Maine

Back to the USA after a splendid week with our neighbors to the north, we passed too quickly through Vermont and New Hampshire to get back on the farm.  We overnighted near Burlington, VT, and got a taste of how valuable local food is to a lot of folks up that way.  Almost every restaurant seemed to emphasize that their food was indeed local and fresh.  We enjoyed the views across Lake Champlain and some great crepes (packed full of local ingredients of course) before heading south and east.  The weather was a little dreary and drizzly, but the beauty of the area was still evident, so green and hilly and alive.

The rain was at its heaviest as we blindly crept up a long dirt road, finally arriving at Ol’ Ways Farm near Solon, Maine.  Reading reviews by other WWOOFers online, it was clear that this was a very desirable place to work and play and learn.  Work was good – maintenance of machinery, grape vine propagation, fencing, weeding, planting, feeding and watering pigs, sheep, cows, geese, chickens… we really got good exposure to the farm.  But it wasn’t only the work that had impacted so many WWOOFers over the last few years.  We joined the home, already full of the family, cats, dogs, and 2 other WWOOfers.  We worked together, cooked together, ate together, essentially spent our waking hours surrounded by each other.  We passed too quickly through this place, just settling in when we had to move on.

Acadia!  Although the weather wasn't totally ideal, we had a great 24 hours in Acadia National Park, at times more mystical than majestic.  Highlights included a big hike up Cadillac Mountain, peaceful moments along the foggy coast, and appropriately – a lobster feast in Bar Harbor.  We passed too quickly through this place.

On to Portland, where we stayed with Barry and Mary and Maggie, a great Buteyn family connection.  Conveniently located in a great old neighborhood a couple miles from downtown, their inviting home was a great spot (full of tasty mostly locally sourced food and drink, and much informative conversation) for our brief exploration of the first east coast city that we’d come to.  The weather on Sunday was perfect for a big bike ride.  We started with the whole fam, comfortably cruising along the back cove and the east prom to the ferry terminal where Molly and I split off and took a ferry to Peaks Island for a leisurely ride filled with gorgeous views and fun seashore investigation.  On the way back home, we meandered through the old streets near the water, getting a glimpse of the Old Port, trying to envision the commerce these streets hosted in the past, now filled with retail and restaurants and tourists.  Curved quaint alleyways enticed.  Cobbled streets slowed traffic.  We passed too quickly through this place, said our thank-yous and goodbyes to our generous hosts, and headed south.

We found a bite and a beer in bustling Portsmouth, New Hampshire then cruised the New Hampshire coast as the sun set (yes, too quickly passing through these places), and arrived in Somerville, Massachusetts in time for a delightful stroll around Cambridge led by our new hosts, Molly’s friends Liz and Ahern.

Many Photographs!