7/27-7/29/2022: Hammonasset Beach State Park

We always try to build in a stay in Clinton (our hometown) each year, but this year we left it out to do MINI Takes The States. We were kind of sad to be missing it so when we skipped seeing Sean and Steve in North Carolina on the way home from MTTS we ended up with a few extra day in our calendar. Mike had looked online and when he saw two nights with water/electric available at Hammonasset for the two nights we had open we immediately reserved them! With the refrigerator fiasco we lost most of Day 1 there as we didn’t arrive until 9:43 at night (two minutes before it closed for the night! )- that’s cutting it close… When we talked about only having one night available to see anyone we decided to keep the day and night to ourselves as a retreat of sorts.

Thursday we woke up and started the day with a very nice walk on the path ending up with about 5 miles total. Once we got back we went out for a drive past some of our favorite places ending up for lunch at Liz’s Lighthouse Cafe. Down by the docks. When we lived there the same place was called Sal D’s by the Docks. Seemed pretty much the same and we had a lovely lunch overlooking the marina and water. From there we wanted to try out the new Big Y that is now where The (old) Morgan School was, where Joanne used to work/ The old school property’s been developed spectacularly though still have a soft spot for the old Morgan School campus and could help to remember and make comparisons…  Back at the campsite sitting outside late afternoon into the evening is so very nice and we both agree that we would definitely stay here longer again. Funny that this campground was so close to us for thirty years, yet we never stayed there! Joanne’s mom and dad used to stay there for two weeks when they would come to visit in the summer and they also loved it there. The sites are huge and although we did not have shade, we did have electric and could run the AC as much as we wanted at night.  The smell of the salt air and the walking path with occasional peeks of the water was just what we both needed to rest up after the MTTS and the week at Pat’s.

7/21-8/1/2022:

Portland ME

When we were booking our campgrounds for this trip Caitlin was asking, all along, what our stops would be hoping she and the family could hook up with us at some point. When she saw that we would be close to Portland we all thought this would be a great place to spend the weekend together. Although they would be at a hotel and we would be in a campground, we weren’t far apart and we thought it would work perfectly. And for the most part it did.

When we checked into our campground (a private, pricey campground!), Mike was told that guests would need to pay $8.00 per person and guests could not bring dogs into the campground. Although the view from our site is awesome being right on the lake, not being able to have company means we will be there very little to enjoy the view.

As soon as we got settled in we reached out to Cait to see where they were so we could join them. We headed to Portland Lobster Company to meet them and got a great parking spot right on the street; so much cheaper parking! One lot told us they charge a flat fee of $35.00 for the day; we were only going to be there a few hours! So when we found parking on the street we were very happy!!

By the time we met them Mac had pretty much had it. But we got a drink and we all took turns trying to keep Mac pacified for a little bit. After we finished our drinks, we walked down to a park and Bruce went to get Dakota so he could run around a bit and Mac could have some freedom to walk around without boundaries.

Around 6:30 we went our separate ways with their recommendation to head to “Lukes Restaurant” for a lobster roll sitting right on the water. This turned out to be an awesome recommendation! The setting was beautiful, the food was great, and the two of us had an awesome evening. We headed back to the camper and had a glass of wine outside overlooking the lake with the fire pit going.

This morning we were supposed to meet the Dews at Maine Beer Company in Freeport at 11:00 (Bruce had made a reservation). We were trying to wrap our heads around going to a brewery at 11:00 in the morning but what the heck! We skipped breakfast thinking we would just eat lunch instead. They planned this spot because it is dog friendly and they had been there before and enjoyed it. It turned out to be a great place, we got a soft pretzel to share with Mac, a salad, and two pizzas. All of it was delicious!! After a few hours of chasing Mac around and trying to keep Dakota from bothering other customers trying to get their food, we paid up and again headed in different directions for a bit so Mac could get some rest.

