East Coast National Parks Tour: Nine Parks and Much More!

Portland Head Light

September/November

After returning to Point Sebago on the 20th, we spent the day on Friday catching up on "housekeeping" chores. Saturday dawned bright and sunny so we headed to Cape Elizabeth.  Located close to Portland, Cape Elizabeth is filled with picturesque homes that overlook a rocky coast with views of Casco Bay and its islands.  Its most famous attraction is the Portland Head Light, the world's most photographed lighthouse.  The park where the lighthouse is located was once the site of Fort Williams and there are numerous walking paths, a cliff walk offering spectacular views and a newly planted Arboretum.

Head Light Sign

Head Light Point

The Fort

Climbing on the Rocks

USS Eagle

Bell

Enjoying the Day

Lighthouse 2

Lighthouse 3

Checking for texts.....connectivity in Maine is rare

We enjoyed a picnic lunch at the Lighthouse and then returned to Sebago as it had begun to get cold.  Maine at the end of September is definitely jeans and sweaters weather.

Back at the campsite.  Did I say sweaters?  I meant scarves and gloves!

On Sunday we used our National Geographic Guide to Scenic Highways & Byways and followed the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway.  It is a 35.6 mile route.  The book warned us to be on the watch for moose and logging trucks.  Saddly, we saw neither along the way.  There were, however, waterfalls, lakes, mountains, gold deposits and beautiful lakes.  Also along the route, the Appalachian Trail ascends the 4,116-foot Saddleback Mountain, a well-known ski area,  and fishing is very popular in Rangeley Lake State Park.  The region is comprised of numerous lakes, including Rangeley, Mooselookmeguntic, Richardson, Umbagog, Parmachenee, and Kennebago.  Angel Falls is a must see along the way and you can even try your hand at gold panning  at the Coos Canyon Wilderness Campground.  We did not take advantage of this activity, but we did enjoy the scenery and a picnic lunch overlooking the lake.

Beautiful Lakes

The Red Onion
Great Pizza Restaurant in Rangeley, ME

On September 27th, we had to leave our campsite at Point Sebago for the weekend.  We had booked a site at the Wolfe's Neck Farm/Recompence Shore Campground in Freeport, ME, but first we had to attend to business.  It was also closing day for the sale of At Last.  As the old saying goes:  "The two best days in boating are the day you buy your boat and the day you sell it."  For us, that just wasn't true.  We were very sad to let At Last go, but we knew it was the right thing to do.  We know we will resume our boating adventures in the future, but for now our travels will be in our RV as we continue our National Parks Tour.  As previously stated, connectivity is really spotty in Maine.  We spent the day downloading, signing documents, filing bank documents, faxing, and posting paperwork, but by 5:00 pm it was finally done and "At Last" was no longer ours!

Our beautiful "At Last"

We headed to our home for the weekend.  Wolfe's Neck Farm is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable agriculture, education, and outdoor recreation while preserving its open space and historic buildings.  It is a working organic farm which is open to the public. Visitors can meet its barnyard animals and explore 626 acres of forest, marsh, pastures and four miles of Casco Bay coastline.  The Farm also offers programs and community events to educate children and adults about sustainable agriculture and connect them to the natural world.   The campground offers a combination of woods and ocean and is a delightful experience.

Campsite at Wolfe's Neck
The bay is to our right.

Campfire

We spent the weekend relaxing and enjoying the Farm.  It was a short ride to downtown Freeport and we explored many of the outlets, shops and of course, the main LL Bean facility.  On our way back to the campsite, we discovered the Bow Street Market, an eclectic store with a great deli counter, pastries, fruits and veggies, and wine.  We celebrated my birthday a day late with an excellent dinner at Linda Bean's.

We left the Farm on Sunday and returned to our site at Sebago Lake.  Our spot was not yet vacated so we allowed the other campers to stay in it and we took the one next door for the night.  We were headed to Georgetown, anyway, to meet Dave's friends, Rusty and Marie.  Dave had worked with Rusty several years ago and he and his family still had "cottages" in Georgetown.  We went to the restaurant "A Taste of Maine".  This is quite the tourist attraction with a huge lobster occupying its roof.  On Sundays, Marie provides the entertainment as the resident pianist.  She is quite good and played non-stop for 3 hours.  Rusty joined us around 7:00 and when Marie finished, we all had dinner together.  It was good for Dave and Rusty to catch up.  We had an enjoyable evening and made arrangements to visit their summer home in a few weeks.

