{"id":7562,"date":"2016-08-13T00:52:08","date_gmt":"2016-08-13T00:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?p=7562"},"modified":"2016-08-13T00:52:08","modified_gmt":"2016-08-13T00:52:08","slug":"june-24th-through-july-27th-2016-new-castle-new-hampshire-portsmouth-new-hampshire-stonington-maine-wells-maine-lee-new-hampshire-bar-harbor-maine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?p=7562","title":{"rendered":"June 24th through July 27th 2016 New Castle New Hampshire, Portsmouth New Hampshire, Stonington Maine, Wells Maine, Lee New Hampshire, Bar Harbor Maine"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The craggier the coast, the more I enjoy driving beside the rocky ridges delighting in the gorgeous views of the sea. After working our first stretch of days, we day-tripped along the coast exploring.<\/p>\n<p>Our leg-stretch stop was Fort Stark Historical State Park.\u00a0 At the mouth of Newcastle Harbor, it is a work in progress and includes a beautiful beach area with benches and picnic tables.\u00a0 Most everything else, with the exception of the Ordinance Machine Shop, looks like the storm battered and still abandoned areas of New Orleans from 2005\u2019s Hurricane Katrina.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Fort-Stark-State-Historical-Site-Newcastle-Island-ME.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Fort Stark State Historical Site, Newcastle Island, ME\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Fort-Stark-State-Historical-Site-Newcastle-Island-ME_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Fort Stark State Historical Site, Newcastle Island, ME\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Newcastle-harbor.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Newcastle harbor\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Newcastle-harbor_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Newcastle harbor\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Fort is named for John Stark, Commander of New Hampshire forces at the battle of Bennington in 1777. It was headquarters of the 22<sup>nd<\/sup> Coastal Artillery and one of seven forts built to protect Portsmouth Harbor as fortifications between 1890 and 1920.\u00a0\u00a0 The Harbor Entrance Control Post was surrounded by chain link fence.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Harbor-Entrance-Control-Post.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Harbor Entrance Control Post\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Harbor-Entrance-Control-Post_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Harbor Entrance Control Post\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Ordinance Machine Shop contains artifacts from WWII and is open on Saturday, not the day we chose to visit, but the rest of the Park grounds are open to wander and climb around and explore during daylight hours.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Ordinance-Machine-Shop-1910.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Ordinance Machine Shop 1910\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Ordinance-Machine-Shop-1910_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Ordinance Machine Shop 1910\" width=\"244\" height=\"184\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The 1904 Battery Bay\u2019s and Battery Hunter were stripped of their contents and bared.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Battery-Bays.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Battery Bays\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Battery-Bays_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Battery Bays\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Battery-Hunter-1904.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Battery Hunter 1904\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Battery-Hunter-1904_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Battery Hunter 1904\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I managed to find a picture on the website showing what the gigantic guns looked like that were resting in the circular cement wells.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Battery-gun.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Battery gun\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Battery-gun_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Battery gun\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Original-gun.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Original gun\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Original-gun_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Original gun\" width=\"244\" height=\"184\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Across the water stands the Whaleback Ledge Lighthouse which was loosely erected in 1830 at the mouth of the Piscataqua River near the Maine-New Hampshire boundary.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Whaleback-Ledge-Lighthouse-1830.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Whaleback Ledge Lighthouse, 1830\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Whaleback-Ledge-Lighthouse-1830_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Whaleback Ledge Lighthouse, 1830\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I say \u201cloosely\u201d because it was so poorly built that keepers were worried the building would be swallowed up by the sea.\u00a0 Nothing proves the government\u2019s inability to function for \u201cthe good of the people\u201d as blatantly as botched government contracting jobs.<\/p>\n<p>The lowest bidder, a contractor who cut corners deceitfully and shamelessly, won the bid and Congress was forced to accept it without regard to the company\u2019s qualification or competence. Right off, the contractor began without leveling the ground, instead filling gaps with small stones. When the first storm hit, the stones were washed away leaving the foundation sadly lacking. The first light keeper became soaked each time a wave hit the lighthouse.<\/p>\n<p>The tower was given several facelifts, even incased in wood \u201cto prevent the keeper from being drowned out by the sea washing through all the crevices.\u201d In 1838 funds were appropriated by Congress for a breakwater. The architect\u2019s advice was to tear down the structure and start over as no breakwater could secure the present structure. The money went unspent and the structure stayed as built.