Saturday evenings lobster fest was fabulous...for the adults. Nana sprung for 4 large lobsters for the 5 of us, figuring that the kids would split one. Well, DS managed to eat a whole claw's worth of meat; DD ate about 3 bites. She really didn't care for it. So, after we finished our own large lobsters, we split the 4th three ways! Oh, darn!
After dinner we went out on the beach to look for shells, crabs, starfish.... DH took the kids (one at a time) for bike rides. While DH and DD were out on their ride, DS found the first starfish of the evening. He was standing by the waterline throwing rocks into the water (hey - whatever makes him happy) and he found one on the underside of the rock he was ready to throw. I was very proud of him!!! When DD and DH returned, we spent quite some time finding small starfish and even smaller crabs. Then it was back up to the campsite for a campfire.
DS took a spill on the walk back up the rocks and cut his hand. Both kids were VERY tired, so they only sat at the fire for about 20 minutes. Then we tucked them into bed and they were asleep within minutes! The grown-ups sat around the fire drinking Mojitos (again). We lasted until about 10pm and then we were all ready to go to bed. It had been a VERY big day!!!
Monday, June 09, 2008
Saturday, June 07, 2008
Acadia National Park
We arrived at the Visitor's Center around 11am. Having packed snacks (and diapers, just in case!) this time, we were prepared to be out and about for a while. We climbed the 52 (or 53 if you counted the first "half" step) steps from the parking lot to the Visitor's Center and got our Park Pass. We also got Passport stamps and information for Earthcaching, which sounds like fun! Then we headed out down the Park Loop Road.
This time we took the one-way only route and drove around the entire island. We stopped at a few scenic outlooks (a quick stop to see Egg Rock Lighthouse - very briefly!). It was pretty foggy, but a decent temperature. We couldn't see too terribly far.
We went to Sand Beach where DD walked in the water. It was still pretty cold. But she didn't put her shoes and socks on again - no, she decided to play in the sand awhile. There were lots of little runoffs farther up from the tide, and she decided to build a dam in one of them. Too cute. DS wandered off with DH to take pictures and then came back to destroy the dam.
Our next stop was Thunder Hole - a crack/crevice in the shoreline near a cave that when the tide comes in, especially on a stormy day (which today was NOT) makes a loud thundering noise, spewing out water. It sounded cool. It didn't impress today. There were a few good spooshes, but no real thundering noises. Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be in the 80's, so we had already decided to revisit Sand Beach. Since it's a one-way road, we have to pass Thunder Hole to get out anyway, so we'll stop by again and maybe catch something more impressive.
We stopped at a few more scenic overlooks and then exited the south end of the park, in Seal Harbor. It was a clear afternoon and still pretty warm, so we headed over to Bass Harbor to see the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. DD, DS, and myself took naps on the way. When we arrived, it was quite cloudy and cool. DS didn't want to wake up, so I carried him sleeping down (and up) one path to the lighthouse. DH carried him down the other path (with steep steps). He quickly woke up! The views of the lighthouse were nice, but we couldn't see any of the 10 islands less than 5 miles away! We took lots of pictures anyway :-)
On the drive back to the campground we made dinner plans....LOBSTER! It was only 3pm, so we had a snack when we got back. DH and I downloaded the pictures we've taken thus far (127 for me and 260 for him) and viewed them. The KOA Fun Trolley came by while we were mid-view, so DH, the kids and Nana piled on. Someone had to stay with Harvey and keep him safe! After the trolley ride, DH took the kids to the play park.
Now DH and Nana are headed out to get our lobsters for dinner. Yum, can't wait!
This time we took the one-way only route and drove around the entire island. We stopped at a few scenic outlooks (a quick stop to see Egg Rock Lighthouse - very briefly!). It was pretty foggy, but a decent temperature. We couldn't see too terribly far.
We went to Sand Beach where DD walked in the water. It was still pretty cold. But she didn't put her shoes and socks on again - no, she decided to play in the sand awhile. There were lots of little runoffs farther up from the tide, and she decided to build a dam in one of them. Too cute. DS wandered off with DH to take pictures and then came back to destroy the dam.
Our next stop was Thunder Hole - a crack/crevice in the shoreline near a cave that when the tide comes in, especially on a stormy day (which today was NOT) makes a loud thundering noise, spewing out water. It sounded cool. It didn't impress today. There were a few good spooshes, but no real thundering noises. Tomorrow's weather is supposed to be in the 80's, so we had already decided to revisit Sand Beach. Since it's a one-way road, we have to pass Thunder Hole to get out anyway, so we'll stop by again and maybe catch something more impressive.