Giant Lobster on the Roof!
A Taste of Maine

Marie---The Resident Pianist

Chotskies above the Bar...very Kitschy!

From October 2nd  to October 5th Dave's friend John Fitzgerald joined us at Point Sebago.  We had neighboring campsites.  John arrived on Tuesday afternoon, and after an evening of beef stew, drinks and catching up, we called it a day.  The next day dawned cool, but sunny, and after breakfast, we headed to the Fryeburg Fair.  The Fair is an old fashioned celebration with farm animals, contests, carnival rides and booth after booth of every type of fair food you can name.  Given the current length of Dave's beard, he was in direct competition with more than half of the male attendees.....He fit right in.  After a full day, we returned to our sites while John grilled delicious marinated onions and I served tomato basil soup.

The Fryeburg Fair 

The next day John and Dave explored the Sebago Lake area and visited the Songo Lock,  (Yes, there is a working lock in Casco, ME.) while I did laundry and grocery shopping.

Sebago Lake and Songo Lock

The Lake

The Lock

Locking Through

Looking for Treasures

John at the Lake

John at the Lock

That evening John joined his cousin for a dinner of moose while Dave and I had leftovers.  We spent the night organizing and getting ready for our trip to Acadia.  In the morning, after packing up and saying good-bye to John, Dave and I left Pt. Sebago at 9:30 am.  We arrived in Searsmont, ME at around noon.  My sister, Janice, who is at her summerKamp in Searsmont, is going to join us on our trip to Acadia, but first we spent a couple of days in Cheryl and Jim Yesberger's driveway.  On Saturday, Dave, Janice and I decided to embark on another scenic byway tour in the Honda Fit.  This time it was the Old Canada Road Scenic Byway.  We followed the valley of the Kennebec River for much of the way before reaching the Moose River near the Canadian border.   On this byway, there is a riverside spot where Revolutionary War  General Benedict Arnold camped in 1775, while he was leading an army toward Quebec.  Along this route, at Caratunk, the famed Appalachian Trail crosses the byway, on its 2,174-mile way from Georgia to Maine's Mount Katahdin.  This section of western Maine with its woods, water, and wildlife is a mecca for hunters, anglers, and hikers. Trout, salmon, and small-mouthed bass attract the fishermen and the various streams and waterways provide opportunities for white-water rafting and kayaking, as well as conoeing.  Although, we were not lucky enough to encounter any, moose, loons, as well as black bears, ravens and grouse are abundant in this area of Maine.  Dave was able to photograph an amazing dam built by some very industrious beavers.  We enjoyed this 78-mile drive especially since the autumn foliage was close to its peak.

Boondocking in Searsmont

Interesting History

Benedict Arnold Plaque

 Portage 

Beautiful Scenery

Birdhouses Along the Route

Enjoying the Scenery

Amazing Foliage 

Through the Trees

Awesome Colors

Golden Trees 

Looking to the Canadian Border

Industrious Beavers

We returned to Searsmont around 4:30 pm and after wine and dinner, it was off to bed in anticipation of our departure for Acadia National Park tomorrow.

Acadia National Park:  October 7, 2018 to October 11, 2018

After provisioning the RV and loading Janice's belongings, we left Searsmont on the 7th at 10:15 am. 

It was a smooth ride to Bar Harbor and after a stop at the Visitors'/Information Center, we made our way to the Blackwoods Campground where we checked-in and then settled into our pull-through site.  The site next to us was occupied by a family with five well-behaved children.  They were an awesome family.  The parents were home-schooling the kids who were enjoying nature to its fullest.....no cell-phones, tablets, or other electronics for them.  They hiked, biked, and entertained themselves without the usual devices that today's kids crave. It was quite refreshing and never once did we hear crying, screaming, or arguing.  After settling in, we took the Fit for a ride around the Park and up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.  We were quite happy to have the Fit as we had learned upon check-in that today was the last day for the Park shuttle.   Cadillac Mountain is the park's highest peak as well as the tallest mountain on the Atlantic coast north of Brazil.  It is 1,530-feet to its summit.  On a clear day, the panoramic views Cadillac commands are unparalleled.  Spread out below are island-dappled Frenchman and Blue Hill bays, the whole of the park, and beyond that, much of Maine itself.  Some visitors arrive at Cadillac at dawn to see the sun rise in one of the first places in the United States.  Others prefer the mountain's equally dazzling sunsets.  One can also always see hundreds of visitors clambering over the bald granite dome at Cadillac's summit.

