I keep going back to Mid-Coast Maine

It was such a nice, sunny afternoon that we decided to stop at the trailhead to Spruce Mountain on our way to Rockport.  We were on Route 17, two miles north of the intersection of Routes 17 and 90 in West Rockport, the sign indicated that Spruce Mountain is one of the trails maintained by the Georges River Land Trust.  Since it was only .6 miles to the peak, we decided to go for it! 

What a great little hike which not only offers fantastic, unobstructed views, but if you luck out as we did, you'll be rewarded with sweet wonderful Maine blueberries!  It'd be a great trail to do with little kids as it's short and sweet!    

You can access other trails from Route 17.

One of the views heading up....

that's Mike picking some blueberries.....

Back in the car, we headed to our destination, The Oakland Seashore Motel which is off of Route 1 in Rockport.  Not only was it ideally located, but what a picture perfect spot!  This place is a real gem, I won't even tell you now little it cost, check it out for yourself.  Apparently it was once a park and people from all over Camden and Rockland would take the trolley to get there.  Someone bought it once trolleys stopped running and converted it into a motel, later adding the cabins.  You couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting.  I also found out that they do weddings there as well and that you can get the whole place, the 12 or so motel units and the 11 or so cabins, 8 which are on the ocean as well as a three bedroom apartment, etc.  for $3,000 for two nights (including Friday and Saturdays in the summertime!...)...seriously?!

I like that there are plenty of picnic tables, adirondack chairs, grills etc. spread over the property for guests to use.

This building houses the motel units...each room has a table and two chairs set outside on the porch which is kind of a a communal porch, it's a nice way to meet people.

The property includes this small beach.

I took this photo from the communal porch.....it was quite a distance away...

Our neighbor was an elderly woman from New York City who rents her room for all of July and August!  She'd set up 6-8 hummingbird feeders in her corner of the porch and we got to watch several birds come and feed throughout the day!

On Saturday we went out on a 3 hour cruise from Rockport.  It was nice and sunny but there was little wind, oh well...we did see a few seals and lots of activity on the water.

Sup?

Earlier that morning, we'd done a very pleasant bike loop from Camden to Rockport, It's one of my favorites bike excursions as you ride along quiet country roads bordered by old stone walls, passing pastures as well as Aldermere Farm, one of the world's premier breeders of Belted Galloway cattle, the "Oreo" cow!

Once pass the Farm and the There's another little gem, the Vesper Hill Children's Chapel which is an outdoor chapel with a formal garden.  Start looking for it once you've passed the farm and the Rockport Golf Club, you'll be happy you did.   It's a small non-denominational outdoor chapel the perfect location for a wedding or baptism or memorial.  In the absence of this, it's just a special place to relax, to think, to meditate or pray, paint or draw, and it's open to the public for this.

I'm not really meditating, although it would be good for me!

Time to go!