Vanity Maine, NH, Vt trip

[jimfr]

first instalment

For those of you who did not read my initial posting requesting suggests to do and see ( I received to eat also!) on a trip through Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, over 90 people responded some with many suggestions and some further sent e-mails with details. Obviously I could not follow all suggestions in one week. As it was I extended my plans for a few more days. So don't feel any insults if I did not follow through with yours. My thoughts were to see the fall colors but to avoid the crowds and also see what the Maine shore was like. I am in Virginia so I'll also include some thoughts on getting there. And you'll see some of my preconceived thoughts as we go along.

Going North through Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia and then hitting Pennsylvania; I immediately noticed the difference with Pennsylvania, Through the air conditioner even, I smelled the cows and corn! Then in northern Pennsylvania I had forgotten how high in elevation it becomes and with this some colors started to show up. Crossing into New Jersey and New York the elevation reduced and the colors disappeared. It was a rainy day so going through the towns there were not many people out , except Hudson NY. Many people were out, some with umbrellas others without, some sitting at store tables with large umbrellas. I went up to North Adams to Laconia. Vermont and also New Hampshire have their share of windmills and solar panels! I don't know if it is a backup for poor electric company service or not, but they to got windmills and solar panels. I had planned to camp at Ellacoya State Park but I arrived there and found out they only allowed RV's. Being road weary for about the last hour I did not want to travel farther being it was 4:30. I found a small campgrounds in town across from Fun Spot. Fortunately it was off season and it was a quiet night. Got up in the morning and realized being road weary the previous day I had passed Quechee Gorge and was not going to travel about an hour and a half back. I noticed all the lakes mentioned were large, ie Lake Winnepasaukee, were commercialized and a lot of speed boats, not my cup of tea. Went Conway and Lincoln, Flume Gorge and Franconia Notch State Park. I never consider Vermont and New Hampshire had moose, but see all those road sign cautions and the boggy land I am partially convinced. Though I have not seen any crossing the road yet. Followed the Kancamagus Highway, this was very nice. To give a comparison for some of you, it is similar to the Shennandoah Parkway. Do to the different ecosystem, geology and longitude there were differences but the concept is the same. Get a pass because you can not stop at most parking areas without it. There are a couple overlooks you don't need it though. With that when you approach the higher elevations of the highway be prepared to pull off into one, they come up on you quickly. I never could get unto earth science but with those large mountains and rock faces and so forth I was impressed. It was a nice drive on the highway. Depending on your tolerance for long distance driving and where you live. Consider seeing this. I went to Lyndonville to taste the pies at Miss Lyndonville Dinner, be warned not to try this for lunch on Sunday! The whole town goes to it and it is one of the larger towns in the area. Oh by the way, I never considered Vermont and New Hampshire was so rural. Living in NY and NJ and knowing Boston I thought most of the north east was well populated. There are few communities, as I would consider , just a house off the road or set back some about every hundred yards along a road and that is called a town, with what appears to be no other home far off the road. You may have heard the saying “fences make good neighbors”. Up here I think “large distances make good neighbors”. I decided to shorten my day as compared to yesterday, I was beat last night and today is Sunday. I am at Mount Blue State Park. Garmin, which I am using do not have all the town that Google has on their maps and the locals will point you to go left when you have to go right and then down a road some before you can go that left they mentioned. I noticed a police car to get directions who helped a lot. Previous experience in Wisconsin and Minnesota mosquitoes are not much of a problem when the weather gets cooler, well here at Mount Blue SP they are out in mass! Well, off to Millinocket and a sight Of Mount Katahdin tomorrow before connecting with Dale T.

Well I could not follow my plans, a trip to the ER took up most of the day, the folks there were supper nice. Got to Dover-Foxcroft though and stayed at Peak Kenny's for the night. This was a very nice park with a picturesque Lake Sebec. I think Mount Kahtadin was in the background. I heard loons here, it has been a long time since I heard one, and owls at night. Both were also at Mount Blue State Park. – tomorrow Mount Kahtadan! I saw mount Kahtadin from Millinocket but decided not to go to Baxter State Park but rather to go visit Dale before the afternoon which I wanted to save for traveling to the coast. Had a very nice lunch with Dale and ended up meeting one of his friends and had a nice conversation. I choose to pass on Pembroke and the reversing falls and went directly to Bar Harbor. They do have a major highway up here! It was a broad multi-lane widely divided road. Just before Bangor traffic picked up. I approached Ellisworth and entered a culture shock. I'm used to the crowded shore on the coast of Virginia and Maryland but did not expect it up here – bumper to bumper. Lamoine State Park was nice today but during the season I imagine it to be crowded also. Lots of owls calling this night. I think I'll try Acadia NP tomorrow.

[jagusafr]

We chose Southwest Harbor as it’s a bit quieter, but great food at both Bar and Southwest. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

[Vermont Lt]

Acadia is wonderful. But expect traffic there.

[thesligoduffyflynns]

VT?

we’re closed