Campsite at Blackwoods Campground

A Bit Chilly

Dave relaxing at the site

Campfire in a lousy fire ring

The Summit: Driven, not Climbed

Jannie at the Summit

Selfie at the Summit

Beautiful Views

More...

And more...

And more...

And repeat...

Again...

Walking on the Summit

Heading Down

Acadia National Park

(A little background)

"Acadia National Park was established by Woodrow Wilson in 1916 with 6,000 acres.  Acadia now covers more than 49,000 acres thanks to the remarkable dedication  and philanthropy of wealthy private citizens such as Charles W. Eliot, George B. Dorr, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr.  The park encompasses nearly half of Mount Desert Island, a scattering of smaller islands, and the Schoodic Peninsula. There are many ways to see the various parts of Acadia.  Motorists can drive the Park Loop Road and enjoy a 27-mile ride along oceanside cliffs and through mountain forests, stopping at scenic turnouts and notable attractions along the way, such as the mighty Thunder Hole and Sand Beach.  Acadia Park also has an interlaced system of hiking trails and carriage roads.  With varied lengths and levels of difficulty, the 125 miles of trails appeal to everyone from casual walkers to seasoned triathletes.  One can hike, bike, snowshoe, cross country ski - or go by horse-drawn carriage.  Thanks to the generosity of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.  visitors to Acadia can still enjoy the Carriage Roads that he originally built on his property as a refuge from the "horseless carriage".  These roads are still closed to automobile traffic and can be enjoyed by joggers, cyclists, hikers, horse-back riders and open, horse-drawn carriages.  The carriage roads wind through the eastern half of the island, past lakes and mountains."  (Taken from Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park & Mount Desert Island magazine)


We called it a night after our ride around the Park and our trip to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.  We had an early fire because it was getting a bit chilly and enjoyed Thai Chicken Wraps.  We were up early on the 8th.  Happy Birthday, Jannie.  The kids next door brought Janice a muffin with a birthday candle in it for her breakfast....very sweet.  Our plan for the day was to try to visit Thunder Hole  and Bubble Mountain in the morning.  We had a 1:00 reservation for a guided tour of Frenchman Bay, and plans for a birthday dinner for Jannie in Bar Harbor in the evening.  Unfortunately, we got a bit of a late start and by the time we headed out it was impossible to find parking along the trailheads to visit either of the attractions we wanted to.  I had mentioned earlier that the shuttle busses were no longer running so parking spots, which are sparse to begin with, were few and far between.  We made the best of the situation and continued to explore in the Fit until it was time to board the boat for our tour of the Bay.

This boat tour did not disappoint.  It was a two hour, fully narrated cruise of Frenchman Bay.  This is  a large bay with a sweeping visual vista and large islands with grand sea cliffs.  We enjoyed breathtaking scenery of coastal Maine, Acadia National Park, the islands of Frenchman Bay and Bar Harbor.  We were treated to close up views of seals sunning themselves on the rocky shoals, eagles, and other birds. We also saw the four masted schooner the Margaret Todd, first at her dock, and then later, under full sail.  It was quite an impressive sight.

The Egg Rock lighthouse was a featured attraction as well.   The lighthouse, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, consists of a frame dwelling with a lantern on its roof, built in 1875, and a brick fog signal building, built in 1904.  The dwelling has received significant repairs in recent years including a new roof and windows, along with new storm shutters.  It has been automated since 1976.  The Egg Rock Light is considered to have a homely appearance and has been labeled as the least attractive lighthouse in Maine.

The Frenchman Bay Boat Cruise

The Cottages

(30 Room Requirement)

Views from the Boat

Is this a boulder?

Rocky, Rocky, Rocky

Cruise ship anchored out in Frenchman Bay

Margaret Todd Four-Masted Schooner

Margaret Todd Undersail

Egg Rock Light House

Eagles and More Eagles

Seals Everywhere!

Getting Chilly Again!

The "two-hour tour" ended all too soon and we had to return to shore.  We returned to the campsite to freshen up a bit and then it was time to drive into Bar Harbor for Jannie's birthday celebration.  The first restaurant that she had chosen, was, unfortunately, closed, but we chose another at random which turned out to be excellent.  Havana was billed as American fine dining with a flair.  The service was excellent and the food and wine was delicious.  Our server even brought out a special plate to celebrate Janice's day.

Happy Birthday, Jannie!

