Lucy Has Escaped!

[moosetags]

The day Started early. I had Fred at the service department of the Chevrolet dealer in Ellsworth at 7:00 AM. They took Fred right in the shop. He received five new glow plugs, and they were finished with him by 8:30. They gave him a bath before putting him out in the lot. We were back at Lucy by 9:00 AM. SuEllyn had remained at Lucy and started the camp breaking process.

We got Lucy packed up and cleared her campsite by 10:30. The rains had begun. It was a light rain at first, but as we headed north, the rains intensified until it became a steady downpour. We made our way through Bangor and on to Lincoln, Maine, where we stopped at Wal-Mart to pick up a prescription.

We continued up to Medway where we got Lucy a nice full hook-up campsite. We made camp in the rain. Lucy was soon joined two campsites over by another Airstream from New York of the same size and model as Lucy.

We took a short ride over to Millinocket to go to a restaurant there. When we arrived, we found that the restaurant had, unfortunately, gone out of business. We returned to Medway and had a nice dinner in the cafe at the Citgo Station. We returned to Lucy and settled in for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- Patti Cakes in Ellworth.
- Downtown Bangor.
- Downtown Mattawamkeag, Maine.
- A roadside lake in the rain.
- Arriving in Millinocket, Maine.
- Unusual camper at Lucy's campground.


Brian

[Rocinante]

"Which way to Millinocket?"

<long pause>

"You can't get theah from heah."

[Tn Traveler]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

"Which way to Millinocket?"

<long pause>

"You can't get theah from heah."

When in Maine I stopped in Boothbay to ask a question about directions. This was before GPS. The old gentleman said, "not heah", I asked, "do you know where it is". He said, "Boothbay Habba". I said" is this not where we are". He said "no, you are in Boothbay".

I pulled in the the prison craft shop on US 1 I think at Wescasset. A gentleman said, "Ya can't pak ya ca tha". Mainers are a whold nother breed.

"

[moosetags]

They sure do talk differently here in Maine. Of course, that's what they think about us. Mainers find SuEllyn especially entertaining with her Alabama accent.

Brian

[OTRA15]

.
.
.
.[ . . . slight nod of head in direction of speaker . . . ]
.
.
Maine residents can be a bit taciturn . . .

[Rocinante]

I pulled the "can't get theah from heah" remark from the stories of "Bert and I" They are marvelous. My grandfather was from Maine, and we got to hear all these stories many times. They never stopped being funny.

http://www.bertandi.com/

[Gene]

Wasn't Rocinante Don Quijote's horse?

When we were in Augusta about 15 years ago, we wanted to take US 1 to the border and not take the Maine Turnpike. Signs were confusing and seemed to be arranged to direct you to the Turnpike and pay tolls. We got stuck on the Turnpike, went one exit and then found US 1. It was better than the W. Va. Turnpike which was so bumpy it must have been last paved when it was built. Watch out for turnpikes!

That unusual camper reminds me of a Brinks truck.

Gene

[moosetags]

Lucy laid in at Medway today, while we headed out and toured Baxter State Park. This park is 315 square miles in area and is located approximately in the geographic center of the State of Maine. Mount Katahdin (5267') is located in Baxter State Park, and is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Because of the low clearance and narrow dirt roads through the park, vehicle size is restricted. Fred and Ethel exceeded the maximum height by several inches, but it was close enough that they let us in. This park is very undeveloped and the landscape is very much the way it was one hundred years ago.

We went through the entire Park from south to north, a distance of 45 miles. It was mostly cloudy, but the rain stayed away. There was plenty of beautiful scenery, but the driving was pretty labor intensive. We had hoped to spot a Moose in the Park, but didn't have any luck. Upon exiting the north end of the Park we stopped a lakeside picnic area where we met a young man who is a Maine Hunting and Fishing Guide. He told us about a nearby back road where he often would see a Moose.

We went and found this dirt road and gave it a try. Sure enough, about 3 miles up this road we spotted a young cow Moose sauntering along the road. We were able to get close enough to see her well and get a few decent pictures before she disappeared into the forest.

By the time that we got back to Lucy, it was already dark. We had supper in Lucy and settled in for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- Fred and the Girls relaxing at the campsite.
- A seasonal neighbor at the campground. This guy is fully equipped. Note the kegerator on the front porch.
- Main Street, Millinocket, Maine.
- Mural on boulder at the south entrance to Baxter State Park.
- Roadway in the Park.
- Fred and Ethel off in the distance in the Park.
- Ledge Falls in the Park.
- Young Cow Moose making her way along the road.
- She stops momentarily to pose for a pictures.
- She rabbits into the Forest.


Brian

[OTRA15]

Thanks that is a beautiful area of Maine! Went on a two-week canoe trip there as a teenager way back in the country. Similar to Baxter, the Rangeley Lakes are gorgeous.

