Abby: Day 4

We went on a beautiful whale watch this morning.  We didn’t see any whales but the view was fantastic.  I personally liked the rocking of the boat but Mommy, Aunt Stacy, and Grammy did not.  For lunch we went to Flatbread.  We ate a salad and a pizza and we enjoyed the view.  After lunch we went to the Portland Observatory.  We went up all six floors to the top for a breathtaking view.  We took a stop at the Longfellow House.  We couldn’t go inside but we still got a photo with the house.  We ate dinner at Gilbert’s Chowder House and saw many birds.  We went on a ghost tour of Portland.  Can’t wait for another day of fun!  Write tomorrow!

Abby: Day 3

This morning we arrived at The House of the Seven Gables.  We took the tour of the house.  In some parts of the house the ceiling was so low I could have stood on a small stool and touched it, but in other parts of the house it was tall.  There were hidden doors, stairs, cabinets, and passageways.  We also got to tour the small but pretty Nathaniel Hawthorne Birthplace House.  There were very pretty gardens.   The house was great even though it was dark, gloomy, and rainy outside.  We visited the Salem Visitor Center and stopped at a store.  We left Salem, went through New Hampshire, and arrived in Maine.  We stopped to see Nubble Lighthouse.  We couldn’t get on the lighthouse island, but we could see it.  There was a beautiful view.  After that we ate Brown’s Ice Cream in the rain and went to Goldenrod’s Kisses to eat dinner.  A wonderful day!

Stacy: Day 6

Today we spent entirely at Acadia National Park.  Words simply cannot describe how absolutely stunningly beautiful this place is!  Forests of spruce and pine run right up to the rocky beaches.  The waves crash repeatedly over the rocks, and tannin-stained water (from bogs and cedar trees) from creeks trickles from beneath the topsoil and in between rock fissures.  There is one spot where, when the tide is rising, it crashes on and in/under some rocks on the shore in such a way that it sounds like thunder (the spot is aptly named "Thunder Hole").  The air smells wonderfully of the conifers and sea.  It is all truly indescribable.  I can only hope you can catch a glimpse of the beauty in Kim's and Mom's photos.

It started out drizzly and foggy and cloudy, but cleared up around lunch time.  Then it became quite foggy again after dinner time.

We had a wonderful 2 hour, horse-drawn carriage ride through a special portion of the park up to the summit of Days Mountain.  In the park, the only thing you are allowed to take with you are blueberries.  Maine is known for their native blueberries!  We were introduced to what the bushes looked like, and then Abby and I started searching for them!  We were successful.  They were extremely sweet and yummy (and tiny!), but of course, this is their prime season.

After leaving the park (we will return tomorrow literally before the crack of dawn), we went to Bar Harbor for dinner.  Remember the TV show "Dark Shadows"?  Well, Collinsport was based off of Bar Harbor.

There is a point within the harbor that you can walk on when the tide is out.  We walked on it!  Abby and I had a blast skipping stones on the water and running around.  We went out about halfway, and stayed out there for under 30 minutes.  But, we didn't stay long because we were all hungry, and it was getting dark.  I'll let Kim tell you more about this one.

Then, we went to dinner, where Mom and Kim entertained Abby and me with their attempts to eat (crack open) a lobster.  It was quite humorous...

Oh, and blueberry margaritas are super delicious!!!  We all partook in a virgin one.  I have a photo on my phone... I'll see if I can get it to upload sometime.  :oS

Lastly, the super kind waiter, Camden, showed us the lobster tank as we left.  I'll let Abby describe this more (she got to hold one!!!), but I touched its soft underside of the tail (you know, where all the fertilized eggs stick on the females--I think).  He also pried open the claws (rubber bands securely in place) and showed how easily they chop carrots.  A carrot (stick) gives about the same resistance as a human finger.  Chew on that one for a minute...

Ok, that's all for tonight.  We wake up in 4 hours to catch the sun rise over Cadillac Mountain.

