The Trip West

On Sept 12, we left Pumpkin Patch RV Park in Hermon, ME and began our nearly 2400 mile trip back to New Mexico. We kind of limit our daily mileage travelled to around 300 miles. Our first night stay had us back in the Brattleboro, Vt area for 1 night. A nights rest and fuel up and we were on our way again. This day would have us back in Harpersville, NY for a 2 night stay.  Next stop was Erie, PA KOA.

This was a nice little park- easy on/off I 90. One we would definitely stay at again. Next stop was Alton RV park in Columbus, OH area. Again, a one night stop and a place we have stayed at before. Nothing fancy. Next stop was Casey KOA in Casey, IL. Nice little park. Again, easy on / off the interstate and one we would definitely stay at again.

Our site at Casey KOA

A good sized pond was part of the environment

A look at the park

I did catch(and release) a number of largemouth bass

We left Casey after our 1 night stay and headed to RV Express 66 in Marshfield, MO. This was a long day. 340 miles to be exact. It was not without an incident however. After traveling thru St Louis, and on I 44, we became part of a gigantic traffic jam. 3 lanes stopped. And then 3 lanes barely moving. 2.5 hours later we managed to get moving again.

A view of the huge traffic jam we were in.

When we finally got moving we came to the cause of this whole mess. A Walmart trailer on the side of the road with burn marks on it and a tractor being hauled off on a flatbed trailer totally burned to a crisp. Unbelievable.

After a good nights sleep and a fuel up, we were on our way again for a day that would take us into Oklahoma and a 2 nights stay in Chandler(just east of Oklahoma City). Opportunity to get to Walmart and replenish supplies, fuel up, and rest.

Then it was off to Texas. Amarillo to be more specific.

Welcome to Texas Rest Area stop

Welcome to Oasis RV Park, Amarillo, TX

Our stay in Amarillo was a little longer than planned and involved a trip to the local Ford Dealer- Gene Messer Ford. The problem was serious enough to warrant a tow and a day and a half at the dealers. I can't say enough good things about Gene Messer Ford. They were awesome!

Not a nice day to remember.

Luckily everything turned out OK and we were on our way again. Destination this day was home and The Ranch. Our day would have us traveling through Hereford, TX(think cattle, meat processing), Portales, NM, Clovis, NM, Roswell, NM, before finally arriving in Lakewood, NM.

After getting settled in, it was time to be thinking about Dr appointments. First one was scheduled for Sept 29 with Mary's Cardiologist in Roswell.

Lobsterfest 2022

 Our main reason for coming to Maine this year was to attend our Third Escapees Chapter 3 Lobsterfest. This has always been an enjoyable event - allowing us to meet up with some old friends, make some new ones, and more importantly, enjoy some good lobster. Pumpkin Patch RV Park in Hermon(Bangor)makes their clubhouse for our exclusive use only available. Attending the Lobsterfest we had 16 rigs and 40 people. 

Lobsterfest began on Sept 6 with a  dinner out at The Anglers Restaurant in nearby Hampden, ME.

We had a whole room all to ourselves

Give you an idea of our choices

The meals were good, the desserts even better. Like Maine Blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream!

Leading up to the big day on Saturday were a number of other events, like Wed Sept 7 with the chapter dinner: Maine red hot dogs, baked beans and cole slaw. Thursday began with a continental breakfast, Friday we had a Pancake and Sausage breakfast and a Pot Luck Dinner. Each day had an afternoon Happy Hour.

The 50/50 raffle conducted by John C

Pete enjoying some quiet time

John & Doug overseeing the Pancake breakfast

Everyone chips in to help

Visiting

The Pot Luck

The pot luck was great!

On friday, Doug, myself, Pete and John drove down to Stonington, ME to pick up our lobsters and clams.

We returned with 76 lobsters and 50 lbs of clams

And then it was Saturday and time for All Hands on Deck.

Shucking the corn

Shucking the corn

Inspecting the clam pots

The days main attraction

The lobsters are ready

The clams are ready

And thern it was time for the maine event......

Pete  did a steak

That is quite a plate of Lobster Mary had there.....

Donna enjoys her lobster too

The All Hands on Deck applied to cleanup too. When we were  done eating everybody pitched in to get the place picked up and cleaned up.

And then it was Sunday and time for everyone to leave. For friends Pete & Donna to get ready to head back to Florida and doctors appointments and for us to begin the 2400 mile trip back to New Mexico and doctors appointments.

Maine 2022

Pumpkin Patch RV Park is a special kind of place. It is just close enough to all the shore activities and just far enough away to be out of the tourist conjestion. It provides an excellent HUB for the Lobsterfest activities.

Our spot at Pumpkin Patch

Lexie in their spacious dog park

A common site from Pumpkin Patch

 Mary and I took a number of one day trips exploring the area. On one of our first trips we drove to Steuben, ME and checked out the Puffin Cruise.

It looked interesting so we signed up for the cruise. While in the area, we traveled down to Corea, ME and did Lunch on the Wharf.

Our view from Lunch on the Wharf

Lunch on the Wharf

Views from Lunch on the Wharf

As mentioned, we signed up for the Puffin Cruise and 2 days later we were underway. Oh, did I mention that the Puffin breeding season was past, so there were no Puffins. We did a nature cruise instead. Seals and Bald Eagles.

Low tide, and the long walk out to the boat.

Our Tour Guide and the boat captain

A Land Bridge

A remote camera positioned on top to observe Peregrine Falcon nest

Our Puffin Cruise boat

We did see seals. Or did they see us?

Seen along the way

After our trip we headed up the coast about 6 miles to the small village of Millbridge and Chipmans Wharf for lunch.

Tanks full of live lobsters

On another day we took a day trip with friends Pete & Donna to Belfast, ME.

Belfast Harbor

The Nautilus Restaurant where we had lunch

More Belfast Harbor

Lobster traps everywhere

Us at Belfast Harbor

Lunch at The Nautilus

More Belfast Harbor

On another day, we took a trip to Schoodic Peninsula which is part of Acadia National Park.

Watching Lobstermen at work off Schoodic Peninsula

Off Frazier Point, Schoodic

Schoodic Peninsula

View from Frazier Point towards Winter Harbor

Another day trip had us driving to Stonington, ME

And what an enjoyable trip this was. Stonington was about 65 miles southeast of us and well worth the trip, Some photos of Stonington.....

Stonington Harbor

Stonington Harbor

Some of the sights of the harbor

Stonington Harbor

Lunch at Harbor Cafe, Stonington

One of the places we were advised to visit while in the Stonington area was Nervous Nellies. We found it. And were we surprised at what we found!

The sign turned out to be deceiving. Not only were there Jams and Jellies, there was:

It is really hard to describe this place. You just have to see it to believe it. Thanks to Pete & Donna for clueing us in......

One last trip we took before Lobsterfest started and that was to go back to Belfast and lunch at Youngs Lobster Pound.....

Low tide view across Belfast Harbor from Youngs

Belfast Harbor

Looking across to The Nautilus Restaurant where we had lunch a few days previous.

Lunch- what else but Lobster

Our day trips are done. Now time to concentrate on the main event. The Escapees Northeast Chapter 3 Lobsterfest.