09/24 to 10/01 Fishermens Memorial State Park, RI

09/24 to 10/01

Fishermens Memorial

State Park

Narragansset,

Rhode Island  

Not wanting to drive the 5-hours, I planned to spend an overnight in Wells Beach, Maine, about half the distance. A look around my campsite told the tale of the end of a season. Just like that, the campground emptied.

I was therefore not expecting a crowded situation at Wells Beach 2½ hours south. However, prior to my departure from this part of Maine, I had two last opportunities to be with cousins, Barb and John. The last night for dinner Monday night was:

a salad, eggplant...

...linguine and sausage. We enjoyed dessert, brownies topped with a dollop of butter pecan ice cream, in front of a roaring fire, the perfect ending to the evening.

How appropriate was the departure finale Tuesday morning for my terrific week in Maine. The last blinding sunrise over Sears Island foretold of the beautiful day I had ahead for my travels south to Wells, Maine.

But first, another and final get-together with John and Barb, this time for breakfast. I drove and parked at a nearby location where John picked me up for pancakes with fresh cut peaches in the batter topped with maple syrup at the cottage. Sitting outside on their deck overlooking Penobscot Bay was mesmerizing; it just didn't get any better than that. But alas, all too soon, off I went. Thank you Barb and John for the memories.

With a stop for fuel, two slowed sections of construction on I-95 and light traffic, I was at my next location by 2:00 p.m. Wells, where Wells Beach is located, was founded in 1643, making it one of the oldest European settlements in Maine. Its history as a tourist destination began in the mid-1800s, when seaside vacations became more popular, particularly with the rise of railroads. The campground is about a mile from the coastline and sparsely populated now that the season here is winding down.

My back-in site, 400, was a full hookup site with 30-amp electrical, water and sewer.

The view down the road at the sparsely populated area.

In front of and to the right of my site was the multi-use building housing the Welcome Center, registration, store, fitness center, mini golf, pool, laundromat and restrooms. Adjacent were the dumpster area and shuffleboard court.

My 3-hour trip to Rhode Island encountered moderate to heavy traffic on I-95 southbound. Although it was a Wednesday, the traffic was probably due to the tourists making their way south back home. One fuel stop and a stop at Stop & Shop in Narraganset made my 2:00 pm arrival just fine.

Their sign at the entrance has been changed to the correct spelling, "Fishermen's Memorial State Park."
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My site Section A, 144 has just 30-amp service and water. Looks tight...

...but we snuggled ourselves in without any problems.

I can't say I didn't have privacy.

All sites around me were occupied but there was no evidence of their existence.

Less than 50 yards away was the spotless bathroom/shower facility.

And it still costs $1.50 for a 6 minute shower...2 minutes of that time is waiting for the hot water to arrive.

Nearby is the silent wind turbine erected on the State's property. Actually, depending on atmospheric conditions the occasional and rhythmic "whoosh, whoosh" or buzzing sound could be heard. Not noticeable at all. 

The already long "To Do" list will have items added to it that promise a very full and active October while Winnie sits in storage awaiting the 2025 Winter Adventure. The change in life style will be welcomed.

I was fortunate once again to have the timing of my arrival coincide with the final Sunday of the Farmers Market located in the front field of the campground. They run from May to the end of September on Sundays from 8:30 to 12;30 pm and feature local crafts and goods such as bedding plants, flowers, vegetables, fruits, honey, maple syrup, meat, and more. As the summer progresses, more vendors join with traditional local crops.

The trip from Maine to Rhode Island did give subtle hint that things are changing. Temperatures remained in the low 60's and the trees and shrubs were showing rusts and tones of brown. I wasn't going to be able to experience the peak anywhere in this northeast anytime soon. 

As for not being in the right place at the right time for the Fall Foliage, the magic of Fall’s colors is inescapable, no matter where you go. Looking at the map above, all the yellow along the eastern seaboard will be my treat as I travel south in early November.

If you followed my blogs for this 2024 season, you know how special it was. The mostly overcast, rain-threatening days didn't dampen my "last hurrah" spirits, rather it gave me time to reflect, prepare and transition to a different mindset. My stay here in Rhode Island coincided with the Thursday night landfall of hurricane, Helene, in the Big Bend of Florida. At this writing, it is a tropical storm drenching the entire southeast and Ohio Valley. I was so fortunate to have experienced just two storm events, both of which knocked out power, in my months long cross country travels.

I'd like to conclude this blog post with a link to some random shots in a 4-minute video I created to capture the season with credit to One Republic's I Lived. I present it filled with pride, thankfulness and full knowledge of how fortunate and blessed I've been to have accomplished it. Let me know if you enjoyed it. Click HERE to view it. Till we meet again, stay safe, warm and healthy. See you in November on my way south. 

