MaineLee Canada

Campobello

2007-08-13T02:16:14Z

Campobello is a really interesting place. An international park run by the U.S. and Canada on Campobello Islandd, New Brunswick. FDR’s “cottage” is there with all of its original furnishings. FDR designed and played in a golf course there before he was stricken by polio. Guides were clear to say that he did not contract polio there, although he was in Campolbello when it leveled him. The actual contraction took place in Bear Mountain, N.Y.
Anyway, it is a beautiful place with lots of history. Before leaving we dined at a nice restaurant where the locals go called Family Fisheries.
Leaving Campobello, we crossed to Lubeck, Maine in the good old USA. We could not get a room in Bangor, so drove down to Pittsfield, Maine where we got a old fashioned yet clean room. Norman, the desk clerk was pleasant too. We did not meet his mother.
Next, we head for home.

Campobello remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Freed from Freeport

2007-08-14T12:13:17Z

We visited Freeport, Maine on the way home, and managed to spend just a few bucks for lemonade and a kraut dog.
Downtown Freeport is all factory outlet stores. You name it, and it's there. The flagship among the stores is a flagship itself. The main store of L.L. Bean covering at least three buildings. Paradise!
Jim's left hand reached for his credit card several times, but each time his stronger right hand held him back. Hard to believe, but we did not buy anything. Except gas for the car.
Now, we are back home, the car is unloaded and we are bushed. We had a great time.
Many thanks to Mary for planning this trip. It took a lot of time on her part, figuring out the route, booking motels and researching places to visit. Everything went like clockwork. She made sure we had Internet in nearly every hotel.

Freed from Freeport remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Saint John and St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick

2007-08-13T02:09:33Z

Saint John, spelled out thank you, is a pretty big town, maybe 70,000, which prides itself on being multi-cultural. We stumbled upon the Fundy Bay Festival, sipping drinks from an open-air café as we watched dancing and singing by members of the Sierre Leone Club of Saint John.
Leaving Saint John, we stopped at an overlook of the Reversing Falls, where the extremely strong tide of the Fundy Bay actually stops the flow of the Saint John River at high tide. We were there when the tide was slack, but we could still see the powerfull effect to the Fundy tide, said to be the most variable in the world, 48 feet from high to low in one part of the Bay.
We stayed in the Tara Manor Inn in St. Andrew’s, where we had a pleasant breakfast before leaving for Campobello Island. We understand that we have to take two ferries to get there.

Saint John and St. Andrew’s, New Brunswick remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Charlottetown, PEI to St. Martens, New Brunswick

2007-08-10T11:50:59Z

When we left Charlottetown, it was raining at a pretty good clip. By the time we got to the Confederation Bridge which would take us to New Brunswick, the rain had stopped. But, it was so windy the authorities were stopping trucks, cars with trailers and motorcycles from crossting the 8 mile bridge. Cars, such as ours, were let through and we crossed the bridge with no incident.

Along the way to St. Martens, we stopped at the Hopewell Cape Rocks. The tide was out so we walked down on a long series of steps to the ocean floor. There, we saw massive rock formations worn over the eons by water and wind. After we left, the tide rose 35 feet to cover most of the rocks.

Once at St. Martens we checked into the Quaco Inn and then had a bite to eat at the Caves Restaurant featuring their “World Famous Chowder.” Next, we will head out to St. John’s and St. Andrew. And tomorrow, we are planning to go to Campobello Island where FDR spent some time. It takes

Charlottetown, PEI to St. Martens, New Brunswick remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Prince Edward Island - More Seafood

2007-08-09T11:25:53Z

We started the day by being treated to a "how-to" on grilling seafood. It took place in Cavendish Grove. Two young ladies showed us how to grill oysters, mussels, rainbow trout and haddock. And of course there were free samples. Yummy. While in Cavendish we visited the house which was the setting for the Anne of Green Gables novels. Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author, is buried nearby. She wrote some 21 novels about Anne and others in the early 1900's. Today, here novels live on providing a nice economic boost to the area. You can everything from a Anne of Greene Gables diary to a little hat with red pigtails.
Thanks to Mary's planning, we drove out to Malpeque, the oyster center of PEI. Jim had a full dozen of Malpeques at the Oyster Barn, a rustic place on the second floor above a fish market. He is still savoring the taste. Malpegue is in an outlying area over a couple of dirt roads. It was well worth the trip. After that, we drove to Summerside, a touristy area where we got our gift shop fix. We finished the evening watching the Simpsons in Chartlottetown. The movie had its moments but we were disappointed. The animation was excellent. It rained during the night. Wind warnings in effect for 8/9.