We headed to LL Bean so Joanne could try on some new hiking boots though no success. After strolling around there a bit we met back up with the Dews at The Porthole where there was a live band and Mac and Caitlin got some dancing in! We were beginning to feel like we were drinking the day away! At some point Caitlin and Bruce both indicated it would be great if we would watch Mac so they could go out to dinner for a few hours. So we agreed to it and set off to the hotel to put swim suits on and take Mac swimming while they went to dinner. All seemed fine until it wasn’t!! While in the pool (unbeknownst to us) Mac had a major diarrhea explosion in her swimming diaper. She was very unhappy and so we headed back up to the room where we discovered why! It took both of us to take care of this mess; Mike getting her out of the diaper and get it cleaned and Joanne filling the tub for a bath! Once we got the bath done and got Mac into her PJ’s, we thought she would go right off to sleep. She was so tired! Mike gave her a bottle of warmed milk and we tried to put her to sleep. She seemed to settle in for a few minutes but then got up and was screaming… so much that she started gagging. Joanne picked her up and tried to get her to settle down but eventually she puked everything up; all over Joanne! We thought it was over and Joanne thought it might be good to take her in the stroller for a short walk but she projectile vomited all over herself and the wall of the hotel😳. At this point (unbeknownst to Mike) Joanne texted Caitlin and told her what happened and asked them to come back. By the time they got back, we had the mess cleaned up and Mac was a happy camper. Joanne felt horrible that she interrupted their evening out. Caitlin finally got Mac settled and the 4 of us went out to a courtyard right outside with a fire pit going and we laughed and drank wine (or Bourbon) until 9:30. We all probably had too much to drink without any dinner!! We said good bye for the night thinking we would meet up for more appropriate good byes and hugs in the morning.

Sunday: Although we thought we would meet up this morning, we were all feeling a pinch for time as we all had to check out by 11:00. So we said our good byes through text, grateful for the very fun weekend we had, in a fun place ,with excellent weather!!

Sunday 7/31/2022:

Camden ME

This stopover was suggested by Caitlin; a place on their list of places to go. It was a great suggestion! The campground we had made a reservation at is Camden Hills  State Park and is only about two miles outside of town. As we drove through the downtown area on our way to the campground we could see it was going to be a great town to stroll through. Reminded us of a scaled down Edgartown, right on the water, with cute shops and eateries. We registered, then drove to our site. We worked for an hour trying to get the Motorhome leveled but just couldn’t, so Mike ended up heading back to the booth and they were able to put us down in the field (with Electric and Water which we didn’t have at the other site) for two of our three days. We are hoping they can find us a spot for the other night. Once we get settled we make a plan for tomorrow and relax after the crazy weekend we just had!

8/1/2022: We had decided yesterday we would use today to do the shoreline trail down by the water (still in the state park), drive up Battie Road for the views from Mount Battie, then drive into town to stroll the shops and maybe get a drink.

It was a great day but when we tried to get a drink at Seadog restaurant on the back patio overlooking the water they already had a waitlist so we moved on. Mike had spoken to someone that said the only sandy beach around was in the next town just a short drive on the other side of the campground.

 

So on the way home we drove the few extra miles to check it out. There are many historic homes, Inns, and hotels to check out on the way with beautiful gardens so it was a great, short drive. Once to the beach we found parking right in front of the beach (4 hours for free). We parked and walked around. Directly next to the beach there is a restaurant called The Lobster Pound that looked cute and maybe we could get a drink there. We checked it out and sure enough happy hour meant $4.50 Blue Moons for each of us and two red Adirondack chairs overlooking the water!! This was so nice and we were glad we found it!

On the way back into the campground Mike checked on a site for tomorrow but it didn’t look promising. We check on a few places up close to Acadia and Joanne looked at the reviews for the Walmart in Ellsworth, since we were planning to stop there on our way into the park anyway. The manager was very nice and said many people overnight here and we are welcome. This might work but we also know there is room at Hadley Point campground we had stayed at in 2014 on our way to Nova Scotia.

In the middle of the night Mike started feeling punky with chills, achy muscles… hoping it’s not Covid but we have both had 4 shots and should not have a major problem even if it is🤞🤞.