Stacy: Day 5 - "Hi, COWS!"

Well, I'm going to make this a short entry.  I mean, come on!  I'm the only one of us who has consistently blogged... 1) It wasn't even my idea, 2) I hate journaling with a passion.

Although, I can't exactly blame The Others.  Kim is tired from being behind the wheel all day, we'e had bad Wi-Fi several nights in a row, and, on average, we don't arrive at the hotel until 11:15pm.  By the time we check in and get settled (unpacking and then showers), it's 1am.  Well, I'm usually the last one in the shower.  So, they get to nod off before I do.

Anyway.  About today:  it was mostly a driving day, but we had some really neat things.

We started off with another light house.  All I remember is that it is one of the most photographed ight houses in the world, and that the shoreline is absolutely breathtaking.  It was cold and drizzly when we got there (again, grateful for the coats), and the fog horn was going!

Then, we visited the Desert of Maine.  That was pretty neat!  The sand originated from a mile-high glacier melting and grinding all the rocks in its path to the ultra-fine, Mica-laden sand you see today.  It accumulated a good amount of topsoil over the epochs, and around the 1700s, a family began to farm it with the same farming practices (I believe) that later brought on the Dust Bowl.  It was just fun.  Plus, there was a 9-hole disc golf course there!  No, I didn't play.  No time!!!

We then drove through many little Maine towns.  We saw belted cows, absolutely beautiful Maine-architectured cottages, a really neat suspension bridge lit up at night (with an awesome shadow on the clouds--which my phone camera is not capable of catching), and did a lot of geo-caching.

Maybe someone else will fill in with more info on today.  ;o)

~Signing Off~

Stacy: Day 4 - "Whaling Overboard!"

Well, even though my breakfast became food for the fishies following in the wake of our boat 2/3 the way into the whale watching tour, it was still worth it.  I have never been out in open water before!  I've only been in (more recently [and by that I mean 18 years ago]) a canoe, and over 23 years ago, a huge ship crossing the English Channel.  [It should be noted here that I became sea-sick over the English Channel as well, at the age of 8 or 9, but the waters were super stormy and rough that day.]  Today was absolutely beautiful.  We could not have had calmer seas or more perfect weather.  It was fascinating watching the waves over open water, with no land on the horizon.  Mom thinks we were at least 17 miles off shore.

Again, no whales.

We walked around Portland, Maine, all day.  It's a wonderful and charming little town with loads of history!!  It has been a great visit.

The Great Lobster-A-Thon has begun...  I'm going to be eating a lot of chicken or kids-menu stuff.  Blech.

The last thing we did this evening was another ghost tour.  I think this is the last one...  I'll get the tour info later, but Gordon did a fantastic job!  I do believe he was the best ghost tour guide that I've ever had!  It seems like he had a script memorized, but it was well written.  There was a great mix of history, ghost stories, and humor that it all came together beautifully.  He handled the kids really well, but both Abby and the little boy her age seemed to not be threatened/scared.  Everyone really enjoyed themselves.

We actually got back to the hotel at a decent hour tonight!  (9:30-ish)  I think I might actually get to bed before 1am tonight...

Stacy: quick update

FYI:  my phone has been pretty much useless these past few days as a communications device.  I'm constantly "roaming".  SO.  Since it doesn't exactly seem to work when I'm connected to the hotel's Wi-Fi (and we've had a good connection for the past two days), I wanted to let you know that before you read my next two posts.

My posts for Days 4 and 5 were written and Swyped into my phone dutifully, but I could not get them to publish.  Then, when I did finally have a good Wi-Fi connection, they were stuck.  I uninstalled and reinstalled the mobile app, but my posts were completely gone.

All is not lost.  Kim bought us coordinating composition books and pens in which to journal our adventures, so I have a good idea of what I typed.  I just change things up here and there as it moves me.

Proceeding to Days 4 and 5, and even 6, if I can get it typed before we leave the hotel room!