We stayed at the house with Rick and Elizabeth, but that didn't prevent the traditional nightly cruise on the pond to see glorious sunsets, ospreys, eagles, loons and cormorants. And wave at the neighbors as we cruised by their waterfront houses, of course. No beavers spotted this time around, but there are plenty of trees that are either down or almost-gnawed-through to let us know they are around.
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The dogs, as usual, were allowed to run around to their hearts content, which turned out to be a little exhausting for Zuzu.
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This trip included a tour of the Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor, where there are a number of very elaborate cenotaphs (fancy tombs or tombstones) mixed in with more traditional graves from the 1800s on (Mount Hope is the second oldest garden cemetery in the US). It doesn't quite compare to Montmartre Cemetery (which we visited in Paris), but it's impressive none the less.
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 Now I have something to strive for |
 Nearby, the "$975 complete" cremation place. Nice. |
We also visited the Cole Land Transportation Museum. We were a bit doubtful as we approached, because it's in a slightly sketchy industrial neighborhood, but it was in fact really outstanding; an amazing collection of any vehicle you can use to move on land, from sleds to an actual diesel train with passenger cars. A lot of antique cars, trucks, fire engines, you name it. Half tracks, snowmobikes (cross between a snowmobile and a motorcycle), a STANLEY STEAMER (an early steam powered truck that took half an hour to get hot enough for it to move). The staff (all volunteers) were super helpful and knowledgeable. And, mixed in, all sorts of context around what Maine was like at that point in time, little anecdotal stories about the vehicles, not so much it was overwhelming but enough to bring the history to life. Really, awesome museum.
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I brought the supercamera and took a lot of picture of birds, of which s0me came out ok...
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There were of course a lot of dinners out, including a large gathering for Rick's mom's birthday at "Timber." That was another "exceeds expectations" as it's a restaurant built into a Residence Inn. Not exactly screaming "5 stars." But it was actually so nice we went back (the same day we went to the cemetery and land transportation museum).
We also visited the Maine sardine history museum. That was another "looks kind of sketchy" arrival. And this time, looks did not deceive. The tiny building was full of sardine memorabilia and boxes of stuff that were from someone who died without heirs; the owner was "storing his stuff in the building until she could figure out what to do with it." Really. But, having said that, it was actually kind of interesting because it really is part of Maine's history and was a significant economic driver for Maine back in the day.
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And, more pet shots, because ... why not?
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Fini Maine.