"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving." - Albert Einstein

09/17 to 09/24 Searsport Shores Ocean Campground-Part Two

09/17 to 09/24

Searsport Shores Ocean Campground

Searsport, Maine 

The days are getting shorter, the air crispy, the ocean breeze stirs with a chill, the leaves hint they're ready to shed their greenery and accept the ambers, crimsons and gold of Fall, the nights are chilly and my heat pump is working to keep me comfy at 71º. Yes, all the signs are there and as much as we hesitate to accept them, life goes on. The acorns from the tree above continue to remind me with resounding bangs on my roof, they too must drop in hopes of continuing their survival. Yet, there’s a quiet magic to this season—a time of harvest and gathering, of warmth sought in cozy corners and the promise of longer nights. Here on the coast of Maine, it is becoming noticeable. Autumn beckons us to pause, to breathe in the earth’s slow exhale which carries the scent of woodsmoke and fallen leaves.

Thursday evening, the table was set, the sirloin tips were marinated and along with the baked potatoes and corn on the cob picked up at a farm stand, all was ready for John and Barb's arrival. Barbara brought the veggies and a homemade blueberry coffee cake (outstanding) for dessert.  

The grill heated and ready to go. The timing for our BBQ dinner was perfect as the wind died down and the evening was ideal topped off by relaxing by the campfire.

Oh, did I mention gin and tonics before dinner?

With temperatures continuing to hover in the low 60's, Saturday night was Barbara's turn to provide another delicious dinner. And, most disappointing for me, not enough photos (of food) for my future reminisces.

John and Barb's cozy cottage overlooking Islesboro Island and Penobscop Bay

This photo taken prior to this year's January storms is across the road with stairs for John and Barb to access the rocky beach.

Devastating as it was, the storms were a benefit of sorts for their now unimpeded view.

Neighbors Barry and Ginny joined us for dinner.

Her delicious salad featured watermelon radishes followed by eggplant parmesan, pesto linguine, sausage and toasted garlic artisan sourdough bread. Enjoy the tasters notes on the wonderful wines enjoyed as well.

From Oregon's Willamette Valley this Pinot Noir has aromas of dark dried cherries, pink peppercorn, and saddle leather on the nose. On the palate, layers of composed tannins and savory characters of cherrywood, ground sage and dried shiitake mushrooms reveal themselves, leading to an acidic finish that lingers with soft and silky tannins. (Are you kidding me?)

This Pinot Noir is a quintessential expression of Santa Barbara County’s cool-climate vines, with its elegant, light-bodied style. Delicate aromas hint at the bright red cherry and strawberry flavors on the palate.

 

Sunday evening we traveled south to Lincolnville, ME, voted among the top 20 most picturesque towns in the United States according to Outdoor Magazine. Friend, Joe, joined us for dinner at the Whales Tooth Pub situated on 400' of oceanfront coastline and features a "unique culinary twist of fresh farm and sea ingredients served inside a 1777 classic English pub with a priceless view, and a huge roaring fire during the winter!"

I opted for their "famous" fish and chips which, on the website looks like this.

In reality it looked like this. Delicious. It was lightly battered, not soggy and the haddock was fresh, tender and juicy. The "chips" were a surprisingly satisfying variation of the usual soggy French fries. These were more of a thick curly potato chip also not soggy or oily. Thank you Barb and John.

Long time friend of B&J, Joe (2015)

Back to Northport to the cottage for dessert and a fire. The chilled evening called for such a treat.

This photo also taken from a few years back.

The following passage was created with help from OpenAI's GPT-4. It so aptly describes the many wonderful memories I have of the campfires I've enjoyed over the years. I'm sure a good number of my readers have, in their distant past, enjoyed such pleasures, but in case you've lost the magic, I'm sharing to recapture what has been forgotten; the best fires, of course, have been in the company of others. "Sitting by the crackling campfire on a chilly fall evening, the warmth wraps around like an old, familiar blanket. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of burning wood mixed with the earthy aroma of fallen leaves. Flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the trees, their leaves tinged with the last golden hues of autumn. The soft crackle and occasional pop of the fire are soothing, a gentle reminder of nature’s simple beauty. As the evening deepens, the fire becomes a gathering point for stories, laughter, and quiet reflection, offering warmth not only to the body but also to the soul."

It is fitting that I conclude this blog and this leg of my trip to Maine with these thoughts and vivid imagery. I'll leave on Tuesday for Fishermans Memorial State Park in Narragansett, Rhode Island. First I'll stop by John and Barb's cottage for brunch. With an overnight at Sun Outdoors Wells Beach in Wells, Maine, my week in Rhode Island will be my last week of RVing for the 2024 Summer Season.  And what a momentous season it has been. I hope my blogs have informed and kept you up to date on what's out there in these wonderful and beautiful United States. My last blog will be about my stay in Rhode Island. See you there. Stay warm.

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." — Ernest Hemingway