USA Road Trip: Week 10

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I had been to New York City (where I had lived for 12 years), and upstate (where my sister has a house) at Christmas, so we decided to pass on Manhattan this time around; this view of the New York skyline from a New Jersey freeway was the closest we got to Manhattan. Although my sister was visiting her son in Seattle when we got to her neighborhood, we had access to her house, and stayed there for a few days. We were heading into New England, so knew that we would be able to catch up with her when we came back that way.

“With more lobsters, lighthouses and charming resort villages that you can shake a selfie stick at, Maine is New England at its most iconic. The sea looms large here with mile upon mile of jagged sea cliffs, peaceful harbor and pebbly beaches” (Lonely Planet, New England, 2017, p. 364). One of our two favorite lighthouses on this trip was at Pemaquid Point. “Pemaquid Point stands out for its twisted rock formations pounded by the restless sea. ... major destination for its natural beauty. Artists and nature lovers from across the globe come here to record the memorable seascape in drawings, paintings and photographs” (LP, p. 386). You can walk on a rocky path behind the lighthouse to get some great shots. We also witnessed a wedding celebration at the lighthouse; it was the second wedding party on this trip that we kind of crashed (the other one was at the b&b in Savannah). You can also climb up into the lighthouse, or visit the museum, which has some interesting lighthouse memorabilia.

“Without question, is quintessential Maine: as you head further and further up the coast toward Canada, the peninsulas seem to become more and more narrow, jutting further into the sea. The fishing villages seem to get smaller; the lobster pounds, closer to the water” (LP, p. 392). “Formed by glaciers some 18,000 years ago, Mt. Desert Island (Acadia National Park) is the jewel of the Down East region. It offers vast geological variety, from freshwater lakes to dense forests, and from stark granite cliffs to voluptuous river valleys. There are many ways to experience the 108-square mile island’s natural beauty, whether hiking the forested mountains, swimming in the secluded lakes or kayaking the rocky coast” (LP, pp. 393-4).

We did see a few charming villages along the way, but cloudy weather caught up with us again in Acadia National Park, so we don’t have that many good pictures of the area.

We tried some lobster, which was available from Connecticut to Maine, and Nova Scotia. A quick and easy way to try lobster is to have a lobster roll - lobster pieces on a hot dog bun. A hotel person told me to have it with butter, not mayonnaise. I had both - with butter was much better. I saw someone eating a lobster for the first time, and she really looked lost. It’s a lot of work, just to get a small amount of lobster meat. My hotel person also said to try “lazy lobster” - about 6 ounces of lobster meat, already shelled, in a bowl of butter. So much easier than all that cracking and picking.

Mileage driven after this blog, from Seattle: 13,875 miles, or 23,330 km

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Comments

[Pat Crisp]

Maine
There is no better entree than lobster and the best is in Maine. I'm green with envy. Beautiful pictures; you captured the essence of Maine.

[ontheroadagain2017]

Thanks, Pat! The lobster was yummy, especially since I didn't have to crack it open.

[ontheroadagain2017]

Thanks, Pat! The lobster was yummy, especially since I didn't have to crack it open.

[janet]

lobster
good to know lazy lobster. never had my own lobster, but lazy sounds like the way I should get it. like lazy crab legs too.

[ontheroadagain2017]

I had ordered one before; when it came out, it was a whole frigging lobster! I couldn’t begin to tear it apart, or eat it, so gave it to Pete. This time I went prepared - I didn't want to see any eyes or body parts - just the meat. Not very cheap, but better than giving it away!!