Freeport Days 6 & 7

Sorry its taken so long for us to post this final vacation blog. You know how it is. You get back home and its back to reality. Our final days at Winslow Memorial Park in Freeport were wonderful. Thanks again to Tom G. for suggesting this great campground. It's located right on the Casco Bay and it is just beautiful. Again we had a site on the water and it was really nice.

There's not too much to report on activities for these last two days. We basically spent our time just relaxing, chillin, enjoying Mother Nature at her finest. Of course we did find time for some ladder golf, some sequence, some soduko and some reading. We did take a trek into Freeport but as neither Deb or I are real big shoppers we didn't spend much time there. Even LL Bean didn't really impress us! Its gotten just way too big!

It was great fun blogging! Thanks to everyone for sharing our vacation with us.
Deb & John

Bar Harbor day 5

Well today was our last day full day in Bar Harbor before we head to Freeport tomorrow. First on the agenda was a canoe trip on long lake (pond whatever), we rented the canoe for 4 hrs figuring that would be plenty of time, Deb made some bologna sandwiches and we headed off. We encountered quite a head wind as we made our way to a section of Arcadia where we would go ashore to have our lunch, little did we know we were on the menu, mosquito's.... hundreds....thousands....ok more than a few. We gobbled our sandwich and headed back out to some calmer waters it was nice but we forgot how much work it was, we returned the canoe after 2 and half hours and were whooped.

On the way back to the campground we stopped at the Atlantic brewing company for a beer tasting a real highlight for me, we tasted seven beers and two sodas, (very small samples) Even brought some home to share.

After going to the grocery store to restock and and refuel the truck I took Deb to the pool, unfortunately with the canoeing and the pool she got sun burnt so she is not feeling very well right now, we are listening to the Sox play and she is cuddled up under two blankets on the couch.
We have had an awesome time, this will be the last blog until we get home on Friday because I don't think there is WIFI in Freeport where were heading tomorrow.

I hope everyone who has read our blog has enjoyed it, I know we have enjoyed sharing it with you!

Don't forget you can see all of our photos from this trip on our webshots album, just click the link on the right labeled our photo album.

John & Deb

Bar Harbor Day 4

I decided to give John a night off so it's Deb posting the blog tonight. Day 4 and I am pooped! What a day we had today...




We started the morning with a rise and shine wake up at 3:30 am. Yup, 3:30! You know John, he didn't want to take any chance that we miss the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain so he had us up extra early. We packed some juice and a yogurt and headed out. We arrived at the summit sometime just after 4:00 and we were actually the third car there. By the time the sun rose we had been joined by atleast another dozen cars...It was really windy on the mountain (about 40-50mph winds) so we watched from the comforts of the big Silverado HD. It was beautiful...came up right on time, 4:48 am. It was amazing how once it came over the horizon it rose up quite quickly. I loved it. I had never seen the sunrise and I must say it was well worth the early morning.



We returned to the campground for a little nap and then we were off to a daylong excursion. We explored the western side of Mt. Desert Island. It is really beautiful! Unspoiled nature at its finest. We came across a few deer but I've yet to see my Maine Moose! Do they really exist?? Maybe tomorrow! We hiked a couple of short trails and were really enjoying ourselves...then my miserable allergies kicked in. Some claritin and benadryl later and they are still kicking my butt!! I'm hoping the benadryl starts to work any minute now.


We finished our outing today with a lovely dinner in downtown Bar Harbor. Of course how could I pass us Lobster again? So I didn't. But actually, two lobster dinners in less than 4 days and I'm kinda lobstered out! Hoping for some fresh steamers tomorrow. John had the prime rib and for dessert we shared a wonderful blueberry-apple crisp. It was nice!

We're back at the campground now and John is chilling out listening to the Red Sox. So far not so good, Shilling's letting the Braves get ahead of us! Its gonna be a relaxing evening and then up early tomorrow for some more great adventures. Hope everyone is well! Talk to you all tomorrow night! Deb

Bar Harbor day 3

Wow day three already. Today was awesome it its own right! One of the most laid back days I've had in a long, long time. We started the morning with a very nice pancake breakfast provided by the campground. Free for Dads and only $3.00 for everyone else. The price was right!

We putz around the campsite for while and then decided to head to the campground pool. It is actually located about a mile down the street at the sister KOA here in Bar Harbor. I know what you're thinking...swimming, in June, in Maine...are you nuts?? Well, actually the pool is heated and was very clean. To make it even better, yes, Deb and I were the only nuts in it! I managed to dunk my body for approximately 2.5 minutes and then I was out to delve into some important reading. (the most current issue of Trailer Life Magazine) Deb managed to stay in the pool for around a half an hour. She loves the water. Of course this was the opportune time for her to remind me that she really, really misses our pool and that our next home will have to have one.

We came back to the campground in time to listen to the Red Sox game. Go SOX! It was nice that they won...a sweep of the GIANTS...how sweet it is. About this time a pretty cool thunderstorm came rolling in...sounded like a good excuse to take a little snoodle with my honey. So that's exactly what we did. Dinner was hot dogs and chili and some nice red wine. Now we're out by the fire listening to another storm that is coming up the coast. So far thunder and lightning but no more rain...

