Anne and I drove from our Vermont bike ride to Camden, Maine where I rented two cottages for a family vacation. We are vacationing in Maine because our son Kevin takes his son Sean to Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine on Lake Sebago. Camp Sunshine is a camp for kids with life threatening diseases. Sean is afflicted with Fanconi Anemia (FA) a rare (about 500 known cases worldwide) life threatening genetic disease. We are vacationing in Camden because our daughter Kara has a friend whose father owns three houses in Camden. He graciously offered to rent two of them to us for this specific week. We spent the week with Kevin and Kara's families of two kids each and daughter-in-law Lorraine's brother's family of three kids.
We stayed in the cottage on Lake Megunticook enjoying the cool night air, the quiet darkness occasionally softly interrupted by the lilting call of a loon. The three families stayed in the large modern 4 bedroom 4½ bath guesthouse on Camden Harbor. We kept busy swimming, boating and fishing at the lake and hiking and picking wild blueberries in Camden Hills State Park and Acadia National Park. We enjoyed the food of Maine especially the lobster and blueberry dishes.
August 14, 2004 Saturday Check in to Camden, Maine Cottages
Anne and I drove east on US-2 from the Lancaster Motor Inn in Lancaster, New Hampshire at 8:10. We passed through Gorham and the White Mountains into Maine. We stop at my nephew Harold Ferguson's house in Hanover but no one is home. In our haste getting ready for the Vermont bike ride and the Maine vacation we neglected to bring phone numbers and addresses so we couldn't call ahead. After passing through Rumford we turned right on ME-17 through Augusta to Camden.
We arrived at the guesthouse in Camden at 12:11 after driving 166.5 miles in 4:01 hours. The
guesthouse is on a short street with 3 houses on it and one house between it and Camden harbor and the ocean. The house is unlocked so we enter to find a large house of 4 bedrooms and 4 ½ bathrooms. It is bright and airey, set up for children with toys, two swings in the back yard and game room in the full basement.
We lock up and drive 7.1 miles to the the cottage on Lake Megunticook. The cottage is on a double lot with
one an open grass field ideal for lawn games. It is located right on the lake with a nice deck just a few feet from the water. It has two double kayaks, two inflatable single kayaks, a jon boat for fishing, multiple fishing rods, floating tubes, etc. We check out the three bedrooms and two bathrooms. We decide to stay here in the loft bedroom so we unload our luggage and bicycles.
We drive back to Camden parking at the guesthouse and walking to the town center along the harbor. We stop in the Camden
Delli for lunch of ice tea, Italian sandwich, chips, and a cup of seafood chowder for $21.13 including Anne's lunch. We sit by te open window overhanging a pond formed by an angled concrete spillway. We have a good view of the cascading water over two sides of the spillway and the yacht clogged harbor beyond including 3 two masted 85' schooners. After lunch we cross the street to the Boynton-McKay food parlor which has an old fashioned soda fountain for two ice cream cones for $7.24.
We walk back to the guesthouse and wait for the Rolfes to arrive. About 4:15 daughter Kara and Jason arrive with son Logan and infant Margaret. After inspecting the house we drive in the Rolfe's van to Graves Grocery $38.63 south of town for some essentials and then to the lake cottage. The Rolfes decide to stay in town. We drive back to town to order pizza $21.68 cash at the Camden House of Pizza and walk around some shops until it is ready.
Back at the guesthouse we eat our pizza. Today is Logan's third birthday so we sing Happy Birthday and Logan blows out the candles on a cupcake provided by grandmom. About 7:30 Bob and Brook Redpath with Mattie, Celia and infant Quinn arrive from Massachusetts. Bob is our daughter-in-law Lorraine's brother.
Anne and I head for the lake cottage early. When we turn out the lights about 10:00 it is very dark with only the faint glow of two or three lights reflected off the water from cottages across the lake. There is a soft cool breeze coming through the windows causing an occasional faint lapping sound. There is the soothing sound of the night creatures punctuated by the muted call of an owl and a loon.
August 15, 2004 Sunday Hiking Camden Hills State Park
I slept soundly without moving until 6:18. I got up and ran about half a mile out to ME-52 turning left for a quarter of a mile to ME-173. I turned right on ME-173 and headed for Lincolnville Beach. It is mostly a gradual uphill or a stepped uphill. I turn at 23 minutes by a big tree next to the road and head back to the cottage. I finish in 45:18.52 minutes. Later I measured the distance at 2.3 miles each way for a total of 4.6 miles. The cottage is located at 44o 17.127' N by 69o 6.580' W at 150' elevation. I have a glass of orange juice, milk, banana and a blueberry bagel with cream cheese for breakfast.
After cleaning up we head to town and the guesthouse. The McQueens and Rolfes in
their van with the Redpath's in their van drive to Camden Hills State Park. We pay $9 to enter and drive to the top of Mount Battie. Logan, Mattie and Celia enjoy running and climbing on the big rocks and climbing the war memorial tower. There are great views of Camden harbor almost straight down and the islands and ocean beyond. We drove half way back down the mountain to park at a trail head. The McQueens, Rolfes with Kara carrying Margaret in a backpack and Bob Redpath with Mattie and Celia in tow hiked the 1.5 mile Nature Trail mostly downhill. Brook stayed with sleeping Quinn in their van. It started a slow misty rain as we finished and Jason ran back up the road to retrieve their van and get Brook.
