After we left the Stephen Taber, we headed to the Coast Guard Exchange just at the end of the schooner dock. Just wanted to see if there was anything I couldn’t live without before we headed to Nova Scotia. It was an okay exchange, but didn’t see anything to buy. Got the Roadtrek from the parking lot behind the Lindsey House that is owned and run by the Taber’s owners family as a guest house for folks before and after cruises.
We headed north on US 1 and were soon crossing the Bucksport Bridge that we saw from the schooner. We had already passed the turnoffs for Castine and Fort Point. Memories of the trip are already swimming in our heads.
Called ahead to Ellsworth and found out Johanna was working and John and kids were out shopping. We were at Searsport and it was hot and Lila needed to go swimming. So while I was calling, she took a plunge from a town beach and came back refreshed. We got to the Marines new home shortly after they arrived. It was good to see Heather, Gabriel and Levi again. And John was hospitable, as always. We hooked up the electricity to the Roadtrek but John said their water wasn’t that great so didn’t hook up the water. The grandkids were fascinated by the Roadtrek and had to see every nook and cranny. They were delighted with the two hidden work tables. And the shower and toilet were especially wondrous to them. They were disappointed that they all couldn’t sleep with us in the RV.
We met the menagerie. There’s Quackers, the outside duck with his own pen and duckhouse in the yard. Then there are the new arrivals. Three more ducks, 2 turkeys and 3 laying hen chicks in pens in the basement. They are in the process of starting a mini-farm and this is the core of the livestock. Plans are being made for raised bed gardens and other improvements for raising food when after they buy the property. There is a large warehouse/shop beside the house that John will turn into a woodworking shop to make wood items for sale. He already has a small sideline business going but doesn’t have room to expand and do it right. The shop will give him space to produce and also have a showroom/sales area.
Turns out their shopping trip was actually yard saling and they had a few new goodies of their own. After a little show and tell, we planned a simple cookout and headed to the grocery store to get the ingredients to make it happen.
I noticed that the kids had written welcome messages on the driveway pavement with their sidewalk chalk. And that they had a new sandbox. It got filled and they were busy making castles and such until dinner. Johanna came home and we had hotdogs, hamburgers and veggie burgers over the charcoal fire. Sat out talking until the skeeters came out.
They have become an electronic family. Everyone has an Ipod or Blackberry except for Levi. They are always playing a tune or a game or something. It is a sign of the times and it’s good that they are becoming computer literate early. It will stand them in good stead later in life. But, it’s hard for grandparents to come up to their speed with understanding what they are talking about at times. And to play the games with them…. I did get to understand a couple of the games before we left.
We had a good time getting caught up. Lila and I retired to the Roadtrek in the driveway for the night. It was quiet, even though they live right on Hwy US 1A. Overnight, that is. Daytime is a different story. There is highway construction work going on right in front of their house and lots of heavy equipment and dump truck activity all day long. John and Johanna reported some overnight work at times, too.
In the morning we had a leisurely breakfast and headed to the Ellsworth Park for some playground time.
Then off to Blueberry Hill for ice cream. There is a replica lighthouse and a dinghy there for the kids to play on/in. Had a good time and the ice cream there is always good.
The next morning we wanted to make sure we made it to the ferry in New Brunswick for our reservation, so we headed out around noon. We are planning to stop by again on the way south so parting is not too bad.
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