I have never forgotten the sounds of nature interrupted only once in a while by a lone outboard motor in the distance. No car or truck sounds, and no airplanes as I recall, because we would have noticed them!

Thanks for the continuing photos and comments. Have a good weekend.

Peter

[moosetags]

Lucy is still camped in Medway. We decided to lay over here another day and take a run out the Golden Road. The Golden Road is a dirt highway 97 miles long that was built by the great Northern Paper Company in the late 1960's to service its paper mill in Millinocket, Maine. Great Northern has always allowed public access to the road. The Golden road passes through much Moose habitat. We covered about 30 miles of the road today. We did have one Moose sighting. It was a Bull across a lake at a great distance (about 300 yards). We got what pictures we could.

Our trip along the Golden road was slow going as the road has fallen into disrepair with the demise of the logging industry in this area. The weather was closing in all day with on and off rain. The forecast in central Maine is for rain all night and into tomorrow.

We settled into Lucy early, and have started preparations for departure tomorrow.

Tonight's pictures include:

- We stopped at this little place for lunch in East Millinocket. Nice play on words.
- Railroad crossing on the Golden road. Not often do you see a railroad cross on a dirt road.
- Bull Moose at a great distance.
- Side road to small lake.
- Mount Katahdin in the distance.
- Remote campground with canoe launch.
- Storm clouds gathering over the mountains.
- Pot hole warning on the Golden Road.
- Old Airstream in a yard in Millinocket.
- Saturday night tractor ride at the campground

Brian

[Gene]

Baxter State Park is managed by a private group and they can be pretty picky about some things. Mt. Kathadin is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and the managers forbid celebrations and alcohol on top of the mountain. They fear people will trash it. A year or two ago someone set a record on traveling the trail and his supporters met him on top of the mountain. The guy who set a record was charged with a crime because someone opened a bottle of champagne. He paid the fine. Some claim the managers of the Park are pretty extreme and others say they are protecting the area. The Trail terminus may be moved. We have a friend who hiked the Trail a couple of years ago in her early 60's. I think she suffered from an injured leg for a while after, but she did it.

Much of northern Maine is empty and there are only a few logging roads. We've never made it that far north in Maine, so I'm appreciating the trip there. Beautiful photos.

Look up the New Portland wire bridge: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Portland_Wire_Bridge

It was built in the 1800's to bring commerce to this village in the middle of the state. It didn't seem to work, but the bridge is an amazing woven wire accomplishment. I found it in the late 1960's. The town looked like it was still in the 1930's. I bought gas at a station that looked like nothing had changed for decades. They still had 1930's ads on the wall and a jukebox that played 78's. The old lady that rain the station said they didn't bring new records for the jukebox anymore since no one made 78's anymore. Weight limit on the bridge is 3 tons according to Wikipedia. Many pickups are too heavy.

Gene

[moosetags]

Lucy broke camp this morning in Medway. It was raining the whole time, so the packing up process was a bit slow. We made it out of there by 10:30 which was real good considering the conditions.

We proceeded south to Bangor on I-95. we then got on US 2 westbound and continued through the Maine countryside. The rain stayed with us all day and made it slow going. We covered 220 miles and have crossed into New Hampshire.

We found a campground along US 2 in Shelburne, New Hampshire, and decided to call it an early night. We got Lucy settled into a campsite, and are hunkered in for the night. It has been six days since we have seen the sun. We hope to get some clearing weather tomorrow.

Tonight's pictures include:

- Maine farm along US 2.
- US 2 sign.
- Rolling hills on US 2.
- Downtown Skowhegan, Maine.
- The1909 Deposit Trust Bank in Skowhegan.
- Lucy taking a break on Maine street in Norridgewock, Maine.
- The 1866 Somerset Grange Building in Norridgewock.
- Rain clouds in the mountains.
- Old Spartan Travel Trailer in Bethel, Maine.
- Fred and the Girls at their campsite in Shelburne, New Hampshire.


Brian

[OTRA15]

Thanks! You went just south of the Rangeley Lakes region I mentioned, and the photos give a good sense of just how quiet things are out west in rural Maine.

Good to see, in the last photo, your surge suppressor and your in-line water pressure regulator and filter. What brand is that blue filter, and how often do you replace the canister (or whole filter body?)? It is smaller and more streamlined than our modified residential canister.

How are those air conditioning ceiling registers doing?

Thanks again for the updates and photos. Happy Trails -- And hopefully a sunny day today!

Peter

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

You went just south of the Rangeley Lakes region

We spent some time in that area a few years ago- it's a gem.

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Thanks! You went just south of the Rangeley Lakes region I mentioned, and the photos give a good sense of just how quiet things are out west in rural Maine.

