Once again, the sea is before us, this time in the northeastern corner of the country.
The coast of New Hampshire, at a mere 13 miles, is the shortest of all the coastlines in the USA. That's not to say that it isn't packed with something for everyone. While driving, find New Hampshire Highway 1A to allow yourself to peacefully meander this edge of the country. Make a quick stop along the northern rocky coast, where you may be able to see in the distance the nine Isles of Shoals, the ownership of which are split in half between New Hampshire and Maine. While at this part of the coast, perhaps in order is a quick trip up to Fort Stark, an artillery from World War II, or Fort Foster on the Maine side in Kittery which served as an additional gun battery during both World Wars.
If you're more of the "long walk" variety, head south down the coastline, as North Beach, Hampton Beach, and Seabrook Beach await beach visitors. Be cautious when visiting these cities, as they are quite expensive when it comes to parking, reaching rates you'd find in New York City, especially on Manhattan. If you want something a little more economical, go over the drawbridge and beyond Seabrook Beach down to the city of Salisbury, Massachusetts. The beaches are just as accessible, and it's easy enough to take a walk back into New Hampshire if you wanted to visit Seabrook.
A trip to the North Atlantic in the warmer months would not be complete without a whale watching tour. Up around Rye Harbor, you'll find Granite State Whale Watch, a great "bang for the buck" when wanting to see these large marine mammals. This company has partnered with the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation, which not only gives a great narration on what you'll see out in the blue depths, but also performs research while these tours are conducted. There are typically two tours per day in the summer months; be sure to book the later of the tours because there are no trackers on any of the whales that visit, and the crew has the added benefit of a morning search to find these swimmers. The area is most likely to see finback and humpback whales, but you may get a bonus of a jumping tuna while out there.
So whether your Internal Compass takes you towards rocky or sandy beaches, northern New England will have something for you.
Welcome to another edition of the Brew Review, where Freedom Rolling takes a look at craft beers from across the country. Today we head into the Green Mountain State of Vermont for what they have to offer. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start over at the small city of Bridgewater Corners, Vermont, home of The Shed Brewery and their offering, the Mountain Hazy IPA. This particular brew starts off with the familiar scent of hops and a lighter yellow color, however the taste does not bring the powerful taste of hops that people would expect from the India Pale Ale. This one is a bit more subtle when tasting, though there are certain ways you can pick out the hops. It isn't the most exciting thing to drink, but it is an average brew that can be tolerated if it's one of the few available.
Off we head to the Champlain Valley in Burlington, Vermont and the Foam Brewers for the India Pale Ale known as Dead Flowers. The drinker will first be adorned with a light, lime-like color. Although marked as an IPA, this particular brew has only a moderate hop taste, masked by a very strong citrus taste that seems to come from a lime flavor. This balanced offering is a perfect choice for a summer day on the lake, whether just fishing or having a gathering, as everyone permitted will enjoy this beer.
Time to head deep into the Green Mountains, where Lawson's Finest Liquids awaits in the community of Waitsfield, Vermont for a Sip of Sunshine. Although originally brewed at their main location, production of this beer has been moved to Stratford, Connecticut. If you're a connoisseur that likes your hops, then this brew is certainly for you. Apart from the golden color that will remind the drinker of sunshine, a very strong amount of hops and an 8% ABV makes this a hop lover's dream. Although it may just be a sip, you'll feel like you're walking on sunshine with this offering.
As you continue to Follow Your Internal Compass around the country, hopefully you are able to find these, as well as many other craft beers to enjoy.
For our foray into Maine, we make a stop at Pumpkin Patch RV Resort. This is a privately owned RV park near many of central Maine's attractions. A week's stay was had here.
Grounds: The park is located just outside Hermon, a neighbor to the relatively larger city of Bangor for resupply, and only about an hour from Acadia National Park. Do follow their instructions on using Exit 180 to approach when pulling, as there are some railroad bridges along US Route 2 that may present problems for the larger rigs. Be aware that Bangor International Airport is nearby, and planes landing or taking off may be heard during your stay.
Sites: Pumpkin Patch has 85 RV sites, about half of which are pull-through while the other half are back-in, with all of them having 50-amp electric service, water, and the majority having full hook-up with the sewer as well. The gravel pad was easy to approach even for a back-in, and was found to be mostly level, with quite a sizable patio area. This park is insistent upon back-flow protectors being used on their water spigots, and although their intentions may be honorable, the pressure is not good enough to run with a regulator, while constantly feeling like we might blow out our pipes without one, which we were forced to do in order to have any water whatsoever.
Staff: The staff was found to be very friendly and accommodating in the office, as well as after hours when an issue was experienced. The amount of signs around the park are a bit overkill, and some of them would have been helpful in the rule sheet instead of the laundromat, such as boards being available if a table-top grill needed to be placed, as they did not permit it on their plastic picnic tables.
Amenities: The park features showers and laundry, an activity center, and a small dog park. In addition, propane may be purchased on site. Surprisingly, the price they offered was very competitive to other businesses in the area. Many campgrounds will gouge their customers on propane costs leading them to take their tanks to hardware stores or warehouse clubs; we believe they should be commended for valuing customer quantity over per-sale tactics when raising revenues with propane.
Atmosphere: This campground has the vibe and feel of a 55+ park, especially when considering some of the activities planned, although they are willing to accommodate all ages. It was generally a very quiet and peaceful park; a good place to kick back and relax.
Overall, Pumpkin Patch RV Resort receives a 9 out of a possible 10 rating. Pricing in the northeast is somewhat high, but the park is competitive with others in the area. This is one park where we would be very glad to stay again, especially if our Internal Compass takes us into Maine.
Did I hear another disc golf match? That's right!
Welcome to Orono, Maine, home of today's match at D.R. Disc Golf's The Bear course. For the first time, our players have made their way to a professionally hosted disc golf course, complete with a small pro shop. This location does have green fees, with different prices for if you play 9 holes, 18 holes, or the other courses sponsored by the company. Although this course is still in development with some changes coming, it was of good quality to enjoy playing. Nine holes were played, although the front 9 were done, not knowing that players would go to hole 17 after hole 8, but that's the fun of it. How did they fare?
Course Result:
Halved: 4
Her Holes: 4
His Holes: 1
Course Record: Him 7 - 2 - 5 Her
Holes Record: Him 39 - 33 Her
Starting off at the first tee, some bad tree luck resulted in him taking the first hole. After a halved second, some terrible throws and missed putts by him allowed her to pull even with a three shot advantage on the third. She would continue to pour it on with a par on the fourth to win that hole. Everything seemed to be going downhill for him with more bad tree luck on five, but an approach shot found the hole to allow him to pull back to a halve. Two more halves were had, before she pulled away with another par on eight, and then a long and arduous ninth hole saw her put the icing on top. The shots were 45-50 in her favor on a par 32.
She is catching up; can he gets himself out of this funk? We'll find out next time, but until then, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
This one is almost assuredly on everyone's bucket list, and for good reason.
Welcome to Baa Habaa (Bar Harbor for those actually trying to look it up), home of Acadia National Park in the Pine Tree State of Maine. First established as a National Park in 1916 after lobbying from regular visitor John D. Rockefeller, and later renamed in 1929, Acadia has become a site of preservation for many different plants, animals, and the small "mountains" adorning the area. Acadia is situated mostly on Mount Desert Island, where the city of Bar Harbor can be found, along a few other small harbor cities. There are a couple of other points such as Winter Harbor on the Schoodic Peninsula.
As you approach the park, stop by the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, prominently signed along State Route 3, to gather all the information you'll need. Take a drive around the Park Loop to visit all the points of interest within the main park. See the Wild Gardens of Acadia at "Sieur de Monts", or take a walk through the wetlands while along Jessup Path in that area. Maybe you want to take a quick dip in the Atlantic at Newport Cove, where one of the few sand beaches along the rocky coast of Maine can be found. If scenic drives and views tickle your fancy, perhaps grab some tickets to go up Cadillac Mountain, where the entire island, along with the ocean, can be seen. Plenty of other fun, including carriage rides and ferries to the various other islands around the area, may be had.
Hopefully you kept hold of that National Parks pass, because it will work here. They do also have seasonal entry specific to Acadia if you're spending an extended time. It's a little bit of a drive from Bangor down US Route 1A and State Route 3 to get to the park, with a close resupply point in Ellsworth if you need something from the regional and national chains. While on Mount Desert Island, definitely take a trip to the Northeast Harbor and visit their Main Street. Consider going along Sargeant Drive for great views of the Somes Sound. Don't forget the other side of the sound near Southwest Harbor, and check out the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and the history behind this important nautical marker.
Almost assuredly, your Internal Compass will point you towards Acadia National Park. The next time you visit Maine, this is one place not to miss.
