A Beautiful New England Fall Foliage Trip (4)

During previous trips, we visited much of the central portion of the Maine coast. Our goal on this trip was to fill in the southern and northern portions. With that in mind, we left Kennebunkport, and drove directly to Bar Harbor on Mt Desert Island. From there we followed the coast road north to the town of Lubec. Lubec is the Easternmost town on the US mainland.

Our goal was to visit West Quoddy Head State Park at the northeastern most point on the Maine coast. The lighthouse is also the Easternmost Point on the US mainland.

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The land visible in the background is:

Campobella Island, New Brunswick, Canada      East Quoddy Head Park

We barely left West Quoddy Head State Park when the rain began in earnest. We drove south in heavy rain to Waterville, ME, where we had dinner with Mike & Rhonda Jennings. They are friends from home who were also in Maine on a fall foliage trip.

The next morning we drove back through Dixfield, ME to say goodbye to our Maine hosts. From there we drove west into New Hamphsire and northwest to Montreal, Canada.

The rain continued as we toured downtown Montreal. This is the Basilique Notre-Dame. The area around the cathedral was under construction. Carolyn and I were just passing through, but vowed to return to this beautiful city and spend the time it deserves.

Downtown Montreal, Canada

One of our goals on the way home was to visit The Thousand Islands of The Saint Lawrence River. We arrived in heavy rain and totally overcast skies. Due to the unfavorable weather, we simply turned southwest towards home with a promise to revist in the future.

The Bodlt Castle shrowded in heavy rain clouds.

The drive home took us through Cleveland, Columbus, Cinncinati and Louisville.

Despite some rainy weather, it was still a great adventure! We hope to add more in 2010.

"Life is not the way it's supposed to be.. It's the way it is.. The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference. ~Unknown~

Your attitude towards life defines not only who you are, but the quality of life you are after. ~Unknown~

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A Beautiful New England Fall Foliage Trip (3)

Eventually we crossed scenic Vermont and New Hamphire and arrived in Dixfield, Maine, where we met Glen Tompkins and Lois Stevens for dinner. The next morning our hosts graciously offered to take us on a fall leaf tour of the Rangeley Lake area.

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Rangeley is a mountainous area of northeast Maine, near the Canadian border.

Numerous lakes dot the landscape. Moose are plentiful and an ever-present road hazard.

Our Maine hosts, Lois Stevens & Glenn Tompkins

Even with a cloudy sky, the fall colors take your breath away. However, the clouds contributed little to the quality of our pictures.

The next day we bid our hosts goodbye as we turned south with the seaport village of Kennebunkport as our goal.

Kennebunkport, once a fishing seaport, is now a tourist haven and the summer home of the super rich.

If you enjoy shopping, Kennebunkport is the place to be. Tourist shops line the quaint village streets.

Carriage Rides or Trolley Tours.

The village is built around a large marina.

Whale watching charters are easily found.

Carolyn and I love the rugged Maine coast.

The changing fall weather did not deter the surfers.

Unbelieveably large summer homes overlook the Atlantic Ocean.

The Breakers Inn & Spa

President George Bush Sr's Kennebunkport summer home.

The Bush home sits alone at the end of a gated peninusla. Secret Service guards man the gate and patrol the nearby water.

We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals, and others by their actions.  ~Harold Nicolson~

Much of life can never be explained but only witnessed. ~Unknown~

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A Beautiful New England Fall Foliage Trip (2)

After leaving Cumberland, MD, we took a side trip to State College, PA, the home of Penn State University. It's truly a beautiful campus! Fortunately the Saturday football game was away.

We found Penn State's campus full of stately, well-preserved buildings. Many are sorority and fraternity houses.

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We continued north following I-87, stopping for an early dinner in Albany, NY. From there it was on to Lake George where we spent the night.

Historic Fort William Henry - Lake George, NY

Tour boats on Lake George, NY

The next morning we continued north, around Lake George, crossing into Vermont at Crown Point, NY. We stopped in Burlington, VT to visit The Christmas Loft. If you love Christmas decorations, this store is very unique and truely worth the time.

From Burlington we continued south to Stowe, VT for a visit to The Von Trapp Family Lodge.

You will remember the Von Trapp name from "The Sound of Music"

A luxury resort in the European tradition.

A view from the lobby.

The Green Mountains around Stowe were nothing short of stunning! These pictures don't begin to do it justice.

Of course we stopped to buy genuine Vermont Maple Syrup.

Downtown Stowe, Vermont celebrating it's Fall Festival.

The fall colors were everywhere.

We found colorful, roadside Hay Bale Art throughout Vermont.

We continued south to Mount Montpelier, the capitol of Vermont.

Vermont's magnificent, gold domed capitol building.

Touring the countryside near Mount Montpelier, we found colorful fall foliage along with this beautiful covered bridge.

Notice the Ski Runs.

A quaint, covered bridge near Woodstock, VT.

The Woodstock Inn and Resort

More unique New England Hay Bale Art.

I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. ~Jack London~

Living and dying is not the big issue. The big issue is what you're going to do with your time while you are here.  ~Bill T. Jones~

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