marshall point lighthouse, forrest gump

Day 31 – Magnificent Maine Coast Part 3

Day 31 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

After another cozy evening at Walmart, I set out to try blueberry coffee.  When I saw the option for the first time, I thought, GROSS, but after second thought, I’m in Maine, and I should at least try it.  I didn’t find any at Rockland Café, but I did enjoy a bacon, egg, and toast breakfast before dropping the geocoin I found the other day in a cache near a JCPenney parking lot.  This cache was home to another coin which I picked up to drop elsewhere.  After a little caching, I ventured to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse on the Maine coast.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN
mount desert island, acadia national park

Day 30 – Mount Desert Island Maine

Day 30 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park

What a lovely sunny, 62 degree day! It couldn’t get any better for a visit to Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park. Not only was the weather perfect, the crowds were manageable.  I can’t imagine what this park would be like in the summer or during peak foliage season.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 29 – Magnificent Maine Coast Part 2

Day 29 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

I survived my stay at Walmart last night.  I don’t recall ever spending the night in a parking lot, thus I was slightly nervous.  Despite a few other campers being around and security cameras everywhere, I didn’t pop the top to VANilla last night just in case I needed to drive away quickly.  The dogs and I fit snuggly and warmly together downstairs!  I think VANilla may stay 10 degrees warmer with the top down which is nice when it is 39 degrees outside on the Maine Coast.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
pemaquid point lightouse

Day 28 – Magnificent Maine Coast

Day 28 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

George’s House in Prouts Neck, Maine

After a breakfast of blueberry pancakes, courtesy of George, George and I took a 1.5 mile walk around the neck that led us over the rocks, along the beach, and on a boardwalk through a bird sanctuary.  The rocks we passed inspired Winslow Homer who owned a nearby home and studio in the late 1800’s to paint The Canon.  It is said that during high tide, the water sprays from the rocks like a canon, thus the name.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
mushrooms inside log on dry river connection

Day 26 – White Mountain Wonderland

Day 26 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Winds in the White Mountains

I read in the Reader’s Digest book that the highest wind speed ever recorded on land (231 mps) was at Mount Washington in the White Mountains.  I was having a difficult time believing it until I camped about 20 miles away at Dry River Campground.  The wind was so forceful last night that it blew my tent right off the stakes which were hammered into the ground.  Also, the gusts were so loud that I wondered if there would be any fall foliage left to see or if all the leaves would be on the ground.  On the positive side, the bitter cold breeze blew away all the rain!

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
covered bridge

Day 25 – New Hampshire Highlights

Day 25 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

The night at Elmore State Park was extremely windy.  I wondered if the wind were ever strong enough that the pop-top on VANilla would fall down on me or if the van would just get blown over due to being so top heavy.  Fortunately I survived the night and prepared for a day in New Hampshire.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
bridge of flowers in Shelburne Falls on the mohawk trail

Day 23 – Mohawk Trail of Massachusetts

Day 23 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Wow!  I had an extremely active day sightseeing.  I covered three different states, picked up a geocache, made several stops, and got soaked in the process. Yet another dreary day!  After an excellent day on the Mohawk Trail of Massachusetts, I’m all alone in a campground blogging. It’s a little spooky by myself at this rustic spot. I’ll definitely be sleeping with my gun and bear mace tonight.

I wonder if no one is camping here due to the weather or due to its lacking facilities. I had hoped to find a campsite with electric now that I had left Vermont and was in Massachusetts. But no such luck! This is the most rural spot yet. Pit toilets only…no showers or electric. Regardless, the campground is beautiful.  Hopefully I will arise to sunshine so I can capture some photos of the three ponds Pillsbury State Park.