Tomorrow am we're off to the summit of Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunrise...4:48 am. Deb is really anxious to see this. If all goes as planned we will also watch the sunset from there tomorrow as well.

We are having a wonderful time. We miss everyone but must admit it is good to "get away from the world" for a while. Diane, we love you so much...and are so proud of you! Do what you need to do to get things done but please don't stress out too much. Everything will be fine!

Bar Harbor day 2

Day 2 brought a new day, we woke up early and decided it was best to buy a new tire, I stopped at the campground office and asked where I could purchase a tire....... the little old lady was quick to respond " at a tire store"...well here's my sign....lol.. we dropped the tire off and went and had a nice breakfast, when we were done with breakfast we picked up the tire and headed back to the campground, dropped off our tire and picked up our bikes and headed off for a day of sightseeing.

We drove into Bar Harbor to check things out, a quaint little place but what we rally wanted to do was bike ride so off we went to Arcadia to ride some of the carriage roads, we found a nice trail around Eagle lake about a 5.8 mile ride, little did I know I took us in the wrong direction ooops my bad but figuired out after only one mile, turn around go back ok so it turned into a 7.8 mile bike ride, our butts are sore tonight!
After our Bike ride we drove to the top of Cadillac mountain a very nice ride and spectacular views, it was a nice clear day. after that it was decided that we would have an early dinner down at the harbor, Deb had a lobsta and I had pork chops and scallops yummy!
Stopped at the grocery store on the way back to the campground where I got to listen to the end of the Red Sox game (thank you XM radio) and Deb is taking a well deserved nap!
The agenda for tonight is to play sequence and sudoku.

Oh did you know if you click the pictures you can see them full size? you can also see all of our photos on our webshots album, just click on our photo album to the right.
Having a great time!

Bar Harbor Day 1

With work life finally settled, we've made our way on our first major camping adventure of the year. The picture above is a view of the Western Bay in Bar Harbor, ME right from our campsite. When I made the reservations in February I hoped for a beautiful spot and suffice to say I have not been disappointed. Although we've not had a chance to venture out beyond the campground yet, what we've seen is spectacular. We arrived a little later than planned due to some unexpected "bumps" in our trip here.


Yesterday, we were traveling North on Interstate 95 through the beautiful state of Maine, and everything seemed to be going smoothly. Deb and I were enjoying a leisurely drive filled with anticipation for the week ahead of us. Somewhere outside of Lewiston we heard a semi let loose it's mighty "honk" to us. I thought that maybe the driver thought we had drifted toward his lane so we just moved over slightly and continued on our way. Not long after that the semi eased on passed us but not without flipping us the bird first. Deb asked me why he would of done that and I explained to her that sometimes these big rig drivers have a little hard on for the little guy towing a camper so we let it go at that. Perhaps another 5 miles or so down the road...and there was really very little traffic on it...we passed by a motorcyclist. Deb commented that he was waving his hand in the air. Wasn't that nice of him? Letting us know that we could move back over to the right lane. At least that's what we thought. A few minutes later, I noticed a pickup truck coming up behind me. He had some emergency flashing headlights built in the truck and he was using them. My first thought was, "what the hell, why would am I being pulled over?" "Undercover cop?" If only the case. I eased the trailer over to the very small shoulder of 95 and of course Deb is giving me the 3rd degree about why am I doing this?


It turns out it was a good samaritan wanting to let me know that I was pelting the motorcyclist and anyone else in our way with rubber. Yes, one of the tires on the 5th wheel had blown and me and the Blackknight (Silverdo HD, what a fine tow vehicle) didn't even know it. I went to check on the tire and all that remained was a little white rim with some shredded up sidewall.

Needless to say, a fine, "can't get there from here" tow truck driver that AAA dispatched to us, helped us change the tire and put us back on our way. Not without the need of Deb's advice, of course. The tow truck driver was having quite the trouble lifting the camper, which of course was still attached to the truck. He was using an undersized manual jack which was sinking into the hot pavement. Then there's Deb, wanting to tell the macho men how to do it and naturally we wouldn't listen for the moment that is, I'm helping this typical "Maineiac" and we're not getting too far. Finally we listened to Deb's suggestion. Using the rear stabilizer jack on the trailer and inserting one of my fine aluminum diamond pad plates under the jack we were able to get the camper lifted enough to change the tire. And Deb is once again the proud peacock! Of course, we lost almost 2 hours in the process.

Now you would think it should be smooth sailing from there, right? I mean, what else could go wrong? As we entered Ellsworth, just outside of Bar Harbor, Deb gave me the little test. Jokingly she asked me if I brought my insulin. I looked at her with a blank stare. You guessed it, my insulin is in the refrigerator at home. After many phone calls to Caremark and our pharmacy back home and two stops at pharmacy's here in Maine we were finally able to fill my prescription at the "local" Rite-Aid.


Once we were settled into our site at the campground, we dined on fabulous grilled cheese and soup and of course a Sam Adams. All while enjoying the spectacular sunset!! The adventure continues...