Friday July 31st at Days Inn Bangor

Hello Bloggers and Bloggettes,

It is exactly 5:30 a.m., Friday morning, July 31st, here at the Days Inn Motel, on the Odlin Road, Bangor, Maine.

Looking upstream at the Sedgeunkedunk Stream, running downhill from Brewer Lake. Thursday afternoon, July 30th.

Looking downstream, towards Brewer.

Yesterday, I got up after 8 hours of sleep (That's a lot for me.), and cleaned up and wrote an email and a little blog, then got out of the hotel and went to the huge Bangor Mall and waited for Dick's Sporting Goods to open up. They were late and opened at exactly 9:08.

I got Dad some golf balls and a new putter. I also took advantage of their clearance sale to get myself a new Underarmour Hi-vis Golf Shirt for less than $20.

Then off to Dad and Sandy's where I was booked in to play golf with Dad and Spencer Greaterex.
Spencer is a very old friend of Dad's, he worked with him at two different companies, the latest being the big Brewer Agway Farm and Home Supplies.

It was just off Wilson Street, in Brewer, with the freight train tracks sliding right past the back and there own siding to bring in stuff by the train car load. Dad was manager for many years and Spencer was his Assistant Manager. Sometimes I worked there on some weekends in the warehouse during my teens, in the late 60's.

Enyways, as Dad says, I visited with Dad and Sandy and took the photos above. Had toasted biscuits with peanut butter and wild Maine Blueberry Jam with coffee.

Eventually, at just about 11 p.m. we went to Pine Hill Golf Club and played golf. Spenser and Dad tied with a score of 88 I think but finally I played they way I normally do and shot around 100. The last two games I have been playing way too good, it had to catch up with me. Not dismayed, I hit some good shots, just not frequently enough and way too many actual muffed shots.

We had the "Buddhist Hot Dogs" afterwards. You know, "Make me one with everything!"
Very good. and we had ice cold Bud Light Beers on draft.

From Monday July 27th at Dad and Sandy's house with my beautiful Aunts Dawn and Cilla.

After Golf I went to the Vacationland Inn and sorted out next weeks hotel stay. I was going to pick up another Alamo Hire Car on Wednesday morning and drive down to JFK, stopping at Freeport overnight at a hotel, that I hadn't booked yet, and then stopping overnight at a hotel near Carl and Cilla's, that I hadn't booked yet. That method of getting to JFK would have cost about $1,000.

Dad suggested that I should be able to fly to JFK for way less than that. Unfortunately, flights from Bangor International Airport are a lot more complicated that you would think. If I wanted to leave Thursday, for example, August 6th, the BEST flight I could have taken involved a stop in Philadelphia, then a stop in Washington D.C., then arriving in JFK after 10 hours of travelling at a cost of $1400. How about that? Much better on the day I actually wanted to go, Friday, August 7th. $450 and only one stop at Washington D.C. with just 8 hours travelling time.

Dad suggested for me to try La Guardia Airport instead of JFK. This was the breakthrough. I have booked the flight. It leaves 5:45 a.m., Friday, August 7th and gets into La Guardia in NYC at 9:55 a.m. after just a one hour layover in Washington D.C. Then I do have to get to JFK and my booked Hotel, The Comfort Inn JFK. The shuttle from La Guardia to JFK is $55. This flight cost $212!! So I have saved a potential $700. Good on ya Dad, you are a genius!

So, anyway, I had to change my hotel booking for next week at Vacationland from Monday and Tuesday night only, to Monday through Thursday nights.(August 3rd through August 6th). Got that done easily, $78 per night.

So today, I head back down to Kool-Bee and my Aunt Dawn in Oakland.

Kool-Bee Cottage, on McGrath Pond in Oakland, Maine.

I am visiting with my Brother Guy at noon today, and I think Guy's daughter Jessi will be there with her twin girls Jacki and Sara. They live in Winslow, near the old Pine Hill Farms where I grew up.

Then I visit my Cousin Ronnie Poirier at around 5 p.m. and then back to Kool-Bee.

Saturday I have a lunch date with my Nephew Shawn and my Niece Katy Russell at Big G's on the Fairfield-Winslow Road. Muffin Russell is joining us.

I am a busy man, as Ross says constantly.

Ross arrived safely in Montreal, by the way, after a couple of hours stopover in NYC. He is testing out his French and then leaves soon for Toronto, where he will stay a few days and then fly to San Francisco, where he will arrive two days before me.

