Just returned from a vacation to Maine and Mt. Washington, a beautiful part of this nation and much less crowded during mid September than in summer and autumn. We dropped a car off at a brother’s house in Boston along the way, and then spent a few days in Sanford, ME, where my parents used to live, before returning home through New Hampshire, Vermont and NY…T'was a little too much driving for one week we decided, but it was great to get away from the Warren routine. My youngest son Skylar joined us in Sanford, where he used to spend vacations as a kid, so it was a nostalgic trip for him, and relaxing as well.
Beth was able to reminisce with her childhood friend Annette in Portland, and we took side trips to Kennebunkport, where an aunt and uncle once owned a bookstore, then drove to a lighthouse near Portland. We also stopped at L.L. Bean in Freeport, but did not buy much. The ocean all along the coast was surprisingly warm for Maine,near 60*F although we did not do any swimming.
Mt. Washington, N.H. has a cog railway to the top, built around 1870, which still runs one steam engine and well as two bio diesel engines. The views on top are spectacular, but the mountain is famous for terrible weather and there is a plaque at the top listing all the people who have died there, usually one or two a year.
The Prius averaged 52 mpg-as it has since April-so besides motels and food and miscellaneous tourist stuff, it was a very economical journey. At the beginning of the trip Beth and I had stopped at an RV show to plan for the future, and we have our eyes set on a class “B” motor home built by Pleasureway. The advantage of the “B” class is their maneuverability and small size, which can be parked anywhere like a common van. That will save on motels and food to offset the poor gas mileage...
