Best Life

 A lazy morning packing and closing the house before returning to RI.  We achieved more than planned but less than hoped.  When we left Cumberland last year, everything I was not ready to part with was transported to Maine.  Piles of things accumulated in my bedroom and in all corners of the house.  Now that we have lived on the boat in a much smaller space, the reality of what we truly need is liberating.  I have begun the process of purging even more with piles ready to donate.  Coats, clothes, books, DVDs, pots and pans, glasses, bowls and so many other items.   We decided to meander home slowly through New Hampshire and Route 16.  Our usual Route 4 through Maine can probably be done blindfolded so we were ready for something different. Lake Richardson was our first stop.  Upper Dam. Wilson Mills. Magalloway River. Umbagog Lake. Androscoggin River and Pontook Dam. The Nansen Ski Jump.  Built in 1936 and currently being renov...

 This afternoon we found ourselves in Oquossoc driving towards Mooselookmeguntic Lake.  This is where it all began - my love of Maine.  When we were kids, mom rented a "house" on the lake.  No TV, a static radio, lumpy beds in a large loft and primitive bathroom were the down sides.  The positive sides outnumbered those inconveniences.  A large lake just a few steps from the door with a private beach and dock.  Use of canoe and rowboat.  Unlimited time to play cards and board games.  Bike riding for hours on end to nowhere and back.  A library with unlimited books and magazines to read and the time to read them all.  The possibility of seeing a moose or deer around every corner.  Time to take pictures with my 110 film camera.  Time to draw the beauty of the area.  Tourist shopping in a town with plenty of quaint and unusual shops.  My scariest memory is when I was 16 and ventured out onto the lake in the canoe by...

 This morning we walked down Dallas Hill Road.  A brisk (to keep ahead of the biting flies) 2 miles was a perfect way to start the day.  Although poor Fenway did get bit on the nose.   :(                              Through the years we have walked Dallas Hill frequently.  Take a right at the end of the driveway and there are 2.5 miles to Saddleback Lake.  With very little traffic, it is perfect for dog walking and kid walking.  Take a left at the end of the driveway and there is a steep hill.  A great workout and at the top is an awesome view of the mountains and family!                                                                        ...