From Portland to Rockland.
Sunday, October 11th, 2009
A Mural in Bath.
“He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish Proverb
Gonna Lift up the Hood of Maine.
This is a longer post, if you got the time stick with it.
Today, I am leaving Portland (well, I left on October 5). I had a great week in Portland, but I am feeling itchy to get back on the road. I also, want to experience a bit of Maine. Portland is great, but it also a hip city that could almost be anywhere. I am hoping to see some lighthouses, fisherman, some buoys, and take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean before I start heading south to Boston to visit my friend.
Coastal Route 1.
I walked out of Portland, probably a 7 mile walk. After a week of the same place, it felt great to walk.
Coastal Route 1 is a small highway that meanders up the coast of Maine. According to some good sources, I will have no problems getting a ride. Maybe it is me, but I was having problems. It felt a bit like New Jersey. There was no beginning nor ending of any town, so it was tough to pick a good spot where I could hitch a ride from. Eventually, I catch a ride with Ross, whom takes me about 10 miles up the road to Yarmouth. Mark picks me up in his dump truck after that. Hanley Construction is the name. I shimmy in among levers and knobs. He is headed north on business and can only take me about another 10 miles to Brunswick. Mark is not very talkative.
Brunswick.
If you ever hitch, try to get a ride to the end of town so you don’t have to walk through the town. Mark drops me along the highway and I have to hike a mile or so into town, then another couple miles through the town of Brunswick. After some honey roasted peanuts to reenergize, I get a good spot and catch a ride with a couple, Robert and Christina. They too don’t seem that talkative.
Bath.
Robert drops me again at the beginning of Bath and I have to walk into town and then through town and then, over a long bridge. It is about 4 pm now and I am thinking about calling it quits for the day. My feet are sore and I am beat. Bath just doesn’t hold me though, so I keep going.
Enter Lisa.
Laaaa!!!! (This is the sound for a ray of light from Heaven coming down.) Here I see Lisa. We start chatting and I stick out my thumb. I am sure we look a funny pair, but I have heard that it is easier for a man and woman couple to get picked up. Well, whatdayaknow Don soon picks us up. He did some business once in Virginia and is entertained as Lisa explains her story and how we met. Don is only going about 5 miles up.
This sign reminded me of a friend of mine whom currently lives in California.
The Wilderness G.
My thumb out again and Lisa is telling me stories about how a policeman told her that if you sleep in a bed of hay you will be warm. The Wilderness G picks us up. I can’t remember his name unfortunately, but he had a graphic painted hat that stated that he is a “Wilderness G.” He works with kids in the woods as well. The G takes us another 10 miles up. Right into Wisscasset. The sign boldly states that this is the “Prettiest Village in Maine.” Keep this in mind for the Maine trivia quiz coming up soon, because I read in a book that Wisscasset is the “Worm Capital of the World.”
Pretty or Worms?
It is touristy and we get looks, but no rides. Lisa thinks if we walk across the bridge, we will have better luck. A beautiful walk as the sun sets. Lisa has tennis shoes that she has worn for 8 states so she has a hard time keeping up.
Smitty.
Smitty is happy to pick us up and Lisa tells me later that she thinks we shouldn’t have gotten a ride with him. He smelled like Rum. Lisa thinks I might be a bit more careful and I should talk to the rides longer. I remind her that we are safe and sound, but she writes me off as a youngster. ”When you get older, you will be more worried about safety.”
Typical of our day, Smitty takes us about 20 miles, but we are not in a town.
The Sun Sets and we hope to make the 30 miles to Rockland.
We decided awhile ago to shoot for Rockland, Maine. The biggest town nearby, it should have some restaurants as I am starving and Lisa needs a place to sleep since she doesn’t have a sleeping bag. But, ol’ Smitty dropped us at not so good zone. The sunsets and it gets chillier. Lisa tells me about her recipe for a 5 seafood casserole that she bartered to a buffet for a free meal. ”It is amazing!” Lisa is a good actor and she starts shivering when cars go by. Okay, she might not be the best actor, but in the end as it got dark, Tom pulls over in a gray minivan and picks us up.
Tom.
Tom is a principal and a proud father. His sons have traveled the globe. One, a lawyer in New York City and the other lives close to Thomaston, where Tom lives. He is a tour guide and he gives Lisa and I the lay of the land. He also agrees to take us the 10 miles out of his way to drop us in Rockland, which is grand, since it is now dark and Thomaston has only one restaurant that is open.
Rockland.
Tom shows me a spot he thinks I can camp near his church and drops us downtown after a tour of Rockland. Lisa and I grab our bags and head for the Rockland Cafe and a well deserved dinner.
“Tommorrow is going to be nasty!” Tom warns.
Create Our World.
Ben
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain
