MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
We got an early start this morning. We were both up well before our normal time. Carol was out of bed first and started in on the arrangement of the food, in the final loading to Stella the camper. I had the fridge running for the past day on 'shore power' to get it good and cold before we loaded more into it. It is always good to pre-cool with a fridge at least partially full. We had loaded it with chilled water bottles. Now the it is good and cold it consumes less battery power. Our plan was to be on the road by 4:30 am - it's a long way to New Brunswick.
Once I got moving I started in on all of the final checks and loaded all of my camera and painting gear into the car. One last check around the house, making sure that Cow Cat was outside, making sure everything was as we wanted, making sure the trailer lights all worked, we hit the road at 4:33. At 4:34 we arrived the neighborhood Dunkin Donuts...you can't start a journey like this without coffee. There was little traffic at that time of day as we headed north up Interstate 95 toward Boston and points north. We made the decision to skirt Boston because as we got closer, even at that time of day traffic was beginning to build. So off we went around Boston on route 495, always a good bypass. Soon we were in and then through New Hampshire and into Maine. Our first stop was just north of Portland (exit 48) for breakfast at a place called 'The Egg and I' I had my regular two egg breakfast but with sour dough toast, and Carol had an egg whites, lobster and avocado frittata thing which she said was very good.
While on the road we have been chatting, texting (not me, I drive, Carol texts) and listening to an audio book. The morning went by quickly and right around noon we arrived in Millinocket Maine… the end of the Appalachian Trail. Carol and I hiked around town poking in and out of a variety of stores selling touristy things of the Appalachian Trail and Mount Katahdin We ate lunch in the Appalachian Trail Cafe. This is the real deal and a local landmark where the hikers who finish the trail come to eat. We each had a 'burger of the day' which had pineapple and teriyaki sauce on it..a very good burger and lunch cost us less than breakfast..go figure. Back on the road we were soon pulling off to a scenic overlook of Mount Katahdin...fantastic view. Route 95 is a direct route to Canada and as we were listening to our book the border came upon us quite suddenly, and we were the only one crossing. The Border agent asked where were were from, did we have any guns and where are we going. I had good answers to all the questions and in 30 seconds we were crossing into Canada, from miles to kilometers and dollars to loonies, just like that. Less than an hour later we were checking in at the Great Bear Campground along the St John River.
Our little home away from home was all set up in about five minutes. Valerie, the lady who runs the campground came around to let us know that the hydro (Canadian for electrical power) had gone out and that it was a community thing and should be back on soon. As I write this I am sitting on the banks of the Saint John River watching the sunset low in the western sky and the is a rainbow shining brightly behind me.
The sky has been threatening all afternoon but we have escaped any heavy rain and right now I see nothing but clear Skies to the west, so maybe no rain tonight at all. We had temps today of 86 when were were walking around Millinocket, but there is a nice cool breeze coming in off the river and I would guess that we are now in the low 70's..perfect. Carol has gone off for a walk and I think I may grab my paints and doodle for a while, maybe a midnight swim tonight. . .nah, I’m gonna sleep. . .
I wrote this on Monday, and am posting on Friday the 21st, this is the first time we have had wifi… and boy is it ever slow.