Once again, Freedom Rolling presents another Brew Review. The choice to "Live Free or Die" is upon us as we take a trip to the Granite State of New Hampshire for a few of their selections. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
We start down at the state's most populous city of Manchester, New Hampshire, as we visit Great North Aleworks and their Robust Vanilla Porter. This is presented with a nice light brown color that would be expected from a porter. One sip of this brew, and it's not evident why this one is a vanilla porter, as the taste is overwhelmed with coffee. The brewers claim that the vanilla comes towards the end, but it just doesn't seem to be there. For a run-of-the-mill average porter, it isn't so bad, but it's certainly not what's advertised by the title.
Take a trip up to Plymouth, New Hampshire for the Last Chair Brewery and the Powder Bear Hazy IPA. First presented is a golden color and the scent of hops that drinkers of this particular type have come to know to love. As you sip this particular brew, the hops are mellow at first, but then begin to come through along with an acidic taste coming from citrus hops. On a hot summer day, this choice will certainly be a nice way to cool off and enjoy the White Mountains region.
Returning to Manchester, New Hampshire and Great North Aleworks, this time for the Tie Dyed dry-hopped Pale Ale. As the light golden color is presented to the drinker, a hint of banana from the scent is also given. However, with one sip of this brew, there is a hop taste, but it is much more subdued than the India variety, making for a more balanced and refreshing experience. Any summer picnicker would be proud to have this choice in their cooler, and if you're one to just start getting into hops, this brew is for you.
So until the next time we review more beers in the country, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Another trip to the links is upon us.
Welcome to Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, birthplace of freestyle skiing, and home to today's disc golf match at the Town Square Disc Golf Course. This is one of the few free-to-play courses in northeastern New England, and near the ice arena with plenty of parking during the warmer season. Some of the signage may be confusing on this 9-hole par-3 course notating practice holes, but the design of a few are quite creative, especially the ninth. In addition, the gravel tees could certainly use some raking to be at least somewhat flat for a run-up. However, they are kind enough to give a tutorial to newbies on how to play. Same discs, same single set of tees, and no pup. How did they fare?
Course Result:
His Holes: 1
Halved: 6
Her Holes: 2
Course Record: Him 7 - 2 - 4 Her
Holes Record: Him 38 - 29 Her
After a couple of halved holes, a missed putt found her taking a one hole lead on the third. Fuming, he let away a terrible tee shot that put him at 7 strokes on the fourth hole, leading her to easily win it. The rough proved difficult for her on the seventh, as a 7-stroke effort allowed him to pull back to within one. The tie was not to be, as a couple of halved holes would end the match, resulting in her first win in five matches. Stroke play on the par 27 was 41-40 in her favor, with both competitors shooting par on the ninth.
She has started to turn the tide, but what will happen on the next match? Tune in to find out, but until then, be sure to Follow your Internal Compass.
The second leg of Trip 18, along with its continuation in Trip 19, found us visiting Clemson RV Park at the Grove in Pendleton, South Carolina. This is a privately owned RV park where we had a one month stay.
Grounds: This park is uniquely situated within a fairly new (at the time of writing) suburban housing development between the supply-rich city of Anderson and Clemson University, with the cities of Seneca and Greenville not too far away. Although near one of the major US highways serving the northwest part of the state with a few grocery and restaurant chain opportunities of its own, it is a fairly quiet living area when not accounting for the construction taking place at the new development.
Sites: Clemson RV Park has nearly a whopping 400 sites available! About 75 percent are for visitors to the area, while the rest are privately owned lots that can be purchased outright, though without direct mail services. All of the sites are full hook-up with 30 and 50 amp capabilities. There is a mix of gravel and concrete sites, with all of them being of the back-in variety. Separation is minimal in the gravel area with spray-painted lines, while the concrete has small grass medians. Although the sites are plenty wide, the patio can be a little tight for those who have slides.
Staff: The staff themselves seem quite friendly. We had a few issues outside the park, and they were well accommodating for our changing needs, from old soul, to rental, to new soul. We did not have any interactions with maintenance, though we did see them doing quite well with the upkeep of this place.
Amenities: This location has a pool, and although it was originally designed for exclusive use by the "executive suite" of privately owned lots, it was later made open to the entire park, which makes it difficult for the monthly visitors at the end of the main area near the dumpsters to access. There are a couple of bath houses; one near the pool and the other near the office, that may or may not have working showers depending on which section you enter; the "family rooms" are usually the best bet for a working shower. Laundry facilities also exist at a reasonable price, whether for just drying or also washing. There is also a recreation hall, but we didn't see any events advertised.