On Saturday, August 8th, I fly from JFK to San Francisco and get in around 11 a.m. Ross and I meet up at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport Hotel. Then on the following day, Sunday, August 9th, we leave at just before midnight to come back to Sydney. We arrive very early (6:25 a.m.) on Tuesday, August 11th. Then we fly out the next day and arrive back home at the Gold Coast flying Virgin Airlines VA517, due to get into Coolangatta Airport at 12:30 p.m., just after lunch.

Not long now, today being the 31st, the last day of July.

That's pretty much all the news that's fit to print and ain't too hard to spell.

Blog 35 done.

Lance and sort of Ross.

Wednesday July 29th at Bangor-Brewer

Hello Bloggers and Bloggettes,

Well, as I mentioned in the last blog, Ross and I were up very early this morning to get him to the airport and on his plane to NYC and then to Montreal. 3:45 a.m.; is that early?

After I sent Ross off to Montreal, I came back to Days Inn Motel and did my laundry.

Then I had a swim in the pool and tried out my breaststroke for the first time since my open heart surgery on January 13th. The pool was disappointing, quite dirty and cool. The breaststroke went alright, however, and I think my wired up breastbone is sort of healed.Finally, after laundry, I worked out my packing and packed up old clothes to send home like Ross did, via the US Postal Service.

My big white suitcase is jam packed with new purchases, including many presents for friends and family. Also, maps, Broadway Play Programs and just stuff.

I have purchased a large duffle bag from L.L.Bean, and had it monogrammed with L B Russell. That will hold all my clothing and incidentals. I will check two bags now. You have to pay for a second checked bag but it is much cheaper than sending the stuff in the post.

After swimming, laundry and packing, I went to Dad and Sandy's and had a chat and then went to play golf with Dad at Pine Hill Golf Course, across the road. Dad beat me, as usual. He actually hit his lowest ever score, 78, while I played quite well for me, and hit 85. Dad got a birdie on the first hole and then a birdie on the same hole when we had the hole as the 10th hole. Dad is amazing.

After golf, I went into Bangor to a friend of Dad's who plays golf at Pine Hill and is a barber. I got a nice flattop haircut. Wayne the barber at Union Street Barber Shop. He did a good job for only $20.
Then I headed back to Dad's place after getting some Waldorf Salad from Walmart and also some Biscuits and Mashed Potato and Gravy from KFC. This went with leftover chicken I knew Sandy was going to oven warm for tonight's dinner.

Finally, Dad and Sandy and I watched one of my very favorite movies; "Shooter" with Mark Walburg. Love that movie! Now I am back at the hotel and the Red Sox are losing on the TV yet again. Bedtime is fast approaching.

Bye for now, I promise more photos and a better blog in general for tomorrow.

Lance and Ross.

Tuesday, July 28th In Bangor, Maine Part Two

Hello Dearest Bolgsters and Blogsterettes,

Everything is beautiful; in it's own way.

Even the new day at 3:45 a.m. My phone alarm went off, then Ross's phone alarm, an "AHHHOOOOGAH! AHHHOOOOGAH! alarm, across the room where he had the phone charging.
Very effective for him, he has to physically get out of bed and walk across the room to shut off the damn alarm that sounds loud and like a fire alarm, so that it is lucky if the people in rooms either side of us don't get their whole families rushing outside in the drizzling rain, in their underwear.

Ross's leaves on a 92 passenger jet at 5:50 a.m. We need to be there by 4:50 a.m. He needs to double check his packing , get showered and get all 100% ready, so we thought 3:45 a.m. was the right starting time. We tested the time to drive there yesterday. Including parking, about 15 minutes.

Yesterday was a lovely last day in Maine for Ross. First we reintroduced ourselves to the Statue of Paul Bunyan in downtown Bangor, opposite the Casino and close to the Bangor Auditorium.

Paul was happy to see Ross again, he had an ear to ear grin!

Not so much me, Paul frowned and said, "Where the hell have you been?" to me.

After our Paul Bunyan interlude, we headed straight to Timmy Horton's Restaurant to get breakfast. Ross says I was rushing him to get going in the day. Somebody's got to or he would still be in bed at noon and all his days would be shortened to 6 hours of actually doing something interesting. I was up doing my blog , as you blogsters know, at 4:46 a.m. yesterday, whereas Ross woke when I had my post-blog shower at 7:30 and he read the Bangor Daily News in bed for an hour, and eventually we got out of the room after 9 a.m. Hmmmm.

