Our last days in Rhode Island were fun. We visited Newport one more time and toured a few more summer cottages and the downtown area. Trinity Episcopal Church was established in 1698. The current building was completed in 1726. When we entered this historic church a voice called to us, "Join our tour. It is just beginning." Alas, it was not God calling to us. We joined two other people for a tour. As it happens, our guide was not really a tour guide but a parishioner and organist. Her knowledge and love of her church and the community, present and past, was evident in her tour.
Trinity Episcopal Church Newport, RI
Our last day in the Smallest State we did my favorite thing to do in the summer (and John's least favorite). Beach Day!!!!! I will say that the beach we chose was fantastic. Misquamicut State Beach is a gorgeous beach. The waves were rocking the day we went and there were some restrictions due to rip tides but all this just made it more fun. Plus, when you pay to park they hand you a receipt and a garbage bag (biodegradable). It was an incredibly clean beach. The people watching was enjoyable, but thanks to my Jersey beach pals, I knew all about the aggressive gulls hovering menacingly. But the poor dads next to us were not as prepared. They foolishly thought they only had to wrangle two four year old girls. When the giant gull grabbed a baggy filled with goldfish (edible crackers not pretend koi) the one dad went to grab it back and the bird strode away. The dad gave chase, but the bird was not about to relinquish his bounty. Lesson learned.
Next day, we headed the Jauchmobile northeast. The drive was for the most part lovely. I will say that as we drive the highways and byways of this beautiful country we encounter some interesting drivers. Massachusetts, my question is whatsupwithyou?? Have you no manners?? Rude, rude, rude drivers. And you know what happens because of rude drivers, accidents and injuries. This is my soap box for this blog, but friends, let us all drive politely. Let people merge, don't accelerate to block them from entering a roadway. And when entering a busy highway hang up the dang phone. I could go on, but you get my point. Large vehicles, like the semis and the Jauchmobile, need lots of room to stop. The end of rant. Meanwhile, back on vacation...
Our first stop in Maine was in the lovely hamlet of Holden, just outside of Bangor. Our plan was to spend time in the Downeast Region and the Maine Highlands Region. And, perhaps the best part of this trip was that the Robertsons of Brooklyn joined our merry band of adventurers. So began our exploration of Acadia National Park.
Acadia National Park is quite unique. It is the first National Park on the east coast and much of the land has been donated. It is magnificent! Rugged and lush with beautiful vistas. We spent days exploring the area, on land and sea.
Jen, Doyle and I had the opportunity to take a sea kayak tour one morning. John and Olive hung out at home while we headed into Bar Harbor to meet up with our outfitter. It was a great way to enjoy the area.
A high point of the water adventure was the opportunity to see a "baby eagle" near its nest. He was a few months old and HUGE and entirely black in color. He had not gotten his white feathers yet. Creepy and eerie all at once. A few days later we got to see a full grown bald eagle fly past us in the distance. Wow! After Doyle left, we decided to take the mail boat out to Isle au Haut. Approximately half the island is part of Acadia. In retrospect we would have chosen a different way to spend the day. It was scenic enough, but we renamed it Mosquito/Biting Fly Island. These insects drew blood and nothing could stop them. Insect repellent? They scoffed at us and chomped away. John and I were grateful for Jen. They loved her best!
On the Mailboat
So, while in the Downeast Region we decided to check out Bangor. Because we got out of the car twice and factoring lights and work crews and detours, we spent maybe half an hour. Yeah, not much happening in Bangor. But, it was not a total waste of time.
Giant Paul Bunyan Statue
That is Olive and yours truly at the base of that large piece of art(?).
Maine is famous for blueberries, so of course we had to head out to a farm and pick blueberries. Jen's research lead us to Nancy Place Homestead. On the web site, they suggest you call ahead. The gentleman on the phone gave us directions, that went something like this. Take a right at the market and continue on that road until you pass a conservation area and then down a steep hill you'll see a sign to pick berries and just past that pull into the drive, but go slow past our neighbor's house (his driveway)... Now, it would have helped if we had some mileage to judge this and the question arose, frequently, is this the steep hill? as there are many. And perhaps the conservation area could have a sign so as not to be confused with the many, many miles we drove past wooded, undeveloped areas. Just a suggestion. We did find the farm and what a joy it is! Definitely a high point of the trip. Lovely self sustaining farm owned by a lovely family. After picking blueberries (yummy) the two younger daughters and dad gave us a tour. We met the animals and walked through the gardens and even got to taste freshly picked tomato and green beans (double Yummy).
Picking blueberries and eating a few
Of course, part of the agenda involved eating lobster. Interesting fact about lobster is that back in the early years of statehood it was considered a lesser food. So much so that it was fed to inmates. Eventually, it became a food for the more financially successful. Now, it is a relatively inexpensive food here. There are literally restaurants and cafes and food trucks galore selling lobsters in a variety of preparations.
Cooking our lobsters
Maine has a larger coastline than California with approximately 3,478 miles of shoreline. It is also larger than all the other New England states combined. So much to see. So much to do. So many miles to explore. I'll keep you posted.
