Travel Days to Maine – Sunday to Wednesday – June 16-19, 2013

 
Sunday, June 16th             
Travel day: Falls Lake, Durham, NC to Endless Caverns, New Market, VA
Distance: 250 miles

 

 

Early this morning, we parted ways with Julie, Steve and the grandkids.  It has been a wonderful weekend at Falls Lake.  Hope to see them again in September at the beach:o))


Today was a longer than normal travel day for us, about 250 miles. Since most of the travel was NOT on interstate, it wasn’t too bad.  Actually, Rt. 29 through North Carolina and Virginia is a wonderful 4-lane divided highway with very little traffic and wonderful scenery!!

 

 

 

Our stop for the evening was Endless Caverns Campground.  The campground is an easy drive just off I-81 south of New Market, VA.  It is a nice campground in a beautiful area and honors Passport America.  They also offer tours of the Caverns for $15 per person if you camp there.

 

Entrance to the Campground

 

 

Nicely spaced, terraced FHU campsites 

 

 

 

Monday, June 17th        

Travel day:
        Endless Caverns, New Market, VA to Moyers Grove CG, Wapwallopen, PA
Distance: 250 miles

 

Our travels today were from B to C on the map.  

  

 

We left very early (6:30am) because we hoped to get to the campground as early as possible.  There is a Bike Trail not too far from the campground we would like to ride.  The sun was barely up when we drove through New Market to get back on I-81 North to Pennsylvania.

 

 

 

It was a pretty and an easy drive through Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland.

 

 

We got the 'Creepy Crawlies' when be got to Carlisle, PA ;o(

 

The traffic never let up until we got past Harrisburg, PA;o(((

 

 

Then it was clear sailing the rest of the drive…

 

ALMOST…

 

One of our biggest concerns about traveling in the northeast are the back roads.  We were both raised in this area and know all too well how narrow and winding the roads can be.  I tried very hard to find campgrounds close to the interstate for one night stops. 

 

Well, I messed this one up…

 

Baby got her first Squiggles Test and passed with flying colors!! 

 

Bill is still recovering;o))

 

This is the only photo of the 7 mile drive to the campground. 

 

It was a two handed, eye on the road drive for me and the Tahoe!

 

Bill did a great job maneuvering Baby up, down and around!!!

 

 

We were on site 33, 30amp FHU in a so-so campground.

 

 

We just got hooked up and ate a quick lunch

so we had time to checkout a bike trail near here.

 

 

About 15 miles from the campground, off I-80 in White Haven, PA,

is the northern trailhead of the Lehigh Gorge State Park Bike Trail. 

 

   

The entire trail is about 36 miles long.  The Gorge portion is 25 miles from White Haven to Jim Thorpe, PA.  They have shuttle services from Jim Thorpe that will take you to White Haven and then you just have an easy downhill ride back to Jim Thorpe.  It is about a 2% downhill grade. 

 

Since it was too late in the day to get a shuttle, we had to peddle both down and then back up the grade. We decided to only go as far as Buttermilk Falls, a round-trip of 17.5 miles.  If we ever get back here, we will take the shuttle and ride as far as possible on the trail.

 

It is SPECTACULAR!!!

 

 

 

On your right, as you head downhill toward Jim Thorpe, is the huge rock wall – The Gorge!!

 

All along the way are small waterfalls:o))

 

 

 

On your left, down a steep bank, is the Lehigh River.

 

You can hear the water rush over the rapids!!

 

 

We took time at one of the short trails to hike down and get a closer look. 

 

 

We took our time, stopping often to admire the views.

 

 

We finally reached Buttermilk Falls about 4pm.

Yep, the trip was all smiles to this point;o))

 

 

Of course, we had to get back and that was 8 1/2 miles uphill;o(((

Since we have spent the last two days just sitting and driving, the exercise was great!!!