After Timmy's (which is a Canadian Restaurant seemingly invading the environs of Maine, USA, because they are absolutely everywhere. Good sausage, egg, and cheese yeasty biscuit sandwiches!)
We struck out down Route 1A East for Baaa Haahbaah. We passed through the old town of Ellsworth, which has all the stores that Ross craves, a L.L.Bean Outlet Store, a big Micky Marden's Surplus and Salvage, a Walmart, bigger than Ben Hur, A huge Home Depot store and more. I demanded that we pass through without stopping. He resisted and his counter demand was that we had to at least stop at the L.L.Bean Outlet Store on the way back from Bar Harbor.

The Bar Harbor Grand Hotel, where Lee and I stayed one time.

Ross has been trying to see a moose for ever. This was a chocolate one outside The Chocolate Moose Shop.We bought a few moosey things and some cranberry covered blueberries. Go figure.

Me outside the famous Carmen Veranda gift shop. Main Street Bar Harbor.

After shopping quickly and efficiently, including some more sleepwear presents for Little Lee at the Cool As A Moose In Maine Shop, we were forced to cut short our shopping visit to Bar Harbor as time pressed ever onwards.

Back on the road where we had planned to eat lunch at the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound.
Quite famous, you choose your own live lobster, then it is placed in a netted sack and put in one of four or five huge boilers outside. You can have corn on the cob boiled up with it, or clams or mussels in the shell. We had mussels. I chose one of the larger, 2 pound lobsters, whereas Ross didn't want to get his hands dirty, so he chose a nice lobster sandwich. He helped me with some of the steamed mussels.

Brought my own Lobster Tools. You could rent them if you didn't have your own.
All good. Fantastic lobster. Very large and filling. Ross's sandwich was also large and filling and did look good and not so hard on the hands and he didn't get through 20 napkins like I did.

Ross, getting all his leg hairs scorched but smiling in spite of this, near the six big wood-burning boilers outside the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound.

The Lobster Pound, did I mention it was quite famous? It was packed out! We found a table but lots of people arrived right after us, including a German Group and a Japanese Group. They filled both the tables inside and the tables outside, there were 20 big picnic tables outside with several port-a-loos.

Selecting the lobster; the lobster guy would do it for you if you were squeemish. The left hand bin held 1 1/4 pound lobsters and the right hand bin held lobsters over 2 pounds. You take them out and they place them in the net bag, THEN they weigh them. Hah!

My lobster, pre-weighing.

The over 2 pound bin.

Everything was great. We love Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound.
Lee, Ross and I came here in 2011.
I'm going to try to convince Dad and Sandy to let me shout them lunch here, but they are reluctant to travel so far. Dad says he hasn't had Lobster since 1948. He is known to tell tall tales, however.

We stopped at L.L.Bean Outlet Store on the way back, as promised.

Ross got yet another plaid shirt. Almost all of his shirts fall into a narrow category.
He did get a lovely Wrangler Cowboy shirt from Mardens Surplus and Salvage, but it was plaid as well, although with pearl snap buttons.

Then we went back to Brewer and spent 45 minutes at the US Post Office where Ross sent home 3 boxes of stuff he couldn't fit into his luggage. Watch out for this Little Lee, it's coming to you at work at Scarborough Street TAFE. Should be there in a week to 10 days they said. Who knows. Look for it around August 7th or August 10th, I reckon.

Then we went back to Dad and Sandy's and we got them Take Away Pizza for dinner. We had a very nice visit, sad at the end because Ross was leaving.

That's Tuesday, July 28th all wrapped up in a present with a bow.

Lance and Ross.

Tuesday, July 28th at Days Inn, Bangor and Bar Harbor Part One.

Dear Blogsters and Blogsterettes,

Everything is copacetic here at Days Inn Motel, 250 Odlin Road, Bangor, Maine.
It is 4:36 a.m. and I am down at the Business Centre near the front desk, waiting for everyone to wake up and start enjoying the new day. They have the local and national news on a wide screen TV here and a couple of pots of nice fresh hot coffee. Ross, as usual, is sleeping in.

You could call this morning practice, if you like, as this is the last day in Maine for Ross, and tomorrow he leaves for Montreal from BIA, just down the road. His jet leaves at 5:50 a.m. and we need to be there at 4:50 a.m., that means we need to wake up at about 3:30 a.m. by my reckoning.

