Expect the Unexpected, Maine, pt3.

Aroostook.

Miles turning under my wheels, and road getting whiter with every mile... 

We're heading north - far, far north.

Maine highways speed limit is dreamy 75mph, and since it is Thanksgiving, roads are clear. We stop at tiny market on the way to pick up food to cook for dinner, and make it to the Cabin.

Cabin at Madawaska Lake.

After driving around for a bit - since there is no address, we finally find it. Small group on buildings on a side of Madawaska Lake, and small wooden cabin is waiting for us. It's quiet here. 

Winter warmth.

Evenings are cloudy, and sadly, I did not have opportunity to hunt for Northern Lights, but snowy scenery makes up for it.

My phone getting confused in the wilderness and snowness, and thinks we are in Canada. I don't blame it - it surely white & cold enough here!

We go on few drives around to look for wildlife - and other than curious footprints, we do not find a Moose. We both agreed they do not exist, and are urban (or is it country?) myth. Yep, surely it is the truth.

Wood curves.

Next day we driving to Aroostook Wildlife Refuge. I been looking at the site for a while. 

Being military brat myself, and knowing this is a former military base converted into Wildlife refuge is fascinating.

Bunker.

Abandoned bunkers stand here in complete silence, covered under the grassy hills, old mine shops and whole network of buildings spread out in a huge field.

Entrance to underground tunnel.

Mine shop.

This is absolutely best abandoned place to snoop around and photoshoot.

Aroostook.

There are also few photo blinds, tiny cabins with narrow windows to sit and wait for wildlife. Pretty cool. 

Autoroute seems to be still under construction, only small portion is open, but some of old roads that been partially demolished make excellent off-roading trail. Accidentally, we make a wrong turn and end up on no road at all, with no possibility to turn around. 
More off-roading adventures, please! Running thru churned asphalt rocks, grass and frozen puddles is mad fun! 
4x4 stayed on whole time, obviously.

Finally, there is a "normal" road in sight. Construction trucks driving here at crazy speeds - that was something to see!

Beaver river.

 Parked on the side of the road, we go for a hike around Beaver pond, and to another loop trail around the entrance to the park.

Wildlife condo!

This place is twisted. Unexpected to the brim. I am still trying to wrap my mind around it - the abandoned military bunkers, trails and roads - it resonates with me somehow.

Creature of the woods.

Next morning, we say goodbye to Madawaska Lake, drive snowy backroads looking for moose one more time at sunrise, and head to Portland. Back to civilization!!!

Residence inn downtown is waiting for us, with huge posh room, fire pit in the courtyard, pool and all modern amenities.

Steam train.

A walk around the waterfront and train rails is refreshing, and dinner at Eventide Oyster Co. is amazing (that lobster roll, yo!). Gas lamps blazing at the entrance, and oysters are fresh and yummy.

Eventide Oyster Co.

This is a perfect ending to a perfect week.

 ...

But we have to make one more - very, very important - stop on the way home! 

New Hampshire. Why? Because of booze, of course. Prices are unbeatable there.

 

Booze loot!

!Cheers!

~the end~

Expect the Unexpected, Maine, pt2.

Acadia.

As rivers run
And moonlight shines
We will catch them close
One finger tripped shutter
Ice glistening in the Sun
A new world coming from it

I threw the look
We faced the Moon
Asked the maker
"Where were you?"

(my take on Peter Murphy's song)

I want to write this part a bit backwards and not in order events happened. But by now, you know that's how my mind usually works. 

It's about moments, about freezing time, about us in between of then and now.

There is a place in space and time
there unexpected things happen, islands fly above the waters, squirrels laugh at you, waterfalls stop midflow, and frozen sunsets dazzle you like a crystal in a ball light...

Acadia.

 

Cliffs of Acadia National Park.

Take a walk with us on Wonderland trail - it's swirling in enchanted woods, with blue puddles painted with intricate patterns of frost, smell of pine cones in frosty air, and incredible views of the sea and cliffs as you come to the shore.

Island floating above the waters.

