Roque Bluffs, Maine Vacation - Day Five

Day Five of our Roque Bluffs, Maine vacation was spent on the road.  We drove north to Lubec to check out the eastern-most location of the United States.  Our first stop was visiting Fort O'Brien - a beautiful view of Machias Bay from the hilltop.  Then we took Route 191 traveling through the coastal towns of Cutler (Destiny Bay is beautiful) and South Trescott.  We got off Route 191 and headed east along Boot Cove Road to Quoddy Head State Park where one finds hiking trails, a beautiful ocean park, and West Quoddy Head Light.  Then on to Lubec where we walked along Water Street and ate at one of the cafes.  Lubec is a wonderful ocean village.  As the end of the day was approaching we headed back to Roque Bluffs - taking Route 1 south (or west) through West Lubec and Whiting. Dinner was hotdogs and veggies on the grill along with a tasty salad.  A nice late evening walk along quiet roads finished up the evening.

Vacation in Roque Bluffs, Maine - Day Four

The weather was better today (Tuesday). A lot of lobster boats out on the water today; the one in the picture was taken from the deck of our rental cottage.  It was nice having coffee on the deck watching them work.  My daughter and I went out on the rental kayak.  It is a fiberglass open two-seater (that is as technical of a description you will get from me).  We went out in the morning for about 1 1/2 hours up the Little Kennebec Bay.  Lunch was a steak meal grilled on the porch overlooking the water.  In the afternoon my wife and I drove our daughter to Ellsworth to drop her off with a friend who is living for the summer on Deer Isle.  Then we returned by 8:30 p.m. to our seaside cottage.

Vacation in Roque Bluffs, Maine - Day Three

Rain, rain, and more rain.  A quiet day in the seaside cottage reading books and working on the computer.  We had a kayak delivered from a kayak rental business located in Machias.  Cost $25 for the delivery and about another $165 of four days of use.  The picture to the right is of Little Kennebec Bay - ideal for kayaking beginners like us!

Vacation in Roque Bluffs, Maine - Day Two

The weather was great today.  We had our morning coffee on the deck of our rental cottage overlooking Little Kennebec Bay.  The seagulls were going to and fro and the lobster buoys were bobbing about.  Once we had breakfast done we took a drive through Machias (north of Roque Bluffs) along the main streets and back roads.  Machias is a pleasant coastal town and we found many places we want to explore on our one-week vacation.  While driving back to our ocean-side cottage we stopped at Hannaford's for some provisions for the week.  My wife picked out the groceries and loaded cart.  I pushed the cart and picked out the beer!  Lunch was at the cottage.  We saw some kayakers going by and chatted with them.  Turns out they live just down the coast about 1/2 mile.  Later we went to Roque Bluff's State Park and visited the beach (see picture of beach).  Nice facilities there.  It is a $3.00 fee per adult unless you have the seasonal Maine State Park Pass (which we do).  Although it was a Sunday, very nice weather day, and in the summer it was not crowded at all.  We left the beach and went hiking on some of the trails in the park.  The trails are well-marked.  After our 3-mile hike we did some driving around the peninsular and looked at all the nice homes we wished we owned!  Then home to the cottage for some outdoor grilling and rest.  A nice vacation day!

Vacation in Roque Bluffs, Maine - Day One

My wife and I took one week off for vacation and decided to spend it at an ocean-side cottage along the coast of Maine. She picked out a lovely place on a peninsular of land where the small town of Roque Bluffs is found.  Roque Bluffs is located just south of Machias, Maine. From the Freeport area it is just a four-hour drive - up Route 295, East along Route 9, and South on Route 193 to Cherryfield, and then east on Route 1 towards Machias. The drive from Bangor to the coast was just beautiful. Our cottage is very nice with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a roomy floor plan - upstairs and down. The cottage comes with all the amenities. Our daughter is spending the first few days with us - and she and I went mountain bike riding along the dirt roads.  The living room, kitchen and outside deck has a wonderful view of the Little Kennebec Bay.  I will post some more entries on this blog about our Roque Bluffs vacation each day.  The picture with this post is of the southwestern point of the Roque Bluffs peninsular.  The link below will take you to a web page depicting the house we are staying at:

http://www.heartsofmaine.com/seaspray.htm

Music in Maine - Unity College Center for Performing Arts

The Unity College Center for the Performing Arts in Unity, Maine regularly holds live music concerts.  A wide variety of music is presented to include bluegrass, rock, Celtic, and folk.  Click the link below to see the schedule.

http://www.unityme.org/theater/

Summer Things to Do in Maine

Are you worried your children will be bored with summer vacation?  An online article can provide you with some great ideas.  See "50 things to do in Maine this summer", Bangor Daily News, June 11, 2010.

