Final Remembrances….between Maine and Wisconsin
As a follow-up to the Civil War Sites we visited in Leg 1 of this trip, we listened to and finished the excellent Erik Larson book, The Demon of Unrest. Wow, what a reminder of how quickly a nation can slide into chaos while many people insist things are still under control (and how familiar that feels in today’s political climate).
I was really surprised by how huge, spread out, and varied Maine feels. On a map, the state can look deceptively small, tucked up in the corner of New England. But once you start traveling through it, Maine seems to stretch and stretch. It is the largest state in New England, extending about 320 miles from north to south and roughly 200 miles east to west at its widest point — large enough to hold rocky coastline, fishing villages, forests, lakes, mountains, and long, quiet roads that make you realize just how much country is packed into one state./s
We cannot complain in any way, but Leg 2 left a few bumps in the road:
☑️ The rain in Maine kept us from driving to West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the iconic, photogenic lighthouse sitting right on the edge of the country. It is the famous red-and-white-striped lighthouse I have seen in many photos—the lighthouse that sits right on the dramatic cliffs overlooking the Bay of Fundy. It’s also known for being at the easternmost point of the continental United States, so it’s one of those “first sunrise in America” spots.
☑️ We really could not fit it in, but I am sad we had to miss crossing the Canadian border to visit Campobello Island in New Brunswick. Campobello was the site of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s summer White House, where FDR spent many summers as a child and young adult. It’s where he was staying in 1921 when he contracted polio at age 39. Luckily, we will see several other Roosevelt sites later in this trip.
☑️ I still think about the lobster we did not have before leaving Maine!!🦞🦞🦞🦞
☑️ We apparently have a toothbrush problem! On our last trip to Romania, Pete left his electric toothbrush at a hotel. This trip….I left mine “somewhere”! Dang… do I need to add a line item to our travel budget for electric toothbrushes?
☑️ This leg was filled with wonderful sights, but more importantly with even more wonderful family and friends. From our grandson’s wedding to my sister’s 70th celebration, I was reminded once again of how fortunate we are. Family gives our life so much meaning and joy and reminds me again and again that family is one of life’s deepest gifts…the kind of gift I do not take for granted.