Family Trip to Maine ~~ July - August 1997

Had a wonderful vacation this year. All four of us went to Maine and met the Mars family at the Bickford’s lake cabin. Got up there July 28 after a two day drive. The drive was not so bad, but going up through the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, PA, New York – there must have been a weather inversion because it was so hazy, it was depressing with no blue sky. Makes one long for the west. Our first day we unloaded and relaxed at the cabin. Went fishing and canoeing and just talked. 

Tuesday we went to Rockland for the day, coastal town, little tourism, nice small shops. Had a great lunch at Rockland Café. The kids just wandered around while the adults hung around together.

 

Hung around the cabin in the morning then went to visit Julie’s parents. The men left in the morning to do some work for Julie’s parents. The women stayed; Julie, Jacklyn and I went for a long canoe ride and just talked. After visiting the Bickford’s we all went out to dinner.

Jim and I decided to buy a canoe so off we go. Five minutes later the muffler falls off the van, so we find a place to have a new one put on; leave it there, and Bill & Julie take us to get the canoe. Found a great Grumman for $300. We had to have a canoe on the lake so all of us could go canoeing.

 

Lisa cooked a wonderful turkey dinner. Before dinner, Bill, William and Julie, and Jim, Jacklyn and I went for a long canoe ride. We went all the way down the lake and through the tunnel of Hwy 202 into Winthrop, then turned around and came back. It was a nice enjoyable journey.

The kids are off in the canoe every day; long rides; exploring. William and Jacklyn go to a small shed and are “fixing” it up; sweeping it out, putting in flowers, making a path. They are really enjoying themselves.

 

Made some chicken and then went to Steven Bickford’s house for his daughter’s birthday party. He lives in an A-frame on Leland’s farm.

 

Went into town in the morning to do laundry and walk around the town. Bought some books and groceries.

 

Drove out to St. Denis Church in the afternoon for a flea market and dinner. Found an NSA water filter for $5 which I put at the cabin.

Went to church in the morning then to some flea markets and a yard sale. Lee and Betty came to visit; canoe rides; talked to Karen.

 

Packed up our stuff to move out. Julie’s sister was coming later in the week and the two of them kind of argued about what days Mary wanted the cabin so Julie decided we were all moving out. 

Took all morning, then we took Woody & left Josh and drove down to visit Karen & Boots. Boots’ family has a farm and island near the cabin. It was really neat being able to visit with her in Maine. They have a nice big farm with cattle and horses, but we stayed in a small rustic cabin on the river – electricity but no running water or toilet; had to go outside to the outhouse to use the toilet. Rustic. Had dinner and spent the night.

Left early to get to Pt. Clyde for a 10:30am ferry ride out to Monhegan Island. Great little island five miles off the coast. Stayed overnight in a bed & breakfast. The kids had a great time – Josh, Lisa and Garrett stayed in a room together and Jim and I had Jacklyn and William. Bill & Julie’s feather blanket and pillows ended up in our room, which Woody slept on.

The kids roamed the island finding treasures, which they brought back home. We also hiked around the island and found the cliffs, which were really neat. The forest was beautiful; lots of trees, ferns and grass.

Lisa drawing a picture of the B&B

Took the 12:30 ferry back to the main land where we headed up to Rockland for the night with dinner at Rockland Café.

 

Left Rockland at 10am and stopped at the State Prison Store where the prisoners make things to sell; very nice and impressive. Then started on the journey home. Got home Friday evening to happy dogs and an intact house. It’s good to be home again, but it sure is nice to get away for two weeks.