Hi Everyone,
We traveled into Acadia National Park, which was a surprise to both of us since we didn’t know that we had a National Park in Maine. It is on an Island, and is fairly large. We arrived at the park at about 7 PM hoping that we might be able to camp in the park. We came to an intersection that poorly marked where we should go, and ended up parking by the side of the road at a turnout until morning. We kept driving and it was raining hard, so I pulled over at a turnout for the night. A ranger pulled up and knocked on the door at midnight and said we couldn’t stay there and gave us directions to find a place so we pulled the motorhome into town, about ten miles away at about 1 am and stayed on the street in RV parking in Bar Harbor, Maine. The one thing that we have really appreciated about this coach is the length of time that we can go when we are dry camping. We can stop anywhere that we choose, except for where the rangers don’t want us to, and have all the conveniences of home with our storage tanks and generator. We spent two nights at Bar Harbor, and took a tour around Acadia park in a National Park tour bus much like the school bus that I drove for two years. The first series of pictures is from that tour.
We left the park to head for a service appointment at Freightliner to have the oil changed on the motorhome in Bangor Maine. We haven’t found any jiffy lubes with $39 dollar specials for motorhomes. It costs us anywhere from $500 to $800 each time that we have had the oil changed and periodic service done. While the service was being done, we roamed the streets of Bangor Maine. It was a delightful town, with much to see. My favorite place was the Land transportation Museum across the street from where the coach was being serviced. The theme of the museum was anything that was either made in Maine or used in Maine for the purpose of traveling by land. It was funded solely by a local man. He agreed to finance it if locals would donate the antique items in their barns. It was fascinating seeing the old snowplows, vehicles that got them around during the snow season, and old equipment used for work. There were lots of old toys like soap box racers, bikes, snowshoes, and sleds of all sorts. It was a great time there. We passed by a beautiful old church, one of the hundreds built in this style that we have seen on this trip. They sure don’t make churches like this anymore.
After our day in Bangor, we headed for New Hampshire in pursuit of the foliage and the changing colors of autumn. Throughout our trip, I was focused to try and get us to the northern states at the peak of the changing colors. We asked questions to find out where we should go to find the most beautiful colors. The answers seemed to point us toward Vermont to a specific drive. I checked their website frequently to find out when the peak of the colors would be so that we could start our southward journey through the most beautiful time of the year. It was beautiful, but I must say that the drive that I took at home in the school bus just coming down Tumwater Canyon in fall was equally as beautiful if not more so. This trip has been a fun one to see how other people live, their lifestyles, and to see the different cultures. So far, it has just confirmed our choice to live in Leavenworth and we have found few places to match Leavenworth’s beauty and charm. I remember the first Christmas that NanCarrol and I spent in Leavenworth as we walked through town, the snow falling lightly, the children sledding down the hill, the town lit up magically, and children caroling in the gazebo, with vendors selling hot chestnuts on the streets. It was magical for us, and we felt as if we had entered a Norman Rockwell painting.
We went to Breton Woods, New Hampshire and rode the Historic Cog train, built in 1869. That was quite an experience. The train pushes a single car from an elevation of about 2,000 feet up the hill using a “cog wheel” that grabs the track much like a bike chain grabs the cog that is turning from the pedaling. The train pushed the car up a 37% incline for a half hour, taking us to an elevation of about 5,000 feet. We didn’t get to the top of the hill due to falling snow and winds gusting at 90 miles per hour, so they refunded a portion of our money. The inside of the car was not heated and we knew ahead of time that it was going to be a cold ride, so we took blankets and dressed for the ride. The train rips along at a steady speed of 4 miles per hour, so we had ample time to take nice pictures, but the weather didn’t cooperate the day we took the trip. The trip down was interesting. The brakeman, as he was called, said that the car was not attached to the engine and that he was solely responsible for the descent. He was rather popular with everyone on board for the trip down the mountain and was tipped well by all when they disembarked.
After leaving New Hampshire, we headed toward St. Johnsbury, Vermont to take in Maplewood Grove Farms, the makers of the best Maple Candy in the world, at least that is what they say. They also make pure maple syrup and other products, and so about two hundred dollars lighter in my wallet, we left with a good supply of syrup and other products for our journey and headed for Cabot Cheese factory. They make cheese, how did you guess? So after our tour, we once again, went shopping and filled our refrigerator with a good supply of their butters, cottage cheese, yogurt and cheeses for the trip. A fun time and very educational. I remember taking a tour of Tillamook Cheese factory as a child, and refusing to eat cheese afterward because of the smell. I do now, but it took quite a few years before I would eat cheese again. The interesting thing about the cheese factory was that it was a coop, and was owned entirely by the farmers in the area so that they could have a market for the milk that the cows generated.
We left the cheese factory heading south on I-89 just enjoying the foliage, and that is where this posting will end for now. I am a little behind and will pick up our most recent travels on the next posting as soon as I can find the time to sit still and put the pictures and the journal together.
Our love to you all, we do miss you
Glenn & NanCarrol
The journey seems nice , but it sounds like your getting a little homesick to me. I would be after a couple of weeks on the road. Winter is coming, 3 inches of rain , a little early for that much. It ruined a golf outing to Truckee CA to play a couple of great courses. Once the snow flies they close the courses until spring. We spent a few days in Reno to help out their local economy. Someone has to pay for all those lights. Drive safe Dave
I can tell you want to head for the barn…..not to worry, the feeling itself is a blessing. I can see one is only passing thru…..our home is in heaven
So lift your eyes to the hills….
The ONE , who sit on the rim of the earth has granted you a great adventure.
I will look down Hwy 2 toward the east…looking…..looking….and cook you a dinner
Love Elisabeth
PS new 2nd hip Nov 2nd
Hey guys
Looks like the weather is a little iffy in most images , still pretty tho ! You are right about our little Leavenworth , the most magical place in America I would bet on a snowy evening during December . Priceless, and we get to live here , God has surely blessed us .
Hey if you think those churchs are grand , wait until you see some of the ones in Philly, New York and Boston , 200 years old plus , absolutely beautiful !
Hey if you are near Philadelphia during Oct .
check out . http://www.easternstatepenitentiary.com
or http://www.terrorbehindthewalls.com
My son goes every year , it is a gruesome looking place , used as a prison for many years .
Go if you are up for some fright!! not me
Your Motorhome looks so comfy, a good choice for comfort when you are on the road for a year.