Day seven

Greetings!

     This is Pamie Sue reporting the sights, sounds and flavors of the Midcoast region of Maine.  Another beautiful partly sunny day with temperatures in the mid 70's(sorry folks, don't mean to brag!)  Left Bath early this morning enroute to Freeport to check out the LL Bean Outlet Store and whatever other sights we find along the way.  Dropped the non-shopper ,Jammin Judy, off at Winslow Memorial Park for a little sun and relaxation.(and maybe a little break for the rest of us or should I say from the rest of us!)  Shopping was a little slow, but our highlight was discovering a wonderful little artisan bread bakery called "When Pigs Fly!  I'm a believer!!! The best Spinach, Garlic, Onion bread I've ever tasted!  Of course, the Cinnamon Raisin and bottle of Garlic Oil  also found a place in our car. Funny how Sharla will say only buy light, flat and small items we can't live without, and we mind her every time.  I guess once a big sister, always a big sister.
     From there we had to have lunch, of course, the best part of the day.  We happened upon a place along the wharf called Harraseekit Lunch and Lobster Company. I had seen it in a travel brochure and it didn't lie.  Delightful seafood baskets along the water while lobster boats packed to set out for sea.Yummy!
     Left Freeport and followed Highway 1 to Brunswick.  We had seen advertised an antique mall in an old mill called Cabot Mill Antiques.  It was a huge old mill with lots of atmosphere. Again poor Jammin Judy patiently waited in the car taking a rest from her stressful morning.  She is our designated driver so we want her rested and ready to go at a moments notice.  She hasn't let us down ye,t so it must be working.
     After a rough day checking out  the towns we headed back to Bath, but wait, we hadn't seen a lighthouse yet today, so we followed Highway 1 south of Bath and drove to the southernmost point along this peninsula.  We ended at Popham Fort, the remains of a fort built in 1861 overlooking Kennebeck River to protect Bath and Augusta.Dad will be proud that his girls are will be well versed in some history of Maine. From there we saw from a distance the Pond Island Lighthouse.  The quaint little fishing village was picturesque with the sun peeking through the clouds.  We did just happen to find Spinneys, a little lobster shack Sharla had heard about and had to check out their clam chowder.  Well enough of the sights, sounds and flavor of the MidwestA Coast,, but wait, I didn't mention any sounds???  Ok!!! "THAT WAS THE TURN BACK THERE" NO, IT'S UP THERE, DID HE HAVE HIS BLINKER ON? I THINK HE GAVE ME THE FINGER! WAIT THERE'S A STOP SIGN UP THERE, IS THAT A ONE WAY STREET? WHERE ARE WE GOING?  I DON'T KNOW!  IT'S HOT IN HERE, TURN UP THE AIR.  WHERE IS MY COAT? THANK GOODNESS FOR JUDY'S BLANKET.
       As you can tell, there were many sounds.  But all of them were music to our ears!  Hope everyone is well there.  Miss you all! Until we meet again!

Pamie Sue
Charlie Ann
Jammin Judy
Peppermint Patty

    

Day 6

Peppermint Patty here...  I have been elected to report for the day.  Early this morning(10:00) we were once again all packed up.  It's either my imagination or our car is getting smaller :)  Our first stop was a little shop in Saco called "Stone Soup".  All items were made by Maine Artisans.  I'm happy to report that none of was "skunked" at this shop.  Some of our purchases included Woopie Pies, "Dammit Dolls", stained glass sun-catcher(Sharla thinks she can make this with Judy's help) and I can't forget Bella, she now has a real cat food dish.

Our next stop was in Old Orchard Beach.  This was voted the  #1 Boardwalk and Pier in Maine by some travel magazine :)  It was foggy and overcast for the first part of the afternoon but the sun came out hot enough to toast Judy and I as red as a lobster . The beach had beautiful white sand as far as the eye  could see.   Sharla and Pam cruised the boardwalk and checked out the shops and joined us later to bask in the sun.
The menu for today was fish and chips overlooking the ocean.  Once again it was very delicious.

Moving on....We headed to the Portland area. Wouldn't you know, we passed a pick your own strawberry patch.  The Griffin in us couldn't resist. (Mmm..Mmm...)  We stopped at Cape Elizabeth to check out it's light house but sadly to report we could faintly see it in the fog, that once again moved in.  Buying a postcard is going to have to be sufficient.  While we were in the area we stopped at "Portland Head Lighthouse".  The fog lifted just enough to get a few good pictures.

It is now after 6:00 and we are wearing out, so in the car we go heading to our next destination in Bath.
Remember us picking the strawberries?  Well, we are now concluding our day sipping on fresh strawberry daquiries.

Good night everyone, my daquiri is waiting...
Peppermint Patty
Charlie Ann
Jammin Judy
Pamie Sue

Day Five

Hi,
This is Charlie Ann and  I was elected to report today's adventures.