The Redpaths returned to the guesthouse for lunch while the McQueens and Rolfes went to the Camden Deli. I had an ice tea, Montana sandwich, chips and pickle for $26.89 with Anne's lunch. We drove to Maine Sport where Jason got a weeks fishing license and I checked on renting sea kayaks and mountain bikes as well as mountain bike trails. We drove to Lincolnville Beach to check it out and then to the guesthouse. Anne and I drove to Graves Grocery for supplies returning to the house where I had an IPA with tortillas and salsa. I cooked meat sauce spaghetti with bread, salad and wine for everyone for dinner.
August 16, 2004 Monday Day at Lake Megunticook
Got up at 6:10 and went for my 4.6 mile run completing it in 43:09.07 minutes cutting over 2 minutes off yesterday's time. It is foggy with the barometer at 30.05" and 63o. I have orange juice, milk, banana and blueberry bagel with cream cheese for breakfast.
We drive into town. The decision is to spend the day at the lake. We drive to Graves Grocery $85.89 for supplies and then to the lake cottage. Jason and Bob gets some fishing rods out, the two double kayaks and the fishing jon boat in the water with floating tubes for the kids. Jason tries the motor on the jon boat but can't keep it running long enough and gives up. Everyone is kayaking, swimming and Jason some fishing. I take Logan on a paddle in the red and white double kayak with a rudder down
the lake where we see a loon in the water. He has his own short wooden paddle which he uses to help grandpa paddle. We have sandwiches, snacks, melons and berries for lunch.
I paddle the yellow double kayak down the lake through the narrows dow the narrow passage through the tube tunnel under the road to another large section of Lake Megunticook. I cross this section and go down a long slim passage to a third area of the lake and across it to another narrow passage. I decide to turn around and retrace my path as it is getting late.
Kevin called and said they would be arriving around 4:00. We all returned to the guesthouse to wait for their arrival. About 4:30 Kevin and Lorraine McQueen walked in with Kelsey 8 and Sean 5 ½ . We ordered 8 pound and a half lobsters from the Lobster Pound in Lincolnville Beach at 7:15. I drove Kevin to get 12.3 gallons of gas for $24.00 and then to the lake cottage. Kevin is disturbed by the death of a 14 year old girl he knew with FA this past year. He is concerned about the implications for Sean. We drove on to the Lobster Pound for our lobster which we enjoyed immensely with a salad and squash.
August 17, 2004 Tuesday Lobster Boat
Got up at 6:25 and ran 4.6 miles in 43:32.07 minutes. It is foggy but not as thick as yesterday. Ate my usual breakfast of orange juice, milk, banana and blueberry bagel with cream cheese.
Drove to the guesthouse and walked to the pier. We have 10:30 reservations on the Misty Lady lobster boat. I paid $20 cash for Anne and I and we left on time with the Redpaths, Rolfes and McQueens. The crew pulled about four lobster pots netting one large lobster and a smaller one. The captain is a marine biologist and gave us a running commentary on lobsters and other creatures of nature that we saw. There is a TV screen on which he showed nature film clips and things we saw shown by a crewman with a handheld camera. Besides the lobster he pulled up starfish and rockcrabs. The kids got to handle the lobster and starfish. We powered out to the mouth of the harbor near an island and a protruding rock formation. We saw many seals, eagles, comorants and gulls. When an eagle flew from the island to the rocks the gulls and comorants gave him plenty of room keeping a nervous eye on him. Logan steered the boat coming in sawing it back and forth giving us a an exciting ride.
Upon docking, Anne and I decided to have lunch on the pier from a vendor. We shared a lobster roll $7.95 and a shrimp roll $5.95 plus a coke and lemonade all for $15.75. The lobster roll must have had a pound of lobster in it.
Returned to the guesthouse and the weather is beautiful if not a little hot. Kevin, Sean and I drove to Camden Hills State Park and drove to the top of Mount Battie. Sean loved the rocks and tower. The views are even more spectacular than the other day. We drove down the mountain and hike the 1.5 mile nature trail. This time, I had to hike back up the mountain along the steep road to retrieve my car. It is very warm so we drove to the Lobster Pound on Lincolnville Beach for a large soft ice cream $4.28 which we ate on the beach.
We all went to the lake cottage for a cookout, games, boating and swimming. We had cheeseburgers, cob corn, baked beans, seasoned French fries and salad. Kelsey recently celebrated her 8th birthday without uncles, aunts and grandparents. Logan just celebrated his third birthday without a big cake so we had a joint birthday cake celebration with a few gifts for each. After dinner Jason built a fire in the fireplace and everyone had smoors roasted on sticks that Kevin cut. Later Anne, Jason and I had warm blueberry pie with ice cream that was unbelievably good.