The Climb to the Summit

The next day dawned gray and foggy, but that didn't deter Dave and Janice from getting ready for their hike up Cadillac Mountain.  I decided not to join them due to the trouble I have been having with my knees.  The plan was to hike to the summit and I would drive to pick them up when they were finished.  They chose to hike the South Ridge Trail with a 1550 ft. elevation.  This trail is considered to be the most interesting route and is one of the longest straight stretches of trail in the park.  It has a fairly strenuous day-hike rating and is about 4 miles one way with a climb time of between 2-4 hours. The trailhead is close to the Blackwoods Campground, so I drove them to the entrance of the trail.  They were ready for their adventure....provisions, including snacks and water, hiking attire, cameras and a well-stocked backpack. From the trailhead, the path climbs easily through the pine and spruce woods before emerging from the trees.  A mile into the walk, a short side trail loops around to a rocky outlook known as Eagle Crag, where there are nice views of Otter Creek and the Atlantic Ocean.  The main trail passes the upper end of the spur trail to Eagles Crag and continues northward toward the summit of Cadillac Mountain and Dorr Mountain.  Jannie and Dave did an amazing job.  They completed the climb in less than 4 hours.  Although it began in foggy, wet conditions, by the time they had reached the summit, the sun had appeared.  I met them at the top of the mountain for the ride back to the campsite.  They were tired, but happy and very proud of their accomplishment.  Senior citizens can climb mountains, too!  We spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing around the fire.  For dinner we grilled steaks and had a caprese salad.

Off to a Good Start!

Foggy Conditions

More Fog

Foggy Conditions Continue

Other hikers

Leave No Trace!

Cairns

The Climb Continues

Rocky Road

Rocky Climb

More Rocks

Pointing the Way

2.5 Miles to Go

SUCCESS!
At the Top!

Once again we woke to gray skies so we took our time and had a leisurely morning, enjoying our coffee around the fireplace.  At about 11:00 am, we took a ride to the west end of the park to Northeast Harbor and Pretty Marsh.  Many years ago, Dave had been at Pretty Marsh on a sailing ketch as part of Outward Bound.  They spent most of their stay there on Bartlett Island, Hurricane Island and in Penobscot Bay.  It was pretty cool for him to be able to see the area again.  On our way to the other end of the island, we made a few stops and took advantage of a few more photo ops.

Autumn in Arcadia

Beautiful Colors

Another Selfie

Jannie and Dave

The Pose

Fishing Boat

Wildlife along the road

MJM 35' Yacht in Northeast Harbor

Views from Northeast Harbor

After our ride to the other side of the Park we headed into Bar Harbor for lunch.  We chose the Route 66 restaurant, a kitchey little place with its own personality.  There was certainly a lot of "stuff" jammed into every space.

Route 66 Restaurant

We returned to Blackwoods Campground in the late afternoon and built our last campfire as we would be leaving the next day.  We enjoyed bloody marys made with the "Kick Ass" bloody mary mix that we had bought at the Fryeburg Fair.  It was left overs for dinner, an evening of organizing and packing up and then off to bed.  We had all had an awesome time in this National Park!

We left Acadia National Park at 8:30 am.  It was a rainy day so it was not so disappointing to have to leave.  On our way back to Searsmont, we stopped to pick up some wine and some potted mums for Jim and Cheryl to thank them for their hospitality and the use of their driveway for "Traveling At Last, Too".

The next day Dave and I followed another of the Scenic Byways from our National Geographic book.  Jannie declined our invitation to come along.  This was the Deer Isle Drive, an 82-mile round trip.  On the drive we visited the historic village of Castine and the fishing village of Stonington, both of which are on Penobscot Bay.  Castine, ME is one of the oldest communities in North America.  It is the home of the Maine Maritime Academy.  The academy's training vessel, State of Maine, is docked on its waterfront and there are tours available to the public.  A number of 18th and 19th century Georgian and Federal houses still line the streets of Castine, although many more modern houses have been built.

Castine, ME 

Harbormaster

Harbor

Maritime Academy Flag

State of Maine Training Vessel

Modern Architecture

After leaving Castine, we continued north to the Bagaduce River bridge where we observed the Reversing Falls, a phenomenon caused by the fast-flowing tides.  A few miles beyond the bridge, we stopped at the Caterpillar Hill Rest Area which provided views of Deer Isle, Penobscot Bay, Camden Hills, and the Bay Islands.    We then visited the small fishing village of Stonington where we enjoyed a delicious lunch.