<\/p>\n<p>In 1839, a local newspaper wrote: \u201csuch was the effect of the sea, that the assistants of the keeper could not hear each (other) speak when in the lantern, on account of the noise produced by the shaking of the apparatus in the lantern, when the sea struck the foundation of the light house\u2026.the reader may form some idea of the unenviable situation of the keeper\u2026during the late storm from the fact that the building is situated on a ledge of sunken rocks, only visible during low water and about a mile from the nearest human habitation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A civil engineer was commissioned in 1842 to survey several New England lighthouses. His description of the pier read, \u201crudely and fraudulently constructed\u201d, large swells shook the lighthouse \u201cin the most alarming manner. The keeper asserted that the vibration was so great as to move the chairs and tables about the floor.\u201d The lighthouse was plagued with dangerous structural problems until it was automated in 1963.\u00a0 We haven\u2019t visited and it\u2019s not high on our list of \u201cto-do\u2019s\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <b><\/b><\/p>\n<p>After our coastal exploration, we drove back to Portsmouth and enjoyed a late seafood lunch.\u00a0 I loved the interesting metal sculpture art that dressed the plain brick walls of the caf\u00e9 where we dined.\u00a0 A short drive home to ready ourselves for another five day work cycle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/metal-art-at-a-pub.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"metal art at a pub\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/metal-art-at-a-pub_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"metal art at a pub\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There are times it is imperative that I escape the dust that billows over everything multiple times a day, setting off my lungs and a tirade of explicits about the downsides of our rolling life. Escapes, coupled with an overnight hotel stay, usually quells any obnoxious retorts I might make to John\u2019s \u201ccan\u2019t you just enjoy this adventure?\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Of late, our workamp positions do not begin to approach an adventure.\u00a0 Adventures are fun, do not smell like poopy toilets, you don\u2019t have to put up with rude people or do chores in suffocating heat nor pouring rain.\u00a0 You can stop whenever the fun stops and at days end you are able to enter a large pleasant room and run gallons of water over your hair and body without ever giving thought to overflowing the grey tank, refilling the fresh water tank or having to remove moisture from the room to prevent mold and mildew growth.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Another work day.\u00a0 Muggy, hot and dusty outside. I cleaned the bathrooms, checked them several times but spent most of the day inside with both Austin Air Filters on full blast to cleanse my lungs of the dreadfully damaging dust.\u00a0 Eric Fadden\u2019s article titled, \u201cHere\u2019s What That Post About Taking a Train Across the USA for $213 Doesn\u2019t Tell You\u201d caught my eye. I read quietly while cars drove back and forth inches from our front steps sending relentless clouds of dirt particles flying through the air and raining down on Ribbit and LilyPad.<\/p>\n<p>The article made me think of all the folks who have said to John and I, \u201cwe want to do what you\u2019re doing when we retire\u201d. I might be compelled to write a book entitled, \u201cHere\u2019s What Those People Who Live Full-Time in a Recreational Vehicle Don\u2019t Tell You\u201d.<b><\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>We have been here several weeks and although my imagination has a tendency to run wild and I am prone to exaggerations, the dust here is undeniably horrid and abusive to lungs.\u00a0 At 4pm John sprayed down the road with water and washed the thick coat of dust from the car. By 8am the next morning, the dust was so thick you could not see inside the car.\u00a0\u00a0 I wrote on the window to make my point.\u00a0 There is no way to stop the dust.\u00a0 It\u2019s a loosing battle.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/4pm-thru-8am-dust.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"4pm thru 8am dust\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/4pm-thru-8am-dust_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"4pm thru 8am dust\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Our volunteer routine is now established.\u00a0 Another work cycle finished, we made plans for our first multi-day escape to the town of Stonington on Deer Isle in Maine.\u00a0 When we return, John\u2019s options are to move me to a less dusty site or we leave.\u00a0 Enough is enough.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not easy to find an acceptable hotel for the three of us. Bangor is the largest town, within easy driving distance of the coast, with a respectable hotel having comfortable beds for a few overnights. Stonington was the location of another workamp position we had considered. A visit there was at the top of our To-Do list. From Google Maps, Stonington appeared to be a small lobster trapping village on Deer Isle with just enough town to provide a reason for window shopping along the main thoroughfare.<\/p>\n<p>Round Pond Fisherman\u2019s Lobster Co-op came highly recommended so after a few hours driving, we stopped for a rest and enjoyed a late lunch perched alongside Maine\u2019s coast.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Round-Pond-Lobster-Fishermens-Co-Op.