Rain in Maine!!

Coralie certainly brought rain with her.  We had a fairly water sogged weekend for the first 2 days of her stay - decided to explore Portland and see what we could between the showers.
Our first stop was a Walmart store - they are quite amazing!! everything you could possibly need is there and more. While I was in New York Trevor  joined us up to the Sams Club - a Walmart with a membership requirement. Sams Club sells items in bulk at incredibly discounted prices. eg a 3.5lb bag of M&M's cost $8.89. Paper towels were $14 for 16 extra large rolls. $12.00 for 12 boxes of extra large tissues. Handy in a motorhome with limited storage!!
We  had lunch on the wharf in the Old Port area - lobster rolls, clam cakes and squid. We later found icecreams at Gorgeous Gelato. This is a pretty area - brick and cobblestone streets lined with galleries, boutiques and artisans shops while fishermen unload their catch on the working waterfront.
We also visited Fort Popham, a coastal defense land battery at the mouth of the Kennebec River in Phippsburg.

On Sunday we headed up the coast. We stopped for breakfast at the Freeport Cafe, a popular place. We waited in line for a good half hour for a table - but it was worth it for the homemade pancakes, eggs and bacon!

Then into Freeport to LLBean, the home of outdoor clothing and equipment. Founded in 1912, now a global organisation with annual sales of more than $1.44 billion. It started as a one man operation and provided free shipping to anywhere in the US and Canada with no minimum purchase. That tradition has continued - all LLBean products are 'post paid'. The company headquarters in Freeport are just down the road from the original store.

The next day promised less showers and fine weather on the way. We headed out to drive the Kancamagus Highway in the White Mountains, New Hampshire east/west  from Lincoln to Conway. This route is one of the top 5 Fall Colour routes. It is just below highway 2 which we followed on our way East 10 days before.




What we hadn't expected were covered bridges. I think of Vermont and covered bridges - what a thrill to see and photograph these structures on our New Hampshire journey.

I will let the photos tell the story!







New Hampshire has between 25 and 30 covered bridges - we visited 4. Why the first covered bridges were built has been obscured by time. Some say that horses were more comfortable crossing an enclosed span than an open trestle; others that a bridge lasts longer if its heavy timbers are protected from the weather; monetary conditions came into play as the first covered bridges were toll bridges - not very romantic!!

The covered bridges are beautiful.  The ones we visited each had a history of restoration and conservation which we were grateful for.