We stopped at a few more scenic overlooks and then exited the south end of the park, in Seal Harbor. It was a clear afternoon and still pretty warm, so we headed over to Bass Harbor to see the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse. DD, DS, and myself took naps on the way. When we arrived, it was quite cloudy and cool. DS didn't want to wake up, so I carried him sleeping down (and up) one path to the lighthouse. DH carried him down the other path (with steep steps). He quickly woke up! The views of the lighthouse were nice, but we couldn't see any of the 10 islands less than 5 miles away! We took lots of pictures anyway :-)
On the drive back to the campground we made dinner plans....LOBSTER! It was only 3pm, so we had a snack when we got back. DH and I downloaded the pictures we've taken thus far (127 for me and 260 for him) and viewed them. The KOA Fun Trolley came by while we were mid-view, so DH, the kids and Nana piled on. Someone had to stay with Harvey and keep him safe! After the trolley ride, DH took the kids to the play park.
Now DH and Nana are headed out to get our lobsters for dinner. Yum, can't wait!
Friday's Adventures Continued
Where did I leave off....oh, right. The kids were at the play park and Nana and I were enjoying some quiet time. Well, the rowdy crowd came back and we hung out in Harvey for a while. Played some games; just kind of chilled in general. Around 6pm we decided we should head out SOMEwhere. So we decided to head over the Park Visitor's Center. Well, wouldn't you know, it closed at 4:30. Well, we decided to drive through some of the park anyway. (You need a park pass to drive through parts of the park, and since the VC was closed, we couldn't get one; besides it was going to be dark soon). We started down Park Loop Road and soon took the turn off for the summit of Cadillac Mountain (highest peak on the Eastern Seaboard). Very cool view. VERY COLD!! And windy. DH and I visited this peak on our cruise, but it was such a cloudy, rainy day that we couldn't see anything. The view we had Thursday night was amazing, and not even as good as it could have been. We knew we would go back!
After we came down off the mountain, it was heading for 8pm. We went back to the camp ground and started a fire. We made smores (yum!) and by 9:30 it was time for the kids to go to bed. It didn't take long for them to fall asleep! Then us grown-ups had some grown-up drinks in the form of Mojitos (yes, a cold drink on a frigid night by a fire that didn't put out much heat). Well, I didn't last long in the cold wind and soon headed inside. Nana followed shortly there after and DH finally succumed when I told him refills would be provided indoors only :-) We played a few games of Word Spot and then decided we were just too cold to stay up anymore and we all crawled into our respective sleeping bags and went to sleep.
I wish I could say that the kids made up for lost sleep over the past two days, but alas, poor Nana heard DD around 4:45 am. Both kids were up and in her bed by 5:45. They were in our bed by 6:57. UGH! We got another latish start to the morning, enjoying our smoked salmon with cream cheese (butter for me!) and capers (no thanks!) breakfast. Then we headed out for a day in Acadia National Park.
Stay tuned.....
After we came down off the mountain, it was heading for 8pm. We went back to the camp ground and started a fire. We made smores (yum!) and by 9:30 it was time for the kids to go to bed. It didn't take long for them to fall asleep! Then us grown-ups had some grown-up drinks in the form of Mojitos (yes, a cold drink on a frigid night by a fire that didn't put out much heat). Well, I didn't last long in the cold wind and soon headed inside. Nana followed shortly there after and DH finally succumed when I told him refills would be provided indoors only :-) We played a few games of Word Spot and then decided we were just too cold to stay up anymore and we all crawled into our respective sleeping bags and went to sleep.
I wish I could say that the kids made up for lost sleep over the past two days, but alas, poor Nana heard DD around 4:45 am. Both kids were up and in her bed by 5:45. They were in our bed by 6:57. UGH! We got another latish start to the morning, enjoying our smoked salmon with cream cheese (butter for me!) and capers (no thanks!) breakfast. Then we headed out for a day in Acadia National Park.
Stay tuned.....