If you lucky enough, you will catch a mirage of flying islands in a distance, see sun reflections playing in smooth stones in nearby laguna, and admire patterns of empty sea urchin shells, white as a paper.

Frozen.

Take it all in, walk around, sit here and enjoy this...

Reflections.

Sea Urchin Shell.

The circle drive around the whole park is very scenic and peaceful, there are many stops along the way to take a break and admire the scenery. I breathe in fresh salty air, and I cannot get enough...

Jeep and a tree.

End of the road was closed due to icy conditions, so we had to backtrack to make it to Cadillac mountain before sunset... 

What we found there was absolutely incredible - frozen waterfalls lining the way along steep and windy road going up and up, more beautiful than any holidays decorations...

Frozen Waterfalls.

 Rain that fallen day before was frozen into glass sculptures on branches, grass and trees - making it most fragile glass sculpture park ever...

Frozen sunset.

It all lights up, as most amazing sunset fires up the sky.

Frozen sunset.

There is almost 360 degrees views open up from here, but if you want clear view of sunset and bright moon, drive down just over first turn, there is an outlook that faces right direction.

Sunset at Cadillac Mountain.

I love this.

Shell-moon.

Now, I am going to rewind back to conversation around breakfast table at Dragonfly that started another chain on unexpected events...

 Talk went from covered bridges to wildlife to moose - and specifically to places to see moose or find good antlers to purchase. Our hosts sent us to Moosehead Lake, and store called Kamp Kamp - they knew the owner, and said he will recommend something.

Moosehead Lake.

Not only we found store full or antlers, skins, skulls and other cool things, but from there, we got directions to small restaurant, closed for the season, but with front porch covered with antlers in all shapes and sizes - so, so cool! 

While talking to store associate, she mentioned B52 Crash site, and asked if we would be interested to see it. Store owner shook his head and said road is more than icy and only crazy people would drive there... Obviously, we had to. Right???

Jeep pretending to be a deer. Or a Moose.

Ok, so... It's deep winter there. GPS completely lost its mind. My partner's phone catches weak signal in and out, and my phone is completely out. 

We driving tiny narrow road covered with ice and snow in the woods in the middle of nowhere.

...

...

Wooohooo!!! This is fun.

Finally, we came upon signs directing to crash site. Yes! We did not get lost after all.
Jeep and 4x4 was surely useful. I doubt any normal car would make it here.

Explorer.

I cannot believe this site been here for 53 years... 

B 52 crash site.

Think about it, how one conversation triggered another, and another turn, and another in this chain of adventures. You cannot plan it, for real.

We are staying in Bangor, as central location for this part of the trip. 

There is a great restaurant called Blaze (here is our fire again!), that have most amazing oysters with toppings, roasted bone marrow, most delicious wood-burning oven pizza and handsome drinks menu. 

Must eat. Seriously, not kidding, we could not resist to go there twice during our short stay.

Oysters!

There are few more incredible sites along the way while we drove around. First, my travel companion shows me The Stephen King's house.

at Stephen King's House.

Heck, I am sure travelers like us annoy the hell outta owners of the house - but damn, it was a great place to stop for pictures.
House itself looks like many of houses in same era - but what simply amazed me were the gates. The details and design is just cool. Bats, dragons, numbers - and the attention to every design detail - done in wrought iron.

Wow.

Yes, color me impressed.

Gates at Stephen King's House.

Next, we find The Norumbega Inn, old castle converted into Inn. Built in 1886, it's beautiful and creepy at same time.

We snoop around the grounds for a bit, talking pictures till our frozen fingers tell us to come back to the Jeep...

Norumbega Inn.

Dragon guarding the castle.

Deranged bunny at the entrance

I feel like Alice that stepped into Looking Glass once again. Flying Islands? Frozen Sunsets? Deranged Rabbits?

Is this real?

...floating to sleep...

Till next part!

Expect the Unexpected, Maine, pt1.

Maine.

No matter how well you plan your travels, things happen unexpectedly.
And surprisingly, those unexpected chains of events - there we just in right place, when we are just in right time - keep happening, leading to adventures to remember. 

