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Park Review: Pumpkin Patch RV Resort
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.
WRITTEN Aug 25, 2024 at 12:19 PM
TAGS: trip 21, maine, park review
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Disc Golf Match: D.R. The Bear
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.
WRITTEN Aug 18, 2024 at 12:42 PM
TAGS: trip 21, maine, disc golf
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Acadia National Park
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.
WRITTEN Aug 11, 2024 at 12:50 PM
TAGS: trip 21, maine, nps
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Travels Before the RV: Franconia Notch and the White Mountains
Most of us, when we take stock of ourselves, find that we have a “special place” where we like to go. It may be a city, a business, or even a parcel of nature. We here at Freedom Rolling have a special place where we have visited every year, and is one we hope to continue visiting for years to come: Franconia Notch State Park in New Hampshire.
Located along Interstate 93 and US Route 3, Franconia Notch State Park is a nature reserve in the White Mountains of New Hampshire along the Pemigewasset River. Some of its features include Cannon Mountain, Echo Lake, Flume Gorge, Lonesome Lake, and the Basin. It was also once home to the “Old Man of the Mountain”, a unique rock formation shaped like a man’s face. This formation has since collapsed, but a historic site dedicated to this once-standing formation continues to exist. The famous Appalachian Trail runs through part of Franconia Notch, making it a destination for drivers and hikers alike.
Franconia Notch State Park - Official Site
Nearby to Franconia Notch, whether for a day with nature or a chance to do some boondock camping, is White Mountain National Forest. Situated in both New Hampshire and Maine, White Mountain National Forest is home to many of the tall peaks of New England, including Twin Mountain, Mount Cabot, and the tallest point in New Hampshire, Mount Washington. Several other state parks also grace this area, including Crawford Notch, Jericho Mountain, and Grafton Notch in Maine.
White Mountain National Forest - Official Site
We first discovered this place by a bit of a happy accident during the early part of our dating in the fall of 2013. We had been talking about doing our first road trip for a while, but needed a destination. We knew that this was one of the few points along the Interstate Highway System that is still only two lanes, so we decided to head there. A few hours and a couple of states later, we arrived and chose to stop at the Basin. This is one of the most peaceful and tranquil locations either of us had visited, and is a common setting for many of our Christmas cards. But why stop in New Hampshire? We typically continue up to US Route 2, the Presidential Highway, to make our way to Maine to further enjoy White Mountain National Forest.
One trip was good, but why not make a return visit? Summer of 2014 saw our return to Franconia Notch and White Mountain National Forest, this time with a family dog in tow. Sadly, the pooch is no longer with us, but it was an absolute pleasure to take her to another part of the country, and also great to be in a family and pet friendly environment. Franconia Notch ended up also serving as a pre-honeymoon destination in 2015, and every year since then, around the time of late summer and early autumn, we find ourselves once again enjoying this location. Our pup has also been able to enjoy the Basin and the forest since adopting her in 2019.
The next time you’re in northern New England, why not give Franconia Notch and the White Mountain National Forest a try? And who knows, maybe it will become a special location for you on your travels. All you have to do is follow your internal compass.