Atmosphere: The park had a slight buzz with a few of the sites around us, and the daytime found guests hearing the construction of a nearby housing development. When staying here, it seemed less like a camping spot and more like a place for monthly renters, whether temporary or permanent, to stay while contributing to the society of nearby Clemson University or surrounding neighborhoods. Our stay was outside the college football season, which may bring a different experience to those who go here.
Overall, Clemson RV Park at the Grove receives a 9 out of a possible 10 rating. The price was reasonable for the area, especially when you consider the clientele and prices for surrounding apartments and houses. A while back, we reviewed another park that had the potential to be something, and Clemson is precisely what it has the potential to be. If we're back in the area, we'd be happy to consider this for a winter spot, but would try to wait until January when the football season has concluded, as prices are raised through that season.
Like a summer breeze that makes your soul shiver, let's get some barbecue!
Welcome to The Pompous Pig, located along the well-traveled commercial strip off Interstate 85 in Anderson, South Carolina. Started by Kim and Chet Newsom as a backyard dream in the Atlanta area, their cult following led to the opening of a restaurant in a small plaza in her hometown. Today, their combinations of burgers, smoked meats, and sides make for a popular location to visit or take-out six days a week, assuming they have enough product remaining on the weekends; a good problem that the most successful barbecue locations have.
Out visit took place during their brief Sunday brunch service, although they offer the full menu along with their relatively brunch special of biscuits and different combinations of gravy, eggs, chicken, and brisket. The Pompous Pig is a casual counter-service restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, the latter being dog friendly without too much noise from the nearby highway. The biscuit special is a developing offering with a need to thicken the gravy during the early parts of the service, although their special seasoning is on point. The brisket reuben is a perfect match for barbecue, using their in-house mustard sauce instead of the typical Russian dressing. The brisket, chicken, and ribs have the proper tastes and "tugs" that you expect from a good barbecue restaurant, and their sides, especially the in house macaroni and cheese, rival some of the best across the country.
If you're anywhere in the upcountry area of South Carolina, or even visiting nearby, The Pompous Pig is worth the trip to visit. Not only is the quality superb, but the price doesn't break the bank as it's competitive with other top quality barbecue restaurants. There is no sampler platter of all of the meats, meaning you'll have to make a few visits to enjoy the entire main portion of the menu. With this place, it will definitely be worth the return trip. Keep an eye on the hours, as there is some prep time between lunch and dinner during the weekdays, and the Sunday service is rather short, using their lunch-only hours.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to Upcountry South Carolina, give The Pompous Pig a try, as it's sure not to disappoint.
Once again, another Brew Review brought to you by Freedom Rolling, but this time a little something different. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia has reached out to some of the local brewers to contract a few selections that are exclusive to the park, and today, we'll be looking at some that will be available within the various visitors' centers. As with all of the Brew Reviews, please ensure that these, or any beers, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws, whether you enjoy these at the park, or take them to another location.
Our first trip takes us over to Waynesboro, Virginia and the Basic City Beer Company for the Limberlost Lager. This brewery is proud to be able to use the spring water from the park as a base. This light colored brew, upon first taste, gives the drinker an experience light to the palette. Without any sort of taste of hops or the heavy presence of a malt, this is a neutral beer that would seem well with just about anything, even by itself, during a summer day.
Welcome to Harrisonburg, Virginia; home of James Madison University, and the Brothers Craft Brewing Company for their offering of the Skyline Falls Hazy IPA. A beautiful golden color greets the drinker along with the very familiar scent of hops that one would come to expect with this type of brew. However, the sip shows the hops to very controlled, as the tip of the tongue doesn't give that forcefulness of the hops; it isn't until the beer hits the roof of the mouth that the bitterness will come. Although the name is inspired from the park, this brew is regularly available at the brewery, and for good reason, as it is one to certainly enjoy during or after spending time with nature.
We return once again to Waynesboro, Virginia and the Basic City Brewing Company, this time to be able to try out their White Oak Canyon Wit. Once again, the local spring water is used as a base for this particular brew. The first sip had a hard bitter taste hit the palette, but further sips reduce that initial hit making for an enjoyable experience, and is typical of what a good witbier should be. The drinker would very much enjoy this during the summer months.
So the next time your Internal Compass takes you to Shenandoah, stop by the visitors' center to enjoy a couple of local craft beers.
Copyright 2021-25 Freedom Rolling.
Logo Image Courtesy Clipartmax.com
United States Image Courtesy Simple Maps