Tuesday, September 20, 2022

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.







Wednesday, September 14, 2022

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.