When we woke up this morning Mike is still not feeling 100%so we get showers at the bath house and pack up to head to Ellsworth, Maine. He also is trying to figure out the refrigerator panels that were shipped to the Post Office in Bar Harbor though apparently UPS wont deliver to a Post Office, so now the package is somewhere, but no one knows where. He spends a good amount of time working on that issue while Joanne goes in to the Walmart to grocery shop and get provisions for awhile. With us heading into Canada for six weeks we want to have as much supplies as possible as we never know what we will be able to buy up there. We have been looking forward to getting into Acadia and joining up with Deb and Tony but now with Mike not feeling so well we’ll have to see how much he is up to doing and hopefully Joanne doesn’t catch whatever it is!

8/3/2022-8/8/2022:

As we pull into Acadia Joanne reaches out to Deb and Tony to let them know Mike doesn’t feel well. Whether it’s a cold or worse for sure they don’t want it! We get to our site and get set up. We are on site 45 and it is a great site! Good sun for the solar, pretty level and across the street from Deb and Tony. Once we are set, the four of us look into walking the Jordan Pond Loop; it’s level and not too strenuous. Mike says he feels up to it so we head for the shuttle and on our way!

The Jordan Pond Loop trail is awesome! It takes about 2 hours and then with the shuttle back to the campground the day is pretty much over. We do set up our chairs (all 4) on our site and share some wine (except Mike) and catch up. A great beginning to our time in Acadia!

8/4/2022:

This morning Mike decided he should probably take a Covid test so we all know what we are dealing with! The result is positive! Though we all can’t believe it, it makes sense because all the symptoms were pointing that way. Although he isn’t real sick, he does still have chest congestion and cold like symptoms. The chills and achy feeling is all gone. Joanne goes over to tell Deb and Tony. Mike puts a call in to Dr. Ferguson. Dr. Ferguson calls in a prescription for cough pearls and Paxlovid… for the Covid and plans for a TelMed call later in the afternoon. We head to Walgreens in Bar Harbor to pick up the meds and pick up a pkg at the post office for Mike. This all takes most of the day and when Mike and Dr Ferguson connect Mike finds out that he actually doesn’t need the Paxlovid; it is more for people that have underlying conditions (older, overweight…) so although he took one pill earlier, Dr. Ferguson said he should probably stop taking it. Mike is already beginning to feel better.

Although we are still keeping our distance, we are doing outside visits with Deb and Tony just sitting further apart.

One thing that does come out of the talk with Doc is that we should put off our crossing into Canada. We decide this is a good plan and look to see if we can get two more nights at Blackwoods Campground here in Acadia NP and skip our visit to Campobello Island. As our luck would have it we find two nights still at Blackwoods even though we will have to move both nights. Canceling Campobello did cost a few dollars but we want to be sure Mike is feeling better and Joanne doesn’t get sick!

While Joanne and Mike work on this new plan Deb and Tony do the Cadillac Mtn hike! Since you must have reservations to drive up anymore, we had all planned to do this together; but now only half the group will go! When they arrive back at the campground around 5 they are exhausted!!

8/5/2022:

Mike is feeling better and better with each day. Mike had to drive up to Brewer, Maine to pick up the front panels to our frig and this took much of the day. With Deb and Tony exhausted from the hike the day before we take a day off and plan to do the Gotham Mtn trail then latch onto the Bowl. This was a great way to end our time together at Acadia! Tomorrow Deb and Tony depart for Campobello while Joanne and Mike stick around for one more day / two more nights.

8/7:

Although we had planned to walk the Sand Beach trail along the water, Mike preferred to hang at the campground and just rest before we head into Canada and the next leg to our trip.

Current Covid restrictions in Canada include “anyone now traveling into Canada must complete the ArriveCAN form online.”  We have already done it when we crossed into Ontario but must do it each time. We completed it again yesterday so we are all set to cross the US-Canada border in the morning and fortunately Mike is feeling much better, is post symptom and adequate enough time has lapsed to continue this Revolutionary Journey in Canada….