Saco/Old Orchard Beach KOA

 We arrived at the Saco/Old Orchard Beach KOA on June 24 for a week stay. Our friends Mary Ellen and Jim Chambers met us there. Joe and I met  ME and Jim in May 2011 at Cape Hatteras. They had our itenerary and had planned to surprise us, but I spoiled that (another story).

We had a great time together. We picked up right where we left off and it seemed like no time had gone by since we last saw them. ME and Jim arrived at the KOA first and offered to share their lunch with us.

After a day of shopping, on Tuesday, in Freeport (I really like it there...especially  L.L. Bean), we decided to check out the supper at the KOA. They were grilling burgers and onions...



The KOA store had a wonderful information center. Two racks with directions they had typed for anything you might need or want to do in the area.

These cute little metal stick people were everywhere telling us to "Have a great day", "Enjoy your day",etc or just holding pretty baskets of flowers.

Francie and Nellie or "the girls" as they are so often called were a hit at the park. They love to walk and play with each other and sometimes Francie is a wee bit nosey. It was fun to get to know them better and spend time with them too.

Of course, the doggie park was a huge hit with our pups. It was pea gravel which is great because it rained a few times and there was no mud! Pretty important when you have 16 feet tracking in and out!



The doggie park was plenty big enough for "the spherical object" and the whole park had shade, benches, doggie bags and trash disposal, and 3 large containers for water that were cleaned and filled by the staff during the day.

Nobody was interested in my bubbles! Sally ignored them and walked away, Dover just stood there, Jack only wanted the ball and Wrecks took a rest! Notice the yellow frisbe by the fence? Jack discovered a new game...he would dig the dirt away under the fence just enough to get the ball through so he could run on the outside of the fence to go get it.

This was our first time to visit Maine. What a beautiful place!  We met Nancy...she and her husband are the owners. They live on site and do a great job providing a safe ( it is gated and secure), clean and nice place to call home with lots of extras.

A Fun Night



 We had dinner at the Lobster Claw in Saco. Finally...a lobster dinner!

We headed to the beach after dinner. It was a chilly night, but that didnt stop the crowds from gathering. It was a busy place.

The pier is much bigger than it looks like it is. There is alot going on inside. Lots of souvenier shops and several places to eat.

...and dessert!

The inside of the pier...

Portland Head Light

 Portland Head Light is a historic light house in Cape Elizabeth that sits at the entrance of the shipping channel into the Casco Bay. It is the first head light to be built by the government and is now a part of Fort Williams Park.


Construction began in 1787 as a directive of George Washington and was first lit on January 10, 1791.


Today the grounds and keeper's house are owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth. It is the oldest headlight still in use today and the Portland Head Light is the most photographed light house in Maine.

A view of Portland,Maine off in the distance.



The fort at Fort Williams Park.

This light house is nearby and only comes on at dusk.

One of the many lobster boats we saw.

A "chip truck"...we had yummy sandwiches. Fresh tomato, basil, and mozzarella on toasted sour dough with vinegarette and Cape Cod chips.

Mary Ellen and Jim taking in the view.

A gun battery at Fort Williams Park. The park is really pretty and well kept. It was a beautiful day...breezy, high 70s and partly sunny. Another great day in Maine with our friends!

Two Lights

Cape Elizabeth Two Lights and the privately owned keeper's house.

 The area of Cape Elizabeth is known as Two Lights. Originally in 1828, there were two stone tower lights in operation about 300 yards apart. In 1924, the government decided to convert all twin-light stations to single towers. The Two Lights western tower was decommissioned. Today, the Cape Elizabeth tower shines the most powerful light in Maine...visible for 27 miles. The keeper's house is privately owned and the lighthouse and grounds are not open to the public. The western tower sits in someone elses's yard.

This view is from the end of Two Lights Road.

This is the coast at Two Lights...the coast is lined with metamorphic rock....very interesting. It looks like some kind of petrified trees.

Just down the road is Two Lights state park. It  has a beautiful view of the ocean and coast. There were lots of picnic tables, hiking trails, and benches for public use.

There is one cat bird in the photo...I just liked the picture!



We had a great time. We went with our friends Mary Ellen and Jim Chambers. They are from Kitchner, Ontario. We met them in May 2011 and have kept in touch over the past year. It was a great time with great friends.

A day of exploring...

 Friday, Joe and I went exploring. Our first stop was the Taftsville Historic District. The tropical storm Irene did alot of damage to the area last August. The covered bridge is one of two that are no longer in use due to flooding that washed away roads. The historic district is located along the Ottauquechee River.

 Simon Pearce moved to the Vermont area 28 years ago from Ireland. He set up his first studio in the historic woolen mill on the Ottauquechee River. The studio is open to the public. The artists were very friendly and encouraged the bystanders to ask questions. They offered alot of information about their work and their experience. Mostly, they work in teams of two to create perfect pieces of glassware.

The retail store is stocked with the glassware made at this studio and the studio at Windsor, VT. The pieces are so pretty and after watching the glassblowers at work, Joe and I have a greater appreciation for the art. Anyone interested can check out the web site...www.simonpearce.com



 Our second stop was the Billings Farm and Museum. It is a working farm from the 1890s. Mr. Billings was a lawyer, not a farmer...lived in New York, not Vermont...studied law in California and Billings,Montana is named after him (I'm not quite sure why). He did hire a full time farm manager to run the farm. They have about the same number of jerseys today that were there when Mr. Billings was the owner. It was turned into a museum in the 1980s, but continues to sell milk to Cabot and other local cheese makers. We also saw horses, sheep, and chickens. The farm house that was built in 1890 is fully furnished and the process used for making butter then is on display. Also, another museum tells the story of rural life in Vermont throughout history.

Next stop....Woodstock. We had a late lunch at the Village Butcher....yummy sandwiches on homemade bread with their own special blend of honey mustard.

We stopped for a yummy dessert on the way home....two slices each!

Home Sweet Home!