My original plan was to spend our first two nights in Portland to give ourselves time to recover from the long journey, then make our way slowly up the coast towards the Canadian border, hopefully reaching Campobello Island.
My husbands only input before our trip was to decide we would only have one night in Portland, so as US Immigration state we have to have an address for entering the US I reserved a room at Holiday Inn by the Bay.
Our flight from Newark, NJ, to Portland had been on a tiny two propeller plane where I spent the whole journey clutching the seat in fear – thank goodness it only took 45 minutes. I still had the return journey, but hey this was the start of our trip worry about that later!
The airport was quiet and our bags arrived quickly. We went to collect our rental car and although I had only reserved a basic economy model, we were upgraded free to a Chevrolet Trailblazer – apparently they are in short demand due to the cost of gas. As we had hired a Trailblazer on a previous trip we were happy, plus gas is much cheaper in the US than the UK.
Our hotel was a 10 minute journey from the airport and we found it very easily, checked in and up we went to the eighth floor. We unlocked the door of room 802 and WOW – what a view - the bay was lit up below us. We stood and gazed at it, suddenly feeling refreshed. I had joined the Holiday Inn Priority Club when I reserved the room and on checking in had been given a gift bag. On inspection there was 1 small bottle of water, 1 small bag of crisps (chips) and a couple of vouchers – they don’t give much away. One of the vouchers was for a free drink in the bar, so off we went. We stuck it out in the bar until 9pm and then gave in and went to bed. After all we had been on the go for 20 hours.
DAY 1
I wake at 4.30am (my body clock telling me it was 9.30 and late). At 5.30 I got up and opened the curtains so that we could watch the sunrise and by 6.30 we were down at Becky’s Diner for breakfast.
After this we drove to the cruise ship arrival area, parked the car on the street and walked back along the waterside. We checked out the Casco Bay Line office to see the times of the island cruises, pleased to see there was a car park adjoining, then returned to the hotel for coffee before checking out.
We decided we would go on the Diamond Island Mail Run cruise which departed at 11 am ($12.50 Adults). It was very hot and my husband was content to sit on a bench in the sun and wait – I had to go in the shade. The boat called at the islands delivering the mail and collecting passengers. The water was calm, weather warm and there were plenty of seabirds – my husband also saw a seal –we arrived back at 12.30 feeling relaxed and ready to continue our journey.
Looking for lunch we found a Subway in Falmouth and collected snacks for our trip from Walmart which was across the road, then continued through Freeport (packed with people milling everywhere). Taking note of all TA’s advice we detoured many times trying to visit all the villages and harbors off route 1 although we may have missed a few. We drove through Brunswick and then Bath making it as far as Wiscasset (I didn’t expect to get this far our first day). I had three names of B %26amp; B’s (which being used to B %26amp; B’s in the UK I wasn’t keen on using, but there didn’t appear to be any hotels in Wiscasset). Snow Squall had No Vacancy at the gate, Marston House didn’t look very enticing and we couldn’t find Tall Pines – a good start on our first night with no reservation! I went back to my guide book – ah yes Edgecomb Inn which is over the bridge. Off we go – no inn only a very classy looking resort, perhaps its further up the road. Three miles later still no sign, back over the bridge into town and my husband asks at Reds Eats for the Tall Pines B %26amp;B. They never heard of it, try the shop next door. Luckily someone there gave us directions and off we went and found a lovely bungalow with a beautiful garden. I knock on the door, then again, then again – no-one at home, back to town.
Still don’t like the look of Marston House. It’s getting late, my husband has started feeling the effects of jet lag and we are beginning to panic – shall we have to sleep in the car, or we may have to travel further – even worse will Red’s be closed and we won’t get our Lobster Roll.
We go back over the bridge and decide to go in the Resort and ask. The sign says “Sheepscott Harbor Resort %26amp; Village rooms and cottages nightly accommodation”. Are we stupid, we didn’t see that the first time. I go in and yes they have a motel room without a water view for $109 plus tax.
Room 311 is beautifully furnished like a home and has a small balcony where you can just see the water through the trees. It also has a microwave, fridge and tv – we are very happy and set off to Red’s.
My husband is not too sure about eating at a roadside stand, but I convince him. There were about six people in front of us, but service is quite quick and we place our order of 1 Lobster Roll and 1 portion of fries, my husband thinks we have been overcharged and doesn’t think there will be enough for both of us and I explain again they are renowned for their Lobster Rolls which is why they are not cheap. We find a seat on the deck at the back and wait for our number to be called and my husband returns with the tray and can’t believe all the lobster on one sandwich. There was ample for both of us, but my husband still managed to try the blueberry ice cream as we took a stroll round town, before back to our beautiful room.
DAY 2
Next morning I am awake early again, so I go out exploring. A chap is just returning to one of the lakeside cottages with his dog which starts barking at me whilst he frantically tries to shut it up before it wakes everyone. The resort is still under construction with beautiful bungalows being built (we later learn that they are timeshare) so a lot of the grounds are not yet landscaped. There is also a lodge, an inn and a restaurant – for which we had been given a voucher for brunch on check in. I take a few photos of the area in the early morning light, then collect coffee from the lobby and return to our room.
We used our brunch voucher and were on our way. Boothbay Harbor was our next stop. We loved the harbor area and I would have liked to stay here, but it was too early. The skies were becoming grey as we continued to Ocean Point where the artists were out in full. It was very cold and breezy and they were sitting at their easels with their winter coats on.
We made Pemaquid Point Lighthouse at lunchtime in the pouring rain – it had been so heavy at one time we had to pull off the road until it eased. We dodged the rain and went in the shop and when the rain stopped we went to take photos of the lighthouse. We didn’t go in as there would have been nothing to see due to the rain over the sea.
Coffee from the café was good and we drank it in the car and ate a snack before we were off again.
Through Damariscotta and Waldoboro to Camden and about 2 miles outside town on Highway 1 we found High Tide Inn which had a good review on TA. The guy on reception gave us a motel room with a water view (there were rooms on the waterside for a higher rate, but as we were only staying one night and it was foggy and raining I didn’t see the point in paying extra). The room (No.12) was in the corner of an L shaped block and was very clean and although the furnishings were dated I thought it fine for one night. However, it seemed to be on a slope – from the back of the room making your way to the door you ended up on a trot and when turning over in bed you had to beware of rolling out. The cost was $105 plus tax and I feel a little disloyal saying that compared to the previous nights accommodation it did seem a little overpriced. My husband thought it the worst of our trip, but it has the location.
Camden town was too far to walk, so we drove in for dinner which we had at Village Restaurant overlooking the harbour. After dinner we strolled round the harbour and watched osprey fishing before returning to the High Tide for a goods nights rest.
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