After having a great visit with Aunt Dawn, Aunt Cilla, Uncle Carl and Dad and Sandy at Dad and Sandy's house, yesterday afternoon, Ross and I got sent out to get take away dinner from a combo Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell Restaurant, out on Wilson Street in Downtown Brewer, only 5 minutes drive from Dad's house. We got KFC, 12 pieces of chicken, no wings, with biscuits, gravy, mashed potatoes and Cole slaw. Lots of it. I think they will have leftovers for the next day. Ross and I did the best we could but maybe we got 20% too much food. (Better than 20% too little food, I guess.)

Chatting at Dad's house yesterday afternoon.

Ross got a lot of urgent International Rotary work done on his iPad, after we got back to the Motel. I went down to the Business Centre, where I am now, because I was having great trouble connecting with the Free WiFi. They helped me at the desk, resetting all the four WiFi Router/Modems. This then enabled my Internet and I was able to write the blogs for yesterday and the day before, because I could not connect that day at Kool-Bee.

Cilla and Ross enjoying Dad's deck overlooking Sedgeunkedunk Stream, running downhill from nearby Brewer Lake, which give's it's name to the road Dad's house is on. Dad's road is a little weird because coming from Brewer, you set out sort of going East, on Mill Street, off Elm Street, and after about a mile you hit the Orrington Town Line and the road magically changes its name to Brewer Lake Road. Thus Dad and Sandy are at 229 Brewer Lake Road, even though it is sort of on Mill Street, Brewer, Maine.

Today we have a busy last day in Maine for Ross, as you can imagine. Ross needs to pack up a couple of US Postal Boxes to send home at the post office. We plan on heading out for a day trip to Bar Harbor, Stopping for lunch at The Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound, just before the bridge across to Mt Desert Island, and Acadia National Park, which surrounds the town and port of Bar Harbor as well as several other small towns and ports. We also would like to fit in a photo op at the huge statue of Paul Bunyan at Main Street, Bangor down near the Casino and the Bangor Auditorium.

Ross, in particular, will have a very busy day today. Ross has got to tidy up his laundry, check his documents, print off any documents he needs, check his packing and weight of luggage, check his passports and travel stuff and just get everything absolutely ready for leaving the country. This after a day trip to Downtown Bangor and out down US Route 1A East to Bar Harbor, maybe an hour or 90 minute drive. We want to be back to Dad and Sandy's house at around 3 p.m or 3:30 p.m. to chat with Dad and Sandy and have dinner with them again. So, we will only have a couple of hours in Bar Harbor.

I will write Part Two of today's blog after I have completed the day and inserted the photos from the part of the day yet to come.

Lance and Ross Tuesday, July 28th at 5:20 a.m.

Monday July 27th at Dad's house and Days Inn, Bangor.

Hello Blogsters and Blogsterettes,

Photo Above:
The three children of Wendell Arthur Russell, Sr., Dawn , Cilla and Wendell Arthur Russell, Jr.
Carl and the two girls drove up and we met up after Ross and I had checked into Days Inn at 250 Odlin Road, Bangor, Maine near the Bangor Intl. Airport.


Now it is Monday, July 27th and we are leaving Kool-Bee to head back up to the Twin Cities, Bangor-Brewer. We went and had a short look at Micky Marden's Surplus and Salvage in Waterville first and then got up to Bangor and checked into the new Motel Dad had booked for us, Days Inn, Bangor, on Odlin Road, out near the airport.

Cilla and Carl were to drive up in the afternoon and visit Dad and Sandy at their house in Orrington. We were going to check-in and then have a look at L.L.Bean Factory Outlet Store in Bangor, before meeting them at Dad and Sandy's house.

We got to Dad and Sandy's at around 2 p.m., After having lunch.

Ross and I went right next door after we had checked into The Days Inn. The restaurant next door was named "The Ground Round". Very extensive menu, but Ross decided to continue our study of Maine Lobster Rolls. He had a reasonably good one, although they have all fallen well short of the one made by Reds Eats at Wiscasset.

I had a Walnut, Cranberry and Chicken Salad. Very nice as well. But THEN! Ross went a little bit crazy and ordered an order of Deep Fried Oreo Cookies! Yikes!

The Deep Fried Oreos with Vanilla Ice Cream. I had one only, without ice cream. I was so good.

