My friend Jay had recommended that we go check out the Portland Head Light, one of the most photographed lighthouses - if not the most - on the east coast. It was an easy drive from the campground, and he told us there would be plenty of parking for the RV.
It was a sunny day and perfect weather. Not too hot, but warm with a nice breeze since we were close to the ocean.
The lighthouse is marvelous - white, with a red roof and black trim around the light. Down below, waves crash on the rocks and seagulls fly up above.
After checking out the lighthouse, we took a walk along a cliff path with beautiful views of the shore and then down to a beach. We all searched for treasures. Both Henry and I found sea glass and I found some shells, while Ruth and Jeff found some shells as well.
Afterward, Henry, Ruth and I built a sculpture of sorts with the rocks on the beach after seeing some that other beachcombers had built.
Then we headed back to the RV and fixed ourselves lunch. It was a buffet of sorts: we picked our way through crackers, kielbasa, cheese, grapes, cherries, peanut butter sandwiches, apples and drinks. Bellies full, Jeff started the RV and we headed back to the campground.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Dinner with a Friend
Back during a job I had in the 90's, I traveled to Portland, Maine for business. We had a local consultant in Portland, who still lives there. I hadn't seen him since 1998, but thanks to Facebook, we've reconnected and arranged to meet in Old Orchard Beach.
Jay recommended the Clambake Restaurant in Scarborough, Maine, noting it was an Old Orchard Beach institution.
We had to drive there in the RV, and found a place to park it across the street.
The Clambake is set up so that you wait in line to place your order at the counter and then go find a seat. Then when your number is called, you go pick up the food and bring it to your table. They also have a salad bar where you serve yourself. It's a pretty big place, and has a nice view of the marsh behind the restaurant.
Ruth ordered her favorite, fried shrimp and Henry, our landlubber, ordered a grilled cheese and asked to share some lobster with me. Jeff went for a steak with lobster tail, and knowing I would be sharing, I ordered the twin lobster dinner. Two lobsters!!!!
The food was delicious, with the only problem being that they forgot to give Jeff his lobster tail, which he didn't notice until he got to the table and unloaded the tray. When he went back, because they had taken his receipt when he got the tray, he had no proof that he ordered a lobster tail or that he didn't already get it and was just trying to scam another. I guess people try to pull that kind of stuff. I gave Jeff one of my lobster tails, so it was good I ordered two lobsters after all.
It was great to reconnect with Jay and learn about his bike race across the state of Maine. It's a fundraising effort to raise money for a medical cause, and is about 180 miles across the state.
It's great when a vacation also helps you meet up with old friends and colleagues.
Jay recommended the Clambake Restaurant in Scarborough, Maine, noting it was an Old Orchard Beach institution.
We had to drive there in the RV, and found a place to park it across the street.
The Clambake is set up so that you wait in line to place your order at the counter and then go find a seat. Then when your number is called, you go pick up the food and bring it to your table. They also have a salad bar where you serve yourself. It's a pretty big place, and has a nice view of the marsh behind the restaurant.
Ruth ordered her favorite, fried shrimp and Henry, our landlubber, ordered a grilled cheese and asked to share some lobster with me. Jeff went for a steak with lobster tail, and knowing I would be sharing, I ordered the twin lobster dinner. Two lobsters!!!!
The food was delicious, with the only problem being that they forgot to give Jeff his lobster tail, which he didn't notice until he got to the table and unloaded the tray. When he went back, because they had taken his receipt when he got the tray, he had no proof that he ordered a lobster tail or that he didn't already get it and was just trying to scam another. I guess people try to pull that kind of stuff. I gave Jeff one of my lobster tails, so it was good I ordered two lobsters after all.
It was great to reconnect with Jay and learn about his bike race across the state of Maine. It's a fundraising effort to raise money for a medical cause, and is about 180 miles across the state.
It's great when a vacation also helps you meet up with old friends and colleagues.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Beach Day!
We had a leisurely morning today. Jeff did his P90X workout and I made some blueberry pancakes (plain for Henry).