Caterpillar Hill Rest Area & Stonington, ME

Views from the rest area

Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory

On our return to Searsmont, we stopped at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory and Fort Knox.  "This bridge is the crown jewel of coastal Maine, offering spectacular views of the Penobscot River and Bay, Maine countryside and the distant western mountains.  The observatory is, at 420 feet and 42 stories, the tallest occupied structure in Maine and the only observatory bridge in the Western Hemisphere.  It is the tallest in the world. The structure has won multiple awards for its engineering excellence.  The design of obelisk towers pays homage to the local granite industry, which harvested granite from nearby Mount Waldo for the construction of the Washington Monument.  The bridge is taller than the Statue of Liberty.  

The Bridge

Compass Rose in Tower

Views from the Bridge

Fort Knox

Fort Knox, Maine's largest historic fort, features stunning military architecture and master granite craftsmanship.  Constructed between 1844 and 1864 by master craftsmen (and never fully completed), this is New England's finest unmodified specimen of military architecture of the period.  The fort was strategically located on the narrows of the Penobscot River to protect the river valley form naval attack.  Although it never saw combat, Fort Knox was garrisoned during the Civil and Spanish-American Wars.  The Fort bears the distinction of being Maine's first granite fort and is one of the best-preserved seacoast fortifications in America.  Troops were stationed here during the Civil War for defensive purposes.  During the Spanish-American War about 500 troops from Connecticut used the site for training purposes prior to reassignment."  (Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory & Historic Fort Knox pamphlet.)

It was almost Halloween so many of the views inside the Fort were decorated for a "Haunted House" tour being held that weekend.

The Fort

Creepy

Hanging Skeletons

Inside the Fort

Views of Fort from the Bridge

On the 13th, we headed to Belfast to the Farmer's Market, did a few errands and then by noon we started back to Casco, ME and Point Sebago.  We arrived around 4:00, refilled our propane tanks, and picked up our mail.  The next few days were very busy.  On Sunday, my sister Kathy and her friend Nancy stopped by the campsite for a couple of hours.  They were on their way to No. Conway, NH for their annual "shopping adventure".  We visited for a bit and then made arrangements to meet them for dinner in Jackson, NH at the famous Christmas Tree Inn on Wednesday.  My sister Janice also planned to drive from Searsmont, ME to join us.  Point Sebago was getting ready to shut down completely for the season, so we visited the General Store which was closing to see if we could find any bargains.  No such luck. On Wednesday, we drove to No. Conway, NH and met my sisters at Nancy's condo. Then it was on to the restaurant for dinner.  This restaurant is famous for its complete turkey dinners on Wednesday evenings, just like Thanksgiving.  Nancy, Kate, and Dave ordered the dinner, but Janice and I opted for pasta dishes.  Yum!  On Thursday, Dave and I drove to Ogunquit, ME.  He had surprised be on my birthday with tickets to Jersey Boys.  What a performance!  The theater was cozy and the show was awesome! We also experienced our first snowfall of the season. On Friday we drove to Georgetown, ME to spend the day with Rusty and Marie.  We did some sight-seeing, visited Reid State Park, and had fresh baked-stuffed lobster for dinner and Dave enjoyed a steak. 

Back at Point Sebago

Morning Fog and Mist

First Snow at Campsite

Dinner at the Christmas Tree Inn

Jackson, NH

Jersey Boys

Ogunquit, ME

The Playbill

The Audience and Stage

Enjoying the Show

Visiting Reid State Park

Views from the Rocks
at Reid State Park

Rusty, Marie & Gail

Dave

Medallion in the Rocks

View from the Grey Havens Inn

Georgetown, ME

The Bear

Rusty & Marie's

Rusty's "Game" Room

For the next few days, we took care of various chores; grocery shopping, laundry, car tires, etc. as our "Gas Saver" deal at Pt. Sebago was ending on the 21st.  Our stay here, although not the most perfect campsite, turned out to be an excellent bargain and it allowed us the opportunity to use Casco, ME as a base and travel to several different places.  We packed the RV and left on Sunday.  We returned to Freeport, ME where we once again stayed at Wolfe's Neck Waterfront campground.  However, due to the fact that the weather was getting rapidly colder, we chose a site that had water and electricity so that we would be warm and toasty in the RV.  After getting settled, we took a ride into town.  Even though it was very cold, we enjoyed a "hot toddy" (coffee and Baileys) outside at Linda Bean's Restaurant.

Warming up!

Yummy!

For the next few days, I tried to get caught up on the blog.  Connectivity was non-existent, so we spent some time at the library.  Since we finally had an internet connection, we booked our reservations for the Balloon Fest in Albuquerque, NM for October 2019.  Dave got in some serious exercise, walking, several times, from Wolfe's Neck to town, about 5-miles.  He also took some photos of the Farm and our campground area.