Aunt Cilla and Uncle Carl and Ross and I at Dad and Sandy's house at 229 Brewer Lake Road, Orrington, Maine, 04474.

We all had a great visit and Dad is feeling much better after a gastrointestinal attack. He played golf today and only hit 91. Poor fella. He plays fantastic. I wish I could consistently play as well as he does. I got lucky last Thursday and managed to tie his score of 89.

We were also happy to Carl and Cilla because they are headed back to Connecticut tomorrow and we won't be able to see them again before they leave. They are so wonderful and I love them so much.
Can't say anymore, I won't be able to continue this blog.

Ross and I will be driving around this area, including a quick trip to Bar Harbour tomorrow, and then another visit to Dad and Sandy tomorrow afternoon. Ross leaves for Montreal on a jet plane from Bangor Intl. Airport Wednesday around 5 a.m. He has to travel to New York City and change planes for Montreal, I think it is about 4 hours and a bit total travel time. So tomorrow will be Ross's last day in Maine, we will meet back up Saturday August 8th in San Francisco. We just stay overnight in San Fran (Ross is actually there a couple of days before I get there), then we fly back to Sydney the day after on August 9th. We don't arrive in Sydney until early morning Tuesday, August 12th! due to the International dateline and the fact that we leave near midnight on August 9th.

Aunt Cilla loving the beauty and serenity of Dad and Sandy's back deck, overlooking the Sedgeunkedunk Stream.

That's the blog for Monday, July 27th.

Lance and Ross.

Sunday July 26th at Kool-Bee in Oakland, Maine

Hello Bogsters and Blogsterettes,

Here I am at Kool-Bee Cottage on McGrath Pond, part of the Belgrade Lakes Region.
It is 7 a.m., Monday morning here but I will describe yesterday, Sunday The 26th of July.

We got up and cleaned up and Aunt Dawn and my cousin Mary were busy preparing for the Family gathering Aunt Dawn had planned for lunchtime today. We didn't know exactly who, or how many would attend.

I offered to go into Oakland and do Dawn's, Ross's and my laundry at the Laundromat. I got packed and did that while Ross tried to get the tickets for the Weird Al Yankovic concert we were attending later Sunday night at The Maine State Pier down in Portland, about 80 or 90 minutes drive South of Kool-Bee.

When I got back, mission accomplished, Ross was still struggling with the tickets. We eventually managed to get it done together, and we also managed to get Aunt Dawn's computer and communications systems back to normal. Not simple.

Eventually, Aunt Cilla and Uncle Carl came over and started helping set up the final stuff with salads and sandwich makin's and snacks and drinks.

Then people started arriving. The people who came included: Cousins Brenda and Ray Willette, Cousin Darlene Miles, Cousin Doug Beatson and his daughter Carly, my Brother Guy and his wife Debbi, Guy's ex-wife Muffin and their daughter Jessi, with one of her twin daughters, Jacki. Also, Aunt Cilla's son and daughter Miles and Tracy, with Tracy's family, daughter Alyssa and boyfriend Jim, also, my cousins Frank Russell and his lovely wife Robyn, his sister Barbara with both her daughters April May Davis, with her fiance Kyle, and Willow Russell with her daughter Odessa
and boyfriend.

Aunt Dawn and Aunt Cilla making salads with Mary's daughter Sarah looking on.
Preparing for the big family party.

Aunt Cilla, and I with Ronnie Poirier and Ross.

My brother Guy with me and Uncle Carl.

Uncle Carl, Me, Carly Beatson and her Dad, Doug Beatson, Dawn's middle boy.

Barbara Russell's eldest daughter Willow Russell, with her daughter Odessa Russell and Willow's boyfriend.

Willow Russell's sister and Barbara's younger daughter April May Davis, with her fiance Kyle.
They are getting married Friday, August 7th and I will already have just left Maine for New York.
I gave them their wedding presents early.

Brian Richardson in the bright yellow shirt under the black jacket. In the distance, gotta get a better photo from Aunt Dawn, is Darlene Miles, Brenda Willette and Ray Willette, speaking to Carly Beatson and her pal Cameron.

After the party we loaded up for bear and headed out Portland to the Maine State Pier. We went to see Weird Al Jankovic. "Johnny B." Beatson was navigator and took us straight there. The first car park he had picked was full so he gave great directions to second best and that was fine and dandy. Walked about 5 city blocks to the Pier and sat down to watch the show, which was absolutely terrific. Ross was the ideas man, Thanks Ross! It was great fun!