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Round Pond Lobster Fishermens Co Op\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Round-Pond-Lobster-Fishermens-Co-Op_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Round Pond Lobster Fishermens Co Op\" width=\"244\" height=\"182\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Round-Pond-Lobster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Round Pond Lobster\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Round-Pond-Lobster_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Round Pond Lobster\" width=\"244\" height=\"154\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The menu was simple\u2026fresh steamed lobster, steamers (long neck a.k.a. Ipswich clams), sweet corn on the cob and potato chips. Located on the docks in a cove filled with lobster boats, when the owner runs out of lobster, he walks 20 yards to the ocean, pulls some out of his lobster traps, walks back and pops them in the pot. Fresh lobster done right! I can\u2019t describe the taste without my mouth watering. Fresh sweet tender lobster, crisp luscious buttery corn, succulent steamers dunked in butter and crunchy salty chips, I have found Nirvana.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Lobster-traps.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Lobster traps\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Lobster-traps_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Lobster traps\" width=\"244\" height=\"133\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Lunch-oceanside.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Lunch oceanside\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Lunch-oceanside_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Lunch oceanside\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Seated at a picnic table on the dock, a peaceful view with gentle slightly briny breezes, made this our best meal of the year.\u00a0\u00a0 Our tummy\u2019s full, we drove inland to the hotel. A pleasantly green treed and blue skied drive along the way.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Coast-of-Maine.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Coast of Maine\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Coast-of-Maine_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Coast of Maine\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We arrived, checked-in, unpacked and relaxed. Dinner out, back to the room, early to bed.<\/p>\n<p>Sleeping late was the plan. Excitement cancelled our first plan.\u00a0 We rose early to see the potential workcamp position for next season.\u00a0 Breakfast first, KatieBug snug in her \u201cblack hole\u201d and we were on our way.<\/p>\n<p>Linda, the other camp host, has named KatieBug\u2019s crate the \u201cblack hole\u201d. Annie, her sweet tempered dog, is allowed to run loose inside the her camper and never destroys anything. If we let KatieBug run loose while we were gone, she would shred every piece of paper in the motorhome and pee everywhere to pay us back for leaving her alone. She\u2019s never minded staying in her crate and goes willingly when there are fireworks, while we work or when it is bedtime. She is less stressed when we travel because her den is always nearby.\u00a0 She has her cozy safe haven crate in Ribbits and in LilyPad.\u00a0 To some, a black hole.\u00a0 To KatieBug, a secure comfy den complete with TV or radio and snacks.\u00a0 As the saying goes, to each his own.<\/p>\n<p>Stonington was one and a half hours away. Crossing over Deer Isle Bridge, we paused to stretch our legs and check out the view.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Bridge-into-Deer-Isle.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Bridge into Deer Isle\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Bridge-into-Deer-Isle_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Bridge into Deer Isle\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One quick side step along the main road was to pick up fresh goat cheese with cranberries. We chatted about the area with a local and inquired about the best place for a repeat to-die-for lobster meal.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yummy-goat-cheese.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Yummy goat cheese\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Yummy-goat-cheese_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Yummy goat cheese\" width=\"244\" height=\"184\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Stonington is a small, quaint, quiet town with many of the endearing qualities of Angela Lansbury\u2019s Cabot Cove. We rolled down the windows and sucked in the refreshing salty sea air. After a few minutes, inside my mouth took on the essence of fresh seaweed salad.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Cove-in-Stonington.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Cove in Stonington\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Cove-in-Stonington_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Cove in Stonington\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It took 45 seconds to drive from one side of the town to the other and nothing looked interesting enough to warrant an exploration on foot. Most of the shops had not opened for the season and the sidewalks were desolate. Our lunch was a meal of overcooked steamed lobster, it\u2019s tail heavy with grainy tasting lobster eggs.\u00a0 Considering Stonington\u2019s claim to fame is the largest lobster port in Maine, the meal was disappointing.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Stonington-ME.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Stonington, ME\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Stonington-ME_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Stonington, ME\" width=\"244\" height=\"175\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After lunch we drove to the campsite.\u00a0 Surrounded by marsh, primarily old mobile homes and one or two older trailers, John quickly nixed the position.\u00a0 As usual, the web page painted a far superior picture than the truth.<\/p>\n<p>Onward to the only TripAdvisor suggestion that caught our attention, Nervous Nellie\u2019s Jam and Jelly\u2019s with its lure of Peter Beerits\u2019 original handcrafted art.<\/p>\n<p>Located just shy of Nellie\u2019s, we paused to admire a French Citroen H Van from the 1940\u2019s along with a red and white 2CV Citroen and a few other French auto\u2019s. Nice collection. They were displayed in front of a massive 1800\u2019s mansard style home that sat next to the town church.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/1940s-French-Citroen-H-Van.