Then we took the trolley to the beach to check it out. We're just a half mile from a beach, but about a mile and a half from Old Orchard Beach, which has a pier with pizza places, ice cream shops, an arcade and rides. We didn't tell the kids about the pier and amusements, so they whined about going to the beach today. They wanted to stay at the campground and go to the pool and play miniature golf.
But when we said we were going to the beach, they reluctantly agreed to come along. It was worth it to see the looks on their faces when they saw the ferris wheel and Dairy Queen. There were squeals of delight.
It was sunny, but chilly, so even the lifeguards were wearing sweats up on the stand. The kids were unfazed by this and went right in the water, which was also cold. They had a ball playing in the waves.
After a bit, we went up on the pier and had lunch. The pier juts out into the water, which gives you a great view while you eat.
Then it was on to the arcade to play some skee ball. We all took turns, and the kids were reminded that it's harder in real life than it is on the game on my iPod.
After a stop at Dairy Queen, we headed back to the trolley stop to go back to the campground. The kids jammed pool time, miniature golf and banana bike riding into the rest of the afternoon, and then we had burgers and chips for dinner.
The mosquitoes are worse here than anywhere else on our trip. I have some citronella candles, lots of bug spray, the new Off fan things and mosquito coils. Yesterday, even with the candles, Jeff and the kids got eaten alive while playing Uno. Tonight, while I was sitting at the fire pit reading my Julia Child book, mosquito fan hooked to the chair, bug spray all over me, two citronella candles near my feet, I looked up and saw a swarm of bugs flying overhead. Eww..... When the light got too dim, I headed in to read some more and write this post.
All in all, I think the kids would say they had a fine day.
Then we took the trolley to the beach to check it out. We're just a half mile from a beach, but about a mile and a half from Old Orchard Beach, which has a pier with pizza places, ice cream shops, an arcade and rides. We didn't tell the kids about the pier and amusements, so they whined about going to the beach today. They wanted to stay at the campground and go to the pool and play miniature golf.
But when we said we were going to the beach, they reluctantly agreed to come along. It was worth it to see the looks on their faces when they saw the ferris wheel and Dairy Queen. There were squeals of delight.
It was sunny, but chilly, so even the lifeguards were wearing sweats up on the stand. The kids were unfazed by this and went right in the water, which was also cold. They had a ball playing in the waves.
After a bit, we went up on the pier and had lunch. The pier juts out into the water, which gives you a great view while you eat.
Then it was on to the arcade to play some skee ball. We all took turns, and the kids were reminded that it's harder in real life than it is on the game on my iPod.
After a stop at Dairy Queen, we headed back to the trolley stop to go back to the campground. The kids jammed pool time, miniature golf and banana bike riding into the rest of the afternoon, and then we had burgers and chips for dinner.
The mosquitoes are worse here than anywhere else on our trip. I have some citronella candles, lots of bug spray, the new Off fan things and mosquito coils. Yesterday, even with the candles, Jeff and the kids got eaten alive while playing Uno. Tonight, while I was sitting at the fire pit reading my Julia Child book, mosquito fan hooked to the chair, bug spray all over me, two citronella candles near my feet, I looked up and saw a swarm of bugs flying overhead. Eww..... When the light got too dim, I headed in to read some more and write this post.
All in all, I think the kids would say they had a fine day.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Old Orchard Beach and Bayley's Camping Resort
We said goodbye to the Bar Harbor KOA this morning and headed west, then south, down to Old Orchard Beach, Maine. We made our way over to 95 South around Bangor, which looked like a nice little city.
Unlike Route 1, 95 is pretty boring because you don't pass through little towns or along the coast. But the benefit and reason we chose 95 was to get to our day's final destination in Old Orchard Beach around lunchtime.
Aside from some construction, it was a non-eventful drive. We stopped at a grocery store for a few things and then went next door to a sub shop to pick up lunch. Twenty minutes later, we were at the campground, and a huge campground it is. The last one we were at might have had 80 campsites. This one has hundreds, plus three pools and three or four hot tubs. They have activities scheduled throughout the day, from t-shirt painting to jewelry making to karaoke. And as if that wasn't enough, there's also mini golf, bike and kayak rentals and a trolley that takes you to the beach, about a half mile away.
