Dains Traveling Days: Issue #17 -- Mid-Summer

In our last blog, I told you of some wonderful things to do while in Maine. Well, this issue is a continuation of the types of things we've found to keep us busy. Keep in mind we do have some time where we "just stay at home and RELAX", too.

Kay & Jeanie both enjoy our day trips, especially if they include a nice lunch.
A recent day trip was to the Town of Camden, Maine. Camden is located on Penobscot Bay, in Maine's Mid Coast region.The homes date back to the 19th century. Within the harbor is Curtis Island and a lighthouse that dates back to the 1830's.

Camden store named after me. Well, way before me!

On this day, lunch was at The Water Front restaurant.

Good to the last drop!

Clam chowder

Some days we go for a drive to check out pond and lake locations where we can kayak and fish.

Enjoying the day on the water!

Maine is full of lakes, ponds and streams:

Our neighbor, Ted, has been spending his summers here in Maine for many years. He loves fishing and spending time out on the water. He has taken the time to scout the locations, and document them in his Maine atlas. Now, he shares his great finds with us, "thanks Ted."

You can't spend time in Maine without the opportunity to pick and enjoy the wonderful blueberries. The Treworgy Orchards is a family owned orchard. You can click on the link and read about all the wonderful things this orchard has to offer. Annually, they have a corn grown maze, with the theme each year changing. This year's theme is Paul Bunyan, Legendary Lumberjack. There is an aerial view of the maze on their website. The kids enjoy the maze because it is interactive. David enjoys the maze because it confounds the kids.

Let's go pick blueberries!

Hay ride time!

These are known as Bush Blueberries, not
wild blueberries, which grow on the ground.

From picking to homemade Blueberry Cobbler!

This was just a "DRIVE BY"

Author Steven King's home in Bangor, Maine

We also venture out and find nice walking trails with fantastic views. One such location is the Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. This is a 2,400 acre preserve for nature study, hiking, canoeing, snow-shoeing and XC skiing. The preserve is self guided, with a seven-mile network of hiking trails. Hirundo was founded in 1965 by Oliver Larouche, who grew up at his parent's camp on the Pushaw Stream. The original camp was on three acres. Oliver was able to expand to the present 2,400 acre preserve after a generous endowment from Clare Wilcox Reed and Parker Reed. The land is owned by Maine University and the Refuge is managed and supported by the Hirundo Trust. Everyone is welcome to explore the marked walking and canoe trails. It is free, however, donations are appreciated.

Day begins with a cup a Joe for Jo!

Some days we take the bikes out for a ride. We found an easier way to get up the hills. You can get an extra boost with a Hill Topper, electric-bike-kit. THIS IS GREAT!!! I don't know why we didn't find this sooner. One of our neighbors here in the RV park goes biking almost every day, but now that his wife no longer rides with him, he offered to sell me her bike. WOW, I took it for a spin and now I'm hooked. David ordered the kit for his bike, not that he really needed it, but, he loves it too. The kit includes an electric motorized front wheel/tire, that replaces your bike's front wheel/tire, a battery, cables, cable straps and a charging cord. It takes only 10-15 minutes to set up on your bike.

WOW, just press the button
and ZOOM, you're at the top
of the hill!

Scenic view in Surry, Maine

After a seven mile ride we were ready for lunch. One of my favorite places for Lobster Rolls is Perry's Lobster Shack in Surry, Maine. Perry's is just a little restaurant on the dock. The owner bought the waterfront property back in 1992. They originally started off wholesaling for the local fishermen. Soon people would ask if they could cook up their lobster and eat on their dock. It's a nice place for lunch or supper and you can even bring your own wine.

We can always count on going to Surry and having lunch after one of our regular, Friday walks with Debbie, one of the owners of Timberland Acres R.V, Park.

During our stay each year, here in Maine, we find all kinds of good places to eat. Some of the places we enjoy breakfast are Martha's Diner, which is only open for breakfast and lunch. Another place is the Riverside Cafe in downtown Ellsworth. You can also enjoy a good home cooked breakfast at Sylvia's Cafe. All three are located in Ellsworth.

Your choices for supper are endless. It all depends on what type of food you're looking for (you don't always have to eat lobster). But, then again, you are in Maine!

If you don't want to drive to the Bar Harbor area, there are a few nice places close by. If you're looking for fine dinning, an extremely nice place would be The Crocker House in Hancock. The Crocker House is also a Country Inn.

A nice place David and I enjoyed recently is Shinbashi, in Ellsworth. The Asian food was excellent and the decor was lovely.

Ruth and Wimpy's is another local restaurant in the Hancock area. This is a family owned and operated business. Ruth and Wimpy bought their restaurant in 1990. They both have families that go way back in Maine, so they are serious about lobster.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Timberland Acres RV park owners and crew who all prepare and serve, throughout the season, several dinners as well as a pancake breakfast, and a Fourth of July cookout. If you like or love blueberry pancakes, the Ellsworth Rotary Club also puts on two blueberry pancake breakfast fund raisers each year.

Don't think for a moment that I've covered it all, because there are also projects here at the park to participate in and enjoy.

Friday's we have a walk outing with Debbie, who takes us to different locations in the area where we walk two to three miles and enjoy the views.

David's donut break after the walk.

Some of our Friday walkers.

Thursday's we have our crafts sessions. This is where the ladies get together and crochet or knit. We also make items which we sell at the craft shows and donate the proceeds to the local food pantry, Loaves and Fishes. We also have crafts for kids.