"Live free or die"

September 12, 2013

After arriving safely in Twin Mountain, NH in the White Mountain National Forest we set up camp at the Twin Mountain Motor Court and RV Park… rain, rain, more rain… for three days and nights. This RV park is conveniently located just north of Franconia Notch State Park and has easy access to enter, park and exit. 

The park offers 18 large, fairly level pull through sites with plenty of room for tow vehicles. Private and secluded, the park is 500 ft. back from the road and has panoramic mountain views with 4-way hook ups - water, 30 amp electric service, sewer and cable TV. Free wi-fi (good), swimming pool, laundry room, game room and store with limited groceries, gifts and RV supplies are among the amenities. The park was only 40% occupied during our seven nights stay.

September 14, 2013

Yesterday was filled with rain, but today we were greeted with sunshine and cool weather for touring the scenic byway Kankamagus Highway in the magnificent White Mountain National Forest – overlooks, waterfalls, rivers, covered bridges, hiking trails, bikers and more.

 A river runs through it

 Scenic water falls

 Wannabee hiking pioneers

 Pioneers of modern era mountain hiking

 Mountain streams

Lower falls

September 15, 2013

Climbing privately-owned Glen Road to the summit of Mt. Washington – 6,288 ft. – highest peak in northeast US – in Presidential Range of White Mountain National Forest. P.S. we climbed in the car.

The worst weather in the world at the summit – average annual temperature below freezing, high winds, lot of snow, ice and other harsh weather. Caught the weather in moderate conditions for Mt. Washington – mostly clear skies, 31 degrees F, winds 39 mph.

September 16, 2013

Rained all day. Washed clothes at the campground laundry mat since rules included not washing and drying clothes in the RV. Girls traveled to Littleton NH for personal pampering and shopping. Then to Harmon’s cheese factory in Sugar Hill NH for cheese surfing.

September 17, 2013

A tour of Franconia Notch State Park which borders White National Forest allowed us to see wonders from narrow granite passages and scenic pools to steep waterfalls, covered bridges and the Cannon Mountain Aerial tramway. Franconia Notch is a spectacular mountain pass traversed by a unique parkway winding between the high peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia mountain ranges.

A stroll on Echo Lake Beach

Old Man of the Mountain Historic Site

The Basin is a large granite pothole that was created by a glacier more than 15,000 years ago.

The Pool on Pemi River is 40 ft. deep with 80 ft. walls

Flume Gorge - one of New England's most popular natural geographic wonders.

 Avalanche Falls on Flume Brook above Flume Gorge

Liberty Gorge

Liberty Cascade

Pemigewasset River further along becomes the Merrimac which flows into the Atlantic.

Wolf’s Den – this narrow, one-way path involves crawling on your hands and knees and squeezing through rocks.

September 18, 2013

Climbing Cannon Mountain via aerial tramway to tour another of New England's most popular natural geographic wonders.

Aerial tramway up Cannon Mountain

 View of Echo Lake from atop Cannon Mountain

 Viewing the Kinsman mountain range from atop Cannon Mountain

Franconia Notch State Parkway

September 19, 2013

Relocating to Westport, NY – the gateway to the Adirondacks and Lake Champlain.

Home base is Barber Homestead Park.

Happy trails!

Pontooning Mooselookmeguntic

Our last day in Maine was spent pontooning Mooselookmeguntic Lake in the beautiful Rangely Lakes Region consisting of four major lakes and hundreds of small lakes and ponds.

Mooselookmeguntic is about 44,000 acres in size and is one of the major lakes.

Smooth and scenic ride with Captain Mike

And first mate Bettye

Enjoyed lunch in the middle of Mooselookmeguntic before heading back to dock after four hours of pontooning.

The following day September 12, 2013 was pack up, hook up and pull out day from enjoyable Cupsuptic Lake Campground heading off to the White Mountains National Forest in New Hampshire…

Light rain, rain and more rain.

Happy trails!