Maine Lobster Festival, Rockland, Maine (August 4-8, 2010)

The Maine Lobster Festival will take place in Rockland, Maine on August 4-8, 2010.  A lot of events are planned to include lobster crate race, arts and crafts, cooking contest, parade, road races, entertainment, food, and more.

http://www.mainelobsterfestival.com/

Trail Finder for Franklin County, Maine Now Online

An online resource is now available to aid hikers and walkers to find trails in the Greater Franklin County, Maine area.

"FARMINGTON — A free, interactive, mapping site on the Internet featuring information about 15 nonmotorized-use trails in greater Franklin County went online Friday.

By the end of summer, 30 more trails in the area will be added and the goal is to continue to add trails from each Maine county in the future.

“We'll be adding a trail or two a week to get to 30 trails in greater Franklin County,” said Stephen Engle, director of Center for Community GIS in downtown Farmington. They are hoping to add additional trails in the area as well."

Read more in "Internet trail site unveiled", Sun Journal, June 19, 2010. Learn more about hiking trails in Maine.  Click here to visit the trail finder website for Franklin County.

Nateva Music and Camping Festival, Oxford, Maine (July 2-4, 2010)

The Nateva Music and Camping Festival will take place on July 2-4, 2010 in Oxford, Maine.  This huge music event will draw thousands of people.  Music will start at 11:00 a.m. and go to the early morning hours (past midnight).  The event will be held at the Oxford County Fairgrounds.  Learn more at the event website.

http://www.natevafestival.com/

Vacation Along Maine Coast

A visitor to the Maine central coast writes about his vacation: 

"NORTHPOINT, Maine — My preconceptions of visiting the Maine coast were right on the mark. As a Southerner, I figured there would be no grits. I was right. I pictured pretty and scenic fishing villages, towering forests, and miles of dramatic coastline. Right again.

Too, I figured there would be moose galore. Missed that one by a country mile. There are moose, but they are camera-shy and prefer hiding in the woods than posing for tourists."

Read more in "Maine's central coast offers quaint villages and lobsters", Projo.com, June 20, 2010.

Maine Whoopie Pie Festival - June 26, 2010

The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will take place on June 26, 2010 in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine.

http://www.americanfolkfestival.com/

Victorian Architecture in Portland, Maine

A recent news article provides info on the architecture of Portland.  See "A study in architecture: Portland, Maine", Star Tribune, June 19, 2010.

Chamber Music in Blue Hill, Maine

Kneisel Hall in Blue Hill, Maine provides classical music concerts Fridays and Sundays every summer.  Learn more at the website of the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music School and Festival found below.

http://www.kneisel.org/

Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness Trail

Maine has a 100-mile wilderness trail that runs from Monson to Mount Katahdin.  A large number of land conservation agencies and organizations are working hard to maintain this wilderness and even to expand it.  Read more in "100-Mile Wilderness keeps getting better", Portland Press Herald, June 12, 2010.  Maine has a number of hiking trails throughout the state; but this trail is in one of the more rural areas.

A Maine Guide to Hosting Visitors from Away

Maine's summer months bring wonderful weather . . . and folks from "away" that want some of the mild temperatures and scenic beauty.  Many of us in Maine find ourselves hosting visitors.  Here is a guide that helps us through that process.  Read "A Hands-on Primer for Hosting Guests in Maine", Down East Magazine, June 18, 2010.

RV Camping in Maine

A recent news article discussed the RV season here in Maine:

"CAMDEN, Maine — The summer of 2010 is going to be the best RV season Maine has seen in a long time, according to Richard Abare, executive director of the Maine Campground Owners Association.

Abare said Friday that many campgrounds are booking up, RV retailers are moving merchandise and people are getting outdoors for their vacations. The overall impact of RV campers in Maine this year will exceed $775 million, Abare said."