Prince Edward Island - More Seafood remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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East Point, Prince Edward Island

2007-08-08T11:37:43Z

Mary and Jim drove out to East Point; you guessed it the easternmost point of the Island, with a lighthouse built in the 1800's.
Along the way we stopped in St. Peter's, where the learned how mussels are cultivated and harvested. Ropes are hung from buoys where "spat" (fledging mussels) collect. After collecting, they are placed in long socks which remain in the water for about two years as the mussels mature. Then they are ready for the market. If you go to a restaurant, ask for Blue mussels. We came back to St. Peter's later in the day for a tasty mussels meal for Jim and a really good Haddock fishburger for Mary;
During the day, we stopped at the North Lake harbor where tons of Blue Fin tuna are brought in by small fishing boats. We just missed the arrival of a 600 lb. Blue Fin.
We took some photos of some boys jumping off the dock into the water. They were having fun.
In the evening, we watching the Bourne Ultimatim, a good movie with nonstop action.

East Point, Prince Edward Island remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Prince Edward Island (at last)

2007-08-07T11:40:13Z

In the morning, Jim switched his watch to his right wrist so he could tan on the white band on his left. But, this is not about Jim, or is it? After arriving in Charlottetown, PEI, Mary took Jim to the Claddagh Oyster House on Sidney Street and treated him to a half-dozen Colville Bay Oysters. Thanks Mary! They were terrific. Maybe, we will go back tonight. Before leaving Baddeck, we visited the Alexander Graham Bell museum there. What an interesting person. Besides his many inventions and tinkerings, he devoted his life to helping the deaf communicate. He married one of his deaf students, 10 years his junior. We could not visit his house which was on an island in the bay, now occupied by his descendants - probably awash in dividends from AT&T and variious Ma Bell stocks.
To get to PEI, we drove from Baddeck to Caribou and than took the one-hour ferry to PEI. Next, we will explore PEI, maybe to the East. Then, we will have some more oysters!

Prince Edward Island (at last) remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Cape Breton National Park, Cape Breton Island

2007-08-06T11:14:36Z

We took a beautiful drive to Cheticamp and stayed there. Then, we drove all around Cape Breton National Park on the Cabot Trail. Some of the most beautiful coastal scenery we have seen. We stopped along the way to have some fresh Aspy oysters and a delicious lobster roll. Heavy Scot influence here. We saw a Scotsman playing his pipes, walking along the shore. Later, we saw the same thing depicted on a postcard. Perfect weather and not crowded. And, here, it rains at night! Along the way, we had to take a ferry we did not know about. A short run to get to Baddeck; it held just 12 cars. Today, we hope to see Alexander Graham Bell's house. Then, it is on to Prince Edward Island by way of a 70 minute ferry.

Cape Breton National Park, Cape Breton Island remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Halifax

2007-08-04T12:12:26Z

The Harbor Hopper (Duck) amphibous vehicle was great fun; it is a great way to get a sensce of the city and the harbor. Big Jer suggested I try to drive one as he did in boston, but subject did not come up. These Ducks are from the Viet Nam area, bigger that the WWII variety.
The maritime museum was very interesting with exhibits on pirates who frequented these waters, on the explosion which flattened Halifax in 1917 and the TItanic. The explosion on December 6, 1917 was from a French munitions ship in the harbor. We visited two of the cemeteries where Titanic disaster (February 13-15, 1912) are buried. At Fairview Cemetery, we saw the grave of jack Dawson. Yes he was a real person, but not the guy depicted in the movie. The grass in front of his headstone is all worn away. Later, we walked along the waterfront which is really nice and enjoyed an ice cream cone.

Halifax remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Lunenburg to Halifax

2007-08-03T10:52:24Z

After Eggs Benedict in hollandaise sauce at our bed and breakfast in Lunenburg, we continued along the South Shore viewing the pretty shoreline of Mahone Bay. We stopped at a memorial for Swiss Air flight 111 which crashed nere in in 1998. Then, we visited Peggy's Cove, part fishing village and artist colony, part tourist attraction. Photos of this striking village have appeared in many travel magazines. After reaching Halifax we checked in at the Radission Hotel then dined at Five Fisherman, known for its seafood, malt whiskey and complimentry salad bar with mussels. Jim had blackened haddock and Mary had slow-cooked halibut in lobster oil. Everything was good. We walked around the harbor and signed up for one of those amphibian Duck tours. Here, they call them Harbor Hoppers. We'll be taking one in the morning.
We notice that restaurants ask if you have any allergies when you order. Not sure why.