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"1940s French Citroen H Van\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/1940s-French-Citroen-H-Van_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"1940s French Citroen H Van\" width=\"244\" height=\"182\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Neither of us expected to spend the greater part of two hours at Nervous Nellie&#8217;s but upon arrival, we were immediately drawn in by Peter Beerits&#8217; artistic visions.\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sculpture-Park.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Sculpture Park\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sculpture-Park_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Sculpture Park\" width=\"244\" height=\"153\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Inhabited by fascinatingly configured wood and metal beings, the town was populated with human characters,<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-sinking-ship.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"A sinking ship\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/A-sinking-ship_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"A sinking ship\" width=\"169\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Attorney.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Attorney\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Attorney_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Attorney\" width=\"163\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Cafe-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Cafe\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Cafe_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Cafe\" width=\"152\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>sea creatures and critters,<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Critters-and-creatures-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Critters and creatures\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Critters-and-creatures_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Critters and creatures\" width=\"244\" height=\"204\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dog-out-the-window-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Dog out the window\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dog-out-the-window_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Dog out the window\" width=\"240\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>beasts and mystics.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dragon-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Dragon\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Dragon_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Dragon\" width=\"244\" height=\"228\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>His colony of beings took up residence in a compact hamlet with his Robin Hood community fanning outward into the Sherwood Forested woods behind the town.<\/p>\n<p>When we arrived, Peter had some of his elder citizens seated in the back of his truck. He graciously posed to allow me a Kodak moment while we chatted.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Pete-and-his-Seniors-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Pete and his Seniors\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Pete-and-his-Seniors_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Pete and his Seniors\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The towns Old Wild West residents were so surprisingly personable that we wandered around poking into each building, thoroughly enjoying the exhibits.<\/p>\n<p>Hardy\u2019s General Store<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Hardys-General-Store-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Hardys General Store\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Hardys-General-Store_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Hardys General Store\" width=\"244\" height=\"173\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Johnson\u2019s Market<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Johnsons-Market-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Johnsons Market\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Johnsons-Market_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Johnsons Market\" width=\"244\" height=\"199\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One of the flyers on the wall of Red\u2019s Lounge was advertising the coming of Howlin \u201cMad\u201d Perry, of historic Sun Records fame in Memphis Tennessee. It brought back memories of our tour of the studio back in late April 2016.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Reds-Lounge-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Reds Lounge\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Reds-Lounge_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Reds Lounge\" width=\"244\" height=\"168\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Howl-N-Mad-Perry-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Howl N Mad Perry\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Howl-N-Mad-Perry_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Howl N Mad Perry\" width=\"145\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The joint was seriously jumpin\u2019!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Blues-Joint-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Blues Joint\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Blues-Joint_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Blues Joint\" width=\"244\" height=\"201\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We stopped in at the store where jam and jelly jar samples sat waiting on the counter, enticing guests to slather the sweet spread on crackers and savor each flavor. The walls were decorated with dozens of interesting handmade items for sale. A Texas size screened in rear covered porch overlooked the grounds. It was transformed into a tea room for those wishing to sit-a-spell and relax in the moment.<\/p>\n<p>Exiting the side of Nellies store brought us face to face with Sherwood Forest.\u00a0 The forest harbored a troop of merry men dining and other fanciful residents like the Grim Reaper.