Another Year, Another Exhausting Vacation. LOL!
I took off for a little over 2 weeks and headed up to Maine. Teddy and I loaded up the truck, ’cause he’s very helpful that way, and we took off north, spending the first 2 nights in AirBnBs followed by some time with dear friends in MA and NH before driving up to Northport Maine for a week. Northport is right between Camden and Belfast and I do love that area.
I won’t mention the name of the motel I stayed in because, while the reviews said it was a great place to stay, I’m afraid the only thing I can say about it was that it was affordable. I ended up leaving a day early so I could spend some more time with a friend of mine before driving home 15.5 hours straight.
Here are some of the places I visited:
Natural Bridge State Park
At 200 feet tall, the Natural Bridge is the largest limestone arch in North America. It was actually purchased by Thomas Jefferson in 1774 to preserve it’s natural character.
Ricketts Glen State Park
“Ricketts Glen State Park is one of the most scenic areas in Pennsylvania. This large park is comprised of 13,193 acres in Luzerne, Sullivan, and Columbia counties. The 94-foot Ganoga Falls is the highest of 22 named waterfalls. Old growth timber and diverse wildlife add to the beauty.”
I was going to go to Bushkill Falls, as my second night’s stop was in Bushkill PA, but I’d read that it is privately owned as well as an expensive tourist trap, so I decided to take a detour to Ricketts Glen. I didn’t see 3 of the waterfalls and I’d greatly miscalculated how far this was from the AirBnB I was staying at, but it was a lovely 5+ mile hike. lol
Cathedral of the Pines
It’s been decades since I’ve stopped here. It was next to my friend’s house so we made a quick visit.
Camden Hills State Park
“Camden Hills State Park’s signature location is the scenic vista high atop Mt. Battie where sweeping views of Camden, Penobscot Bay, and surrounding islands await. On a clear day, visitors can see Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. Mt. Megunticook, the highest of the Camden Hills – and highest peak on the mainland – is a moderate climb by foot trail. Other hiking opportunities abound and are well-mapped.”
Lucia, from Timbercliffe Cottage of Camden Inns, was kind enough to lend me her state park pass and instructions on places to visit. I tried to get back to Camden on the Friday before I left but the traffic and crowds were horrible.
Deer Isle Preserves
Most people know I try to avoid crowds and this was one of the least crowded places for a peaceful hike. Deer Isle has many preserve trails along the shoreline.
Bits and pieces
I had some fantastic beer in Belfast at the Marshall Wharf Brewing Company, delicious tamarind duck tacos and a spicy jalapeno margarita at Dos Gatos, and some yummy artichokes at Delvino’s.
