On to Maine

Tuesday - We get over the the dealership and are told that they are working on the RV and will be finished "soon" whatever that means. They have a very comfortable lounge area with a table of pastries, a fridge with water and cold drinks and a freezer with all kinds of ice cream bars. Not too shabby. A little after noon they are finished, a new starter, a gizmo for the exhaust and finished off with  a wash job. Now we can put our Trader Joe bags back in the RV - Susan and Shadow put stuff away while I take the car back to Enterprise. Oh, one more thing, at some time during the repairs the 12 volt was turned off and not back on so most everything in our refrigerator had to be tossed.

No problem, we would drive a few miles up to the park in Salisbury where we had planned to stay  before the break down. Salisbury, founded in 1640, probably by some other pilgrims hasn't grown very much and we were told the the nearest market and gas station were.a few miles up the road in New Hampshire. So we went shopping before we settled in for the night. We needed to relax and also do some laundry so we stayed a second night.

Wednesday - Did some laundry and in the afternoon walked a mile to the little commercial area by the beach in which only a few of the stores and food venders were open. Pretty much the same as the other beach towns, most of the homes and condos were empty waiting for the season to start. The beach was wide and long, I can see why this place is a popular summer resort. Tomorrow we're driving north along the NH coastal highway to Maine but we're not sure what's open because Thursday is only the 30th and the places don't open until May 1st, 15th and some not till Memorial Day weekend. Strange! Across from our site a guy is standing by his truck (with a FL tag) and I asked him about the RV parks in Maine. He says the only park open is Bayley's in Scarborough. Thank you, thank you.

Thursday - We're off for Maine, drive to the beach, turn left and take the coastal highway all the way through NH. Before we cross the bridge into Hampton Beach there is a neat little harbor with some, what I call lobster boats, with their turned up bows. Another few miles and we pass Portsmouth  and into Maine. The first town is Kittery and then back to the coastal road. Susan reminded me today that she forgot to tell about the knit shop in Kittery (how would she know that)  and we'll have to stop on the way back.

Our first stop is at Cape Neddick home of Nubble Lighthouse probable the most photographed light on the coast. The lighthouse was erected in1879 by the United States Light House Service to protect mariners from the "Savage Rocks"

Now we're almost to Kennebunkport looking for the Bush compound to no avail. About lunchtime we can't find anything open so we stop in a parking spot along the road at Ferry Beach near the town of Bay View. Out the window is a row of rock rip wrap with stairs going down to the beach. It's low tide, people are looking for something, maybe clams, and we spot the two ladies with two dog, one of which is a black lab. I take Shadow down on the beach and ask if he can play with their dogs. He just loves the lab and they play and run giving Shadow his exercise for the day.

 Friday - Our first stop is the post office in Scarborough where our mail is waiting for us. Thank you, USPS. Then we head over to Cape Elizabeth, home to Portland Head Light, Maine's oldest lighthouse, at Fort Williams Park. There is a museum and gift shop but because of you know what it's all closed. Also a nice Cliff Walk along the other side of the park

We then found our way to downtown Portland and had lunch at Becky's Diner, recommended by friends from Lake City. Also on season 10 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and yes, I'd go back again. Before going back to the campground we stopped at two more knit shops.

Tomorrow is Freeport, ME and L.L. Bean.