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-dining-room-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"The dining room\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-dining-room_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"The dining room\" width=\"244\" height=\"179\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Grim-Reaper-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Grim Reaper\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Grim-Reaper_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Grim Reaper\" width=\"128\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sir Gawain, sitting horseback, was guarding the forest.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sir-Gawain-on-War-Horse-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Sir Gawain on War Horse\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Sir-Gawain-on-War-Horse_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sir Gawain on War Horse\" width=\"244\" height=\"206\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Just beyond Sir Gawain, a giant serpent reared up his ferocious metallic head.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-Serpent-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"The Serpent\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-Serpent_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Serpent\" width=\"238\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The resident shaman stood outside the dining hall.. According to Wikipedia, the shaman is \u201ca person regarded as having access to, and influence in, the world of good and evil spirits, especially among some peoples of northern Asia and North America. Typically such people enter a trance state during a ritual, and practice divination and healing.\u201d Somewhat akin to Witchdoctors, familiar to us from numerous trips down side streets in New Orleans Louisiana, this healer had a likeable face and pleasant grin.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-Shaman-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"The Shaman\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-Shaman_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Shaman\" width=\"152\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This venture was Peter\u2019s lifelong dream and entirely fitting for a talented imagination with a phenomenal knack for artistically assembling salvage. John and I strolled the forested area spying dozens of parts in wait for new beginnings. I could envision creatures emerging from aged engines, fragmented toys, abandoned appliances, fractured furniture pieces and items others might consider plain junk.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Waiting-for-new-life-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Waiting for new life\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Waiting-for-new-life_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Waiting for new life\" width=\"244\" height=\"142\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>At the forest exit stood a jolly Jack in the Box.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Jack-in-the-box-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Jack in the box\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Jack-in-the-box_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Jack in the box\" width=\"183\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I walked around the grounds twice, noticing more each go-round. It is truly an amazing art exhibit in an idyllic setting for Peter\u2019s creative mind and artistic abilities.\u00a0 As we drove off the grounds we noticed one last character, the local blacksmith, glancing up from his work as we drove away.\u00a0 Nervous Nellies was the highlight of our Stonington Maine mini escape.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Blacksmith-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Blacksmith\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Blacksmith_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Blacksmith\" width=\"244\" height=\"230\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The sun would set in a few hours and we had a long drive back to the hotel. KatieBug settled in for a snore fest, she being as tired as the both of us. A long shower, a little TV and a good nights sleep finished up our three day adventure.\u00a0 Time to return to our \u201creal world\u201d and finalize our decision to move or leave.<\/p>\n<p>We have requested another site and Pat has agreed that she would rather we move \u201cupstairs\u201d to a less dusty location, keeping us as workampers.\u00a0 Our move will take place in the next few days but our focus is on the next five day tour of duty.<\/p>\n<p>Daily chores consist of John weed whacking in the morning and then we both sweep, scrub floors, sanitize toilets, clean showers, wipe down mirrors, water the hanging flowers and blooming in-ground plants that are spread out around the campground.\u00a0 Several bathroom checks and cleanings throughout the day, walks around the campground and beach picking up trash and cleaning fireplaces, some odd jobs, a sprucing up of the Rec Center and the day ends.\u00a0 Next day, ditto everything.<\/p>\n<p>Portsmouth New Hampshire is only a twenty minute drive from Lee. It is a thriving touristy town, bona fide historic and filled with curio shops, fine dining establishments, pubs and gift shops. The town church takes center stage and is surrounded by benches where visitors and townspeople alike sit, rest, relax and people watch. John and I enjoy walking around the town and we have visited twice since our arrival.<\/p>\n<p>Today we move.\u00a0 We plotted our path carefully and found that backing up into the site was the best and most logical plan.\u00a0 John asked our neighbor across the road to move his truck, just in case, and I backed LilyPad up the steep grade road and into our new site.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Our-new-site-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Our new site\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Our-new-site_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Our new site\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Exited the motor home and chatted with our new neighbors.\u00a0 A truck drove by\u2026wow, no dust!\u00a0 Next day we emptied both our tanks\u2026amazing, we have a leach field so both our tanks can be emptied anytime we choose. This is much better.\u00a0 Brought my bright red plant up from the downstairs site and found a surprise tag-along, another Ribbit (frog).