Friday, June 06, 2008
Sightseeing
So, we left Amsterdam, NY and headed Northeast. We drove out of NY, into New Hampshire and then Massachusetts. We reached the southern border of Maine around noon and had a quick sammie lunch in the (moving) RV. We stopped at Cape Neddick Lighthouse (also known as Nubble Lighthouse) and did some sightseeing. It sure was a beautiful place! We walked on the rocks and watched the waves crash and just enjoyed ourselves. Then we piled back into the RV, told the kids they needed to rest (and they did) and took off again.
We stopped again in Portland to see lighthouses Cape Elizabeth and Portland Head. The lighthouse at Cape Elizabeth was not accesible, we saw it from pretty far away - but it had a great beach with lots of seashells on it. So, we spent some time gathering up shells. Then we drove a short ways to Portland Head, which is in the Fort Williams Park - a very interesting place - wish we had had more time to explore that! But it was getting late (already it was after 4pm) and we still had a long ways to go; so it was back in the camper we got.
We had originally thought that we would be at our campsite by dinner time on Thursday, but with our (longer than expected) stops at the lighthouses, we were still on the road at dinner time. So, we had sammies (again) in the moving RV (which by now had been dubbed "Harvey"). We plowed on; finally arriving at the KOA a little after 8pm. We got Harvey all parked and walked out to the rocky beach that is just out our door!!! We did some more unpacking and settling and at 9:30 decided the kids REALLY needed to go to bed. Once they were asleep, the grownups had a second dinner of cheese and crackers and then we all went to bed.
I think we all slept well! The kids were up at 6:30 and 7am. They got into bed with Nana and by 8am she sent them to get us our of bed. We took another walk on the beach and then took turns taking showers and getting ready. Then we made breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon.
DH took off to get a rental car and when he got back we piled in and when exploring. We drove to downtown Bar Harbor and walked around looking at "stuff". The kids (I mean all of us) were getting tired and hungry, so we headed back to the car to go get lunch. Both kids fell asleep in the car, so we took the LONG way back to the RV for a hot lunch (yummy challupa!)
The kids went with DH to the playpark on the campground and Nana and I are enjoying the peace and quiet. The weather is chilly and rainy. Wish we could have the main door open so that we could hear the ocean. The weather is supposed to warm up over the weekend. The forecast is calling for scattered thundershowers every day. As long as we get SOME nice weather, it's all good!
Stay tuned. More to come....
We stopped again in Portland to see lighthouses Cape Elizabeth and Portland Head. The lighthouse at Cape Elizabeth was not accesible, we saw it from pretty far away - but it had a great beach with lots of seashells on it. So, we spent some time gathering up shells. Then we drove a short ways to Portland Head, which is in the Fort Williams Park - a very interesting place - wish we had had more time to explore that! But it was getting late (already it was after 4pm) and we still had a long ways to go; so it was back in the camper we got.
We had originally thought that we would be at our campsite by dinner time on Thursday, but with our (longer than expected) stops at the lighthouses, we were still on the road at dinner time. So, we had sammies (again) in the moving RV (which by now had been dubbed "Harvey"). We plowed on; finally arriving at the KOA a little after 8pm. We got Harvey all parked and walked out to the rocky beach that is just out our door!!! We did some more unpacking and settling and at 9:30 decided the kids REALLY needed to go to bed. Once they were asleep, the grownups had a second dinner of cheese and crackers and then we all went to bed.
I think we all slept well! The kids were up at 6:30 and 7am. They got into bed with Nana and by 8am she sent them to get us our of bed. We took another walk on the beach and then took turns taking showers and getting ready. Then we made breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon.
DH took off to get a rental car and when he got back we piled in and when exploring. We drove to downtown Bar Harbor and walked around looking at "stuff". The kids (I mean all of us) were getting tired and hungry, so we headed back to the car to go get lunch. Both kids fell asleep in the car, so we took the LONG way back to the RV for a hot lunch (yummy challupa!)
The kids went with DH to the playpark on the campground and Nana and I are enjoying the peace and quiet. The weather is chilly and rainy. Wish we could have the main door open so that we could hear the ocean. The weather is supposed to warm up over the weekend. The forecast is calling for scattered thundershowers every day. As long as we get SOME nice weather, it's all good!
Stay tuned. More to come....