Wolfe's Neck Oceanfront Campground & Farm

Wednesday, the 24th was a very cold and windy day.  We drove to Georgetown, ME again to meet Rusty and Marie at the General Country Store for breakfast.  The specialty was blueberry pancakes and one order more than fed Dave and me...all for a grand total of $4.50.  On our way there we saw a bald eagle on the roadside. Unfortunately, I didn't get a photo before he flew away, and we had our second snowfall of the season.  We are definitely back in New England.

Georgetown Country Store

Huge Blueberry Pancakes!

Marie & Gail

Snow in Georgetown!

Snow, snow, snow!

Since we had been bitten by the snow bug, on Thursday we drove back to New Hampshire to the Kancamagus Highway (the Kanc) to really experience more than a few flakes of snow.  Once again, we were not disappointed.  There was enough snow to actually plow and even a small snowman could be crafted.  We spent a few hours enjoying the fact that we were out in snow and Dave had absolutely NO responsibility to manage it! Yippeee!  When we returned to Freeport, we stopped at the Broad Arrow Tavern in the Harraseeket Inn where we enjoyed a glass of wine in front of a roaring fire.

Snow in the White Mountains

Broad Arrow Tavern

Freeport, ME

Roaring Fire

Moosehead in Tavern

The weekend consisted of running errands, using the library, and doing laundry.  Dave continued his rigorous exercise program walking to town several times.  On Sunday, we pulled chocks and headed for Georgetown, ME and the Sagadahoc Bay Campground.  Once we were settled in, we went to the Country Store for lunch.  We got organized and relaxed for the afternoon.  In the early evening we had a quick bite to eat, lasagna from Bow Street Market in Freeport, and then, because it was Sunday, we took a ride to the Taste of Maine restaurant to listen to Marie play the piano.

Sagadahoc Campground

Gail & Friends at Taste of Maine

We did a bit more exploring in the area on Monday.  On Tuesday, after Dave helped Rusty with a chore, we returned to Reid State Park, went to the library in Bath and then had a nice lunch on the waterfront.

More Photos from Reid State Park

Photographer Dave

Beautiful Rainbows

Sadly our time up North had come to an end and we had to begin to make our way South again, but first we were going to stop in RI and CT to spend time with family.  We left Sagadahoc Bay Campground on Halloween, October 31st and drove to my sister Judy's where we took up residence once again in her driveway.  The next week was spent catching up with friends, sharing meals, getting Cherry repaired and doing a bunch of errands.  Gary and June met us for dinner one evening and Janice arrived from Maine.  She was stopping in Connecticut on her way to a wedding in Texas, flying out of Providence then back before she, too, headed back to Florida.  And believe it or not, we even went to Warwick to look at a boat!  We also took advantage of some of the down time to catch up on "Game of Thrones".

Walking in Stonington Borough with Jannie

Selectman Prue Guest Bartending at Mia's

Cherry all fixed and pretty once again!

Sunset over the Pawcatuck River

On the 11th, we left Judy's and took up residence once again at 57D in June and Gary's driveway.  We spent the next ten days visiting, doing chores and errands, and dining out...Shady Glen, Rein's, Tasso's, 3 Jays, Hartford Pizza, Nora's and more.  Dave spent a day in Milford with Gary when he had to take his Tesla there for service.  While in Connecticut, we once again had snow, enough for Dave to shovel.  Just like the good old days.  On Sunday, the 18th, we all took a ride and ended up in Chester, CT where we had drinks and dinner at the The Brushmill by the Waterfall Restaurant.  The property where this tavern/restaurant is located has a rich history.  In the 1800s both a grist mill and a sawmill operated on the property. Later, a large factory manufactured auger bits and then carpet sweepers and various kinds of brushes.  When the owner's son took over, he renamed it Rogers Brush Works which made wood-handled, spiral-bound brushes made of horsehair.  The Pattaconk flowed in the rear of the mill, thus providing hydro power.  Some of the overhead lighting fixtures are original to the 1800s building.  Today, the Brushmill manages to marry the original character of the building and its associated history with some of the best food available in the region.  We sat in front of a roaring fire with a glass of wine enjoying the cold weather and the snow on the ground.....one more thing to cross off our "to do list" while in New England.  November 22, 2018 was Thanksgiving Day and it was quite cold....13.6º F.   We celebrated with family; Gary and June, Kristen and Vinny, Brian, and June's brother and his wife at the Wethersfield Country Club in Wethersfield, Ct.  It was a very nice buffet, the food was good, but mostly, we were thankful to be able to spend time with family.