Moose or Bust!

From the ocean, to the mountains green with pines… God Bless America

Cupsuptic Lake Campground near Oquossoc and Rangely, Maine in the Rangely Lakes Region

As viewed from our campsite

Moose or bust – late dusk excursions on gravel roads looking for moose to shoot – with the Canon AE-1, of course. Busted so far. Bear hunting season just opened here, so we keep Michael indoors where he will be safer. (this moose image was borrowed from the internet)

A drive along the scenic Old Canada Highway that follows much of the Kennebec River took us from Maine 

into Quebec, Canada and a trip to the duty free store at the border crossing.

The Kennebec River was the first international “highway” of this region – canoe and boat trade traffic – connector between the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Maine coastal region. 

Weather has cooled considerably in Maine with lows in 30s and 40s and highs in 60s and 70s. Love it! Leaves are beginning to change colors with peak expected around October 1. That's the date we are scheduled to be in the Green Mountains of Vermont, but before then we plan to visit New Hampshire mountains for a few days. 

Happy trails!

Bar Harbor, Maine and Acadia National Park

Thursday, August 29, 2013 was a pack up and pull out day leaving Canada and traveling about 250 miles to Bar Harbor, Maine to camp for 7 days at Bar Harbor Campground. After setting up camp, we were off to Bangor, ME airport to pick up Darlene. Safe and sound traveling by all - praise the Lord!

Friday, August 30, 2013 was packed full of fun things. While B and D received personal pampering, E hopped  an Island Tours bus from campground to downtown Bar Harbor village center for an hour or so – free bus rides, whoopee! 

Lunch at Mainely Meats – pulled pork barbecue sandwiches – delicious! M and E sampled some rockin’ wings right out of the smoker. Will be back to get more of these! Maine blueberry ice cream enjoyed immensely by E.

Lobster pound on the harbor

Brief tour of downtown Bar Harbor and the harbor area

B and B resort

Bar Harbor is a resort village on Mount Desert Island; tons of people in town for Labor Day weekend

Off to Acadia National Park by car (free bus rides through park that stop at major park attractions). 

Acadia National Park

Driving along Park Loop Road, we made several stops at scenic overlooks before driving all the way to the rocky summit of 1,530-feet Cadillac Mountain.

Cadillac Mountain

Highest point on the US Atlantic seaboard where sunrise first occurs in US

Cadillac Mountain

Splendid panoramic views of mountains, lakes, islands and ocean

Cadillac Mountain

Sights never before beheld by us.

Cadillac Mountain

We could view all of Bar Harbor, almost the whole of Mount Desert Island which is home to Bar Harbor, and the wooded islands in Frenchman Bay.

Thunder Hole

Thunder Hole ... boom,  boom, boom

Thunder Hole

A wave-cut chasm producing loud reverberations

Thunder Hole

…when the waves and tide are right.

Sand Beach

… partially formed of shell fragments

Back toward campground for lobster supper at Bar Harbor Lobster Pound across from campground.

Saturday, August 31, 2013 was spent in Ellsworth, ME shopping at LL Bean Outlet and other non-sensical stores before hitching a ride aboard the Downeaster.

Downeast Scenic Railroad

Boarding the train for a scenic 10-mile roundtrip excursion aboard the historical Calais Branch line

Downeast Scenic Railroad

Railcars pulled by a 1948 diesel locomotive

Downeast Scenic Railroad

…viewing wetlands, forests and lakes on the 90-minute ride

After grocery shopping at Walmart and a farmers market, it was back to campground for a feast of ribs and wings from Mainely Meats along with corn-on-the-cob from the farmers market.

Even better than lobster suppers!

After attending church on Sunday, packed picnic lunch and headed to Southwest Harbor.

Scenic harbor views

... and a picnic lunch in Seawall State Park with spectacular ocean-side views.

Labor Day will be scheduled downtime with no touristy stuff - just hang out at the campground.

Happy Trails!