Maine Road Trip

[Quebec Gen]

Last weekend I took a road trip to Maine, I wanted to see the ocean one last time before the cold season. I left Granby (Que) on Friday at 5 p.m., I checked in at the motel in Ogunquit around 9. I briefly watched the Weather Channel, Ophelia was in Nantucket, and we were supposed to get some nasty weather all weekend long...hum great! On Saturday, I took a long walk on the Footbridge beach and along the Ogunquit River. It was cloudy but it never rained. I finally had the opportunity to eat of of those American greasy cheese pizza I love so much, so I knocked myself out, I went to Para's at the Wells Plaza.:o) I didn't know if it was going to rain in the afternoon so I decided to go on a little road trip to Boston. I took route 1 down through Portsmouth, NH, took the Tobin Bridge and stopped in Charlestown to take some pictures. I really love Charlestown, it somehow reminded me of New Orleans with its narrow streets. I went back on the north shore and visited East Boston and Chelsea for a while.

Then I went back to Maine, I craved for a good shrimp scampi since I've been in Maine last June! I went to Wormwood's Restaurant in Camp Ellis, and even though the place is off the touristy area, it was literally packed with people. I had to wait for half an hour, but it was worth it! After dinner, I headed to Portland, I was looking for a particular nightclub but it apparently closed just a few weeks ago. I finally drove all around town, I took Promenade St., went to the waterfront and back to Commercial St. Portland is a neat city at night!

On Sunday, I had a destination in mind : Bar Harbor and Acadia NP. I left Ogunquit around 10:30 a.m. and arrived at the gate of Acadia around 2 p.m. I took the Park Loop Road since I didn't have enough time to hike or walk around. It was still cloudy on that day, but from what I could see, the park offers breathtaking views of the mountains and the ocean. Actually, the islands along the Frenchman Bay reminded me of one of our own national park in Quebec called Le Bic.

Unfortunately, after a few hours of exploring I had to go back home! I decided to try a new route. From Bangor I took route 2 and then, near Farmington, I took SR4 north through the mountains. Route 4 is a fun road to drive, lots of curves and hills. Then I took route 16 towards Eustis and 27 towards Coburn's Cove and didn't see a single car for at least 60 miles! That part of Maine is very wild, lots of unofficial good spots for camping. I finally arrived at the border around 9 p.m. The agents are so sweet in these parts, no unnecessary questionning, no searching the car. It took me 2 hours (20 km + above the speed limit) to go from Woburn (Que) to Granby. I ended up having a very long day of driving but it sure was fun to pick a different route and see some new scenery.

Gen

Ps-AZBuck, I wanted to follow your suggestions, but I stupidly forgot to print them out and couldn't remember the name of the town you told me about in NH!:o((

[Boston Wrangler]

That sounds alike a lot of fun! You were so close to me and I didn't even know! I live 10 miles up I-93 from Boston. Of course I didn't check the board for three months until this weekend, so that could be my fault ;)

I was in Rockport/Camden, ME at the end of August to get engaged. I love that part of the Maine coast!

[Cliff from Cheers voice]It's a little known fact that the Bunker Hill Monument is actually on Breed's Hill and not Bunker Hill.[/Cliff from Cheers voice]

Your picture of "Fenway Park" is actually of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge (currently the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world) with the TD Banknorth Garden (formerly the Fleet Center) in the background. Fenway is another few miles east up Storrow Drive.

The "Big Dig" I-93 tunnel under Boston is pretty unimpressive, isn't it? It's nice to have a new tunnel, but the traffic is still a mess everyday! :)

Nice road trip writeup! I wish I could be as organized as you are. Cheers.

[PNW Judy]

Sounds like a fun trip, Gen! You do such neat things.

[Quebec Gen]

Boston Wrangler,

Your picture of "Fenway Park" is actually of the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge (currently the largest cable-stayed bridge in the world) with the TD Banknorth Garden (formerly the Fleet Center) in the background. Fenway is another few miles east up Storrow Drive.

Thanks, I got the description mixed up with another picture (one of the actual Fenway Park) I didn't put on the site:o) The Sox would have a very interesting outdoor park to play if this would really be the case!:o)) I always enjoy re-visiting Boston.

I was in Rockport/Camden, ME at the end of August to get engaged

Congratulations!

I wish I could be as organized as you are.

Well, I don't consider myself as a much "organized" person actually but thanks anyway:o) The only thing that was organized about this trip was that I made a reservation at a motel in Ogunquit and that's pretty unusual on my part:o) Usually I just drive and never know where I'll sleep.