 

However, if we ever come back…

 

we will get shuttled to the top and ride the entire trail one-way… DOWN:o))

 

Tuesday, June 18th
Travel day:
      Moyers Grove CG, Wapallopen, PA to Wilderness Lake CG, Willington, CT
Distance: 250 miles

 

Our travels today were from C to D on the map.

 

We carefully made our way back the 7 miles of winding roads

to continue our travel on I-81 north. 

  

 

 

We got caught in rush-hour around Wilkes-Barre and Scranton.

 

Wish people would SLOW down!!!

 

 

Amazing how they cut the highways through the mountains!!

 

 

Shortly outside of Scranton, we picked up I-84 and before long entered New York.

 

 

Driving was easy until we crossed the Hudson River and entered Connecticut. 

 

 

Heavy traffic, crazy drivers and BAD roads made this the worst travel so far.

 

We had to drive through the Capitol, Hartford.

 

I didn’t realize when I snapped this picture,

that I had the captured the capitol dome in picture.

 

 

I went to the internet to see the rest of the building…  GORGEOUS!!!

 

 

We could see the storm clouds building as we continued toward Willington, Connecticut.

 

 

We arrived at Wilderness Lake CG and got set-up just before the rains started! 

It rained ALL night, but was clear and cool in the morning!!

 

 

Glad this was just a one night stop.  We are finding the campgrounds in the northeast to be expensive, difficult to get to and drive through.  The sites are small and not very level. 

 

I guess we are spoiled with the beautiful Florida and South Carolina State Parks we have stayed at!!  This site is a 30amp electric and water site which cost $25.00 with the Passport America discount.  I can’t imagine paying $50 for this site?!?!

 

Wednesday, June 19th
Travel day: Wilderness Lake CG, Willington, CT to Ocean View CG, Wells, ME
Distance: 150miles

 

Our travels today were from D to E on the map.

 

We only had 150 miles to go today, so we decided to wait until after rush-hour.  We have to travel on I-495 around Boston and certainly do not need to do that at RUSH HOUR;o( 

 

About 9am, we got on the road. 

 

Followed I-84 into Massachusetts where we picked up I-90, the first of several toll roads.

 

Next we navigated I-495 around Boston.  The most difficult part was getting on the highway.

 

The construction made for very narrow and dangerous on-ramps!!! 

 

Bill and Baby took it slow and easy:o))

 

 

 

It was well after rush hour and traffic was still terrible.

 

I couldn’t find a Wal-Mart truck to follow;o((

 

However, I found something that worked just as well !!!

Yep, nobody tried to cut in front of me to get behind the Garbage Truck;o))

 

 

Finally, we finished the loop around Boston and continued on I-95 north.

 

 

I-95 becomes a toll road in New Hampshire:-(

 

 

Finally, after four days of travel, we reached MAINE:o))

 

 

Our first stop, the Visitor Center.

 

 

We’ve  got some reading to do;o))

 

 

 

All these beautiful Mountain Laurels were blooming outside the Visitor Center!!

 

 

After the visitor center, you must pay the Maine I-95 toll. 

 

For Baby, it was $7.50 and the Tahoe was $3.00!!

 

Now for the kicker…we only went 11 more miles before we reached our exit!!!

 

That’s $10.50 to go 11 miles or about $1.00 per mile;o(((

 

While we really don’t like paying tolls, it sure cuts back the traffic;o))

Our total tolls for the Tahoe and Baby today were $21.00!!

 

 

We will be staying at Ocean View Campground in Wells, Maine for 5 nights.

 

The campground is tight, the sites are small and I would not recommend it for any rig larger than 35ft.  At $42.00 a night,  it is expensive for 30amp service.  However, it is one of the least expensive in the area.

 

The campground entrance and roads.

 

 

 

Our site and our view… lots of seasonal campers here!!

  

 

If you look carefully in the distance,

you can see the Ocean View for which the campground is name;o))

While the campground is so-so, we didn’t come to spend time at the Campground.

We have several places to see and things to do during our stay here!!

The weather is spectacular and we can’t wait to experience Maine:o))