The Caching Bag: Maine

Showing posts with label Maine. Show all posts

Monday, October 28, 2019

Bearly Caches in Maine

Have you visited the Garmin building in Yarmouth, Maine?

Three of my all-time favorite caches off the same parking lot!

Bears in the Bushes

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Monday, August 27, 2018

NEA18: Cape Elizabeth to Salem

I KNOW THIS PLACE!

Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Day 3 brought us in Cape Elizabeth, heading towards Casco Bay and the Portland Headlight. We were on the road too early to pull into the park so we detoured for a new Virtual. We passed Two Lights State Park (not open either) and continued down this almost-familiar road to... hey, I know this place!

Tidal Pool Virtual GC7B65N

It's a little park at the end of an anonymous dirt road that leads to a lovely inlet, coastal park and Lobster shack! I remember exploring this place two decades ago, and the only thing that was new was the Virtual!

Portland Headlight, Maine

It was very slow going to the Fort Williams Park as they were preparing for the Beach to Beacon 10K, but it was worth the trip. Inside this former US Army base is one of the most picturesque lighthouses, the decommissioned Fort Williams, Goddard Mansion, and the Fort William Cache -- the oldest cache in Maine, hidden in January 2001.

I have no good photos of the auspicious cache because I was fleeing the skeeters of Hell, but we have several... er... hundred lovely photos of the lighthouse.

The Fort Williams Cache GC128

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

We pulled ourselves away and headed south. Last year, ShelleyJean and I explored this really neat state park south of Portsmouth. Every turn is another lovely view, and we pulled into the lot, racing dark clouds rolling in.

Peaceful. We sat on the bench for a good long while, watching the birds snatching fish out of the water and the sea weed rolling in on the waves. This is everything we could hope for on this trip - a little geocaching and a lot of peaceful moments.

Seaview GCAC8A

Clouds are rolling in so we headed out. Luckily there was only a smattering of drops between here and Salem. Unfortunately, not enough rain there to scare the tourists away. So much for peach and quiet!

Salem, Massachusetts

I think we predominantly visited Salem to torment TaGeez's daughter, B-Rat. It's on this 23 YO's bucket list, so we tormented her by sending picture after picture of this historic, coastal city. Witch's museums, wax museums, psychic shops - perfect!

We took in many of the historic sites, but we had to stop for pictures at the newest tourist attraction - the Bewitched statue. It seems a little tenuous as an appropriate stop on the witch's tour -- a TV witch, but it's a good selfie site.

TaGeez and I walked along the the cobbled stones, where I pointed out all the historic sites I know. I love how they decorated their lampposts with ornate figureheads, again no real relation to the witchcraft scare.

We passed through to the witchcraft memorial - a small park lined with one bench per victim.

It's located next to the Burying Point, the oldest cemetery in Salem and final resting of many notables...

...including Judge John Hathorne, grandfather of Nathaniel Hawthorne, known as the "hanging judge" during the witchcraft trials.

Salem Witch Trial Memorial GC58VMD

The heat of the day became overwhelming so we packed it in for the relief of the car AC. Two more stops before moving onto our hotel in Waltham - two stops that were a world apart.

Was there a Doctor Who episode set in Olde Salem? I guess I should look it up. This site was a two-fer: a traditional and a Virtual.

Time Traveler GC53BYE
Who? GC7B65J

And then the new Virtual off Pope Street. In 2016, Salem State researchers discovered the site where the 19 innocent people were executed. In memory, a small park was created in July of 2017. Tightly surrounded by residential homes, it's hard to believe this little plot of land laid forgotten for 325 years while locals walked passed and lived their lives unknowingly.

19 Hanged for Witchcraft on This Site GC7B744

Extreme beauty and jarring reality all in one day - very emotional. Feeling the urge for loud music and good food, we detoured to the Border Cafe in Burlington for Louisiana/Texas food before turning into Waltham for the night.

Up to now, we've evaded the real rain, but that was coming in the morning.

Saturday, August 25, 2018

NEA18: Acadia to South Portland

The road the next morning was right outside the Stephen King novella, The Fog. Riding along the crowned highway, heading to Acadia, the fog rolled in tight to the pavement edge. Such a surreal feeling, but we were hopeful the fog would lift in time for the wonders of the National Park.

Bass Harbor Light, Mount Desert Island

TaGeez and I arrived early because all the websites warned us it's prime tourist season. With time to spare before the Hulls Cove Visitor Center opens, we headed to Bass Harbor Light on the southwest corner of Mount Desert Island.

Little two-lane roads passing cottages with quaint sea-related names, it felt just like upper lower Michigan.

Not much of a view yet, but...

... the lighthouse was beautiful and peaceful. All you could hear is the clang of the two small bells plus the bell on the buoy.

Bass Harbor Light GC7869C

Yes, I climbed both down and up these rustic steps. We were startled by the minks bursting from the underbrush.

Lovely but foggy view heading to one of the park's southern gates. This is not just low tide - you could see water levels down throughout the whole trip.

Caching in on Birds GCK87A

Acadia National Park

We finally made it, and, for the moment, we beat the tourists.

Welcome to Acadia National Park GC787CT

Lovely. Foggy. Every turn on the Loop Road showed another stunning view.

The mile drive up the road to the top of Cadillac Mountain was one of the scariest and most thrilling experiences of my life. No guard rails, and you could only see to the (almost) end of your hood. Twisting and turning up, no gaps in the giant cloud we ascended into. On the drive down later, I couldn't believe I actually drove this road blind!

What a difference an hour makes.

Cadillac Mountain Cache GC85F4

We spent a little time searching for a nearby benchmark, and when we emerged from the woods we saw blue sky peaking out. Large, fast-moving clouds engulfing the mountaintop, and, just like every other tourist, we madly snapped photos as we could.

We made several other stops after descending the Cadillac Mountain, but, eventually, the tourists took over. We circled parking lots trying to find a place to pull over, but, after several failed attempts, we took it as a sign to head out.

First stop... Bar Harbor and a quilt shop off the town square.

Yarmouth - L.L. Bean

When I was a young military wife stationed in Portland, money was very tight. But when my husband was deployed, I treat myself to a trip up US 1 to Yarmouth. The shops were pricey, but people watching was free. I would wander the shops (the Mangy Moose is still the best!) and explore L.L.Bean any time day or night. I'm so geeked someone placed a virtual here!

The Iconic Boot Virtual Reward GC7B63K

And as I did 20 years before, you always wrap your visit with some yumminess from Ben & Jerry's!

South Portland

Final stop for the night is South Portland, my home for 3 years. Now known for it's foodie culture, some equate South Portland as the "San Francisco of the East". And, like SF, there was no parking, outrageous valets, and way too many pedestrians flooding the intersections.

So we turned to the other side of the river while picking up some Virtuals including this one.

Maine Railroad Cache GC7B8TX

One more spot to take TaGeez. I knew he would love the uniqueness of this memorial. As we pulled into the lot, we were stopped at the entrance by two sunshiny volunteers. This little park right on South Portland's harbor was hosting an outdoor movie night. Giving them our biggest, tourist eyes, they let us slip in for one last geocache and many, many, many photos.