Wierd Al Jankovic and Band at the Maine State Pier.

Al changed outfits plenty of times and was lotsa fun. He played videos on the big screen whilst he and his band changed costumes.

We drove home and everything was as smooth getting home as getting there. We got into bed by around 11 p.m.

End of Sunday July 26th

Lance and Ross.

Kool-Bee on Saturday, July 25th

Hello dearest Blogsters and Blogsterettes,

Here I am at my beautiful Aunt Dawn's cottage on McGrath Pond in Oakland, Maine.

The beautiful Kool-Bee , which was owned by a previous Maine State Governor many years ago. Aunt Dawn and Uncle Jack have owned it for 40 years or so.

A large house with a gorgeous porch that goes around two sides.
four or five bedrooms upstairs and a wonderful stone fireplace that opens to both the dining room and also the living room.

Brady Beatson and his neice Liv jumping off the Kool-Bee dock into the fresh McGrath Pond water.

Everyone says the water is warm, and they have a floating thermometer which says it is 75 degrees F, but Ross (and I, to be honest) think it may be a little too cold for us. The weather has been cloudy and cool the last two days so we are a little chilly anyways, so the water has lost it's appeal.

The garage with the old sign that used to hang over the Old Barn at the Dairy Farm on Garland Road, Winslow, Maine. Aunt Dawn has just repainted the garage and it looks great.

In the Kool-Bee kitchen with Aunt Dawn and he eldest child, Cousin Mary Richardson. For a while, Mary used to work at the farm, with Grampy, and my brother Guy and I. She moved on to become a teacher and now married to Brian Richardson, who was in my class of 1970 at Hermon High School. They live in Andover, Maine, in the West of Maine, near ski resorts.

Mary and Brian have a son named Ian, who lives in England, and two daughters Sarah and Kristy and through them 5 grandchildren, thus Aunt Dawn is "Grammie" and Mary is "Nanna". to those 5 kids. Olivia is one, with her brother Keagan.

Kristy, Mary's younger daughter.lounging beside the dock down at lakeside.

Kool-Bee looking from the front down onto the waters of McGrath Pond. McGrath Pond, runs freely in Salmon Lake, making quite a large body of water.

We played poker last night with Uncle Carl and Aunt Cilla and Uncle Jack and Mary's brother Cousin "Johnny B" Beatson. (John Albert Beatson III) . It was fun and Ross was the big winner! Who knew he would be such a proficient poker player? Not me, I was gob smacked.

Carl has his back to us, then Jon is dealing the cards with Aunt Dawn standing, over his shoulder.
Then Aunt Cilla, Ross and Uncle Jack. Young Keagan is near Ross.

At 10:30 a.m. this morning (Saturday July 25th remember) I went into downtown Oakland to The Early Bird Restaurant (that opens for business at 5:45 a.m. every morning!) I had breakfast with my old friends and Williams High School classmates, Ricky Pierce and Ronnie Joseph. That was fantastic! I was so happy to see them and renew our old friendship and learn more about how their lives had gone in the 35 or 40 years since I had seen them last.

All three of us have lived well and obviously are still very good-looking and incredibly smart and talented. We are all recently retired, with Rick the newest retiree. He just finished up last month, after teaching Grade 8 history for many many years at Williams, which is the Junior High School now, with a newer High School being built some 15 or 20 years or so ago, Messalonski High School (Go Messalonski Eagles!!).

After I returned to Kool-Bee, Ross and I overcame technology problems and finally got our tickets printed out for the Weird Al Yankovic concert we are attending with Johnny B down at the "Maine State Pier" in Portland tomorrow night. Then Ross and I got into the Great White Beast and headed out for adventure. We went to Days Country Store in Belgrade Lakes first, to where my Nephew Shawn Russell works. He wasn't working today but we met friends of his who praised him up.

We tried out their Lobster Rolls for lunch down by the water on Long Pond and walked around the delightful little village of Belgrade Lakes, in the Belgrade Lakes region, which has about 5 large lakes, McGrath Pond/Salmon Lake being one, together with Long Pond and Great Pond. Days Country Store is on a channel between Long Pond and Great Pond and provides access to food and petrol (gas) for campers on both of these two large lakes.