Read the rest of the article in "RV season revving up in Maine", Bangor Daily News, June 18, 2010.

High-End Summer Camps in Maine

Maine is home to many summer camps.  Some camps are a little pricey and offer many additional features.  Read more in "America's Priciest Summer Camps", Forbes, June 15, 2010.  Click here to learn more about summer camps in Maine.

Memories of Isle au Haut - Off the Coast of Maine

An old time Mainer recounts life as a young man on the Isle au Haut.  Read "Memories of childhood summers on Isle au Haut", The Working Waterfront, June 2010.  Click here to learn more about the Isle au Haut.

Moxie Festival - July 9-11, 2010

The Maine Moxie Festival will take place July 9-11, 2010.  There are loads of activities to include fireworks, family fun, carnival, parade, and a canoe river race.

Cruise Ships to Have Good Season in Maine

New England ports, to include seaports in Maine, are expecting a good season with visitations of cruise ships.  Maine expects to see 335 cruise ship calls this year.  Read more in "New England ports expect record cruise ship season", BusinessWeek.com, June 13, 2010.

Healthy Maine Walks Registry

Are you looking for some new trails to take a walk or hike on in Maine?  Well make it easy on yourself to find that trail.  There is a registry of walking routes or trails for Maine that is compiled by "Healthy Maine Walks".  The website is listed below.

http://www.healthymainewalks.org/findawalk.php

Click here for more information about hiking in Maine.

Great Wass Island Preserve in Beals, Maine - A Nice Seashore Hike

For those of you interested in hiking along the seacoast of Maine - you might consider the Great Wass Island Preserve in Beals, Maine.  As the name indicates it is an island and it is located just south of Jonesport, Maine.  There is a land bridge that will take you to it.  (Google the name and you will see exactly where it is or click here to view a Google map).  A blogger (Cedarholm Garden Bay Inn) has posted an online article about his hike there and has 14 pictures on the post - see the blog post by clicking here.  The Nature Conservancy also provides information on Great Wass Island.  The preserve is almost 1,600 acres big.  Click here to learn more about hiking in Maine.

Car-less Commuting in Maine: Good for the Environment and Your Health

Getting rid of your car (if only the extra one) can save money as well has improve your health and the environment.  A Maine writer describes how he has been able to do all this.  He relies on public transportation, walking and biking.  Read "Maine Voices: Car-less Commuting is Worth It", Natural Resources Council of Maine, May 19 2010.  Click here to learn more about biking in Maine.

Downeast Sunrise Trail Opens in Maine

"The Downeast Sunrise Trail has been about 20 years in the making. "A group of bicycling friends kept looking at the railroad and knew that in 1986 the state had purchased the railroad and that there were no more trains on it," says Sally Jacobs, who founded the Downeast Sunrise Trail Coalition."

Read the rest of the article in "New Multi-Use Trail Opens in Downeast Maine", Maine Public Broadcasting Network, April 23, 2010.  Click here to learn more about hiking and biking in Maine.

Bike Shops in Maine

Summer is fast approaching in Maine and with it comes beautiful biking weather.  If you don't have a bike for touring or mountain biking then now is the time to get one.  Or, perhaps you need to "tune up" the machine a bit.  Here is a listing of bike shops found in Maine.  Start enjoying the outdoors with some good exercise by biking in Maine.

Tour the Coast of Maine on a Lobster Boat

Maine's lobstermen have come upon hard times.  The economy has decreased the demand for Maine lobster therefore lowering the price per pound.  The cost of lobster bait and fuel for boats has gone up.  Many lobstermen from Maine diversify their livelihood by doing other jobs such as trucking, construction, and part-time work.  One lobsterman has taken to giving rides to tourists on his lobster boat.  Read more about this story in "Lobsterman a tour guide", Bangor Daily News, June 7, 2010.  Interested in eating some Maine lobster but can't come to Maine?  Click on the link below:

Bar Harbor All Natural Maine Whole Lobster Meat, 6.5-Ounce Cans (Pack of 2)

The Maine Blues Festival - June 19, 2010

The 5th Maine Blues Festival will take place on June 19, 2010 in Naples, Maine.  There will be over 40 performers.  Performances will take place both indoors and outdoors on 12 different stages.

