Flying from Maine to New York (delayed flight)

What do you do when every hour you're told your flight is delayed another hour and you have a toddler with you?

Well first we ate something and then we went to the bookstore and I got her a great children's book about Maine, we read books to her, and we let her push her monkey seated in her stroller around in the airport terminal gate while we waited. In the end our flight was delayed by 6 hours due to poor visibility at JFK Airport.

Then what should have been a 1 hour flight, turned into a 4 hour flight (3 hours on the tarmac).

Here's Astrid brushing U's hair. Hey we had to get creative to keep the kid entertained (and she loves brushing our hair).

Even adults were getting quite annoyed and irritated by all the delays and having to wait only to be told they'd have to wait some more. (The airport personnel also didn't do a good job of communicating what was going on and letting us know what to expect - which caused further frustration.)

Three separate passengers complimented Astrid when we got off the plane saying what a good baby she was and how they never heard her and how they didn't know how she did so well for so long.

Fall foliage & final thoughts about Maine

Turning of the leaves
It's just a tad early for the full fall foliage of New England. It's just starting, but in another couple of weeks the colors will explode.

Biggest surprise about Maine
The number of tanning salons. Who would have thought?

What I'll miss the most about Maine
I'll miss the great open spaces and nature (but U. is itching to go to NY - he's had his fill of Maine).

What Astrid will miss the most about Maine
Going outside our cottage to the pond to the feed the ducks.

Breakfast in Bangor, Maine

We had a late breakfast in Bangor, Maine at an Irish pub. (There are lots of pubs in Bangor, but a dearth of any other restaurants.) They gave Astrid crayons and a coloring book about the airport (which was perfect for us because we're flying to NY today).

Back in our cozy cottage by the fire (Last night in Bar Harbor, Maine)

While driving back to Bar Harbor, ME (from Bangor, ME) in the evening, the fog started to roll in. We could barely make out the sign for the place we were staying at.We quickly went inside our cottage and U. made a fire for us.

I took it as a sign of good parenting when Astrid felt the heat of the fire and said, "Oh hot. Careful!"

Another night of sleeping in front of the fire. I will miss that.

It's our last night in Maine. In the morning we're driving back to the airport in Portland, Maine and flying to New York.

Down by the river (Bangor, Maine)

We took a stroll down by the river and then U. and Astrid had some fun throwing rocks into the water (while I took pictures).

I couldn't help but think of Pennywise from "It". Just being down by the river, underneath the bridge looking out at a decaying town (that used to be booming) gave such an eerie feeling.

Afterwards we got lunch at a restaurant located along the river, before heading back to Bar Harbor, ME.

Stephen King's House (Bangor, Maine)

I'm a big fan of Stephen King. I loved his earlier work, especially "It", "Salem's Lot" and "The Stand." In high school I stayed up into the wee hours reading his books and short stories and many of them gave me nightmares. There's also something about his writing, about the good in people, and humanity that is quite touching.

I also admire his philanthropy and how he gives millions back to his community and has stayed married to the same woman (Tabitha King) that he married in 1971, the mother of his 3 children, and the one who fished the first draft of "Carrie" out of the trash and encouraged her husband to finish it.

Here I am standing in front of Stephen King's house (built in 1858).

Stephen King's House
47 West Broadway
Bangor, Maine 04401

There are anti-war/support the troops signs on his front lawn. "Support our troops by bringing them home."The wrought iron gate in front of his house has spooky bats on the the posts with a spider web design and spiders on the gate doors themselves.Shortly after we got there, 3 cars pulled up and all parked right outside his house. (We parked down on another street and tried not to be too conspicuous). One didn't even bother to park his car by the curb, but instead left it hanging out in the street at an angle, blocking traffic. They all rushed out of their cars and started gawking. At the same time Astrid threw this tantrum. We saw both as our cue to leave.

We drove up to the water tower (the basis for the water tower in "It") which I've read has its own tours.

I can see how the small town feel of this place and the locals that keep to themselves (and the fact that there's nothing to do) could inspire someone to write a creepy horror story.

Then we drove around Bangor, Maine. U. and I both found the city to be dreary and gray and decaying. The town felt deserted. U. asked how and why Stephen King could live here. I answered that he's probably away a lot.

Last breakfast in Bar Harbor

We stopped here at the Log Cabin Restaurant in Bar Harbor, ME for breakfast, before heading out to Bangor, ME to see Stephen King's house.

Quite possibly one of the worst breakfasts I've ever had, but the outside of the restaurant was cute with this hand carved, wooden fisherman smoking a pipe (which U. thought was a dog...???), and also a moose.

Dinner and exploring the beach at night

Rather than going back downtown for dinner, we opted to stay closer to home and dine in a restaurant located on the water off Route 3. This trip was the first time we've brought along activities for Astrid to keep her busy while we're waiting. Here she's playing with her flashcards.Astrid coloring in her coloring book.

