Driving through northern Minnesota outside of Bemidji heading to North Dakota. The trees are beginning to change colors and the temperatures is very comfortable. We should be seeing more wildlife too! Jake had to test the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi

New York was such a treat, especially this time of year. What a nice treat to be in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid. Checked out the ski jumps and bobsled runs. They still do training there. Campgrounds were great, hiking was outstanding, scenery was spectacular and I feel like we barely touched the surface.  Highly recommend this area for everyone to experience.

We left the Adirondack to travel a short distance to 1000 Islands. It was  a historical flashback to the Gilded Age of the rich and famous in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The Boldt Castle built in the late 1800’s by the owner of the Waldorf and Astoria Hotels in New York City is by far the most luxurious and grandiose. There was a home built by William Browning, he owned a textile mill and was awarded THE contract to provide uniforms for the Union soldiers during the Civil War. My mother’s maiden name was Browning, wonder if he may be related?

We left the White Mountains of New Hampshire and made our way to Stowe, Vermont. So incredibly green and great hiking and biking trails. Made our way to Ben and Jerry’s and also visited the VonTrapp ski lodge. Remember that name from the Sound of Music? They relocated to Vermont from Austria. Pretty cool lodge.

Leaving Maine, we headed to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Quite a few waterfalls and once again, great hiking. One of the places we wanted to visit was Crawford Notch State Park. Gary has a picture from when his family visited there more than 60 years ago.

Hiked to the top of Mt Willard and sat atop the granite peak. You can see the road in the picture.

We so enjoy the Provincial Parks in Canada but are glad to be back in the USA – at least for a while.

We returned to the US via the border in Calis, Maine, it was much easier leaving Canada than entering it- Canadian Border Patrol searched the entire RV and it took us over an hour, entering the USA it took us maybe 10 minutes.

The first campground in Presque Isle, Maine – Arndt’s Aroostook River Lodge, was such a nice surprise. Big sites and such nice people. The majority of the campers stayed there for the season so us coming in for four days was a bit unusual. One of the best parks for tent camping, nice secluded sites far removed from the RV’s with plenty of trails.

They tap their maple trees, over a thousand on their property, and use this huge machine pictured below to evaporate the liquid and make the syrup. They said it takes 40 gallons of sap to make approximately a gallon of syrup. This machine is about 3 feet wide and 10 feet long; the three pipes are vented through the roof. Of course, we had to buy some Maine Gold Syrup. It was and is delicious!

What a treat this province was, I would love to spend summers here! Definitely old world charm, incredible warm and friendly people and  such beautiful scenery! I feel like I just barely got to explore this area!

We traveled through New Brunswick across the Confederation Bridge, a curved 8 mile long bridge, the longest in the world crossing ice-covered water which was just completed in 1997, to reach Prince Edward Island.(PEI) Prince Edward Island is located off the eastern coast of Canada,  between the provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Québec and Newfoundland and Labrador in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

 As we drove towards PEI National Park, I couldn’t get over how lush the island was and how beautiful. We bought local potatoes, which were so creamy and beets that were incredibly fresh. Almost as good as the seafood!  The beaches are so numerous and each so different, I don’t think I’ve ever seen sandstone beaches before. What a treat to have such beautiful beaches and minimal houses.

One of the places we wanted to visit in Canada was the Bay of Fundy, located halfway between the equator and the north-pole separating New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The first morning we were there I managed to get up early enough to see a glorious sunrise.

Twice each day, 160 billion tons of seawater flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy — more than the combined flow of the world’s freshwater rivers! The Bay of Fundy’s tides transform the shorelines, tidal flats and exposed sea bottom as they flood into the bay and its harbors and estuaries.

Amazing difference between high and low tides.

The tide needs to rise high enough for the boats to be level with the docks.

The forests are so lush, which also means it is incredibly humid, so much different than Colorado. The moss is thick enough to support  growth on the rock.

The Perfect Christmas Tree!

What a beautiful state. We hiked Gorham Peak, 525 feet, right on the coast with gorgeous views. We could summit many peaks here compared to Colorado! Hiking the coast, enjoying the vistas and even kayaking a bit!

Quite the Peak!

I’m sure I could do more than one peak in a day here!

Beautiful coastal hiking!

Loving the sounds of the surf but even better not getting wet!

So relaxing!

Of course, our selfie!

Took one of my favorite photos of the trip, suitable for framing don’t you think? It is just amazing how the fog rolls in – you see it coming, feel the moisture as it moves over you and then it’s gone, at least that is how we experienced it on this day.

We left New York and got to Vermont July 3rd and boy was it hot….so hot that you didn’t want to do much if it didn’t include soaking in water of some sort! My niece, Lindsey Anderson, lives in Bennington, Vermont. We had a very enjoyable 4th of July with her boyfriend’s family after picking up Shannon in Albany, NY!  The next day we found a river to cool off  in under a covered bridge – how appropriate in Vermont! 

                        We left Lindsey and Vermont and headed for Maine feasts on                                                               lobsters and clams! 

It was so much fun having Shannon join us, just wish it could have been longer!