Parked in the Snow

57D 

Gary and Dave in Milford, CT

Tesla Service Center

The Brushmill by the Waterfall Restaurant

Chester, CT

Outside of Covered Bridge at the Entrance

Covered Bridge

Waterfall next to the Factory

Today
Waterfall next to the Restaurant

Fireplace
Toasty Warm

Enjoying a Glass of Wine

Thanksgiving Morning
BRRRRRRRR!

On Friday, November 23rd, (Happy Anniversary, Gary and June) we left Manchester, CT at 6:00 am and began to travel toward our last National Park on this leg of our National Parks adventure.  We put in a long travel day and at 7:00 pm we pulled into a Walmart in Lexington, VA.  Yes, this was really our first stay in an actual parking lot of a Walmart.  We had a quick bite to eat and enjoyed an uneventful evening.  We woke the next day to gray clouds and rain.  We left the parking lot at about 5:45 am.  It wasn't long before the rain changed to snow and once we entered West Virginia and saw an 18-wheeler which had skidded and was blocking the highway, Dave decided we should stop and wait for the snow to stop.  We pulled into an empty gas station and parked under the overhang.  It was very nice having all the comforts of home with you.  We made a pot of coffee....I read....Dave took a little snooze and about an hour or so later, the snow had ended and the plows had cleared the roads, so we got back on the highway and continued towards Singing Hills Campground in Cave City, KY. where we would visit Mammoth Cave National Park.

Time to get off the highway!

We arrived at the campground at 4:00 pm.  The owner was very personable and made suggestions as to what we should do while in the area.  The entrance to the Park was just a few miles from the campground, but our host had an interesting way of giving directions  (a bit political in nature).  It went something like this:  "To get to the Park you are a Republican.....turn right, right, and right. When coming back to the campground you are a Democrat.....turn left, left, and left."  Quite clever.....and it worked.   After settling in, we made plans for our visit to the park.  We researched some of the possible tours online and then chose two different type tours.  One was within the park, the Gothic Avenue Tour and the other was a private company outside the park, the River Cave Tour which was a boat ride.

Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave is considered to be a grand, gloomy, and peculiar place.  The National Park Service preserves the cave system, a part of the Green River valley and hilly country of south central Kentucky.  It is the world's longest known cave system, with more than 400 miles of explored territory.  The vast chambers and complex labyrinths of its cave systems earned this area its name--Mammoth.

We had signed up for the 9:30 Gothic Tour.  We arrived at the Visitor's Center by 9:00 am, checked in and then waited for our tour to start.  While waiting, I noticed a Christmas Tree which was decorated to honor our veterans.  To honor Nathan and his service I added an "ornament" with his name.  When our tour was called, we gathered under the pavilion to meet with Ranger Jonathan, our tour guide for the morning.  He briefed us as to rules, expectations and safety and then we headed to the entrance of the cave where the Gothic Avenue tour began.

Deer on drive to Visitors Center

Visitor's Center

Veteran's Tree

"Ornament for Nathan"

Gothic Avenue Tour

Gothic Avenue is a tubular passage originally formed at or below the water table.  It represents the oldest cave passage that's accessible on modern cave tours.  The ceiling, walls, and floor are all gray limestone. The ceiling was originally a clean, whitish, relatively flat & smooth limestone bedding plane.  Smoke writing over the years by workers and visitors has changed its appearance. Ceiling smoke writing came about when, during the 1800s, workers and visitors were encouraged to write their name on the ceiling of Gothic Avenue.  Candle smoke was used to stain the whitish limestone.  Some of the smoke signatures are dated.  The signatures consist of a series of individual dabs of dark candle smoke.  Much of the ceiling writing here is backward.  Writing was done using a mirror in order to prevent the hot wax from dripping down.  Along the tour, there are Rock Stacks.  Gothic Avenue originally had an irregular strewn field of limestone breakdown.  During the 1800s, to make walking through this passage easier, visitors were encouraged to move rocks from the trail and stack them along the side . Many of the stacks honor the home states of various visitors.  The tallest stack honors the state of Kentucky and the rocks reach up to the ceiling.  Another interesting structure is the Bridal Altar.  It consists of several columns.  Although, ceremonies were held here in the past, they are no longer allowed.  As the tour continues, visitors pass by a pointed projection of limestone known as "Lover's Leap".  The drop-off is not very high and there is no record that anyone has ever jumped from it.