Days Country Store in Belgrade Lakes with Ross trying to get run over. At least he is wearing a high-vis jacket. If he gets hit they wanted to hit him.

The Mine Made & More Store in Belgrade Lakes. They had lots of stuff. I bought some little trinkets for the Injuns back at home on the Gold Coast.

After an extensive visit at Belgrade Lakes, Ross wanted to visit Colby College again and also to see the new art display at the Art Museum. We managed to get there at 4 p.m., an hour before closing.
It was a very good display, although we found that my taste in art is not the same as Ross's. They had a lot of works by an artist named Katz. I didn't care for his work, although Ross thought they wee terrific.

They had one Art Installation, which was formed into a room which you could go into and be surrounded. I did like this very much!

Anyways, it was a fun visit and I did see a lot of art that was terrific.

The receptionist was English, from London and we had a fun chat with her and discussed the merits of Vegemite vs. Marmite.

One of the buildings was having it's copper roof replaced. All new shiny copper roof going on. Very shiny, but eventually will verdigris and turn green like all the others.

After our Colby College visit (Go Colby Mules!!) we headed back to Kool-Bee for dinner and another night of Poker. Ross was supposed to lose all the vast amount of money he had won Friday night. Unfortunately, Ross did well again and now is talking about a $10 donation of his poker winnings to some worthy cause. (I told him the Gas Money For Uncle Carl was a worthy cause but he wasn't convinced.)

After poker we collapsed into bed.

Uncle Jack found a treasure he has that he said was related to Ian Poulter, the pro golfer. It is a visor with connected red spiky hair. He thought it would be warm and comfortable for Ross.
For quite a while Ross wore it for poker. This is Ross, at poker, surrounded by Aunt Cilla and Aunt Dawn.

Poker with Uncle Carl, Cousin Mary and Cousin Johnny B.

Saturday Night Dinner at Kool-Bee with L->R: John, Brian Richardson, Aunt Dawn, Olivia, Brady Beatson, John's younger brother, Mary Richardson (Brady and John's elder sister) and Ross Smith of great renown.

That's the full blog for Saturday, July 25th. Tomorrow we have a big family party planned by Aunt Dawn going on at Kool-Bee. Then after the party, John and Ross and I are headed for The Main State Pier in Portland, 90 minutes South, to experience the wonder that is Weird Al Yankovic.

Lance and Ross.

Friday, July 24th Brewer to Oakland and Kool-Bee

Hi Blogsters and Blogsterettes,

Today we are checking out of The Vacationland Inn. We are driving down to Oakland to my Aunt Dawn and Uncle Jack's home, a lovely Lake Cottage called Kool-Bee.

The photo above is a scene behind glass, set up at our hotel/motel that depicts a mother black bear and two cubs toasting marshmallows over a campfire. The Vacationland Inn , as I have mentioned has been refurbished and is trying for the rustic, log cabin in the woods look.

The Maine Wild Blueberry Sauce to go on the Waffles you make with the automatic waffle maker; it makes two waffles at a time and is an engineering marvel.

The old fashioned wood stove in the breakfast rooms sets a tone. It is non-functional, mores the pity, and doesn't have a stovepipe to let the wood smoke out through the wall or ceiling. This is very similar to the one that we used at Pine Hill Farms on the Garland Road when I was growing up. We used to come in from the snow and cold and huddle around the open oven door and put our boots on the oven door to dry out.

A lovely T-Shirt we found at Mickey Marden's Salvage Warehouse. It said "If God wanted us to be vegetarians..." Ross wanted me to buy it but I refused. I am a conscientious objector to shooting vegetables.

Dad's beast parked in front of the door to our room, Rm 119 at The Vacationland Inn, on Wilson Street in Brewer, Maine between Walgreen's Pharmacy and The Coach House Restaurant. When we come back from Kool-Bee, over the weekend, we move to Days Inn in Bangor, near the Bangor International Airport.

Ross leaves for Montreal on a plane from BIA on Wednesday, very early morning. I will drive him from Days Inn, which should be a ten minute or less drive. We spent a lot of time booking hotels because we left it very late, only a week or so before we had to get him on the plane, and many hotels were booked out or too expensive.

I am booked to leave Brewer/Bangor on the Friday, August 7th, so Ross leaves Wednesday, July 29th and flies to Montreal, he stays  for a few days and then flies to Toronto, then after a few days he flies to San Francisco, which he gets to a couple of days before me. I stay here in Maine for that time, so, in fact, I stay in Maine 9 days after he leaves.