Good to see, in the last photo, your surge suppressor and your in-line water pressure regulator and filter. What brand is that blue filter, and how often do you replace the canister (or whole filter body?)? It is smaller and more streamlined than our modified residential canister.

How are those air conditioning ceiling registers doing?

Thanks again for the updates and photos. Happy Trails -- And hopefully a sunny day today!

Peter

Hi Peter,

The sun is out this morning. This is the first time that we have seen a glimmer of sunlight since the evening of the fourth of July. What a relief!

As to the blue in-line water filter that we use, it is a Camco brand outside water filter. There is no separate cannister. The whole thing is the filter. We buy these at Wal-Mart or Camping World. As I recall, they are about $17 each with the 6" connector hose. They are also available in a two pack without the little hose for for about $25. We buy the two packs and reuse the same little connector hose. We use them until they start to restrict water flow which is usually about six months. We have been using this same type filter for ten years. As a matter of fact, we have never used any other type. I know that some folks are more particular about their water filters, but these have always worked for us.

We have been on the road for over a month now and have not had a single roof vent fall. It looks like our fix with all the two-sided tape is working. We have and appointment for Lucy at Jackson Center on August 4th. We have the vents on the list to be looked at. We'll see if Airstream has come up with a better fox for this issue.

Brian

[moosetags]

Lucy got going early this morning from Shelbourne, New Hampshire, and headed west on US 2. The sun was shining for the first time in almost a week. We stopped in Gorham at the Post Office to get some Moose Tags out. We continued west on US 2 through the New Hampshire countryside and into Vermont. We experienced some of the most beautiful road scenery that we have ever seen. There is one small village after another along the route, and each one is wrought with interesting historic architecture.

We made it over to Burlington, Vermont late this afternoon. We got Lucy a nice campsite here and got her settled in. We took a ride over to the close by Costco where we had a nice dinner and shopped for a while. We're now back at Lucy and in for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- The old Central School Building in Gorham, New Hampshire.
- The only Moose that we saw today.
- US 2 mountain view.
- Downtown Lancaster, New Hampshire.
- The 1930 Rialto Theatre in Lancaster.
- Oncoming traffic on US 2 in Vermont.
- Vermont mountain view with several ranges visible.
- Vermont State Capitol in Montpelier.
- !931 Ford Station Wagon in Waterbury, Vermont.


Brian

[Jarrod White]

Brian
I was in Burlington a couple of years ago for business and enjoyed visiting the Magic Hat Brewery and the Shelburne Museum just south of town. The Shelburne complex is made up of about 15 buildings and features collections of just about everything imaginable - and some things that make you wonder why someone decided to collect it.
Jarrod

[moosetags]

Originally Posted by Jarrod White

Brian
I was in Burlington a couple of years ago for business and enjoyed visiting the Magic Hat Brewery and the Shelburne Museum just south of town. The Shelburne complex is made up of about 15 buildings and features collections of just about everything imaginable - and some things that make you wonder why someone decided to collect it.
Jarrod

Thank you for the tip, Jarrod.

Brian

[moosetags]

Brian
Lucy is still camped in Burlington. We spent the day touring Grand Isle County, Vermont. Grand Isle County is made up of several Islands in the middle of Lake Champlain which separates Vermont from New York. The islands are in the State of Vermont. These islands have beautiful views of Lake Champlain. There is some tourism, but the Islands are mainly agricultural. We spent most of the day exploring the islands. We followed US 2 all the way up to the Canadian Border.

We looked around Rouses Point, New York before heading back to Burlington. We traveled back south on US 7 along the east bank of Lake Champlain, going through Swanton and St. Albans, Vermont.

We got back to Lucy late this afternoon and got settled in for the night.

Tonight's pictures include:

- Scene of Lake Champlain.
- Old Airstream along the Lake.
- Very disinterested Goat along a back road.
- The 1840 Grand Isle County Courthouse which is still in use today.
- Scene on the Lake.
- Isle LaMotte Historic sign. This in the site of the 1666 French fort Saint Anne.
- The Saint Anne Shrine on the site of the French Fort.
- The 1843 Isle LaMotte United Methodist Church.
- The 1889 Rouses Point, New York Railroad Station which is still in use as the Amtrak Station today.
- Main Street, St. Albans, Vermont.

Brian

[OTRA15]

Good to learn about that area thanks! Glad you are getting some good weather.

Not sure if you heading west on the way to JC, but Letchworth State Park, called the Grand Canyon of the East by some, is amazing. It is a little east of Buffalo NY.

http://nysparks.com/parks/79/details.aspx
http://www.letchworthpark.com/

On the way west, the Erie Canal is also amazing, with many old downtown areas, not on the NYS Thruway, right along the canal.

Happy Trails!

Peter