Anyway, back to my day on the Mohawk Trail…

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!
Middlebury Gap

Day 21 – Green Mountain Highway

Day 21 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

My drive today took me south on the Green Mountain Highway to Killington, Vermont.  In order to connect to the scenic route 100 from the campgrounds, I took 17 east over the mountain and through the woods of fabulous fall foliage to Waitsfield instead of grandmother’s house. 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

Day 20 – Lake Champlain Loop and the Adirondacks

Day 20 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Button Bay State Park

Picking up where I left off last night, I didn’t watch the sunset with Kord, as he was putting his kids down.  It wasn’t the best view for a sunset anyway.  We did end up sitting by the campfire until late.  He’s an ex tennis pro, who coached tennis at William and Mary.  The women’s tennis team was 8th in the country.  He has written an unpublished children’s book about Ollie the Camel and Goat the Sheep.   And at one point he was planning on running for Congress on the Republican ticket, but I didn’t get the details on that.

sunset at button bay state park

Today I finished the southwestern part of the loop around Lake Champlain.  I drove through Port Henry, Westport, and Essex, though I don’t have much to report.  I planned to stop in Essex at one of the “harbor’s charming cafes” for coffee, but I didn’t see one.  There were about 5 buildings and a ferry.  Perhaps I missed something.  As a result, I continued on to Willsboro Point.

Willsboro Point

Willsboro Point  is home to New York State’s first fish ladder that “affords migrating salmon a chance to overleap Willsboro Dam”.  I must have arrived after spawning season, as I didn’t see any fish swimming upstream.  None the less, I wanted to see a fish ladder as I had never before seen one.

fish ladder in Willsboro Point

With extra time on my hands due to my planned stops being shorter than expected, so I drove back to Lake Placid.  I spent part of the afternoon in the deli snacking on a chicken sandwich and charging my computer because I shorted out the 12 volt battery system in the back of the van. As a result, I can only charge my devices when I’m camped on electric, which is lacking at Vermont’s state parks. 

High Peaks Wilderness

After lunch Scout, Petey, and I went for a hike in the High Peaks Wilderness near Lake Placid. Judging by the cars, the 4.4 mile roundtrip Cascade Mountain Trail is very popular. Too long for my dogs, we just hiked for an hour through the waterfall beds. While the trails in the Adirondacks are active waterfalls in the spring with the snowmelt, they are dry in the summer and fall, unless of course it rains.

With all the rain over the last week, the rocks were slick and the mud was deep. Some people sunk up to their ankles in it. Along the rocky and muddy track, I met Eric and Patty who were from Saratoga. Eric has an app on his phone that provided him score updates. Since I’ve been in the dark recently without television and little internet service, Eric updated me.

The Texas Rangers are still in first place and the Cowboy’s didn’t play. Of course, he updated me on his New York teams as well. Being from Saratoga, he didn’t like the Cowboys. He confirmed Bill Parcells was beloved in New York. Unfortunately, he didn’t last long as a coach with the Cowboys. Good old Jerry Jones interfered again. I gave them three years to unravel after his departure. We’ll find out this season. I hope I’m wrong.

Cascade Mountain Trail in High Peaks Wilderness Area
Eric and Patty in high peaks wilderness

Vermont

Well, enough talk about football. After our hike, we turned around and crossed back over Lake Champlain to Vermont via ferry.  It’s weird to see the picture of your car on the GPS in the middle of the lake!  Back in Vermont, I met up with Kord again.  He knew of a private campground on the river not far from the direction I was heading in the morning.  We enjoyed a nice dinner of chicken and mushroom ravioli!  I plan on meeting up with him tomorrow night too. ETB

vermont

Map of My Road Trip Across the USA

For a summary about my road trip across the USA, click HERE. For the interactive map, see the below link.

map of road trip along scenic byways across the USA
Interactive Link to Map

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Mt. Philo State Park, Vermont

Day 19 – Lake Champlain Loop Part 2

Day 19 of a Year Long Road Trip Along America’s Scenic Byways

Burlington, Vermont

Ahhh…the sun!  I’d almost forgotten what it looked like after a week on the road in soggy weather.  I had to spend a few minutes hunting for my sunglasses! Today, I continued my drive south along the east side of Lake Champlain in Vermont.  My first stop was in Burlington.  Bundled up in jeans, a fleece and windbreaker, I wandered the pedestrian-only streets and browsed the farmers market.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!