Lunenburg to Halifax remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Maine - Nova Scotia

2007-08-02T11:01:13Z

We took the Cat ferry from Bar Harbor, Maine to Yarmouth, Novia Scotia. A quick 2-1/2 hour trip, but hard on Mary's stomach. For most of the trip, she stood on the aft deck with one of those little paper bags in her hand. Fortunalely no mishaps, but it took a while for her to recover once on shore.
Then, we took a delightful drive along Nova Scotia's South Shore. Stopping in Shelburne and Liverpool to see those pretty villages on the water, we tied up at a bed and breakfast, Kaulbach House, http://kaulbachhouse.com/ffn/index.html, in Lunenberg. The area was originally settled by Germans so, after walking around town and boarding the well-known Schooner, Blue Nose II, we dined at the nearby Old Black Forest restuarant - recommended by the inn keeper. Mary have Bavarian pork schnitzel while Jim had Octoberfest sausage. Both good, topped off by apple strudel.
After breakfast, we will he heading to Halifax, a larger town, where we will spend a couple of days.

Maine - Nova Scotia remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Lobster Lab

2007-08-01T00:37:08Z

Well, we have settled on Thurston's as the best lobster pound to have fresh lobster just harvested from the sea. Jim had a hard-shell two-pounder while Mary's soft-shell specimen weighed in at 1.2 lb. Thurton's is one of those "rough-it" places right on its pier, but is much nicer than Beale's where we were the other night.
Before that we took a delightful 2-hour nature cruise in Blue Hill Bay on Mt. Desert Island. We saw plently of seals, cormorants and even some bald eagles and a porpoise. Other birds too. We even stopped to check the captian's lobster trap which had captured two cfrabs and three lobsters.
And, we had an enjoyable picnic along the water before the cruise.
The weather was beautiful thorughout the day.
Tomorrow, its the Cat, the ferry to Canada.

Lobster Lab remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Acadia National Park

2007-07-31T12:42:41Z

We drove a circle loop around the park, mainly along the shore. Some beautiful views, even though it was overcast for much of the day. Striking formations of granite. Some lobster boats checking their traps; they've got a lot of tourists to feed. We had popovers and high tea at on the lawn Jordan's Pond, the way they used to do it years ago. By then, mid-afternoon, it had brightened up considerably, very sunny. The lawn afforded a beautiful view of 'Bubbles," twin dome-shaped mountains carved by the glacier eons ago.
Then, back to Bar Harbor, a town of just 2,000 people. It's a very pleasant place, nice to walk around. Not overdone and not too crowded. We were were told it become a ghost town in the winter when all of the tourists and seasonal workers are gone.

Acadia National Park remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Acadia National Park

2007-07-30T12:23:55Z

We started off our trip in York, Maine, a tourist area along the coast not too far from the Massachusetts line. After dining on fried clams, we walked along the beach into town where we watched salt water taffy being made at Goldenrod's. Mary bought a load to bring home.
Yesterday, we drove up here to Bar Harbor and are ensconced at the Grand Hotel, down town. We drove into Acadia to the top of Cadilllac Mountain. What a view! However a little hazy evidently due to pollution being blown up from the Northeast. I wonder what it looked like back when discovered by the French Explorer, Champlain.
For dinner we ate a Beale's Pier in Southwest Harbor on the island where Acadia is situated. It is a "lobster pound" where you eat the lobsters right off the boat. We got to pick out our own "birds," about 2 lb. each and also had them throw in clams and corn to be boiled together in a netted bag. Good. Really good. The blueberry pie was good too. But, here I am spending more time describing the food than the scenery. Let's face it, I'm here for the food, Mary is here for the scenery. Today, we plan to drive the circle loop in the park. Not before coffee though!

Acadia National Park remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Bags are Packed

2007-07-28T11:43:53Z

Not really, but the bags will be packed soon. Can't wait to hook up the GPS and hit the road. Lobster tonight? Maybe, just maybe.

Bags are Packed remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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Getting Ready

2007-07-26T16:16:56Z

Its amazing the stuff you have to do before leaving on vacation. Medication for the cats, lining up the "Cat Man" to look in on Samantha and Kim, making sure Dr. Jim has all of his electronic gadgets primed, etc. Mary and Dr. Jim will be leaving Saturday. One of the fun parts will be taking the Cat (there's that word again) from Bar Harbor, Maine to Yarmouth, N.S. But first, we will be stopping in Maine to test the waters, not to mention the shell fish. We're getting hungry! We will keep you posted along the way. Please wish us luck and say a prayer for us.

Getting Ready remains copyright of the author jimhersh, a member of the travel community Travellerspoint.

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