Thursday, July 21, 2011

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Vacation in Maine

We recently got back from taking a vacation with another family. During the trip, I kept a journal to help me remember what we did. We all had a wonderful time in Maine and I hope we can go back sometime.

Day 1
Thursday, June 23, 3:25 pm.
We've just finished loading up the RV with our luggage and have now left. It is really really bumpy. I am trying to avoid being motion sick.








Day 2
Friday, June 24, 10:00 am
We are just about to leave the campsite at Lake Keen, PA. It is really crowded with 10 people sleeping in the same RV.

Kristen, Mom, and I cooling off our feet on a bench in the flooded Keen Lake.






Kristen and I playing on the merry-go-round.





Day 3
Saturday, June 25, 9:40 am
We are in New Hampshire. The adults say we should be in our campsite in Maine by 3 pm.
Yesterday while driving, we all played mind games, solved riddles, and listened to Blue Grass music.

Dad trying his hand at the wheel of the RV.














Day 4
Sunday, June 26, 8:42 am
We have now moved into our rented camper. It is in better condition than what I expected, bigger too.

Yesterday after we got set up and had eaten supper, we kids went exploring the camp ground. There was a merry-go-round at the playground. I love those things!


Skipping rocks on a foggy day.









Day 5
Monday, June 27, 8:52 am
We drove around Acadia National Park yesterday and went on a short hike. We saw 2 doe, a buck, and lots of red squirrels.

Kristen and I slept in the tent last night. We were awakened by speeding trucks, howling dogs, and crows (at 4 in the morning).








Day 6
Tuesday, June 28, 8:06 am
Yesterday we wandered around the town of Bar Harbor (the locals pronounce it baa-haa-baa). We explored the shops, scoped out ice cream shops, and ate pizza for lunch. We were so busy with all of this that we missed our whale watching boat! We will be going whale watching on Thursday instead.

The rest of the day was spent here at the campground. Kristen and I went out in the bay while the tide was out. We were laughing really hard because of how the mud tickled when it squished between our toes!

That evening we had a campfire, ate smores, went swimming, and watched a movie.

















Dad peeling snails off of rocks while we are exploring a sand bar that connects the town of Bar Harbor to an island.






A cruise ship docked in the harbor. From the top of Cadillac Mountain we could see that the cruise ship was about the size of the town!





A picture of us kids on the island.







Below are pictures from a place called Thunder Hole. For information on what Thunder Hole is, click here.








Day 7
Wednesday, June 29, 8:10 am
Yesterday we went to hike Jordan's Cliffs. It was really exciting! When we reached the top of the mountain, you could see for miles! It had an amazing view of the ocean, the bay, and the mountains surrounding us! It took us 3-3 1/2 hours to complete the hike. All of us were exhausted. We would have been done a lot sooner if it hadn't been for the adults wanting to stop for pictures so often.

When we got back to the car, we drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain. What a view! At 1,532 feet, Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is the first place to view the sunrise in America from October 7 through March 6.

For supper that evening, we went to a seafood restaurant where we each got a whole lobster. This was a first for all of us. The tail was a bit chewy but the claws were great!








Day 8
Thursday, June 30, 7:27 am
Yesterday we went walking on the carriage roads to take a look at some old stone bridges. They were neat! Throughout the whole walk, we saw 3 carriages, 2 red squirrels, lots of dogs, and a doe.
We visited this little lighthouse. We were all disappointed that we couldn't go inside.


































Kristen and Tate bouncing on a small wooden bridge.











Day 9
Friday, July 1, 8:48 am
Yesterday we went whale watching!!! I didn't get sick but the motion sickness pills did make me REALLY tired. We saw several Finbacks (one was a female named Quartz). Later we saw a Humpback named Gemini! After we got back to the dock, we walked through town again and stopped at an ice cream shop.

That evening we had a campfire, made mountain pies, and toasted marshmallows.
















Click on the pictures to get a closer look.







We kids huddled together to try to stay warm while we were out on the ocean.










When we got back we tackled a 2nd round of lobsters. While trying to crack a lobster open, Dad struck it with a meat hammer; but when he did, the head of the hammer broke off! So we ended up using a wrench. From the other side of the campground Kristen and I could hear the dads hammering away at the lobsters. I think they had fun using the wrench instead of the hammer!






Day 10
Saturday, July 2
Yesterday we went hiking with the dads while the moms visited a little used bookstore and did other mom things. We hiked to the top of several mountains. After the moms picked us up, we went to Log Cabin Restaurant. Later, we went mini golfing at Pirate's Cove. The guys beat the girls team by 6 points, but that is mostly because dad got 5 holes-in-one.

Today we are leaving for home. We should be there late tonight.

Us playing Imagine-iff.











The moms intercepting us at the end of our hike.






















When we got home after midnight, I hit the sack with enthusiasm.
We are all hoping to visit Maine again!