Cheers

Gen

[AZBuck]

Ps-AZBuck, I wanted to follow your suggestions, but I stupidly forgot to print them out and couldn't remember the name of the town you told me about in NH!:o((

You know, as I've gotten older (and more forgetful), I've come to look at such occurances as simply excuses to go back to places that I love. You obviously enjoy your trips to the New England coast and will get another chance at some of the quieter destinations I suggested.

Mais, vous êtes une fanatique des Yankees?!?!?!

AZBuck

[Quebec Gen]

You know, as I've gotten older (and more forgetful), I've come to look at such occurances as simply excuses to go back to places that I love.

I like the way you put this:o) Except I'm not old at all and I always forget things. I have no excuse, I leave souvenirs everywhere I go, isn't it nice?

Mais, vous êtes une fanatique des Yankees?!?!?!

Not especially:o) Actually, I had to buy a baseball cap and I chose that one because they didn't have my size among the Red Sox ones. It's funny because no one ever notices it here but in the US everyone asks me about it and think I'm from NY. I guess you guys are just more patriotic or it's just that I'm not really into baseball:o) Or maybe it was very bold of me to drive around in New England wearing a Yankees cap (lol). Votre français est vraiment impeccable vous savez! Alors, êtes-vous un amateur des Sox ou des Yankees? Je parie que vous êtes un fan des Sox!

Cheers

Gen

[Sportscar driver]

Great trip Gen. Now is the time to get as much driving in a possible before the snow comes. It is also great to read up on a Canadian perspective. I'm from Toronto and enjoy your write ups.

I spent last year travelling around Brigham Quebec,visiting Knowlton and most of the beautiful villages of the region as posted on
http://www.beauxvillages.qc.ca/anglais/accueil_a.html

[Quebec Gen]

Sportscar driver,

I've worked in Knowlton for at least 5 years and I'm originally from Cowansville, the town next to Brigham. I lived in the Eastern Townships most of my life. If you ever come back over here, let me know, I know this area pretty well and many of those "beaux villages". Have you ever been to West-Brome, Frelighsburg and Iron Hill?

Gen

[Sportscar driver]

I did stop in Frelighsburg and enjoyed it. Did not get to West-Brome, maybe next time.

Time is always a problem, but my next drive will be through the Adirondacks up to Sherbrooke and North Hately.

I too, took some photos and you can view them at www.jasonf.photosite.com.

Thanks for posting your photos. It's a beautiful area and you have a great eye for taking pics.

[Quebec Gen]

Jason,

I see you are really someone who likes to get away from it all just like me:o)) I really enjoyed your pictures even though they were taken in my "back yard":o) Btw, your pictures of "Durham" were actually taken in Dunham. I saw you went to the James Bay too, that's great! I'm actually planning to go there myself in a few weeks! Any suggestions? Have you driven the Trans taîga highway? 688 km of unpaved road starting in Matagami and ending at the Caniapiscau Reservoir! I want to drive that road someday:o)

If you enjoy northern trips, I suggest you drive the Trans Lab highway starting in Baie-Comeau (Qc). The farther I got on that road was Lab City but I plan to go back someday and drive it entirely. I'm waiting because by 2010 approx., the NF Department of Transportation is supposed to complete phase III of the Trans Lab highway. They want to do a National Park out of the Mealy Mountains (Akamiuapishku). So the coast of Labrador will be accssessible from the road, we won't have to take the ferry anymore! Great news!

North Hatley is a beautiful place, looks a lot like Knowlton. On your way stop at the Auberge in Ste-Catherine-de-Hatley for a great dinner or just for a glass of wine or port on the terrace. Not very far from North Hatley, you will find Magog to be a very popular place for tourists. If you enjoy hiking, Mt Orford is 5 minutes away from Magog's downtown. In Sherbrooke, stop by the Antiquarius Cafe on Wellington St for a piece of Tropezienne pie (a typical French dessert from St. Tropez-- very hard to find). While you're there, there's a brulerie next door if you enjoy great coffee and crème brûlée.

Mt Megantic is one hour away from Sherbrooke, if you enjoy hiking in a quiet environment. There is an astronomy observation center there which offers special astronomy evenings. Also, on your way, in Chartierville, you will see the Cote magnetique (Magnetic Hill), a very strange phenomenon of our imagination. try it, it's funny:o) If you want more suggestions, I have plenty, don't be shy to ask!:o) I lived in Sherbrooke for 3-4 years so I know that area pretty well too.

Have a nice day!
Gen