It started with the idea of a cruise, and kind of grew from there.
Being hauled around in the lap of luxury sounded amazing, but the reality of having very little time seeing the places we wanted to go, and being on someone else's schedule didn't equate to the ideal vacation for us this time around.
So we decided to go big or stay home.
And we went big.
17 days
About 4300 miles
8 states
4 Canadian provinces
7 days camping
3 campgrounds
2 bed and breakfasts
1 hotel
Our trip actually began with a few days in New Castle, PA. There was a visit to see the Pittsburgh Pirates, the New Castle Fireworks Festival, and some lounging around. Then we bid adieu to the girls and got out of Dodge.
Phase 1:
Since we were driving across Pennsylvania it only made sense to stop by Scranton and see a few corny artifacts from one of our favorite series' The Office.
So many people were interfering with traffic by snapping photos of the Scranton sign that they ended up relocating it in the Steamtown Mall.
This paper factory tower thing was also in the opening credits, and needed to be photographed.
After 12 or so hours driving, we finally arrived at our first destination, Portland.
It.Was.Hot.
We walked around Casco Bay, marveling at all the boats anchored. One question.....how do their owners get to them?
These old dock posts were creepily beautiful.
This could have been our ride. Later in the evening, when the cruisers had to line up to get back on their ship, we were on our way to eat our lobsters and were feeling pretty good about our decision to road trip it!
Earl is decked out in Lobstermen gear. Don't forget....
It.Was.Hot!
Stuffing herring into the bait nets.
Maine built a fort during the Civil War. Who knew?
Unfortunately, the fort was not completed until after the war and so (to my limited knowledge, just going by Ms. Tourism Helper Lady) it has never been occupied. Today, you can take a private boat and walk around the grounds. We just motored past it.
Captain Tom demonstrating the proper way to measure a lobstah.
Everyone got a chance to do about every part of lobster trapping (except pull the traps in). Here we are posing in front of our newly baited trap ready to push it in.
Earl banding a claw.
Sea raven!
Ugliest fish...
But supposedly it's good luck to kiss it.
I snapped a photo instead.
Tossing in the baby lobsters.
Our measuring device.
The lobsters had to be larger (as measured from the eye socket to the bottom of the carapace) than the minimum side, but smaller then the maximum side.
Not quite big enough.....
The Portland Headlight
Claiming our lobsters for dinner!
We bought the lobsters from the boat for $5 a piece. A great deal considering that they were both good-sized!
This one was probably closer to two pounds!
After dropping them on the restaurant's counter, we waited for them to be steamed and plated.
Yum!
Because Libby loves seeing her name on things we couldn't resist a quick trip to Scarborough and Len Libby Chocolates!
Next we went to the DeLorme headquarters where the largest rotating globe is housed.
This sucker is HUGE!
And the gift shop was great fun for two geography nerds like us!
Then it was on the L.L.Bean Village in Freeport.
There were at least 4-5 separate, huge L.L.Bean stores in the village.
We ogled and dreamed and in the end left with only a bag of balsam fir potpourri.
And then in Bangor we stalked Stephen King's house.
Notice the spiderweb design on the front gate!
Shortly after that we entered Canada and Phase 2 of our vacation....
Love getting to enjoy your adventures both through your photograhpic lens and even more so through the lens into your brain, heart, & humor in your captions! Looking forward to seeing Phase 2...
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