The restaurant must have lots of kids dining there because they provided Astrid with this high chair (that you'd see at someones house). We also were seated in the ghetto children's section which we didn't mind so much, but still it's strange to be taken to the "other" remote section of the restaurant (where are they taking us?) and seated with other families with kids (some crying and screaming).After Astrid was done with her dinner we went outside and played on the beach.Astrid picking up a rock......and throwing it into the water.

I was surprised by how dark it got. Without lights the beach was pitch black and slippery with the rocks.So we went up onto the pier (which was safer and better lit) to explore and to look out over the water.We saw a lobster trap and this ramp which led down to a floating dock.

Dinner wasn't good enough to mention. Overpriced seafood that wasn't that good. But it was fun for Astrid to throw rocks into the water and explore the beach and pier.

Wine Tasting at Sweet Pea's Winery

Along the side of the road on the way to our cottage, we spotted a winery which had a big sign posted out front about a free wine tasting which caught our eye. So we said today was the day to head over there and check it out before our afternoon nap.The winery is called Sweet Pea's Winery (located 10 minutes from downtown Bar Harbor on Route 3).

They have a selection of red wines, white wines, and fruit wines. I enjoyed a number of them but sadly we were limited on what we could bring back with us, so we settled for a bottle of apple wine and blueberry ale.

I asked if we could have wines shipped to us and was told by the owner that this was something they are working on and hope to have it in place by next year (possibly). I don't know what's so difficult about contacting Fed Ex and setting up a page on their website, but c'est la vie it's Maine and they move at a different pace here.Above are some photos of their "cozy farmhouse gift shop" from their website. The fresh flowers were grown on the farm.

Astrid and I sitting on a rock next to the vineyard.
Astrid's ready to check out the grapes (which she eats daily when we're back at home).
It was fun showing her where grapes come from and how they grow. This is the first time she's walked through a vineyard.
Studying Trauben (grapes).
A whole new appreciation of grapes.
Astrid wants to eat a grape. She's saying, "Grape!"
As you can see from U's expression - they were not edible.Father and daughter surrounded by vines and grapes. "Sour grapes!"

Happy to be running around in the vineyard.

I love this photo with Astrid in the distance running. It's very metaphoric for our life as parents, constantly keeping an eye on, and chasing after our toddler.

My vineyard fairy.

All done exploring the vineyard, and ready for her nap back at the cottage.

Strolling through downtown Bar Harbor & some shopping

It's another beautiful day today. The high is 73 degrees Fahrenheit and the low is 53.

We had breakfast at Jeannie's again, this time trying the oatmeal & walnut pancakes (yummy!). The owner Jeannie and the staff there remembered Astrid.U. had to make some phone calls for work so Astrid and I went back to the place above the harbor where we met this gorgeous white lab and his owners.

I said, "Look Astrid - he has blond hair just like you!"

Astrid loves doggies and was thrilled that this one was so nice and would occasionally lick her face.
Playing in and around the fountain. Good thing I brought another long-sleeved shirt for her because shortly after this photo was taken, she reached into the fountain and soaked her sleeve up to her elbow.We went to a park in the middle of town and let Astrid run around. Here she is playing a quasi hide and seek, tag game with U.We also did some shopping and purchased a Christmas ornament there. It's a tradition we started ever since we went on our honeymoon, to purchase Christmas ornaments from each place we traveled to, to create a collection of keepsake ornaments for our tree. This time we got a shell with a lobster and "Bar Harbor, Maine 2007" painted on the inside.

I have to take a pic of it and post it here.

Cocktails at Inn by the Harbor & Dinner at Galyn's

After we turned in our bikes, we headed over to the Inn by the Harbor for some cocktails before dinner. It's an inn and restaurant perched on a hill with a magnificent ocean view. The obvious lure is the outside seating at the edge of the hill (which closes as soon as it gets dark - which we found out last night).Astrid munched on some crackers and then wanted to feed the pigeons. Unfortunately the pigeons kept flying away, so we walked up by the inn and found some seagulls. One in particular was squawking like crazy. Astrid tried to feed it some of her crackers but either it wasn't hungry, or it didn't understand what she was tossing on the floor was food.

Now Astrid knows the word for "seagull" and she can do a pretty good impersonation of a seagull squawk too. Then she says, "somebody", because she remembers the seagull was probably looking for "somebody" (i.e., another seagull).

When we turned in our bikes, we asked the owner (a local) what restaurant he would recommend for dinner in Bar Harbor. He recommended Galyn's and said it had the same chef for 20 years and was very consistent. He was right. Good food and reasonably priced. The best dinner we've had in Maine.

Galyn's
17 Main Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207-288-9706

Since we were there early with the baby, U. was able to take advantage of the early bird special for their lobster dinner. Fresh delicious lobster dinner for around $16. Can't beat that! It's best to make reservations because they get pretty busy at dinner time.