Hello everyone. What a wonderful time we had in New Hampshire. Mark was brave and drove up the Auto Road to the top of Mt. Washington. Believe me, after we passed the tree line it was easier for me to just close my eyes...it was a loooooonnnnngggg way down. Once we were at the top, we were in shrouded in the fog so didn't get the good views that you get on a clear day. But at 6,000+ feet, the weather changes frequently. We went on a moose hunt again...took a tour that started out at 6:30 pm. The van had heavy duty lights and we cruised back and forth on "Moose Mile" until 10:30. During that time we saw 9 of the critters...just one bull with the antlers...and two who crossed right in front of the van. I couldn't get any pictures, but it was fun anyway.

We drove all over the area...again the leaves are just turning, but some pretty spectacular vistas. We visited the Balsam Hotel in Dix Notch...this is where the first ballots are cast in any presidential election. All the people in the district show up at the hotel and within a couple of hours of the polls being open, they have counted the votes and posted the results.

We went hunting water falls and covered bridges and found quite a few. What was funny is that the brochures said...easy walk. Then we got there and the signs say...100 steps down to the falls...but they don't say anything about the rocks/roots you have to avoid before you get to the steps! So most of the falls were 1/4 mile straight down and 1/4 mile straight up. Believe me the views were worth the pain in my legs the next day. We visited the Flume Gorge which if you ever get up this way is magnificent...again, lots of steps but well worth the trip.

Woke up this morning to frost on the ground and the car. Buddy took one step out the door of the camper and looked back at us with a look that said..."Are you kidding me?" But of course once the sun was, the temps got back to about 61.

I can't believe the number of motorcycles we have seen on this trip. Tons in Maine...and quite a lot in N.H. even with the cool temps that we are seeing. Yes, it's driving Mark nuts.

No real touring now for the next two weeks...it's time to go to work. So, more later.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Terry and Mark

The time has come to leave Maine and I am sorry to go. It was really beautiful here and the people are extremely nice. Most of the gas pumps in the smaller towns don't have a slot for credit cards...so you pump first then go in and pay. How long has it been since any of us has encountered that? In Baxter State Park, they sell wood and rent canoes/kayaks on the honor system...if you take some, just leave the money in the jar. At the camp ground where we are staying after Mark filled up the propane canister the guy told him if nobody was in the office to take the money, Mark could get with him the next day! Over the weekend we attended the Trails End Festival in Millinocket. People that we encountered in various restaurants over the last couple of days saw us there and said hello. On Sunday, we took the dogs with us to listen to the music. People came by and offered them dog treats, and brought them water! Many people sat with us just to pet the dogs...it was something else.

They are very patriotic up here too. Many houses have large stars on the outside of their homes and fly the flag. When a service man or woman is killed in the war and is laid to rest, all flags on all buildings are lowered to half staff throughout the state. What a wonderful tribute to our servicemen/women.

We spent our last day with my cousings Rob and Heather and her two children Kaydence and Wyatt. Had a nice dinner together and then everyone (not me) roasted marshmallows in the stove and made s'mores. It was nice being with family.

Tomorrow we are heading a bit south to the White Mountains of N.H. Pretty soon it will be time to go to work...classes in N.H., Ma., and Vt.

More later.

Terry and Mark

Good evening. IT ARE MOOSE!!! We saw our first moose with antlers today. It was a teenager (could tell since he was kind of little...if you can call something that weighs ~800lbs little). We were driving in Baxter State Park where you drive on a gravel road going no more than 20 miles/hr. We rounded a curve and there it was in the middle of the road. By the time we realized what we were seeing he took off into the trees...I couldn't even get my camera focused. But that's okay...we saw it! We had spent the last two evenings cruising the areas that are known to attract the moose without success. The views in this park have been fantastic. The leaves are just starting to turn colors. There is no electricity anywhere in the park...all camping is primitive...they do have cabins, but you have to bring in everything from your bedding to your food, and even your water. Obviously there are no showers, unless you go in the lakes and only pit toilets to use. We visited with my cousin Rob who lives in a cabin in the park. He has a wood furnace to keep warm by and a couple of solar panels to heat his water and some electricity. In the park there is very limited cell service, so for him to use his cell phone in the park he has to be in his cabin with the phone hooked up to a huge antenna. We almost felt like we were back in Alaska! We went for what was supposed to be a half mile walk each way to the area where Mark and I are in the picture. He said...it's pretty flat and an easy walk. So I figured...no problem...I can do a mile. Well...he neglected to tell me we would have to climb around rocks and tree limbs...and walk across some boards that looked to be no wider than a balance beam!!!! A mountain goat I'm not!!! But we perservered and the view was totally worth it. Thank goodness for Tylenol!

