Kayaking on the Androscoggin

On Saturday Lauren and I finally went kayaking on the Androscoggin River. We have done this three or four times in the past but this is the first time we went since we have moved here. What has taken us so long? Oh yeah….all those other life events. It was a great day for kayaking and we did see one bald eagle with a fish in its talons as it flew off to build some distance between us.

Unfortunately there was one annoying group of kids, 20 or so, putting in around the same time we were with coolers of beer, bottles of Jaegermeister, a boom box, and mouths yelling the f-bomb every minute or so. Fortunately they were in canoes that kept tipping over and were moving slow enough that we were able to paddle ahead and out of earshot range. I just hope all the bottles and cans made it back to land.

It felt good to get on the river again.

Table Rock Loop Trail

View from Table Rock in Grafton Notch State Park

I have been asking myself recently why I have not gone hiking more since I now live in the land of abundant mountains and trails. The White Mountain National Forest is practically in my back yard and Grafton Notch State Park is just a short ride to the north. So I kicked my lazy butt out of bed this morning, laced up the hiking boots, threw some water and trail mix in a day pack and headed to Grafton Notch State Park with the purpose of climbing the Table Rock Loop Trail. I’ve heard a lot of good things about this trail and it did not disappoint. You get a lot of bang for the buck on this particular trail (okay it’s a 2 buck honor system fee). They have a nice parking lot at the trailhead where you cross the road (Route 26) and begin hiking the Appalachian Trail for a very short while (0.1 mile) before you have a decision to make which is:

a) Do I go counter-clockwise and take the steep and rocky trail up? This is the orange blaze trail, or

b) Do I continue up the moderately steep Appalachian Trail for about one mile and then branch off to the right on a relatively easy trail toward Table Rock? (Blue blaze trail)

I chose option B and reached Table Rock in about 45 minutes. The views here are spectacular looking at Old Speck Mountain directly ahead, Sunday River Whitecap to the south and the Eyebrow to the north. Although the weatherman last night said a high pressure system would make this day sunny it was cloudy enough to keep the top of Old Speck hidden from view.

So I continued the loop which is 2.4 miles taking the orange blaze (steep and rocky) trail back down which is hard on the legs. I met a couple who said they have done this hike many times and think it is easiest to do it the other way. I have to agree with them so unless you only want to take the blue blaze trail back and forth I would recommend taking the steep (orange blaze) trail up and the (blue blaze) trail down. If you’re in pretty good shape this is really a worthwhile hike.

Old Speck

The Eyebrow

August Summer Fun

Lissy at Songo Pond

My sister Ingy and her kids came to visit us last week after Amber and Tommie’s wedding. It was short but sweet and the day they were here was perfect weather for swimming at the lake. I wonder if it’s possible to be angry or sad when you are frolicking in a lake that is perfectly refreshing? I don’t think so. Besides swimming at the lake we showed them downtown Bethel, the view from the top of Paradise Road, the Covered Bridge on Sunday River and Sunday River Ski resort where we watched a few folks fly down the zip line. Then we went to the Swain Farm Stand and picked up some fresh corn for supper that night.

Just some of the family

On Saturday we drove down to Cape Elizabeth to have a family lunch after my nephews Luke and Ezra and their dad Artie had completed the Beach to Beacon road race. We made it back to Bethel in time to catch one of the comedy shows at the first annual Maine Comedy Festival http://mainecomedyfest.com/ which took place right here at the Bethel Inn Conference Center. It was very funny, easy to get to and a perfect way to end the day. Is there any way to make the summer last longer?

Four of a Kind

New Month - New Couple

It’s August and that means Amber and Tommie did it… they got married. It happened on July 30^th and it was an uncharacteristic day for New England in that it was….perfect. No rain, no clouds, not too hot, not too humid….Sunshine and blue skies all day long….how did they pull that one off?

It was nice for me to see both of them plan and put together this beautiful event. It reflected their personalities and their style, it was wonderful. Needless to say it was great to have family get together and also see some of Amber and Tommie’s long time friends. There were two I did not recognize at first probably because I have not seen them since they graduated high school or because I’m just getting old. I’ll let Tommie and Amber share the wedding photos they like with the blogosphere. I just saw some of the photos that Don Watson (Tommie’s Dad) took of the wedding and they are beautiful. Of course any of you reading this who would like to see the great photography of Tommie and Don Watson just need to click on this link http://www.coast2coastimages.com/ and it will take you there.

Anyone who knows Amber and Tommie probably thought that this might have happed awhile ago seeing that they’ve been with each other since 9^th grade and they’re both 28 years old now. But they are planners and sometimes good plans take awhile. Congratulations Amber and Tommie; may desire take you where you want to go.

Mother of the Bride with some of the Beautiful Girls

The Dump is a Good Place to Meet the Locals

Say Hello to Sadie

Of Mussels, Raccoons, and a New Door

It has been a busy July with no signs of slowing down. Recently we had the in-laws stay a few nights and while they were here Lauren cooked up some mussels over the fire pit….Yum! Frank and Joan know about our episodes with critters around the house so we joked that they may get a visitor during the night while they slept. It almost happened. The day after they left we heard this “noise” up in the eave beside the guest bedroom. Armed with a flashlight and a stick I opened the door to this area of our house, looked up in the rafters and saw 4 baby raccoon faces staring down at me. They started moving once I disturbed them so by the time I got the camera I could only get a good picture of this one. To hopefully keep them away we turned on a light, turned on a sports radio talk show and put some ammonia in open bowls….so far, so good which just means…I don’t know where they are now.

I also installed a new insulated fiberglass side entry door to replace the old beat up wood door we had and we stained the deck. Just like putting a little lipstick on a pig. The door was good buy from Marden’s for $149. We also bought a new $8.50 door knob for it but it wasn’t making the grade so we ending up buying an $86.00 door knob that works ten times better, I guess.

I hope your July has been as nice as mine so far.

Early July - 2011

My brother Erik and his family came for a visit over the 4^th of July weekend. It was their first visit since we moved here and first visit ever to Bethel. With the hostess Auntie Lauren organizing you can be sure there is always swimming on the agenda. So between the pool at the Bethel Inn and the lake house at Songo Pond swimming was accomplished. Saturday night (July 2^nd) they shot off the fireworks at the Bethel Inn and we decided to see how the view was from our house. So we lined up the chairs on the front lawn and Wow….what a show. Not only was it easier but it may have even been better viewing. A bonus we did not even know about when we bought this place.

When we were at the lake house on Songo Pond, my sister-in-law Amy and I read on the deck (because we’re so intellectual), Rachel and Lauren went swimming and Erik and Logan went fishing. Of course we did burgers and hot dogs on the grill and sat around the campfire after the fireworks ended. When we were at the Bethel Inn Pool Rachel and Logan enjoyed the Pina Colada’s (virgin) while Becca made sure Erik and I didn’t run out of Molson’s Golden. I say this every summer and I’ll say it again….I Love Summer.