Wheelz In Maine – Part One

Ahhh beautiful Maine. The wheelz took a bit of a different form on this journey. Charter bus! Yes, we became the hosts on a senior trip to Maine and all it’s stops along the way. Pictured here was the standout from the whole trip, the Portland Head Lighthouse, in Cape Elizabeth, ME. This iconic stop was breathtaking as we enjoyed temperatures in the low 70s (quite a change from our 90s and humid in Kentucky) and genuine gelato to boot! Our Diamond Tours started in Murray, KY and moved on up 45 minutes north to Paducah. The McCracken County Senior Center and the Murray Senior Center fielded the players in this adventure to the northeast.

Dan and I enjoyed this “bucket list” visit to the lighthouse. Pictured in many publications and magazines it was prettier than we could have ever imagined. Lush landscape and rocky coast complimented each other with an untouched beauty and the thought of who lived in the lighthouse’s past (it was erected in 1791) made for a mystery to ponder.

Cruising at a cool 75 mph over the highways and byways towards West Virginia brought us through beautiful Charleston. It’s gold-leaf capital dome was hard to miss as we meandered through it. Bugs and all make this photo a memorable one.

As you can imagine, senior travel is peppered with pit stops and perusing. Every two hours one or the other happened to keep everyone feeling comfortable throughout the trip. Intersected by the Kanawha and Elk rivers, we said goodnight in Charleston along the Kanawha river which flowed right outside our hotel. One day’s journey down, eight to go.

Our travel on day two ended in a stay at the Penn Harris by Wyndham in Camp Hill, PA. Having been to Pennsylvania before, I looked forward to its green rolling hills and friendly people. We were greeted by both. Rest is important on bus trips or any other for that matter. Ours was peaceful in Camp Hill.

I learned how to pronounce Worcester, MA like a native from an episode of HGTV’s My Lottery Dream Home. David Bromstead educated us in the proper pronunciation, Woostah! Day three brought quaint streets, parks and eateries that dotted the downtown landscape in Worcester. A stop at Pizzeria Uno was a favorite of this Chicagoland girl.

Touching down in our target city of South Portland, ME came on day three. We arrived like college students to their new dorm and unpacked for our three night stay. The Best Western Merry Manor Inn had our accommodations ready and waiting for us. It would be nice on day four to see some of the countryside in Maine and the coastal towns of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. Shhhh for now…the seniors are sleeping like babies.

Glorious flowers and peaceful gardens greeted us at our St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery tour in Kennebunk, MA. Established in 1947, the gorgeous gardens were designed by the Frederick Law Olmstead Brothers. In our golden years, gardening becomes a way to express ourselves and the delight on each face as we wandered the beautiful landscape in Kennebunk was unmistakable. Enjoy these pictures below of the Monastery:

The rest of our day was spent exploring the town of Kennebunkport. Famous for it’s Bush family compound Walker’s Point, the Presidential flag was flying so that meant that George W. Bush and his wife Laura were in town. Didn’t catch a glimpse of them, but they are known for stopping downtown for a few things on occasion. Laura Bush is gracious and has chatted with our on-board tour guide as she worked at a souvenir shop recently.

Blue is a color unmatched by any other in Maine. Cotton ball clouds float with ease across the cerulean sky. Boats stack along docks and bridges connect the public to numerous shops and eateries. Tourist season is at its peak during the summer in Kennebunkport and we are mixed in with another set of Diamond Tour groups. One from North Carolina and another from Mississippi make for musical buses at stops and dinner destinations. Just another skill that seniors possess, getting back on the right bus!

Day four is almost done…stay tuned for Wheelz in Maine Part Two!