Ranger Jonathan

Briefing the Tour Participants

Trail to Entrance

Gothic Ave Tour Entrance

 Inside the Cave

Smoke Writings

We thoroughly enjoyed our Gothic Avenue Tour and given the brief period of time that we had here, we appreciated the history and information that we learned from this experience.  We had an hour or so until our next tour so we stopped at our first-ever Sonic restaurant for lunch......interesting, but I don't think we will be visiting again anytime soon.

Sonic Restaurant

Lost River Cave Tour

Waiting for Boat Tour

Our next tour was the Lost River Cave Boat Tour.  In the past 200 years, the Lost River Cave has been used as a site for mills, a camp for Civil War soldiers and a nightclub. The tour began with a walk to the cave entrance as our guide shared the tale of the blue hole and the disappearing Civil War soldiers.  The soldiers camped out at the cave and used the river as a source of water.  Over the years there were several mills operating there producing products such as flour and wool.  A sawmill also operated at this site.  In the 1930s the cave was used as a nightclub.  Since the cave stayed naturally cool, Billboard Magazine wrote a story about the club, naming it as one of the only air-conditioned nightclubs in the country at the time. The club could hold several hundred people and included a stage, bar and dance floor in the mouth of the cave.  Nationally recognized bands played at the club.  The cave also gained attention because of a local legend that outlaw Jesse James hid in the cave after robbing the Southern Deposit Bank in Russellville in the 1860s.  There has never been any proof, however, that this legend was true.  The club closed in the late 1950s.  After the closing of the nightclub the Lost River Cave was neglected for over 30 years.  In 1990, the Friends of Lost River was created to clean up the cave, and it opened for public tours in 1995.

Bridge to Boat Tour Waiting Area

The Cave's Ecosystem is Fragile

Safety First

Entrance to Cave

Boats

In the Cave

Dance Floor and Stage

Power for the Nightclub

Stepping Out at the Nightclub

The National Corvette Museum

To finish our day, we visited the National Corvette Museum, also in Bowling Green.  This museum showcases the Chevrolet Corvette, an American sports car that has been in production since 1953.  The museum features over 80 Corvettes in periodic settings.  Dave and I wandered through the museum and picked out our favorites.  We also bought a raffle ticket for a 2019 Corvette.  The drawing is on February 7, 2019 so we may be taking a trip back to Bowling Green to pick up our new car!  Can't wait.

I know we have the winning ticket!

A Sample of the Beautiful Cars

In February of 2014, the floor of the National Corvette Museum's Skydome disappeared into a sinkhole, taking several classic cars with it.  Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but the damage was, in many cases, too severe for repairs.  The museum's security cameras caught much of the collapse. The sinkhole was 40-feet wide and 25-feet deep.  The eight vehicles involved had a value of over a million dollars.

Great Cartoon!

Plexiglass over a small area of collapse for viewing

The next day we left Singing Hills Campgrounds at 9:00.  We drove to visit our friends The Vicks in Chattanooga, TN.  We spent a couple of days there just visiting and catching up on each others lives.  Emma was as adorable as ever.  She is growing up so fast.  She is really into karate.  She spent one night in the RV with us.

Emma

We left Tennessee by 10:00 after stopping at our favorite bagel shop---Epstein's.  We arrived in Centre, Alabama at noon to visit with our Looper friends ("Bama Dream"), Jesse and Linda and of course, their dog, Kip.   Their son, daughter-in-law, and 2 granddaughters were also visiting in their 5th-Wheel.  It looked like a campground outside their house.  They live on a beautiful lake.  We had dinner and visited and then called it a night.  The next day we did a bit of sight-seeing in the area.  Dave and I were really surprised to visit Little River Canyon.  There were winding, narrow roads through the area, as well as waterfalls and valleys and we just didn't expect such terrain and scenery in this area. 

At Jesse and Linda's

The Little River Canyon National Preserve

The Gang

After viewing the falls, we enjoyed a nice dinner and then headed back to the house.  We visited a bit more and then headed to bed as tomorrow was going to be a long drive back to Okeechobee.

We left Alabama at 8:00 am (central time) and spent a long day on the road, arriving home in Okeechobee by 5:00 pm.

We have had an amazing time on our eastern tour of the National Parks.  We left Okeechobee in March.  We did return for a couple of short stays, but for the most part we were gone for about nine months.  Between the RV and the Fit we traveled over 18,000 miles.  Quite the adventure, but stay tuned.  We are not done.  We will be beginning our western National Parks Tour on February 2nd.  The blog will continue.