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Frog-in-my-plant-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Frog in my plant\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Frog-in-my-plant_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Frog in my plant\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Tonight we plan another day trip.\u00a0 Searching for local activities, we came across the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge in Wells Maine.\u00a0 Also home to a Triple D\u2019s (Diner, Drive-In\u2019s and Dives) top pick for Lobster Rolls and Lobster Bake.\u00a0 A wonderful adventure of much appreciated exercise and a relaxing lunch.\u00a0 Our next mini escape chosen, we slept soundly and awakened to a perfect day for a walk along Maine\u2019s coastal waterways.<\/p>\n<p>Lunch at the Maine Diner was not what we expected.\u00a0 A Lobster Bake is lobster covered in dry cracker crumbs, drenched with butter until the crackers are soaked and baked.\u00a0 Greasy and chewy, not something we will order again.<\/p>\n<p>The refuge was created in 1966 but renamed for Carson in 1969 after her 1962 book, Silent Spring, became renowned.\u00a0 After tireless investigations, she linked the unrestrained use of post-World War II chemical pesticides with fearsome biological consequences.\u00a0 Carson has been credited with launching the environmental movement and awakening concern in American\u2019s for our environment.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Rachael-Carson-National-Wildlife-Refuge-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Rachael Carson National Wildlife Refuge\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Rachael-Carson-National-Wildlife-Refuge_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Rachael Carson National Wildlife Refuge\" width=\"139\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The book gave explanations and examples on subjects close to my heart, pesticide harm and the alternative, Integrated Pest Management, using non-toxic or least toxic products first when exterminating.\u00a0 She was the reason I became an Environmental Health Consultant.\u00a0 Her insight on the cause of damage to ourselves and our environment started the movement in which I eagerly grabbed with both hands and embraced for nearly 40 years.<\/p>\n<p>We visited the small Visitors Center and strolled along the path.\u00a0 You could see how the tidal flats striped away the soil from the roots of trees causing them to tilt.\u00a0 Each incoming and outgoing tide carrying out more soil.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Bank-erosion-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Bank erosion\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Bank-erosion_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Bank erosion\" width=\"139\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The salt marsh creek snaked out to sea.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Salt-Marsh-Creek-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Salt Marsh Creek\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Salt-Marsh-Creek_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Salt Marsh Creek\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Salt Pannes have a complete eco system all their own but getting up close and personal was not possible from the walkway.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Salt-Pannes-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Salt Pannes\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Salt-Pannes_thumb-1.jpg\" alt=\"Salt Pannes\" width=\"139\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The coastal Maine salt marsh was visible all along the footpath.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Coastal-Maine-Salt-March-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Coastal Maine Salt March\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Coastal-Maine-Salt-March_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Coastal Maine Salt March\" width=\"139\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Near the end of our walk we spotted the only blooming plants we saw in the refuge.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-only-blooms-in-the-marsh.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"The only blooms in the marsh\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-only-blooms-in-the-marsh_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"The only blooms in the marsh\" width=\"139\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Back home to LilyPad and a quiet night with a Red Box movie and dinner.<\/p>\n<p>Next morning I went shopping for the kids party I was hosting in the Rec Center Saturday afternoon.\u00a0 Prizes brought from the dollar store in Texas would be given out along with juice, ice cream and cookies.\u00a0 I had planned a few games and social time.\u00a0 The party was my idea and I was in charge but Pat liked the plan and showed up to help.\u00a0 Parents were enjoying the squeals of delight during races.\u00a0 Everyone cheered the kids on during the \u201chunt for gold\u201d (rocks sprayed gold that John hid in the playground area).\u00a0 Dads helped make the rockets for the rocket races on the lawn and joined in to blow up balloons for the between-the-knees balloon race.\u00a0 Everyone made hanging bird feeders from peanut butter and bird seed.\u00a0 Prizes were not given out for winners.\u00a0 First prize for Musical Chairs went to the first one out, the largest and smallest gold piece got a prize and by the time we were done, everyone went home happily with at least one prize.\u00a0 I had a blast!\u00a0 Families even helped clean up.\u00a0 My next event will be an outdoor \u201cmovie and popcorn\u201d evening for the kids at our motorhome co-hosted by Lindsey, one of the campers.\u00a0 Finally, some social time for me and our outside TV will get some use!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Another trip up the coast is in the making.\u00a0 Bangor hotel reservations have been made for us and KatieBug\u2019s reservation at Yellow Dog\u2019s Barn are confirmed.\u00a0 Wednesday we are off to Maine and Acadia National Park to explore the area.<\/p>\n<p>The drive up was sunny and mild with cooler weather being pushed inland off the coast.