9/21/12 RussLeona Trip Freeport-Killery

While we were in Portland, Maine, we drove up to Freeport which is town that is the home of L.L. Bean and full of outlet stores.  It was real interesting.  L.L. Bean is a huge sporting goods store.  They have everything.  There is outlet stores for about every brand you can think of and a lot I have never heard of or can afford.    I found some nice golf shirts for 75% plus 15% off.  And of course Leona saved a lot of money. Leona really enjoyed them and my wallet survived OK.  As we drove from Portland to out of Boston we passed thorough Kittery.  Of course, we had to stop.  It is home to the Kittery Trading Post another huge sporting goods store and once again tons of outlet stores.  I bought a wallet and Leona didn't buy anything. (I know it's unbelievable but true)  We are camped out of Boston, real close to Foxboro.  I want to go over and at least look at the Patriot's stadium.  We are scheduled for a Grey Line tour tomorrow.  I should be nice.  The leaves are starting to change.  You see some orange and red now.  I will try to get some photos.

This was in L.L. Bean's.  Two huge bull moose that were found with their horns locked together.

Just a few outlet stores in Freeport.

The outlet stores are not all in a strip mall.  They are in malls as well as in stores everywhere.  The town is full of them.  The power wires are typical of most of the old towns everywhere.

RussLeona Trip 9/16/12Acadia National Park

We have been so busy lately that I have gotten behind on our blogs.  We spent three days at Bar Harbor and the Acadia National Park.  The town of Bar Harbor is much bigger than I expected.  There are several square blocks of restaurants, shops, and inns. The seafood was terrific.  It is pretty and much nicer than most tourist traps.  Did I mention that the seafood was terrific.  However there were a lot of people.  The harbor is very pretty.  The park is heavily wooded but very green and pretty.  We drove to the top of Cadillac Mountain which is the highest point on the eastern coast.  It was a foggy morning and we decided to drive up and take some photos looking down on the fog.  As we watched the fog started lifting so we stayed.  It was very scenic and interesting.  The coast line is rocky with many colors, red, brown, grey.  The waves crashing into the rocks with the blue water in the background was really pretty.

We are just out of Portland now.  We took the scenic Highway 1 which passed through several small villages.  The old houses and buildings are very unique for us westerners.  The trip was worth the curves and slow driving.

The harbors with all the boats  are really pretty.

This is looking south from the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the eastern coast.  It is only 1532 feet high.  The coast line of Maine has thousands of islands.

Looking down on Bar Harbor from the top of Cadillac Mountain.  The cruise ship looks and is huge.

The beautiful coast line of Acadia National Park.

The rocks are colorful and it is very pretty with the trees and the blue water.

Leona and I sailed on this 151 foot 4 mast ship.  It was really fun to watch and help raise the sails.

Getting ready to sail.

RussLeona Trip 9/12/12 PEI - Houlton

We took a drive around the north shore of Prince Edward Island as we drove into Charlottetown. The Island is beautiful with rolling hills and the coast is pretty.  We walked around the old interesting town waiting for the "Anne of Green Gables Musical".  We had a great seafood dinner before the show. They started the show with a great memorial for 9/11 and the emergency responders.  The wait was worth it as the show was terrific.  Leona loved it and I have to admit I enjoyed it.  The next morning we left about 9:00 which is early for us.  We crossed the Confederation Bridge which was more impressive as we could see it this time.  Last time it was raining so hard that we couldn't see it.  We stopped at Shediac and bought some frozen crab legs and scallops.  We drove longer than usual as we were anxious to get into Maine.  We are staying tonight at Houlton, Maine, just across the border.  Our TV is working for the first time in several weeks plus we can use our smart phones.  A real treat after being without.  However, we did enjoy the Public Radio in Canada..

Grazing cows in Prince Edward Island.

A lighthouse along the PEI north shore.

Typical highway with rolling hills in PEI.  Notice the cracks in our windshield.  One of the trips casualties.

Prior to the Anne of Green Gables show.  We had great seats.

Crossing the eight mile Confederation Bridge. 

Russ Leona Trip 9/10/12 Prince Edward Island

This first photo shows us crossing the Confederation Bridge to Prince Edward Island.  The bridge is 8 miles long.  The rain pretty much shows the last couple days.  The hurricane, Leslie, stalled a cold front and we really got dumped on.  It rained all night and most of the day.  We had a pause for a couple hours in which we could tour the Anne of Green Gables site.  Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote the book in 1908.  It became an extremely popular book.  The book was based on a girl Anne living in the house we toured.  It was very pretty and Leona really enjoyed it.  The harbor and fishing boats were just a few miles down the road.  We have a great campsite.  We can see the ocean in the distance.  The weather is forecast to be better tomorrow.

