Monday, September 2, 2013

HIKING, DINING, WINDSOR FAIR,AND WATER VIEWS IN MIDCOAST MAINE

LEAVING VACATIONLAND

One of the delights of living on the Coast of Maine is the natural beauty that surrounds your senses every day. The water views are overwhelming with beauty. The vistas from the well sculpted trails, and the drives through the country compel you to try to capture their beauty on film.

HIKING

Acadia National Park

 

We drove 2 hours north of Camden to the entrance of Acadia National Park. The park is one of the crown jewels of the national park system. (second most visitors annually). The landscape has rugged cliffs, pounding ocean surf, and quiet forest paths. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. purchased and donated 11,000 acres of Acadia National Park (1/3) in 1905. He singularly built all of the beautiful carriage roads that comprise 57 miles over the park.

Jordan Pond - Small but beautiful body of water that is encased by forested hills.

Fernald's Neck Preserve

A little dip in Lake Megunticook on the trail

This Nature Conservancy preserve features a gentle trail system that circles the clear waters of Lake Megunticook. Balance rock is a massive upright rock deposited by glaciers centuries ago.

Woodpecker on the trail
Balanced Rock

 

 

Beech Hill Preserve. Open hill top with views of Penobscot Bay. Blueberry fields surround this trail.

 

Mt Battie - Beautiful hiking trails that offer incredible views of Camden Bay.

 

Bald Rock Mountain - Overlooks the Camden Hills.


Osprey posing and its nest
Great trails, clearly marked

 

WONDERFUL DINING IN MAINE

There have been so many wonderful dining experiences in Maine that it's difficult to list them all. Most of the dining in Maine involves lobster, crab, halibut and haddock. These wonderful delicacies are caught in the Penobscot Bay. Maine has so many great chefs. They serve very fresh foods - farm to table is their mantra.

Sunset on North Haven
North Haven

Two places were of particular interest. Nebo Lodge. We took a boat from Rockland Harbor to North Haven Island. About a 45 minute trip. The ride was beautiful, and we enjoyed the food.

Salt Water Farms - Great fresh food, brilliant view and great ambiance.

View from the terrace of Salt Water Farms

Clambake at Cabbage Island - We took a boat from Boothbay Harbor to a 5 1/2 acre Cabbage Island in Linekin Bay. Succulent feast of Maine lobsters and clams that is prepared by the Moor family. Cooked in seaweed, steamed from top to bottom. The meal - New England Fish Chowder, two lobsters, steamed clams,corn on the cob, egg, onion, potatoes and blueberry cake for desert.

Most photographed church in Maine
Buying blueberry's along the road

 

WINDSOR FAIR

The fair started in 1888. The complex consists of eleven buildings. Displays of 19th and early 20th century artifacts provides a trip down memory lane. I watched the horse pull - 5,800 - 6,200 pounds of bricks that were stacked by a tractor on a metal pallet that was hooked up to a team of horses. The horses had a minute to pull the bricks on each pull. They crossed the 50 yard track and were judged by weight pulled, weight of horse team, and fastest time. There are lanes of food clams,lobster,mussels, lobster, and the usual fair "corny dogs". But of course there was no butter sculpture (like at the Texas State Fair!!).

the largest pumpkin at the fair
Piling the bricks.
The horses are pulling the bricks
Glad it is over

 

MY MOST FAVORITE PLACE - ENDLESS SUMMER FLOWER FARM

4,000 varieties
This is so Maine!!

4,000 varieties of dahlia's. I visited this garaden so often, I felt like an employee!!

 

Friends Visiting
Sailing school
Fun memories
Too cold to go in?

 

 

Maine people
The famous Belted Galloway Cows "Oreo Cookies"?

 

Headed home - But South on 66 this time
I had so much fun in "Vacationland"

 

 

 

 

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