Maine State Capitol | Mount Battie | Camden

Thursday - 27 May 2004 - Rockland, Maine: Finally some photos and finally some sunshine! It didn't look to be a very good day when we woke this morning - the sky was still overcast and it had rained overnight. Again, it was so cold! First thing we did this morning was start our furnace. After coffee and showers we drove (40 minutes in the Honda) to the Capital of Maine, Augusta, for a look at the city and (of course) a tour of the State Capitol Building.

The Rotunda of the Maine State Capitol in Augusta


Senate Chamber of the Maine State House

The State Building was completed in 1932 and is topped with a 12-foot statue of "Wisdom". Of all the Capitol Buildings we have toured, Maine has the least appealing. Just a bit drab and uninspiring. More like an old historical office building (which, I suppose, it actually is) than grand representation of the Great State of Maine. The State has just completed an extensive restoration too, so I guess this is what they want it to look like. There are so many fabulous paintings hanging on the walls too, but with no signage, we haven't a clue who most of the statesmen are, or who painted the canvas.

The Maine State House (photo DT)

After a stop to the State of Maine Museum, a quick look at the Governor's Mansion and a drive through downtown Augusta, we drove back to Camden. We drove out and back on different highways, but the views were the same - pretty farms and rolling hills, with the occasional junky trailer house to break the monotony. In Camden, we dined on fish again! So delicious though, and so fresh. I had a grilled halibut sandwich and DT tried Lobster Bisque and fish & chips. We dined on a (heated) deck hanging out over picturesque Camden Harbor at The Waterfront restaurant. The harbor was very busy - sail boats coming and going and people working on their boats. We watched a sparkling 100-foot-plus sailing ship with a crew of six, dock at the Yacht Club, lobster fisherman returning, tugs moving about, and little skiffs running back and forth to their yachts anchored off-shore!

Camden Harbor

By the time we had finished lunch, the sky was clear, the sun was shining and it was nice and warm! We strolled around the historic streets and looked in a few shops and galleries. As usual, the only thing we purchased was postcards! Now that is smart souvenir shopping - buy stuff you can get rid of quickly!
 
Because the view had finally cleared, we drove to Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park. Mount Battie sits directly above the Camden Harbor and offers fantastic vistas of Camden below and the shore (north and south) and across to the peninsula of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, and the islands in between.

Camden Harbor and Curtis Island

Isn't that a fabulous view!? Just a few minutes ago, we were down there having a lovely lunch. The island in the bay is Curtis Island. Curtis Island has a small Coast Guard Station and a pretty lighthouse on the (unseen in this photo) east side and is now closed to human visitors as a bald eagle is nesting on the island. One of the little dots just off Curtis Island is the sailboat belonging to the people we met last night. She told us the harbor charges $30 to tie up to their floating docks, yet you still have to use your skiff to get to shore, so they just anchored off the island - no charge!

This afternoon we also visited The State of Maine Cheese Company near our campground. The owner was there and we were the only customers so had a little behind-the-scenes look at their cheese-making facility. Let's just say it is identical in procedure to Tillamook, but on a much smaller scale. Of course, most of the cheddar on the east coast is white, but the cheese curds tasted identical to Our Own Beloved Tillamook. (Funny aside: the owner says she knows all about Tillamook Cheese because she orders it all the time!) Her shop sells every variety of their own cheeses, but really is like a "Made in Maine" shop - selling every sort of Maine art, craft and food item imaginable. State of Maine Cheese shares their store-space with the Maine Gold Maple Syrup family (we saw them later at the supermarket!).
 
After our long day, we came back to the campground and went down the shore... not the "beach" - beaches are few and far between in Maine. The campground has a great spot down on the rocks on the banks of Penobscot Bay - picnic tables on a lawn, an area for cookouts and Lobster Bakes and a few quiet chairs for two. We had the place to ourselves.

We stayed in tonight and are enjoying the Mariners on the satellite. I simply could not eat another piece of fish. What this family needed was some good Mexican food and I knew one place to get it in Maine - my kitchen! I made a delicious, and very spicy, Arroz con Pollo, served with corn tortillas and fresh fruit. It really hit the spot.

RV Park: Megunticook Campground by the Sea near Rockport, Maine