ROAD TRIPPIN’ to Maine

A bucket list item I’ve been putting off is venturing up to Maine. I’ve never been to the Northeastern most corner of the USA. And since my time in this region is unknown, I figured if not now, then when?

So we’re going to make the most of it. Fi doesn’t get to come this trip, but the next one I’m taking my scaredy cat.

THE PLAN:
I work fridays, but I didn’t want to spend alll day driving. So I’m heading to Portsmouth, NH when we get off work. Luckily Hazel can come to work with me, so I don’t have to trek back to the house before setting off. But that does mean I need to prep before the work week to make sure everything is ready come Friday.

*Update: I was able to bit by bit pack the car prior to today (Friday) and our dash from work to New Hampshire! Hazel was VERY eager to get in the car to ensure that she was “packed” for our trip. Yes, Hazel Nut, you’re coming too!

So into the woods we go… to lose our minds and find our soul.

PORTSMOUTH, NH

So we made it… to a ghetto part of town. Oops. We got here at the trailing ends of dusk. However, I doubt the scenery around the hotel will be much to check out in the light of day. Thankfully, I was able to scope out our coffee run for the morning! It’s a nice stroll from the hotel – unfortunately passed a sketchy housing complex. Double Yikes!

At least it’s only one night in the motel. And it’s fairly quiet. Here’s to hoping a peaceful night and a fresh start to the weekend in the morning. 🙂

My main reason for stopping in Portsmouth, NH was that it was a nice easy stopping point for the first night. And it would set up an easy drive from lighthouse to lighthouse along the way to Maine. Plus everyone has recommended that I get up to New Hampshire and Maine since landing here. Not sure I see what everyone is talking about… but I also acknowledge that being from Cali, the expectations of others are lower than mine.

But I do love a pretty lighthouse.

I personally thought that lighthouses would be easy to spot. And even easier to get to. WRONG. If I still had to pay a “fine” for every U-turn I made during my time in New Hampshire, let alone Maine, I would have a NICE collection of fees towards some purchase or another. I illegally “parked” my car to get the photo of this lighthouse. By parked, I mean I idled along the shoreline to obtain this photo after a LOT of curse words, frustrations and turns.

But leaving this lighthouse I stumbled across this beautiful park to walk Hazel along.

It was definitely worth the detour. And we parked for free! We could have kept walking except this girl drank too much coffee to not be near a bathroom. Whoops! But at least NH recognized that it is SPRING. Hello warm weather 🙂

For the last lighthouse of the journey – we didn’t make it to the others unfortunately- I gave up on driving through the traffic and opted to park. What I didn’t pay attention to was the distance I’d walk, or the weather. Ha! It was HOT. And I forgot deodorant. Really bad day to forget.

Wish I could say the lighthouse was amazingly worth it. Nope the place, and the lunch spots were crawling with people and their dogs. Most of which growled at Hazel, or Hazel barked at them. Such a fun moment to realize I still had not found a bathroom to use!

But the beach with public restrooms was pretty sweet. The bathrooms were amazingly clean and fully stocked. And the parking – while not free – had 15min temp parking for restroom purposes. Score. I could have stopped for lunch, but lobster wasn’t exactly brunch material in my book. Plus I snacked on a TON of GF donuts in the car. Super nutritious.

After this pit stop we headed up to Portland, ME… Something I still won’t understand is the need to have so many TOLLS to drive between states. Amazing. And they say California is expensive!

PORTLAND, ME

I’ve never stayed in a Fireside Inn & Suites… but that bed… OMG amazing. The pillows were definitely AP’s style. But the mattress was worth every penny of that hotel and the drive to Portland.

But I definitely did not stay in the heart of any of the places I stopped. Partially because I was trying to keep costs low. And partially because I just didn’t realize I was picking less hipster places to stay.

I didn’t make it to Portland’s lighthouse… or probably any place that tourists would say made their trip to Maine worthwhile. But we did find this sweet park to chase ducks and force Hazel into a photo shoot. . . Which is avoided easily.

But her side profile is still pretty. 🙂 And she got to chase some ducks while we were out. Her favorite pastime.

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

We stated.. well at the only open campground I could find that would allow dogs. In reality it was more glamming than camping. However the rain and my terrible skills of tarpping made the “glamping” less glamorous and more soggy. Despite doing a pretty good job of keeping the rain out.. somehow my air mattress collected condensation, or water on the bedding. I never did find the leak. But boy would it have been awkward to realize at 32 I can’t hold a bladder. My dog, who is 8, can definitely hold hers and also had a wet spots on the bottom layering of her bedding. It was SO WEIRD.

Plus the tent sat in water thanks to my epic tarping skills. FAIL. Hardcore.

But luckily my buddy still loves me despite my faults. And despite needing her shock collar to curb the barking, she and I had a great time. She did MUCH better with this trip than her previous camp trip. Thank you baby Jesus!

I also struggled with my fire making skills. I couldn’t tell if it was the damp air, wet wood, or what. But my fires struggled to stay lit. WHAT A HUGE FRUSTRATION. Teepee, log cabin approach. Between the wind, the rain, and the fog I just struggled. I made kindling and still struggled to stay lit. Lighter fluid. Still couldn’t manage to maintain the fire. Eventually the wood burned… but then the coals would go out. AMAZING.

We even tried SUP. . . My bad for screwing up the pump situations. (Read my previous blog for more on SUP adventures)

She would have loved to spend more time in the ocean.. I was a chicken and didn’t bring a jacket or towel to warm up with. Bad planning. It was also super foggy again. Sorry Hazel Nut. Next time.

Throughout our camping trip it POURED down rain. Something I knew was going to happen… and still just didn’t plan well enough for it. And reacted poorly. Because on the morning I was checking out to drive back home I fell getting my tarp ropes out of the tree. I fell so hard and so badly that I went to urgent care after driving Hazel home. I also called out of work. As I sit here recuperating I continuously remind myself that I am lucky to be alive, breathing on my own, and able to type this entry. I could have easily snapped my neck if I was just inches off of how I landed. Bad bad bad.

But I’m not. I’m home with my pup and and needy cat. I’m grateful and trying to learn from this experience. 🙂

XOXO,

Nattie & Hazel Nut