The Northern Maine Woods

Good afternoon all!  I am just finishing up my first full day back in Lima.  It is still the same, but nice to be "home." We got home around 1am last night, and Josh had to be up at 4:15 to get ready for work, so  even though it was a long day for me, I can't imagine how he is feeling.  I started getting a migraine last night about 1 hour into our flight from Atlanta to Lima.  I'm not sure if it was from the long day of flying or the 2 glasses of wine that I got for free in first class.  In any case, it was terrible.  I've had the migraine all day, and finally it is starting to get better due to taking an excess of prescription and non prescription migraine medication.  The highlight of the day, migraine or not was getting my babies back!  I headed to the vet as soon as they opened at 9am to pick up the kitties.  I missed them so much I almost cried when I saw them.  It was the second longest time I have ever been away from them and I felt terrible the entire time.  So happy to have them back!

So, as everyone knows, Josh and were in Maine for about 10 days.  Josh is from Maine so we were home to visit family.  We haven't been there since we headed to Peru in April so we were due for a visit.  It was nice to go back but a little colder than I was hoping.  Winter is well on it's way there!  Josh is from the very Northern part of Maine, close to the New Brunswick border.  Whenever I tell people that Josh is from Maine, the normal reaction is "oooooh the coast and lobster."  That actually couldn't really be further from the truth.  It is about a 2 hour drive from the coast and is covered in forest and potato fields.  No lobster or Ocean in sight.  It is a nice area, especially in the fall, but I'm not going to lie, cheap seafood and the beautiful Maine coast would be pretty nice too.  I did get to see the coast, and eat lobster this time so I came back here happy!

I went for a few walks and hikes, which were very nice.  Josh's hometown of Easton is very much like my hometown in regards to being quiet and friendly, but instead of being surrounded by wheat fields it is surrounded by woods and potato fields.

One morning, Josh's dad asked if we wanted to go for a little hike, to the top of Haystack mountain.  It is a small mountain, but was a nice hike and had a beautiful view.  

Like I said, it really is a gorgeous place!  Everyone enjoy there evening and see you soon! 

A trip to the Coast of Maine

Early this last weekend, I got a text from my dearest friend Nicole, asking if we would be interested in meeting in Bangor for lunch on Tuesday.  Of course I was ridiculously excited, since I haven't seen her since July when I was home in Saskatchewan.  We are used to being on jobs together and it has been really hard not having her with me.  We still manage to Facetime and keep in touch, but it isn't the same.
So early Tuesday morning, we headed for Bangor.  It is about a 2.5 hour drive south, from Presque Isle where Josh is from.  We arrived  bit early so we went to check out a couple stores.  We had planned on going to Texas Roadhouse, one of the husband's favorites, but about 20 minutes before lunch, Nicole informed us that it was not open until 3!  SO we decided on Bugaboo Creek.  A kind of Canadian themed steakhouse.  It was great and we had a lovely visit.  But so not long enough!

After our much too short visit, Josh and I headed to the mall for a couple hours of shopping.  It is such a treat now to shop in American stores.  It is just not the same in Peru.  Josh also got new glasses.  He looks like a movie star ;)  (he hates that I say that).  I'll post a pic later as he isn't wearing them today.

after shopping and glasses, I was informed that we were going on a secret trip down the coast a little bit.  Josh has known for a long time that i just wanted to see a bit of the coast!  It has been 4 years and I have seen the Maine coast once, for just an hour or so.  So we headed out on our journey.  Our first stop was a place called Perry's Nuthouse for some amazing home made fudge.  The Whoopie Pie is a Maine specialty and they have delish fudge in Whoopie Pie flavor.  yum!

We continued on, and I still really had no idea where we were headed.  When we finally arrived, I was in awe.  We were at the Berry Manor Inn in Rockland.

The Berry Manor Inn, was an interesting history, and is totally gorgeous.  It was voted one of the 25 best B&Bs in the US in 2013 by Trip Advisor, Down East Magazine's Top B&B in Maine in 2012 and in the Top 10 B&Bs in the US by BedandBreakfast.com in 2012. Check them out Berry Manor Inn.
The also have what is said to be some of the best pies in the US and I agree!  We had a "Pie Bar" that was open 24 hours and we took advantage of it, haha.  The women that make the pies for the Inn have been featured on both Dirty Jobs, with Mike Rowe and Throw Down with Bobby Flay.  Check those videos out here- Pie Moms.

Once we got settled in, we decided to go to another "famous" place for dinner.  Archers on the Pier was also featured on Thrown Down with Bobby Flay for the owner, Lynn's famous Lobster Club Sandwich.  Josh got a seafood pot pie that was unbelievable.  So rich and full of delicious butter and cheese.  I got the lazy lobster, which is 2 and 1/4 lobsters already taken out of the shell and soaked in butter.  To die for.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

When we returned to the Berry Manor Inn, this is what was waiting :)

The next morning we got up early and headed downstairs for breakfast.  It was Wonderful Wiener Wednesday (the owners of the B&B are hilarious).  It was interesting to say the least, but also probably the best "hotel" breakfast I have ever had.  Blueberry Blintzes... one of my favorite things on the planet.

        

We wanted to make the most of our time, so we headed down to the water, to the Breakwater Lighthouse.  It was a gorgeous morning, and I love the ocean, so it was perfect.  It was closet o a mile walk on the Breakwater to the adorable little lighthouse, that was built in the late 1800s.  I also took Rocky the Lobster, whom I had taken from the B&B.  I can submit photos of him in different locations around Rockland for a chance to win a prize.  So that is why there is the cute little lobster in a couple photos ;).  

 After a lovely walk, we decided to head back to Archers on the Pier (we never go to the same restaurant twice) to try the "Lobster King of Clubs" and wow did we ever not regret it.  Seriously, mind blowing!  And a great view!

Unfortunately it was time to make our way north.  We did make another stop, at the Maine State Cheese Co.where we ended up buying a lot of souvenirs and yummy local made food and wine.  

There were some interesting items.

Did I mention some of the houses we saw were incredible?  Seriously, think "the Witches of Eastwick" Stephen King Novels, and "Once Upon a Time".  Just the homes of my dreams!  It was hard  to get good photos while driving, but you get the idea.

 We stopped North of Bangor to check out the view of Mount Katahdin.  It was a bit cloudy but gorgeous.  The last photo is of the amazing Northern Maine sunset, pictures just don't do it justice!

I'll be back in the next few days (maybe not until we get back to Peru), with some more blogs about our adventures over the last couple weeks!  Enjoy your weekend!  And wish us luck on our flight home Sunday!