Crossing the Confederation Bridge in the pouring rain to Prince Edward Island.

The Anne of Green Gables house through the trees.

The house where the book, Anne of Green Gables was based.

A fishing village just down the road.

A fox that came out of the bushes along the road.

Russ Leona Trip 8/8/12 Halifax-Peggy's Cove

We stayed in Dartmouth, just across the harbor, from Halifax.  Friday, we took the ferry over to downtown Halifax.  $3 for both of us, one way.  Leona shopped art, bead, and glass shops.  I toured the Alexander Keith Brewery and the Citadel.  The brewery tour was entertaining and informative.  They covered the process used to make their beer, dressed and acting like it was in the 1800's.  I got a couple of glasses of great beer. I then walked up the hill(a large hill, I might add) and toured the Citadel.  After the War of 1812, it was decided to build it on the site of many previous forts overlooking the city and harbor.  Construction was started in 1828 and British troops remained there until 1906 when it was taken over by the Canadian military.  Today we drove over to Peggy's Cove.  It was a beautiful drive and gorgeous place.  We walked to the lighthouse and walked through the little village.  We took a beautiful walk along the ocean and watched the breakers slam into the rocks.  It was so impressive.  Another terrific day.

One of the presenters explaining the process used making Alexander Keith Beer.

The entrance to the Citadel.

A guard at the Citadel entrance.  They change every hour.

The ditch surrounding the Citadel.

The interior of the Citadel.

The Peggy's Cove lighthouse.

Peggy's Cove harbor.

Walking along the ocean.

The beautiful sea.

The waves crashing into the rocks.  So spectacular.

Russ Leona Trip 9/6/12 Maitland

We are at Maitland, NS. We spent a day reading as we got 4+ inches of rains.  Too bad we couldn't send some of it west.   Maitland is located on the Shubenacadie River where it empties into the Bay of Fundy.  It is the location of the world's highest tides.  A natural phenomenon called a Tidal Bore is created here.  The tide piles up in the mouth of the river and then rush up the river creating a wave.  I took a ride on a Zodiac boat with the River Runners.  We rode the waves for several miles up the river.  It was unbelievable how fast the tide moved.  I got soaked so wasn't able to take many photos but got some showing before and after the tide.
Tomorrow, on to Halifax.

We got out of the boat and walked on a sand bar as we waited for the tide.  In just a few minutes, we were riding the waves right where I am standing.

A photo before the tide came in.  The river is high due to the +4 inches of rain the night before.

This is the same location after the tide is mostly in.

RussLeona Trip 9/3/12 Ferry-Louisbourg

This is the ferry that we took from Argentia, NL to North Sydney, NS.  The photo was taken from the campground where we spent the night before boarding the ferry..

This was taken standing in front of our motorhome where we camped in North Sydney after leaving the ferry.

This is a lighthouse in Louisbourg.  You might have guessed we like lighthouses.

This is the gate entering the Louisbourg Fortress.

This is the guard that challenged us at the gate.  He wanted to know our business and told us to not make any drawing and promise that we wouldn't give any information to the English.

One of the canons on the wall defending the fortification.

This canon was fired for us.  It is looking out towards sea.

Friday we left Saint Johns.  We drove to Argentia where we will leave on the ferry.  We stayed in a campground build on site where homes were when the US had a naval base there.  The base was closed in the 80's.  It had been there since before WWII.  It looked down on the ferry dock.  The wind blew really hard and it rained all night.  The next morning the rain stopped but the wind continued.  We boarded the ferry and were warned to make sure we set our parking brakes.  We left at 6:30 pm.  The ferry ride was rough.  15 to 20 foot waves.  I was OK, probably because I took a Dramamine.  Leona was challenged.  We had a two berth cabin so was able to sleep some.  It was nice to get to North Sydney.  Sadie had to ride in the motorhome.  She was especially glad to see us at 9:00 am  the next morning.  We spent the rest of the day resting..
Monday, we toured the Louisbourg Fortress.  It was built in 1713 by the French.  In 1745, the English captured the fort.  In 1748, a treaty gave it back to the French so they moved back.  Then in 1758, the English captured it again.  In 1760, the English demolished it.  From 1963 to 1983, the fortress was rebuilt, as it was in 1844, using the original drawings that were found.  Today is to manned by people acting like it was 1844.  It was very interesting and we learned alot.