Camden, Maine: An excellent vacation spot

Camden, Maine is a wonderful place to visit while on vacation or for a weekend trip.  A seacoast village nestled amongst hills - it has a charm all of its own. The port has both pleasure yachts and working fishing boats.  There are numerous hotels, bed and breakfasts, and inns to stay at.  A variety of eating establishes are available as well. The village is located along the coast on Route 1 and easy to find. There is a state park nearby for camping.  You can take windjammer or sailing trips from its picturesque harbor.

Book Review: Seaworthy by Linda Greenlaw

The famed author Linda Greenlaw has another book out.  It is entitled "Seaworthy: A Swordboat Captain Returns to the Sea".  After spending a number of years living on Isle au Haut - a secluded island off the coast of Maine - the former fishing boat captain decided to return to the sea for another fishing excursion. This trip would provide her and her crew with many challenges to include landing in a Canadian jail!  Linda Greenlaw was the female boat captain depicted in the book The Perfect Storm: A True Story of Men Against the Sea by Sebastian Junger.  The book was later made into a movie called The Perfect Storm starring George Clooney.  Greenlaw is also the author of other books as well to include The Hungry Ocean: A Swordboat Captain's Journey and All Fisherman are Liars: True Adventures at Sea.















Read book reviews of "Seaworthy":

"Is She Still "Seaworthy'?: A Mariner's Misadventures", National Public Radio, June 4, 2010.
"Books: Sea change", The Portland Press Herald, May 23, 2010.
"Linda Greenlaw writes about return to swordfishing in new book", The Working Waterfront, May 2010.

Whitewater Rafting in Maine

With the hot weather arriving in Maine now is the time to consider a wet sport that will cool you off.  Maine offers wonderful whitewater rafting experiences.  The state has many guided tours available at reasonable prices.  The three most popular rivers in Maine for whitewater rafting are Penobscot River, Dead River and the Kennebec River.  Click here for more information about whitewater rafting in Maine.

Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Music Festival - Litchfield, Maine - June 17-20, 2010

The Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Music Festival will take place in Litchfield, Maine on June 17-20, 2010. Learn more at the website. http://www.blisteredfingers.com/

3rd Annual Bangor Waterfront Arts & Crafts Show (9-11 July 2010)

The 3rd Annual Bangor Waterfront Arts and Craft Show will be held from 9 to 11 July, 2010. This three day event will take place near the downtown section of beautiful Bangor, Maine.

http://www.unitedmainecraftsmen.com/eventsdetails.asp?contentID=8827

Trek Across Maine - June 18-20, 2010

The three-day, 180 mile "Trek Across Maine" will take place from June 18-20, 2010.  This is the Sunday river to the Sea bike trip that benefits the American Lung Association. You can make the trip and also set up your own personal fundraising web page throught he Trek website. The trip ends in Belfast, Maine.  Overnight accomodations are available at the University of Maine at Farmington and Colby College in Waterville.   Find our more information at http://www.biketreknewengland.org/.  Find our more about biking in Maine.

National Trail's Day Hosted in Camden, Maine (June 5, 2010)

"As part of the national celebration of trails and in honor of the many volunteers who help maintain them, the Ragged Mountain Recreation Area will host National Trails Day Saturday, June 5th. The day-long event also will seek volunteers to perform trail clean-up, maintenance and other trail related projects."

Read the rest of the article here:
http://www.camdenme.org/news/release.php?ID=379

The event takes place in Camden, Maine.

Central Maine Lodges by the Appalachian Mountain Club to Open Soon

The Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) has acquired 29,500 acres of wilderness land (purchased in Nov 09) to add to other properties that will make the central Maine wilderness more accessible to campers and hikers.  This area is also home to many lodges from years past that fell into private hands but now are available to the public.  Read more in "Opening Up the Maine Woods", Men's Journal, March 31, 2010.

Maine Lighthouse Week - 3rd Full Week In June

The 3rd full week in June has been designated as "Maine Lighthouse Week". 

"§139. Maine Lighthouse Week

The Governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting aside the 3rd full week in June as Maine Lighthouse Week to invite and urge the people of the State to observe this week in suitable places and with appropriate ceremony and activity to honor and commemorate the important role of lighthouses in Maine's history. [2001, c. 5, §1 (NEW).]"

Click here to learn more about lighthouses in Maine.