We started out today by visiting one antique mall and an outdoor flea market (except Judy who elected to stay in the car and watch people and clean out her purse).  Patty and I found a few treasures but Pam was skunked.  But, with a little more time I'm sure she would have found something.

We then drove around Kennebunkport,viewing the George Bush vacation home and drooled at all the other beautiful homes along the ocean.

Ogunquit was our next destination.  We shopped along Perkin's Cove and walked a trail known as Marginal Way that followed the ocean up to the Ogunquit beaches.  It was a great place for pictures and we had a beautiful day.

Our favorite seafood of the day was clam chowder at Billy's Chowder House on Mile Road in Wells .  It tasted a lot like Mom's oyster stew except it had potatoes in it.  It was an award winning soup that lived up to it's title.  (But of course it was not as good as Mom's oyster soup!)

Judy and Pam end the day swimming while I had a hot bath and Patty mapped out our trip for tomorrow.   We are moving up to Bath, Maine, where we will spend 2 nights.

So until tomorrow....sweet dreams!
Charlie Ann
Pamie Sue
Jammin' Judy
Peppermint Patty

Day Four

Hi everyone,   Here we are at York Harbor! We had a long - but fun- day!  We started at 9:00a.m. and got back to our motel at 10:30 p.m.  WOW - we are going to need a vacation when we get home!!!  Here is our day in a nutshell:
Waded in the Atlantic at Short Sands Beach in York just to get the feet wet!
Stopped at an antique shop and "The Yarn Sellar" WONDERFUL
Hit Thrift Store #1
Dined on Lobster rolls at "Bob's Crab Shack"
Shopped a bit at the Kittery Outlet
Proceeded to Fort Foster Park where we walked and walked and walked the beach, collected seashells and seaweed and the snail( that may be crossing our hotel room floor by morning) and basked in the sun!
Homemade ice cream shop came next "Mrs. and me" yummy!  After a cup of ice cream (with the toppings)
Crate and Barrel and then on to the picturesque  "Nubble Lighthouse" back in York Harbor.
Sharla and Patty treated us to shrimp and clam strips from Foxes on the Harbor!  Amazing!
Then, along the way home, we had to stop at the night life in York (no, not bar hopping) but for" goldenrod salt water kisses in York" (salt water taffy)  of course, that meant we had to check out some more shops along the lively beach strip!
Finally, we headed back to our hotel at Biddeford, and after a few wrong turns, and with the help of Roald (our english speaking tour guide (GPS) we made it back safe and sound to our room. 
Now, after a full day of sun and fun we are ready to call it a day, and sweet dreams from Maine!  Love you!
Peppermint Patty, Charlie Ann, Pamie Sue and Jammin' Judy!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

road work

DAY THREE
Sitting in slow traffic,
road construction,
patty's driving! !! Road rage!
sharla is calming her nerves with a crossword puzzle.
Someone just pulled over and upchucked! Don't look
Stay tuned for more exciting adventures of the griffin girls on the move.

Later...
Just had our first lobster meal of the trip! (see pics) Sharla had this place picked out from her pre-trip planning on the internet. On the way to the restaurant we scouted out the antique stores, outlet centers, and unique little shops that will be explored tomorrow! Pam got the pleasure of driving the last hour of the trip and after 3 backseat drivers (actually 2 backseat and 1 front) she decided that she would not drive to the motel. I think her exact words were "just shoot me!"
Anyhow, back to the lobster...it was very good. The lobster tail and claws were great, although the green junk inside the body...grossed us out and that was the end of it! It was so mutilated you couldn't identify the remains. Obviously we are not experienced "lobster backs" See 5th grade history of the revolutionary war
Oh well, we are all settled in very nicely at the Comfort Inn and Suites in Biddeford. Tomorrow will be a full day, so to bed we go. Until then....Jammin' Judy, Charlie Ann, Pamie Sue, and Peppermint Patty wishes you all a wonderful night!

day 2. on the road!

Just had a great lunch at a rest stop near Toledo. Gorgeous day, sun is shining, low humidity . Sharla drove the first 6 hours and now patty is taking her turn.
We made it to Buffalo New York, and after a quick bite at Panera Bread (I know, not real original) and T.J. Max, we are back at the motel.  Tomorrow it will be another 10 hour day on the road!  We are having a wonderful time and miss you all!
Pamie Sue
Peppermint Patty
Charlie Ann
Jammin' Judy

Day one

Today is the first day (actually the pre-trip) day in our adventure.  We are all at our own homes checking our lists, putting the final touches on our homes, taking care of our dogs & cat, finishing up all the things we have procrastinated for the past few weeks, and loading the car.  And let me say, the sun is shining at last and the sky does not have a cloud in it!!! hurray!!!!   Judy (I) am putting the finishing touches on this blog, so we can document our trip.  How exciting!