The Appalachian Trail that starts in Georgia (on Springer Mountain) ends ~2,100 miles later on Katadhin Mountain here in Baxter State Park. Tomorrow and Sunday they are having a 'Trails End" festival to celebrate the end of the hiking season. We have seen lots of wooly, loaded down hikers both in the park and in the town of Millinocket.

We will be here through Tuesday. My cousin Heather who lives over in Punta Gorda is coming up here with her two kids to visit with Rob (that's her brother). So we will visit with them on Monday. Tuesday, we will head for the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We should be in the peak leaf peeping season within 2 weeks.

Marks is getting the fire going, so time to roast marshmallows. More later.

Terry and Mark

Greetings from Bar Harbor. It has been a delightful 4 days here with absolutely gorgeous weather. We attempted to go on a whale watching tour, but after Hurricane Bill and Tropical Storm Danny, their feeding grounds have been disturbed. We did see one Minki whale, but only for a few seconds. We got a voucher and tried again today, but all we saw was a basking shark. Oh well, both days were fantastic on the water...got to see more lighthouses, some outrageous homes on the cliffs, and the lobstermen pulling up their traps...so not a bad deal all around. The Desert Island Lighthouse was badly destroyed in the hurricane...at least the house itself was. This is a research lighthouse for the students at the College of the Atlantic to study whales, seals, and sea birds. From one angle everything looked fine, then we came around the bend and there is very little of the house left. We explored all over the island, finding little towns and harbors tucked away. Walked the shore walk in Bar Harbor which starts at the Bar Harbor Inn (where we enjoyed lunch on the terrace) and goes for awhile along some of the sea side houses and other inns. Then strolled throught the town of Bar Harbor...a very dog friendly sort of places...it seems like every other person had their dog with them. Plus there were 2 stores just for dogs on the main street!

Explored Acadia National Park, and all I can say about it is that I can fully understand why this is the most visited National Park in the country. The views were breath-taking. Went for a walk (not a hike) of about a mile and as we turned the last bend there was this beautiful body of water surrounded by trees and mountains. WOW.

Tomorrow, we start heading further north to the end of US 1 (yes the same one that is down by us in Florida) and then west. By Thursday we will be meeting up with my cousin Rob who is a park ranger in Baxter State Park. He promised me MOOSE.

Take care.

Terry and Mark

Good morning everyone...Finally back where I have an internet connection. We have sure been busy since we arrived in Maine on Sunday. Mark's brother has been telling us about the Ogonquit Playhouse for years, so we took a chance and were able to get tickets for an afternoon performance. We saw "Singing in the Rain", and I must rave about the performance. There were times when you thought you were seeing the original cast of the movie that's how good they were. Then off to explore the area...down to York where we saw the Nubble Lighthouse (built in 1879) and then to dinner where I tried to tackle a 2 pound lobster.The next day we were up in Old Orchard Beach where for a minute you thought you landed back in Coney Island with all sorts of food and vendors and carnival rides. For the afternoon, we travelled over to Newfield where they have an 1800's village with buildings and artifacts. They had an original 1894 carousel (that still works), an 1849 stagecoach, 1839 school house, a roadable aeroplane from 1926 (it was supposed to take off and land on the road...so you didn't have to go to the airport)...needless to say it never got off the ground, sleighs and carriages of the day and so much other stuff to see we could have spent days there looking at every little thing.

Of course a stop in Freeport is not complete without a visit to LL Bean...what a shopping complex. Store after store (there are 5 different ones here) selling everything you can think of for everyone in the family including pets! We visited the Desert of Maine...yes a real desert in the woods...but if you looked real close, you weren't really in the woods...the sand has covered the base of the trees and the limbs are now the roots of the trees. This happened because of glacial activity a gazillion years ago...but what an interesting place to visit. Headed to Portland to take a boat tour of several lighthouses. The Portland Head Light (was built in 1791 by order of George Washington)...boy we can't seem to escape history can we...is the most photographed one in Maine and with good reason.

We took a break one stay and stayed put in Searsport. This had to be the most beautiful campground we have ever stayed at. Perched on a small cliff overlooking the ocean, we spent the day watching the sailboats and seagulls go by. They even have a small beach and we were able to let the dogs loose to run and run they did...chasing the waves and the seagulls. We ate dinner at a very unique place last night called Young's Lobster Pound...you get your basic meal (lobster, clams, fish, etc.) with maybe a small side of cole slaw or potato salad. Then you sit outside at picnic tables and watch the sunset. What made this different, is that you are allowed to bring whatever else you want to eat/drink with you. People showed up with baskets of salads, breads, chips, beer and wine. Some even brought their dogs!

The weather is great...no rain since Mass...with the high 70's during the day and low 50's at night. The best part...no humidity!

So...for now lobsters and lighthouses down (will probably see more as we make our way up the coast)...whales and moose yet to come. More later.

Terry and Mark