My Itinerary, that has colored highlights and that I sent out to everyone, says that I was to pick up another Alamo Hire Car on Wednesday, August 5th and drive down to Freeport, stay overnight August 5th, then drive to Cilla and Carl's and stay overnight August 6th, and then drive into JFK Airport, where I have booked an overnight stay at The Comfort Inn JFK for August 7th. I fly JFK to San Francisco on August 8th. Dad suggested that I fly down to JFK, rather than hire another car. We were talking about the expense of the hire car, since the 2-day hire was almost as much as the week-long hire we had previously.

I told Dad and Sandy that flights out of Bangor weren't as easy as they used to be. It used to be that you could fly non-stop to Boston or New York several days a week, but now it has all changed. If I wanted to travel on Thursday August 6th , for example, my only way to get to JFK would cost $1400 and involve two stops, Portland, and Washington D.C. Ridiculous, I know, but that's the case.

Even on Friday, sort of a better "flyin' day" to paraphrase my Gramps who used to say it was a good "Dryin' Day", it would cost $450 and involve a combo that made up 8 hours of travelling time.
Dad suggested I try to fly into La Guardia Airport instead of JFK Airport. What a genius!

He was absolutely correct. I found a flight that was only $220 and it was only 4 hours and 45 minutes travelling time, leaving at 5:45 a.m., Friday August 7th and going to Washington D.C. first then switch planes and get in to New York City at La Guardia at 10:30 a.m. I then have to get a Shuttle Bus to JFK for $50 and get into my Comfort Inn Hotel at around 12 noon. That's compared to the two days travelling and about $700 by hire car. Brilliant suggestion Dad.

I need to cut down on my luggage, so I will ship home a couple of boxes of old clothes. Then I will just travel with my backpack together with my big white rolling suitcase, and the new duffle bag I got from L.L.Bean.

More shots of The Vacationland Inn. Lovely rocking chairs surround the fireplace in the main entry and the front desk.

The double waffle maker, whoo-hoo!

Another embedded place mat in the breakfast tables which describes the elusive Moose that Ross is trying to see in the wild.

We did see a deer moving through Sedgeunkadunk Stream behind Dad's house yesterday, so maybe that will have to do. Lots of action behind Dad and Sandy's house at 229 Brewer Lake Road, Orrington, Maine.

Yesterday Dad and his old friend and ex-assistant manager at Agway Brewer Store, Spencer Greaterex, and I  played golf at the lovely Pine Hill Golf Course, which is just across Brewer Lake Road from Dad and Sandy's house. Dad is an amazing golfer, for any age, often hitting less than his age. "Hitting your age" is a bit of a miracle, at the best of times. Dad is 85 and his best score at Pine Hill Golf Course is 80 scored this year. Wow!

Anyway, Spencer beat both of us with an 87 and Dad and I both hit 89. That was excellent for me, Dad probably took it easy on me. I was happy to break 100 really.

Ross spent the time I was playing golf at The Bangor Mall and it's associated stores. He seemed to have a good day and I me him right on "Dentist Time" at The Java Junction" in the middle of Bagor Mall. (Dentist Time is, of course, for those few uninitiated, "Tooth Hurty").

We looked at Staples, The Big Bookstore and Home Depot, then traveled back to Dad and Sandy's house via the Big Yellow Schoolhouse Antique Store.  Ross picked up some quilt squares that he plans to make a quilt with later. He had spotted them the day before when he explored that antique place extremely comprehensively.

Then Ross got dolled up and we all packed into the Beast and dropped Ross off at his Rotary Meeting and Dinner and Dad and Sandy and I went to dinner at nearby Governors Restaurant in Old Town.
Lovely dinner, lots of fun.

Picked up Ross, who also had a good time, although I don't think his spaghetti dinner could compete with ours, particularly the Chocolate and Peanut Butter pie Sandy and I shared for desert.

Well, it is almost 7:15 a.m., Friday morning, July 24th here in The Vacationland Inn Breakfast Room.
I need to shower and shave and get ready, and Ross and I need to pack all of our worldly belongings into the back of The Beast. Then check out and head down to Aunt Dawn's at Kool-Bee, stopping at Dysarts Truck Stop in Hermon for a couple of home made pies.

More Vacationland Inn Breakfast Room.

Bye for now,

Lance and Ross.