They have excellent wifi service.

Site 13

Tomorrow

We have a short drive to Timberland Acres in Trenton, ME.

Day 6 - Milton, VT (Day 4)

Today involved some local travel and visiting.

The Route

None.

About the Day

We woke to a nice, sunny day.  The temperature reached a high of 78°.  The sky was overcast by noon.  A light rain arrived around 2pm and continued well past bedtime.

Along the Way

Dave left for his doctor appointment at 9:15 and returned at 2:00pm.  He did amazingly well after having received an infusion and re-hydration.  They were pleased to discover he had gained some weight.

Dick and Bobbie left for the airport at 10:30 for a noon flight.  Bobbie will land in Little Rock around 7:30 and probably get home by 9:00.  A long day.

Dick and Carol had lunch at Milton Diner.

We visited with Dave most of the afternoon, shopped for dinner and had a late dinner of ham sandwiches and really good corn on the cob.

Tomorrow

We leave for Two Rivers Campground in Skowhegan, ME.

Day 5 - Milton, VT (Day 3)

This was a classic low key day.

The Route

None.

About the Day

The day was sunny, cool and calm.

Along the Way

We were up and moving about by 9.  We sat around drinking coffee and talking until early afternoon.

Hunger pangs got us up and moving for an excellent, though not particularly healthy, lunch of hamburgers, fries and cheesecake with strawberries at Milton Diner.

Dick and Carol worked on travel plans and reservations for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.  Hint: RV travelling on Labor Day weekend without campground reservations is a bad idea.

Keith, Linda, Bruce and Jamie stopped by to visit Dave.  They've all helped with his projects and care.

We ended the day by watching America's Got Talent.

Tomorrow

Dave has a 4 hour treatment tomorrow and Bobbie heads home.

Day 4 - Milton, VT (Day 2)

Dave has chosen home projects as a way to stay active and positive.  He's just finished residing his home, replaced all the windows, rebuilt/refinished his porches and decorated the side deck.  He continues to downsize and has a number of projects waiting for attention.  We helped with some of his projects today.

The Route

None.

About the Day

The night was cool, in the low 50s.  The furnace was put to work in the early morning again.

It was sunny and pleasant all day.

Along the Way

We talked a lot.

Dick put front mud flaps on Dave's truck.  

We washed Dave's Honda Gold Wing motorcycle and moved it into the basement.

Carol and Bobbie washed and ironed Dave's kitchen curtains.

We shopped for corn on the cob, tomatoes and chicken breasts for a summer dinner with a guest.  The mud pie dessert was delightful.

We watched Penn and Teller's Fool Us to end the day.

The Campground

This is like camping at a resort.

Dave's newly sided home.

Tomorrow

We have no idea.  Probably a lot of talking.

Day 3 - Herkimer, NY to Milton, VT

This was another delightful day for travel.  It started out overcast, then cleared and was sunny the rest of the day.  The temperature reached the low-70s.

The Route

The 219 mile trip was mostly on the scenic Adirondack Trail.  We left the campground on NY-28N, switched to NY-8N at Poland, got on I-87N at Pottersville, headed east on NY-74 north of Schroon Lake, turned north on NY-22 east of Eagle Lake, and entered Vermont on VT-17.  We picked up VT-22A at Addison and took Ethan Allen Highway (US-7) north of Vergennes through Shelburne to I-89.  I-89N took us to Milton.

About the Day

We used the furnace to take the evening chill off, showered and were on the road by 10.  

Dick made an assumption and headed the wrong way out of the campground.  It cost us about 10 extra miles and 20 minutes of driving because we couldn't find a turnaround on NY-28S.  There was an extra 8 miles of driving as we searched for a turnaround at Dave's.

Along the Way

Lots of country scenery and lakes.

Saying goodbye to West Canada Creek
(behind our campsite)

Lots of tall pines.

A road less travelled.

Carol was a camp counselor at Schroon Lake
in the summer of 1953.

Lake Champlain Bridge
from Crown Point, NY

Travel Trivia

GPS estimate = 202 miles.  Odometer reading = 219 miles.  There's no way the GPA could anticipate Dick's mistakes.

The Campground

Back-in parking went well.  The site is very level and the price is right at Dave's.

Dave, Dick and Jordan (Dave's son)

Sister Bobbie and Carol

An evening chat on Dave's porch.

Tomorrow

Que sera, sera.

Day 2 - Westfield, NY to Herkimer, NY

We're beginning to get our feel for trailer travel back.  Rule #1:  Keep the daily driving reasonably short and enjoy the stops.

The Route

This was an easy day.  Head east on I-90 to Herkimer (Exit 30), then follow NY28N for about 8 miles.  We left at 10am and arrived at 4:30PM.

About the Day

It was cool last night.  We slept well.

The temperature made it to 71 today.  It was cloudy, partly cloudy and mostly sunny as we travelled east.

11:42am

1:04pm

4:10pm

We started the day with a delightful chat with our neighbor Michael.  He's travelling in a medium-size motorhome on his way home (north of Detroit).  He's interested in all kinds of aircraft.  He's visited the Dayton museum, the PIMA museum in Tucson and the neighboring aircraft "boneyard".  He knows the chief test pilot of the X-15 and had some intriguing tales to tell.

Along the Way

We learned I-90 and the Erie Canal took the same path (at least part of the way).  The Old Erie Canal Heritage Park at Port Byron is adjacent to the highway.  Remnants of the old stone lock provide the evidence.

Travel Trivia

We seem to follow instructions pretty well.  GPS estimate = 275 miles, odometer actual = 276 miles.

We stopped here thinking we'd get some "bling" and found out Herkimer Diamonds aren't actually diamonds.  They're double-terminated quartz crystals discovered within exposed outcrops of dolomite in and around Herkimer County.  The "diamond" in their name is due to both their clarity and natural faceting.  The crystals possess double termination points and 18 total faces (6 on each point, 6 around the center).  This is fun.  We now know something about something we've never heard of and have no interest in.

The Campground

The Herkimer Diamond Mines KOA Resort is a gem.  It's attractive, well run and packed with fun.

Entrance Road

Office

Site 51

Our favorite view

Lots of fun

  

Tomorrow

We arrive at brother Dave's in Milton, VT ... just a short drive north of Burlington.