Road Trip in Jeep in Search of Fall Colors, ME, NH, VT

We packed up the jeep and headed out last Saturday in search of fall colors in New England.  This is an item on my bucket list which I had hoped would be fulfilled this year......I'm afraid not.  This years rainfall has been down and the temperatures much warmer than usual so that spectacular fall I was hoping to see has not yet materialized and may not this year:(  Which means, of course, we will have to come back in the future.

We did see lots of beautiful country and had a great time anyway.  Saturday, the 24th, we headed up to Acadia NP to do a little more hiking and we drove to Schoodic Peninsula, a lesser visited area of the park, to do our hiking.  Less visited but no less beautiful.

On our way there, we stopped to watch a couple of guys out digging for clams

That is back breaking work!

At the park we found very few people and lots of places to hike.



Our first hike was along the coast near Mosquito Harbor and we saw this beautiful fungus growing all over the ground.  I was soft and spongey, very cool!

great views along the water

a lot of shade and mushrooms and fungus of various types

The Winter Harbor Lighthouse on Mark Island in the foreground

 After the harbor trail we drove out to the point and walked the Anvil Trail which takes you up to a very nice panorama.

Almost this entire trail, 2 1/2 miles, was made up of roots and rocks.  You do have to watch your footing!

beautiful views!!

Our first nights stay was in the small town of Newport, ME, the first night because the town of Bangor, our original destination, had a couple of happenings that weekend and all the hotels were full. Mike was sad because he had hoped to revise the brewery in neighboring Banner;)

The next morning, Sunday, we headed out toward the ski area, Sugar Loaf, and there were beginning of color change in the hills:

 Then on to an amazing view point on private land, Quill Hill. We had to pay $10  to drive up and see this view.  It was lovely and you can see all the areas that are beginning to change.....but not lots of brilliant colors.  Great views!

Back down off the hill we traveled through more beautiful country......

 To the town of Littleton, NH, where we spent the night at the Littleton Motel, the oldest motel inNH.

We strolled down to the Schilling Beer Co. in the old grist mill in Littleton, NH, for a couple of brews.  

A happy Mike:)

Pemaquid Point, Camden Hills State Park, ME

On Sept 20th, another foggy morning, Mike and I drove to the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse  in Bristol.  One of the most visited lighthouses because of it's beautiful rocky shore and crashing waves the fog made it that much more dramatic:

On the way there, we stopped to watch the fog roll in to a small harbor....

 And a fisherman busy preparing bait scraps for lobster traps

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

a walk behind the lighthouse and the landscape changes instantly!

So dramatic and eerily beautiful!

with the lighthouse at the top of the hill you can see the waves coming in on the right

A stop at Shaws for a brew and to watch the fishermen come in for the day.

Here this fisherman is handing a girl a bag so they can choose their crabs right out of the trap he has open there on the boat.

destined for a lobstah dinner:)

these fishermen are sorting the lobsters

music on the wharf 

Sep 21st we drove north a bit to Camden State Park in Camden.  We then hiked to the top of Mt. Megunticook and we hadn't done anything but pretty level hiking for a long time, whew!

looking up at Mike it was steep with lots of rocks and roots

but oh the views from the top!

a little friend
on the trail

a brew afterwards at the
Sea Dog Brewing Co. in
Camden




A look back up to Mt. Megunticook from the patio at the brewery.  

back in Rockland, art work on the waterfront

a lovely bag of steamers at Archers in Rockland