A Maine Milestone

Day 274
Freeport ME- Bar Harbor ME

Another day of driving across an unknown state. Home for the next three days is still about three hours away. In between here and there lies the city of Augusta. We've done pretty good at seeing state capitols so there is no point in missing this one. It's on the way after all.

Augusta is a small place with a population hovering around 20,000 people. The state house is mostly granite on the outside with a surprising amount of plaster and drywall on the inside. Decorations are sparse. The building appears to be in good shape and well maintained. Maine kind of has a reputation for being a humble place without a lot of flair. Nowhere is this more evident than it's statehouse rotunda and balconies.

That's a lot of brown.

Stepping outside to the second story balcony is a new experience. This is the first time we've seen a capitol that allows people outside. A few old wicker rockers sit in the sun. Half a dozen folks in suits are outside enjoying what is undoubtedly a beautiful day. Weather in the high 60's garnished with plenty of sunshine makes for a nice backdrop to the city in view. We head back to Penny and get Shirley hooked up. There are still a couple of hours to drive to make it to our final destination.

By late afternoon we roll into Mt Desert Narrows Campground. A friendly receptionist greets us and tells us where to park. We are using a discount club card so our spot choices are limited to a small section. The good news is that she tells us to pick what we want, and let them know where we park. Katie and I bumble around for 20 minutes deciding where to set up. Most of the sites are so un-level we would never be able to get the RV flat. Sleeping on an angle and trying to keep fruit from rolling off the counter is no fun. We pick what we feel will work and set up once again. For the next three days this will be what we come back to.

It's not all bad news. Katie starts making dinner and I get out to take the dog for a walk. Eli leads me through the bushes and down the rocks. The old man can smell the salt water of the tidal basin and heads straight for it. He's become quite particular in his old age. Beaches and oceans are more to his liking than sidewalks and city parks. I take a seat and watch him wander the coast sniffing for clams. Standing out here alone allows reality to sink in. Every couple of weeks I have a "Holy crap we're traveling the country" type of moments. This is as far east as we will travel. That means in a few days we turn west and head for home.

Home.

What  weird thing to think about. Nearly 10 months have passed since we left. In two weeks we will be standing in southern Wisconsin and it will all be over. For now all we can do is breath in the salt air and enjoy it while it lasts. We will soon see the end of our life on the road.