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 We were searching for an alternative campground should we decide to pass this way again.\u00a0 My requirements were a campground closer to Canada, in an area with cooler weather, a friendly setting with social activities and where rules were enforced.<\/p>\n<p>Our first stop, but not one availing all that we were looking for, was Forest Ridge Campground.\u00a0 If a delightfully named road was enough reason to stay the season, this would have won.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Forest-Ridge-Campground.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Forest Ridge Campground\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Forest-Ridge-Campground_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Forest Ridge Campground\" width=\"244\" height=\"163\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A few more stops at the campgrounds on our list and dinner time had arrived.\u00a0 Steamed lobsters at Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound, the same restaurant we visited while on our New England cruise several years ago and the food was just as yummy.\u00a0 Back to the hotel for some TV and relaxation.<\/p>\n<p>We have only three TV stations at Wellington.\u00a0 We paid to have internet so we could stream movies but the choices at Red Box are newer and less expensive so we binge watch TV programs all night when we stay at a hotel.\u00a0 Another luxury we enjoy at a hotel, hour long steamy showers.<\/p>\n<p>Morning brought the fog and a cool refreshing mist, my kind of weather.\u00a0 We walked around downtown Bar Harbor, stopped for Mexican Hot Chocolate at Choco-latte, a local coffee shop and waited for the rain drops to stop.\u00a0 Not wanting to spend the entire day downtown, we made the decision to ignore the weather and drive through Acadia National Park.\u00a0 This year is the Parks 100th birthday.<\/p>\n<p>The Park roadways and trees were heavy with moisture making the dense forest a little spooky.\u00a0 No one else was on the road so we had the park nearly to ourselves and the ability to stop anywhere without annoying tourists crowding us.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Roadway-in-Acadia.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Roadway in Acadia\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Roadway-in-Acadia_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Roadway in Acadia\" width=\"173\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Acadia.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Acadia\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Acadia_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Acadia\" width=\"139\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A pause along the way to watch for wildlife, the fog continued to cover the area and hid whatever was beyond the murk.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Acadia-national-park.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Acadia national park\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Acadia-national-park_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Acadia national park\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Not the first to arrive at the highlighted natural wonder, Thunder Hole, we parked and walked down the rocky steps joining others in wait for the incoming tide to force the ocean into the rocks below and shoot sea water into the air.\u00a0 After several big waves and still no eruption, we walked back to the car and continued our drive through the park.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Thunder-Hole.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Thunder Hole\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Thunder-Hole_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Thunder Hole\" width=\"139\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Acadia National Park is a long one-way road that meanders across beach fronts, through forests and up into the mountain.\u00a0 John insisted that we continue on to the top of Cadillac Mountain, 1,530 feet and the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard.\u00a0 It is the first place to view sunrise in the United States from October 7th through March 6.\u00a0 The view was as logic would predict, foggy.<\/p>\n<p>On a clear day you can see forever.\u00a0 On a foggy day you can see little else but the sign advising visitors of the detriments of air pollution.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Not-a-picture-perfect-day.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Not a picture perfect day\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Not-a-picture-perfect-day_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Not a picture perfect day\" width=\"244\" height=\"120\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Back down the mountain and out onto the main road.\u00a0 I spotted an interesting antique house turned business and stopped to explore their wares.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-Weathervain-Factory-Trenton-ME.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"The Weathervain Factory, Trenton, ME\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/The-Weathervain-Factory-Trenton-ME_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"The Weathervain Factory, Trenton, ME\" width=\"244\" height=\"148\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The inside of Bar Harbor Weathervanes and Cupolas, Inc. was filled with delightful weathervanes of all sizes, shapes and styles, some sitting atop copula\u2019s, some lining the shelves along the walls.\u00a0 Shiny copper pretties to mount on your rooftop.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/weathervanes.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"weathervanes\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/weathervanes_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"weathervanes\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/When-pigs-fly.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"When pigs fly\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/When-pigs-fly_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"When pigs fly\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Everything-under-the-sun.