We Climbed the Mountain.....

9/23/11  continued…

Seems I left out an entire fun thing we did a week ago, so will make up for it now.  While staying at Blueberry Pond in Pownal, we hiked up nearby Bradbury Mountain.  Got our hiking poles out (I LOVE my hiking poles – they each have compasses in their tops) and went pretty much straight up a rocky, slippery slope for .3 miles; then down the “switchback trail” for another rocky, wettish walk for .3 miles.  It was lovely and winded us pretty good; but since we’re adults, we stopped whenever we felt like it and just enjoyed the mosquitoes as they gnawed their way through my head hair and my unshaven hairy legs.  Ditto for Ton-Ton, but he doesn’t shave his legs so…oh well, you know what I mean.  They were vicious bastards and left us stinging in many spots. 

We also sweated a lot which dear Mara tells me is cleansing.  OK, it feels “cleansing” when you get to the top and have recaptured your breath, not so much when you’re chugging up the hill.  The top is a giant slab-o-granite from which we could see virtually forever.  I wishedy wish the trees had turned (I am SO sick of hearing myself say that!), but it was still a great accomplishment and a lovely vista in which to partake.  I took a zillion pictures, TC took one, of me.  Thank God there’s proof I made this hike!  Our hope was to come back this weekend, rehike Bradbury and hopefully take new pics of ….. yes, turning leaves!  There, I said it again, and I’m not sorry, just SO sick of saying it.  We’ve decided to stay in Nipples instead of returning to Blueberry though, so we won’t get another shot at Bradbury.   More on that excruciating decision in another blog.

 Anyway, here are the pics from that first visit:

 And at the end of our .6 mile trails, was the Bradbury Mountain cat, very cool:

9/30/11

Arrived here at Naples Campground in Naples, ME last Sunday, and have had a gloriously sunny week by the quite chilly pool – 74 degrees.  This area is part of the lakes region and has so many sights to enjoy – we have just loved it.   Lake Sebago (long “a” like lake) is huge and consists of many small New Englandy towns, camps for every kind of kid, cabins, retreats, and a huge state park, all dotted around its big old perimeter.  It has connected to Long Lake via a swivel bridge for many years, but the dolts that run the bridge are making it a fixed bridge as we speak.  Stupid, stupid – boats can’t get back and forth between the lakes now, and, more importantly, the large paddle wheeler  “Songo River Queen”, can’t get through for her tourist visit to the Songo lock (that’s one lock, not locks like Seattle has).  To us outsiders, seems like a bad decision; after talking with some locals, they feel the same way.

Pool at Naples Campground

Naples Campground Trees

Naples Campground Pool and my toes

Naples Campground pool and trees

Me happy at Naples Campground

We’ve driven just about every mile around Lake Sebago, shit!  Yes, looking for leaf turning.  They have some killer sandy beaches around the lake, and a really kick ass lock, as mentioned above.  We were mesmerized by its simplicity and beauty, just wish we could have seen a boat go through.  The area itself is lovely and lent itself well to our wandering the lock.  I think what we loved most….no railings around the locks – yep, you can just fall right in the water.  And the leaves were turning here….

Sebago Lake

Chute Cemetary wall and trees

There's a groundhog here, by the picnic table

Sebago Lake

Tony happened upon one of the operators, who brought the “turning wrench” out to show him how the bridge works.  Cutey.  The wrench, I mean.  NOT!

TC and tree at Songo Lock

Songo Lock

Songo Lock

Songo Lock

Songo Lock bridge

Songo Lock Park

Songo Lock trees

Songo Lock detail

Songo Lock entrance

Songo Lock Push Arm

Songo Lock Gears

Songo Bridge Crank and TC

Songo Lock is sooooo beautiful

Songo Lock tree

We also made a trip to Hacker’s Hill, which is touted as a “spiritual stepping point”, and the best place to view a sunset.  As it was closed the day we went, you walk up this hill, and it is a killer.  I traded off walking forward and backward and it still kicked my ass.  The view is great though, with lots of Jesus stuff around.  I guess they have services up there, and miracles about so….Yay spiritual stepping point!  The sunset got a little crowded by the clouds so wasn’t as spectacular as it could have been, but we talked to the two other couples up there and looked around and enjoyed ourselves.

Jesus on Hacker's Hill

Hacker's Hill sunset

Beautiful Hacker's Hill

Explanation for more Jesus stuff on Hacker's Hill

Tony heading for cocktail hour at Naples Campground

Jackie enjoying the convo at her first Naples cocktail hour

Teri and Mama Con

Crown is getting low.....

We laughed and laughed as their antics were told, getting louder and the stories crazier as the wine and Crown Royal flowed.  At one point the Ellen's Richard was called, and guessed correctly that his bride was “hitting the sauce”, as he could hear her cackling.   As it came to a close they were all begging us to stay through their closing, October 15^th, and we talked with one of the owners about it a bit.  I explained our plans as the crowd shouted “You must stay!  We’re having a yard sale Saturday!  We’re having a band on Columbus Day with a turkey dinner!”  Tomorrow TC will talk with the owners and try and work it out through the 15^th.

Made a triple batch of our famous cornbread for potluck/kareoke night and drove 200 feet to the rec hall due to the POURING RAIN!!!   God in heaven it’s raining, and tomorrow we’re supposed to be sitting by the pool again.  Had another wonderful evening with our new friends at the potluck, and they all loved the cornbread.  Got to talk more with each of them which was very satisfying.

Kareoke Night at Naples!

Bonnies's hair that i want

Bonnie's hair

The lovely people of Naples Campground

Donna the great singing

The potluck...fabulous!

Owner Pam in green

TC and Ellen's Richard

The gang having fun

Eating and singing and fun

Jimmy the DJ singing

Headed back when the sheet lightening and thunder started, and I am not kidding you, it is fierce.  We feel like the whole, dark blasted sky is falling down around us.  I started worrying about Kitty-Boy being outside amidst all this cacophony, but of course, he would not come.  We did our Roku whistle, and called him endlessly over the noise of the storm – no kidding, it was worse weather than Irene!  I soon heard the tinkle of his bell, and in he comes wet and meowing.  Sat and stared at us wetly, came for rubs and scratches, and now lies on a blanket with me, snoozing.  Probably be up again at 5:00 AM.