August 18, 2004 Wednesday Beach Day
Got up at 6:05 and fueled by last night's blueberry pie with ice cream ran my 4.6 miles in low 41:56.00 minutes. The barometric pressure was down to 29.80" so that may have helped too. No more bagels so I had orange juice, milk, banana and toast.
The Redpaths, McQueens and Rolfes went to Lincolnville Beach. Anne and I wandering through the art galleries and craft stores. It is heavy fog and cool. We decide to go to Barret's Beach at the end of Lake Megunticook which was sunny and warm when we drove by this morning. This is just right for the kids as there is a sandy
beach, warm water, and a small stream nearby. We have a picnic lunch of leftovers
from a day or two ago. There are chips and a ham, turkey, tomato, lettuce and cheese wrap.
The Redpath's have to leave for home in Massachusetts as their kids are ready for a nap. The rest of us return to the cottage. Kevin and Lorraine in one kayak with Sean and I in another paddle down the lake through a narrow passage under a small bridge and out into another large section of the lake. We land on a small island where Sean and I explore the island as we consume the snacks and refreshments that Lorraine brought along. We dubbed the island Sean's island.
We return to the cottage where I enjoy one of my Harpoon Scottish Ales before supper. Tonight is Mexican night prepared by Lorraine featuring beef tacos and chicken fajitas.
After everyone left Anne and I had another round of blueberry pie with ice cream.
August 19, 2004 Thursday Hiking in Acadia National Park
Got up at 6:23 and ran 4.6 miles in 42:31.40 minutes. It sprinkled a little and there is fog. Drank some orange juice and ate a banana. Drove to the guesthouse arriving about 8:20.
About 9:00 Kevin, Lorraine, Sean and I drove in their Volvo station wagon to Acadia National Park. Kara, Jason, Logan, Margaret, Kelsey and Anne followed in the Rolfe's Mazda van. The drive to Bar Harbor took almost two hours with fog up most of the coast. We stopped at a sub shop in Bar Harbor and bought subs for lunch.
We drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain. Visibility was almost zero, it was windy and cold. We drove back down and entered the park using my Golden Age Pass. We headed for Sand Beach where we parked. We had a picnic lunch on the beach and climbed on the rocks next to the beach. Walking from the parking lot we crossed the road and headed up Beehive Trail. The Beehive is
spectacular and looks like a giant beehive. As we climbed the trail got steeper, precipitous and treacherous. Kara was carrying Margaret in a stomach pack and Jason carried Logan. We had to turn back. AS we looped around the back of Beehive which is not as dangerous, Kara wore out so I took Margaret in the stomach pack. We reached the summit but it was quite windy. I had to keep Margaret's face out of the wind. We picked wild blueberries consuming handfulls. We retraced our steps back down and turned onto the Bowl Trail. The Bowl turned out to be a lake surrounded by hills. We returned to the cars to hike up to Thunder Hole. It was low tide and the hole is best at an incoming mid tide so it was not very exciting. We drove around the Park Loop Road and headed back down US-1 to Camden. We stopped at an LL Bean store where I bought some trail and topo maps of Acadia N. P.
We were late getting back to Camden so we decided to get take out food. We tried a couple of places until we were directed to McMahon's where we got some shrimp scampi, ravioli, clams and vegetable pasta dinners to go.
August 20, 2004 Friday Another Lake Cottage Day
Slept in until 6:35. Ran 4.6 miles in 43:10.88 minutes. Kara called and said we were spending a relaxing day at the lake, something easy on the kids. We decided to go to breakfast at the little country store called 52 Crossroads at the junction of ME-52 and ME-123 less than a mile from the cottage. I had eggs, sausage, great homefries with onion and green pepper, toast and milk while Anne had a breakfast sandwich and coffee for $9.10.
We returned to the cottage and took the red and white double kayak with a rudder out. We paddled to the upper end of the lake spotting a lot of sea grass and large patches of white and golden water lillies. We saw a loon and a duck. We paddled along the far shore checking out all the cottages to the lower end. We went through the narrows into the long thin passage and through the narrow tunnel under the bridge. We passed Sean's Island to a nice house on the right that I wanted to show Anne. When we returned everyone was waiting by the dock.
They had brought subs for lunch which we ate on the deck by the water. Everyone spent the afternoon swimming, boating and fishing. Jason was fishing with Logan off the dock and caught a sun fish and a trout. Sean was trying to fish too so I went down to help. Sean caught 5 sun fish and trout. He was quite proud and got a picture of the largest about a 6" trout.
We ordered seven 1 ½ pound soft shelled lobster from the Lobster Pound for 7:15 pick up. Kara and I went to pick them up which was an event in itself. They cost $72.70 including a tip for Shamis a young man working the hot lobster vats. Back at the cottage we feasted on lobster, cob corn, potatoes, salad and another blueberry pie with ice cream.
August 21, 2004 Saturday Drive from Camden, Maine to Columbia
Slept well not waking until 5:55. Got up and ran 4.6 miles in my best time of the week 40:55.37 minutes powered by lots of lobster and blueberry pie. I drink most of the remaining orange juice and Anne and I eat about a pint of the remaining ice cream. A quick shower and we're out the door at 7:33.