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Everything under the sun\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Everything-under-the-sun_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Everything under the sun\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We chatted with the clerk and took a calling card for future reference.\u00a0 My next tiny house will look fabulous topped with a weathervane.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Owl-and-moon.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Owl and moon\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Owl-and-moon_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Owl and moon\" width=\"162\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>As the day wore on, thoughts of another sweet tender lobster began creeping into my subconscious mind.\u00a0 Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound was a short drive up the road.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Trenton-Bridge-Lobstah-Pound.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Trenton Bridge Lobstah Pound\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Trenton-Bridge-Lobstah-Pound_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Trenton Bridge Lobstah Pound\" width=\"244\" height=\"139\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This time John opted for one big lobster, hard shell, pre-cracked.\u00a0 We had been told by several lobster eating regulars that the larger the lobster, the more chewy the meat.\u00a0 They lied.\u00a0 This guy was delish!\u00a0\u00a0 We also learned the taste difference between soft shell and hard shell lobsters.\u00a0 Hard shell is harder to crack, has firmer meat and the meat fills the shell.\u00a0 Soft shell has molted its hard shell, is easy to crack but the meat is softer and water fills up the extra space inside the shell.\u00a0 I will forever be a fan of the hard shell.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Our-Dinner.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Our Dinner\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Our-Dinner_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Our Dinner\" width=\"166\" height=\"244\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Another great night of TV and uninterrupted sleep before packing up and returning to Wellington.\u00a0 KatieBug was happy to be home.\u00a0 I wasn\u2019t happy to be back at work.<\/p>\n<p>Three days into our five day work schedule, Linda emailed me from Maine to ask if she could stay gone another week in exchange for working our shift after she returned.\u00a0 Had I known it was going to be 99 degrees in Lee, storms would shut down our power twice in one week and our car\u2019s air conditioning would break, I might not have agreed.\u00a0 The hardest part of working back to back was having the power off several times.\u00a0 No generator on the well pump forced John to use buckets of river water to flush all of the campground toilets.\u00a0 Nasty job.\u00a0 John lugged the first few bucketful&#8217;s up from the river by hand.\u00a0 The next time he used the campground truck.\u00a0 Not having a back up pump was another thing we wish we had known about before we accepted the job.<\/p>\n<p>So instead of a break, we went back to work.\u00a0 The wheelbarrow and I spent two days moving all the rocks from the demolished site across from us.\u00a0\u00a0 There would be sand and gravel brought in later to make a level base for the newly cleared site.\u00a0 Slowly, bending from the knees, I removed all but about 5 rocks, those being heaver than I was comfortable lifting.\u00a0 I piled the rocks in a line along our campsite for a future project.\u00a0\u00a0 The site of an old grey haired pudgy lady moving wheelbarrows full of rock all day must have been too much for Ron, the gentleman living behind the site.\u00a0 When I took a dinner break the following day, he came out and tossed the balance of the big rocks aside and raked the area smooth.\u00a0 Nice neighbor.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Moving-rock.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"Moving rock\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/Moving-rock_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"Moving rock\" width=\"244\" height=\"170\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Some of my time, in-between cleaning, was spent moving cement blocks from partial fireplaces into piles.\u00a0 Today I got to build one.\u00a0 It was such a structurally sound and artistically designed fireplace, if I do say so myself,\u00a0 that I had John take a picture of my masterpiece.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/My-Fireplace-creation.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-width: 0px;\" title=\"My Fireplace creation\" src=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/My-Fireplace-creation_thumb.jpg\" alt=\"My Fireplace creation\" width=\"244\" height=\"169\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Storms pounded us for several days, our car being in the shop made our chores even more unpleasant but our trip to Canada was just around the corner.\u00a0 Linda will return and we will leave in the motorhome for a two week break on Tuesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The craggier the coast, the more I enjoy driving beside the rocky ridges delighting in the gorgeous views of the sea. After working our first stretch of days, we day-tripped along the coast exploring. Our leg-stretch stop was Fort Stark &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/?p=7562\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7562","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-lilypad"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7562","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7562"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7562\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7564,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7562\/revisions\/7564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7562"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7562"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/perrellas.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7562"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}