Family Adventures, the Sequel
Well, for those of you that followed the Red Neck RV trip adventures, you know that we really enjoyed ourselves in a Driving Camper. On a Fall cruise, DH and I visited Bar Harbor, ME and decided it would be an awesome place to come back and visit with the kiddos. We started making plans and invited Nana to join us on our adventure and so the trip was scheduled. There were a few scheduling snafus before we got going, but everything seems to be in order now. :-)
DH and I started packing on Sunday night; we called Nana and compared shopping lists; we set aside clothes to be washed and made lists. The original plan called for one of us to follow the RV in our minivan so that we would have something to drive when we got to Maine. A quick mental mathmatic equation made us figure it would cheaper to just rent a car there, than to pay for the gas and wear and tear on our own vehicle. Plus, then we could all stick together in the RV.
Then we started thinking about packing. We decided it would be quicker to load everything into our two cars and drive over to the RV rental place and load up there, then it would be to go get the RV, bring it back, load it up and then basically drive by the rental place on our way out of town anyway! So, Tuesday night we started loading our cars. I had to make a last trip to the grocery store and wouldn't you know - there was a HUGE thunderstorm just as we were ready to get to work. Well, I went to the store in the raid anyway and the packing waited until I got home (and the raind had finally stopped). We packed quite a bit!!!
Wednesday morning the kids were up at 6am and ready to roll. DH and I were not so ready, as we had been up until midnight packing and making lists and just getting ready to go. But we finally got our rears in gear and got to work. We had everything loaded and ready to go by 8:15 - the goal had been 9am. So we decided to make a pit stop at Starbucks :-)
We drove to the RV rental place, secured our RV and started transfering our stuff from our two small vehicles, to the bohemouth we would be staying in for the next 7 days. Let me just tell you - this thing is BEAUTIFUL. It beats our camper from last year, hands down! It's one foot longer and has a slide (the couch and dinette wall slides out about 2 feet. The amount of living space we have is just tremendous! But I digress. So, we got everything loaded and started down the road. We stopped about an hour out for some lunch and then plugged on for Amsterdam, NY. There we met Nana and stayed in the driveway of Nana's sister. We had a lovely dinner and did some unpacking and moving in. Then it was time for sleep.
Thursday morning the kids were up at 5:30 - ready to go! Around 6:15 we headed into Aunt Kathi's house to see if anyone else was up. They ALL were!! Nana was showered and dressed and repacked and ready to go. We were on the road by 7:45. We stopped for gas and coffee down the road a bit and then we really got started.
Stay tuned. Thursday's adventures are to be continued.....
DH and I started packing on Sunday night; we called Nana and compared shopping lists; we set aside clothes to be washed and made lists. The original plan called for one of us to follow the RV in our minivan so that we would have something to drive when we got to Maine. A quick mental mathmatic equation made us figure it would cheaper to just rent a car there, than to pay for the gas and wear and tear on our own vehicle. Plus, then we could all stick together in the RV.
Then we started thinking about packing. We decided it would be quicker to load everything into our two cars and drive over to the RV rental place and load up there, then it would be to go get the RV, bring it back, load it up and then basically drive by the rental place on our way out of town anyway! So, Tuesday night we started loading our cars. I had to make a last trip to the grocery store and wouldn't you know - there was a HUGE thunderstorm just as we were ready to get to work. Well, I went to the store in the raid anyway and the packing waited until I got home (and the raind had finally stopped). We packed quite a bit!!!
Wednesday morning the kids were up at 6am and ready to roll. DH and I were not so ready, as we had been up until midnight packing and making lists and just getting ready to go. But we finally got our rears in gear and got to work. We had everything loaded and ready to go by 8:15 - the goal had been 9am. So we decided to make a pit stop at Starbucks :-)
We drove to the RV rental place, secured our RV and started transfering our stuff from our two small vehicles, to the bohemouth we would be staying in for the next 7 days. Let me just tell you - this thing is BEAUTIFUL. It beats our camper from last year, hands down! It's one foot longer and has a slide (the couch and dinette wall slides out about 2 feet. The amount of living space we have is just tremendous! But I digress. So, we got everything loaded and started down the road. We stopped about an hour out for some lunch and then plugged on for Amsterdam, NY. There we met Nana and stayed in the driveway of Nana's sister. We had a lovely dinner and did some unpacking and moving in. Then it was time for sleep.
Thursday morning the kids were up at 5:30 - ready to go! Around 6:15 we headed into Aunt Kathi's house to see if anyone else was up. They ALL were!! Nana was showered and dressed and repacked and ready to go. We were on the road by 7:45. We stopped for gas and coffee down the road a bit and then we really got started.
Stay tuned. Thursday's adventures are to be continued.....
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