Post by Ella. Our rustic cottage (or maybe it’s a cabin, dunno, what’s the difference? Marc, does the Cape have any wisdom on that?) comes with a view. Just after sunrise this morning, all was bathed in a purple, red, yellow glow.
Author: Ella
Covered bridge on the byway
Post by Ella. In the 1800s, bridges were often built with roof structures to prevent the trusses from being pelted with snow and ice which would eventually cause irreparable damage. When we saw the sign “Covered Bridge 3 miles” with an arrow pointing to the right while en route to Randolph yesterday, we took a…
Exit Maine, enter New Hampshire: today’s route
Post by Ella. From Greenville, Maine to Randolph, New Hampshire. We stopped outside of Skowhegan, Maine for a nice hike, in Skowhegan for coffee, A little detour to see one of the remaining covered bridges (not in use) in Maine, and then on to our rustic cottage in Randolph, New Hampshire, right in the White…
Another small town because that’s all there is in Maine
Post by Ella. Greenville, another small Maine town, population 1500, but nudging the largest lake in Maine, Moosehead Lake, it attracts water-loving visitors from afar. For the non-claustrophobics, you can take a scenic tour by sea-plane or if you need more open space, by boat, the heritage-designated Katahdin, which offers one cruise a day, rain…
Another tequila sunrise
Post by Ella. Although no tequila was involved, I awoke this morning to a goldenrod glow seeping through the blinds. I rolled gracefully out of bed and stepped onto our balcony to soak in the early morning caw-croaking of ravens while goldenrod and purple turned to orange. We are in Greenville (we arrived yesterday late…
In the ‘shroom universe
Post by Ella. With colorful names like mouse-ear and flying saucer, these mostly deadly (when consumed by humans) fungi populate the damp forests of Devil’s Head and Moosehorn. Seen on Tuesday during our hikes. Mushrooms, while they might kill us, are a key ingredient in most ecosystems. They send mycelial threads down to help nourish…
So long to Downeast: today’s route
Post by Ella. We see the term “Downeast” a lot here. I have found a couple of different explanations about why this area got the name. Here is one from Down East magazine: “When ships sailed from Boston to ports in Maine (which were to the east of Boston), the wind was at their backs,…
Up at sunrise
Post by Ella. I woke this morning to see a little tinge of orange peeking through the opening in the draperies. Yikes, I could capture sunrise for the first time on this trip. I leapt out of bed (yeah, 73 year olds shouldn’t leap), grabbed my phone and yanked open the sliding door to the…
Reversing Falls
Post by Ella. Between Dennys Bay and Cobscook (the Maliseet-Passamaquoddy word for “boiling tides”j Bay there is Reversing Falls Park. Intriguing. The Old County road off Route 1 led to a charming one lane road where we had to stop for a gaggle of geese and a photo of a seafaring church. Then google maps…
Easternmost: our route today
Post by Ella. We left Northeast Harbor and headed to Robbinston, Maine with a stop for groceries and gas in Machias, a picnic lunch in Cobscott Bay, an other dimensional experience at Reversing Falls, and a bit of emptiness in Eastport.
Lovely inns
Post by Ella. In Boothbay Harbor our accommodation was at Howard House Lodge, conveniently located right off Route 27 on the outskirts of Boothbay. The Lodge is small, about 25 rooms. The room was spacious with a balcony overlooking a wooded area. And super quiet. On our first night, we were the only guests. The…
Cadillac Mountain views
Post by Ella. Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac, a German man of dubious character, was granted a tract of land in Maine in 1688. The land now contains Bar Harbor and Cadillac Mountain (originally called Green Mountain but later renamed after Antoine in 1918). There are spectacular views from the summit of Cadillac Mountain. With…
Bah humbug, Bah Hahba
Post by Ella. What is the magic that attracts people to Bar Harbor? You got me. I’m sure the mansions, tucked away somewhere are, well, big. But seriously? Two main streets packed with Knick-knack shoppers, perilous street crossing because drivers are frustrated at having to stop every two feet for pedestrians, parking takes 20 minutes…
A little context
Post by Ella. Yesterday’s (Saturday) agenda.
Nor’easter lobster pound
Post by Ella. I had no idea what a lobster pound was but you see signs all over the place. It’s akin to an animal pound but for lobsters. It’s where lobsters go to die. You can buy live lobsters, or not so live lobsters. When the host of our accommodation in Northeast Harbor (the…