Maine Road Trip Day 7 More Covered Bridges

 When I think I've been on most of the backroads in Maine, he surprises me.  The covered bridges are not on the beaten path.  We saw seven in total, most were easy access, just a few miles (some more than a few) from one another, but a few had very bumpy gravelly roads to access.  We have had the most beautiful day so far to find them.  We came upon a working horse farm, with the nicest ladies there that invited us to get out of the car and look around.  

Again, we have been pleasantly surprised at the size of the homes here (Clyde has been more than me:)  They truly are so well maintained, said that before.  The bridges are all top notch.  Very nicely kept up.  A real gem to find them and see how nice they are.  

So, we are through, for now seeing lighthouses and covered bridges in Maine.  We turned back and staying overnight in the same room we stayed in last Tuesday night, in Ogunquit, Maine.  The Studio East.  This is where we took the lobster boat out of the Perkins Cove.  We'll head back down there this evening or tomorrow morning.  Now, it's rest time in our room.  Here are photos from today.  

My grandkids surprised me yesterday on Grandparent's Day with texts to both Pap and I and all three actually read/looked at our trip pics on this blog.  That was so sweet!  Love them so! Got a text from our son as well, with a very sweet message on Grandparent's Day.  A good day.

Stopped to pick up some more bottled water and found some blueberry jam.  A win.

Number five is Hemlock Covered Bridge, Fryeburg, Maine, built in 1857.  The road to get there (off the main road) was long, about a mile, and gravel/dirt/bumpy.  

There are no McDonald's (for Egg McMuffin and my unsweetened ice tea) in these small towns.  You see a few in the bigger towns, but it is wise to pack a few snacks until you get to a nice place to eat.  We have NOT starved, but the restaurants aren't on every corner.

A mother and daughter run this farm with their nice, big house near the barn & stable area.  Their husbands were away at jobs, and several other ladies were here working the farm and taking care of the horses.

Number six, Parsonsfield Historical Bridge, in Porter, Maine.  Built in 1876, restored in 1999.  

This is number seven and last on our list to see/visit.  It is Babb's Bridge in South Windham.

A boat was passing under as we stood looking and some sunbather's were sitting at the water's edge.  

So now we are turning toward the south and our Bluegrass Kentucky home.  We will have to see all the fall foliage color there, as we missed it here.  There have been some trees changed already and MANY beautiful summer flowers and those BIG cone shaped Hydrangea trees/bushes.  All in all, a GREAT time to visit Maine. 

Maine Road Trip Day 6

 Last night we stayed in Bar Harbor and today turned towards the western part of Maine before we travel south to Kentucky.  Heading home we will visit covered bridges.  Not as many as we stopped to see lighthouses.  But it takes a lot of driving from one town to see another.  

These have been pretty neat!  First stop, Corinth, ME, to see Robyville Bridge. This one was built in 1876 and the sign over the top says "Horses and Mules at a Walk or 1 Dollar Fine/No spitting-No seegars" Ha ha ha.  This made me laugh.  Amazing  that it has stood the test of time.  I took a photo of Clyde driving through it.  

Number two:  Low's Covered Bridge, Guilford, ME.  It was a long bridge.  The sign said "1990" so it was restored then.  Leaving there, we were getting hungry.  NO stops.  NO restaurants, places to eat.  Thankfully, we saw a small grocery/diner and stopped.  The customers leaving bragged on it.  The sign said "Home of the original Whoopie pies"....hahaha.  Also, said they had the world's best chicken salad, "just ask our customers".  Well, I LOVED IT!!!!  I have made it for many years.  I have eaten the best at Tack House and Chicken Salad Chick.  This one had GREAT flavor.  They put tomatoes, lettuce and pickles (Clyde's request) on it.  Honestly, SO good!!!!!  Name "Douin's" Diner.

Number three:  Love Joy Covered Bridge, Andover, Maine, erected in 1867.  Met a couple riding their motorcycle and stayed and chatted for awhile with them.

Number four:  Sunday River Covered Bridge, Sunday River, ME.  We met a very nice couple from Connecticut there.  I didn't see a sign with the date of being built.  It was non-driving, but you could walk through.

That is it for now.  We have another one near here, but we came on to our room.  Found a nice "time share" here in Bethel, River View Resort.  This is snow skiing country, part of Maine.  

Number one Robyville Covered Bridge, Corinth, Me

Number two: Low's Covered Bridge, Guilford, ME

Number three: Love Joy Covered Bridge, Andover, ME

Early in our marriage, we joined a Corvair Club, following our good friends, the Wiley's.  We owned a couple and had them restored, took car trips with the club and saw this one on the road today.

Number four: Sunday River Covered Bridge, in Sunday River.

        

Maine Road Trip Day 5

 Today is Saturday, and our "turning around" point.  We have visited ten lighthouses that he wanted to see.  A few extra were ones we couldn't/didn't walk to.  We have had the perfect day for a top down ride.  There have been a lot of short hikes/steps to get to where we wanted to be.  I have been thankful for a knee that was repaired last March and held up this trip like a pro.

Clyde had a rough week before we started.  His blood pressure was very high, but thanks to God, with a new medication, it has come down.  Another blessing, we have found suitable accommodations each night.  We have a "route" mapped out, but not set in stone.  So we are flexible to stay or leave a place as we choose.  Therefore, we had no motel reservations.  Waiting until after Labor Day was the best choice for us.  

Today we saw #9 in Stockton Springs, name Fort Point Light.  We added it in because one on his list didn't work out.  This one was near our overnight motel.  It was a light on a house.  

Number 10 on our list was Bass Harbor Lighthouse, in Bass Harbor.  What we didn't know about this one, you get on the road to it and the line of cars waiting is long.  So, you wait.  When one pulls out of the parking lot, one goes in.  Until it's your turn.  The view is nice.  

So, tonight we stay in Bar Harbor, plan to walk downtown and find food.  Oh, we ate at a place recommended to us called "Charlotte's" for lunch and we had nice haddock sandwiches (also recommended).  *update We walked downtown and ate at Side Street Cafe, our motel recommended it.  Live music was good, and the lobster roll, clam chowder was good.  

Maine is known for growing blueberries and lobster!  Every other house has lobster trap boxes piled high.  Every restaurant has lobster rolls on their menu.  All rolls are $28+ each (some a dollar or two less, many are higher), fresh lobster, as good as it gets.  Some are fully loaded, some rolls are a little sparse.  We have eaten fresh haddock (Charlotte's), Cod (not my choice),  haddock dinner, and lobster rolls.  I want a steak, baked potato and tossed salad.

Wild turkeys are everywhere.  They are mostly the only wildlife we have seen.  A couple of deer but so far that's it.  But the view, the ocean, boats, houses have all been beautiful.  Today, God bless the USA.  Everyday, God bless the USA.  9/11 let's not forget.