The kids are pretty excited about being here - they missed having a swimming pool. After setting up, we all went down to the pool for a swim. The pool is heated, but it's not that warm. Refreshing would be the positive spin on it.
For dinner, I threw some burgers on the grill and made a shrimp boil with local corn. For once, we made it through a day without ice cream.
Tomorrow we think we'll venture to the beach in the morning to see what it's like, and then spend the afternoon back at the campground relaxing.
Unlike Route 1, 95 is pretty boring because you don't pass through little towns or along the coast. But the benefit and reason we chose 95 was to get to our day's final destination in Old Orchard Beach around lunchtime.
Aside from some construction, it was a non-eventful drive. We stopped at a grocery store for a few things and then went next door to a sub shop to pick up lunch. Twenty minutes later, we were at the campground, and a huge campground it is. The last one we were at might have had 80 campsites. This one has hundreds, plus three pools and three or four hot tubs. They have activities scheduled throughout the day, from t-shirt painting to jewelry making to karaoke. And as if that wasn't enough, there's also mini golf, bike and kayak rentals and a trolley that takes you to the beach, about a half mile away.
The kids are pretty excited about being here - they missed having a swimming pool. After setting up, we all went down to the pool for a swim. The pool is heated, but it's not that warm. Refreshing would be the positive spin on it.
For dinner, I threw some burgers on the grill and made a shrimp boil with local corn. For once, we made it through a day without ice cream.
Tomorrow we think we'll venture to the beach in the morning to see what it's like, and then spend the afternoon back at the campground relaxing.
Technology is a Wonderful Thing
Jeff has turned the RV into a wireless hotspot so he can work from anywhere we are on the road, and today I'm testing it out. I'm writing from the front seat of the RV as we head south on Interstate 295 in Maine, on our way to Old Orchard Beach. Pretty cool.
Jack Sighting
We’re often amazed at the capabilities of Henry’s brain. He can never seem to remember where he left his shoes, and then one day he’ll point out some piece of history from a trip two years ago.
Yesterday at the campground, he swore he saw he saw someone from Ruth’s class riding their bike through the campground. He even said he had seen the boy wear that shirt at school.
So the next time the boy rode by, we yelled “Jack!” and he looked over at us. Yup, it was Jack from Ruth’s class. Go figure – we come all the way up to Maine and meet someone from home.
Henry and Ruth played with him for a bit, and then they went down to the beach to show him the crabs in the tidepool. This morning, he came by to say hi as we were packing up to head south. He was leaving today too, on his way to New Hampshire.
Yesterday at the campground, he swore he saw he saw someone from Ruth’s class riding their bike through the campground. He even said he had seen the boy wear that shirt at school.
So the next time the boy rode by, we yelled “Jack!” and he looked over at us. Yup, it was Jack from Ruth’s class. Go figure – we come all the way up to Maine and meet someone from home.
Henry and Ruth played with him for a bit, and then they went down to the beach to show him the crabs in the tidepool. This morning, he came by to say hi as we were packing up to head south. He was leaving today too, on his way to New Hampshire.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Our Last Dinner in Bar Harbor
Seeing the cruise ship in Bar Harbor, we knew it would be best to skip going into Bar Harbor today. When we picked up the firewood and ice at the camp store, we saw the sign for lobster dinners right here at the campground. We had seen the big red lobster in the distance toward the middle of the campground, but hadn't gone by there.
Turns out that for $36, we could get two nice sized lobsters, two ears of corn and cole slaw cooked to order and ready to be brought back to our campsite.
So I built a charcoal fire in the firepit to grill steaks for the kids and Jeff put in an order for a lobster dinner for us, plus two extra ears of corn. I also boiled some red potatoes for Jeff and I and microwaved some mashed potatoes for the kids, who have just started taking a liking to them.
The lobster dinner was delicious, and better than the last meal we ate in Bar Harbor. I wish we had thought of this sooner - it was delicious! The kids got into the lobster cracking business too - They each took turns cracking a claw.
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