I cannot exactly explain it - nor I want to. Let this global magnetism remain mysterious thing that follows us around...

(Many of you will shake their heads at the idea of traveling north in winter - but I cannot help it. Snow always calling my name.)

Our route this time was long, and went all the way from Staten Island, thru NJ, CT, MA, NH, ME and all the way North to Canadian border. We decided to stop for few days in each town, and take shorter road trips around, instead of driving endlessly.

Since we made good time on our drive, there were few things to see on the way - and I am forever grateful to my travel companion for bringing me there.

Salem.

 We stopped at Salem first, tiny town with black house on the corner, known as the Witch House. Inside, there are names of witches... Sad, and a bit spooky.

Next, there was something that I really did not expect - an opportunity to visit & photograph Danver's State Mental Hospital - that's there Session 9 was filmed. It is a condominium now, but exterior is incredibly preserved, and old cemetery with numbers for graves still exists.

Danvers State Mental Hospital.

The grounds and architecture are absolutely mind-blowing, and watching the movie when we returned was something else...

Danvers State Mental Hospital.

We spent insane amount of time around it, just walking and talking photos. I cannot describe how impressive it is - I hope pictures show it. 

Danvers State Mental Hospital.

It's getting dark rather early in Maine (what the heck up with that??), so by 4pm sun was set, and we were on our way to our first stop:

Ogunquit. 

Little town sits right on the shore, charming and incredibly quiet this time of the year. Dragonfly Guest House became our home away from home for few days - and it truly was akin staying at friend's house, with gracious hosts, Charles & David, looking out to every detail of the stay to be perfect. Be it treats for the dog, delicious breakfast, warm fireplace in common room or lovely conversations at the table.

Lovely room with dog toys and treats (and chocolates for us)

Walking at night on Marginal Way was refreshing after the drive - and we walked it again day after during day hours.

Marginal Way.

It is beautiful any time of the day or year, and in any weather.
It is romantic at night, breathtaking during the day, and impressive when storm clouds sweep in...

 Around every bend and every corner you find new views to see and little nooks to explore - rocky outcrops, waves hitting the shore, winter berries adding color to the walk...

Berries.

There are quite a few benches to sit on and enjoy the scenery - or perch on one of the rocks and get lost at sight of the storming sea...

Marginal Way.

I want to go back already.

...

Next day, our plan is to drive North to see Covered Bridges of Maine - yes, there are quite a few of them here!

But! As we drive, we keep finding something wondrous to look at, and we keep pulling over to explore. Old railway cars, fields, and - Elk Farm! Just look at those antlers! Mama mia! Yep, you can feed those buggers, too - there is a feeders with corn at the fence.

 

Deer Meadow Elk Farm.

Look at dat ass! Adorable!

Elk.

 But we finally make it to the Bridge - first one is further away, The Sunday River Covered Bridge (it is open for pedestrians only). The light and airy construction is amazing in B&W view.

The Sunday River Covered Bridge.

Next - charming Lovejoy Bridge. Water in the river it sits on is lazy and still, which lends to dazzling reflections. I am fascinated by reflections always - be it lakes or bridges, so this is one of the longer stops. It is drive-able, and I can proudly say I drove thru 5 covered brides of Maine, btw!

Lovejoy Bridge.

 This 4pm sunset nonsense creeps out on us again - seriously, wtf??? 

But once again, something unexpected happened.

Sky blooms in color of fire as sun setting down, we jump out of the car and run to catch it on camera, just to find ourselves next to yet another covered bridge - perfect setting for perfect sunset.

 

Covered Bridge at Sunset.

Last bridge we decided to see is marked on the map as unpaved road - driving it at night, with no lights or sign of civilization whatsoever is a bit unnerving - so as standing in the woods in the dark and hearing hunter's gunshots at the distance. I think we calling it a night...

Hemlock Covered Bridge.

Back to Ogunquit - there was one special moment that will stay forever in my heart. 

Sitting by open firepit at Beachfire grill on chilly November night, with cup of hot cider in my hand, talking about things we hold dear, watching flames dancing, everchanging - this is peace and happiness.

Hot cider.

Good night.