This morning we packed up and left Vermont. We made pretty good time, getting on the road by 9:15. There is no direct way to cross upper New England so we got familiar with back roads and state highways. I was the navigator for the first two legs. My task was basically to mediate between the car’s GPS (nicknamed Sarah) and Google Maps. I did pretty well. We only had to backtrack once when Sarah sent us in a totally wrong direction and I wasn’t quick enough to spot the problem.

We crossed Vermont and New Hampshire, skirted the north side of Mt. Washington (Today it was wearing it’s hood of clouds so we couldn’t see the summit.) and arrived in Augusta Maine 4 1/2 hours later at 1:45. We woke S up from his nap (I continue to be amazed at his ability to stay wide awake until 1/2 hour before we arrive somewhere) partook of our traditional “picnic on the capitol lawn”

and let the boys blow off some steam

before heading north to Bangor.

Arriving in Bangor we immediately headed for the police station

Where we viewed, awestruck, the marginally famous Duck of Justice (DOJ).

If all of that seems a little strange, it is. But I encourage you to find and follow the Bangor Police Department Facebook page. It will most often brighten your day and maybe even begin to restore your hope for humanity.

While we were at the police station Brooke Jones arrived. She was Jesse and Spencer’s nanny during the 2016-17 school year and accompanied them on their last trip to Brazil. She is now a grad student at the University of Maine. And visiting her is the real reason for this trip. The three of them immediately hit it off enjoying each others’ company.

With Brooke in tow we left the police station and moved the party down the street to the Maine Discovery Museum.

It’s a very nice museum with displays/activities on 3 floors.

Then it was time for Dinner. Brooke took us to a restaurant she favors up the road in Orono (the home of the U of M). The beer was excellent, and I had the salmon risotto – heaven!!! I understand everyone else’s food was good too.

After dinner we headed out to the woods and “up to camp” (That’s Mainer speak for “going to the cabin at the lake”). I’ll post more pictures tomorrow (It was late dusk when we arrived).

Along the way we took a swing back thru Bangor to catch a couple of the “must see” sights:

So we’ve arrived in our 5th New England state. Brooke has joined us at the cabin and will be with us for the next couple of days. Tomorrow we begin to explore the coast of Maine. I understand they have some pretty decent seafood. Can’t wait.

Till then, Nite all, R