Maritime Provinces 2007 - Travel to Maine
Updated: 11/30/08
These page links are in the chronological sequence we traveled.
Michigan Canada New York The ride to Lake Placid Lake Placid Whiteface Mountain The ride back to camp
Vermont Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory New Hampshire Maine
We
arranged to meet friends in Port Huron, Michigan for breakfast. We were hoping the first
segment of our journey was not an omen for the remainder of the journey. We hit
three construction areas before breakfast. We are glad to report, that was not
the case. There was minimal construction the rest of the way to Maine.
The approach to the Blue Water Bridge to Canada on the USA side was without incident. There was a short line of traffic going through inspections into Canada. Unlike our crossing into Canada when we went to Alaska, this crossing was very easy. The fee was $4.50 US. We proceeded into Canada after answering a half dozen questions. However, the truckers heading into the USA were not so lucky. They were in a line as far as you could see.
Our
crossing back into the USA at New York was easy as well.
We only had to show our drivers licenses. Two border agents took a fast walk
through the fifth wheel. One verified that we only had ice in our freezer - no
frozen meet.
While no fee was paid here, we took the New York Toll Road at a cost of $27.35 for the truck and fifth wheel.
As we drive, we appreciate the beautiful sights along the way. Many times we will stop but often we just make photographs out the truck window.
The ride to Lake Placid was beautiful. We planned two days in the Adirondack Mountains. Lake Placid was our first destination, followed by a visit to Whiteface Mountain.
Approaching
the town of Lake Placid we were struck by our first view of the ski jump ramps. In
Lake Placid we were able to make more photographs of the Olympic Jumping
Complex.
We
had lunch across the street from the Olympic Center in downtown Lake Placid.
It
was impossible to ignore. Bicyclists must be in love with the Lake Placid area.
We saw them on every road we traveled - hundreds of them.
This
is the Whiteface Mountain Toll House. It
is where you pay your toll ($7 per person) to use the road to the summit.
The drive toward the summit was a constant climb.
As we approached the summit, we could see the castle.
These photographs show the regular view and the zoom view.
Arriving
at the summit, you are directed to drive to the end of the road, make a u-turn
through the castle and park.
You drive in the right 'door' and out the left
This what you see out the left door. <<< >>> This
what you see out the right door.
If you drive a large vehicle,
the mirrors just miss the walls.
The castle is a great place to mount antennas and weather equipment.
Parking is not plentiful. But, the turnover is fast.
The tunnel to the elevator is 426 feet long. The elevator takes you up 276 feet. It was cool and damp in the tunnel.
At
the summit, they have identified the direction you are looking. It was cool and
windy at the summit.
View - North
View -
East
View - West
View - South
Additional views from the summit . . .
Lake Placid
The sign saying use low gear is very appropriate. The constant climb earlier was now a constant downhill. Our exhaust brake was working all the way to the bottom. While we were parked at the bottom to make a photograph, we both smelled burning brakes on a passing car.
The ride back to camp on a different route was just as beautiful as the ride to Lake Placid.
Crossing
into Vermont we say the sign at the state line. We often miss the small signs indicating we are entering
a different state.
Unlike crossing into a foreign country (many of us living close to Canada forget it is a foreign country), moving from stat to state is just crossing an imaginary line.
Sometimes it is an interesting
item that catches our eye.
Some
homeowners have daily
views they
probably take for
granted that
we appreciate.
Another
side trip was a visit to Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Vermont.
Our visit was on a Sunday so the factory was not operating. Admission was $2.00
per person (Senior). That means we did
not see operations but does not affect the Web site because they did not permit
photographs in the factory area.
Their
current "euphoric flavors" are displayed. The factory is capable of
running two flavors at the same time. Each day they can package 250,000 pints.
A production run for each flavor is three days.
One of their Trademarks is a motorhome used early in their history to advertise their products across the country.
The images of cows adorn everything, even the wall of the theatre where a fifteen minute of video is presented.
Marketing, marketing, marketing - they do good job of marketing. You could buy just about anything with their logo and images cows.
Many t-shirts to choose from ...
Part
of their company culture is service to the community. This includes a day each
year when all of their retail stores give way free cones.
To honor the death of flavors, a grave yard was established. Each tombstone had a very cute saying on it. We have posted a few here.
The beauty continued in New Hampshire . . .
Many of the small towns in New England look like these in Maine . . .
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