Boothbay Harbor, Maine

We made it! Our trip from Seattle on the west coast to Maine on the east coast was completed today as we entered Boothbay Harbor in Maine. It has taken us 42 days and 4,700 miles since we left Seattle. We arrived on a day with the sun breaking out of the clouds but with a cool Fall breeze in the air. We're staying two nights here the RV Park that is just outside the quaint lobster and fishing town of Boothbay Harbor. We had spent a second day in Quebec City doing a very engaging walking tour of the walled city. [More will be added about this day in a later update]. A Farmers Market just 100 yards from where we were camped in the Marina had quickly become a favorite spot to visit with its sheltered roof and rich aromas of fresh bread, pastries, fruit, vegetables, and cheese and assorted other products. We passed through on the way to and from the walled city walk taking note of a few items we’d get before we left town. The past few days of inclement weather of cold wind and squalls that had forced us into the van more than we’d like was beginning to wear thin. In between showers it was was great but sometimes our van was heavily buffeted as we sat around waiting for the harsh weather to pass. A call to a relative in Maine telling us that they had clear skies was enough to prompt us to break camp and carry on our journey to Maine on Sunday. We did a final shop at the Farmers Market picking up some Apple Butter (made by local farmer), 15 quail eggs (that we were curious to try) and the last of the great French-style pastries. We decided to break the 300 mile trip to Maine into 2 days driving and headed for the US border following a slower, scenic route south of Quebec. We crossed the border without incident, passing through a low-traffic crossing with amenable border patrol guards who were thorough in their job but happy to chat. Our travel leg between Quebec and Maine was rewarded with captivating fall colors as we followed the Kennebec River most of the way until our stop in Bingham. We lucked upon a deceivingly large RV park that was not evident from the road. They had showers (a must by this stage after a few days of Marina parking lot living), electrical and water hook up and a dump station – all for $24. The park was mostly geared toward river rafting and All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) users in the summer then snow-mobile users in the winter. We’d arrived at the river rafting end-of-season weekend. To our surprise and delight the rafting guides were meeting that night at the park with a huge bonfire planned. We hooked up our van to one of the 8 sites that looked across a lush green field approximately two football fields large – the only vehicle on the property. Near one end of the field was a shower block and volleyball net. Off to one side of those, safely situated in the middle of the open field, was a 10’ high stack of wood ready to burn. Later that evening as the girls were being read a book just before lights out, we heard a few loud cheers and looked out to see the bonfire alight. We quickly put on warm clothes (it was getting down to freezing outside) and, like moths, fluttered over to check out the brilliant huge yellow flames that were licking some 30 feet into the air. After a few mesmerizing minutes watching the fire and feeling its warmth some 30-40 feet away, we headed back to the van and to bed. Breakfast on Sunday morning was quail eggs and wonderful French bread. We quickly learned that quail eggs have a brittle shell and tough membrane. They do no "crack" as easily or cleanly as chicken eggs. Nonetheless we figured out how to fry up the eggs and enjoyed a meal of these delicate small eggs. Our original goal was to arrive in Acadia National Park (in Maine) but an opportune gathering of some relatives who would soon be heading home nudged us toward the Boothbay Harbor area south of Acadia National Park. We’ll stay here a few days before heading north to Acadia National Park, likely catching the last few days that the national park will be open and the weather hospitable to be there. We did a quick driving/walking tour of Boothbay Harbor village this afternoon and have promised ourselves to come back for dinner tomorrow night – to enjoy some of the famous Maine lobster!

[Photo added later at our Lobster meal]