Bruce flew from Portland (Oregon!) to Boston before driving to Maine. At Logan Airport he was given the choice of either of two rental vehicles: a Ford Ranger pickup trick or a Mustang Convertible. As if the clerk had to ask.
On the way to Maine, Bruce stopped in Portsmouth, New Hampshire:
Quote from the October 15 entry for Jennifer and Bruce's USA trip in 2000: [Visited] a park in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, known to most of our friends - a retired submarine is found there, the U.S.S. Albacore. "ALBACORE? Why, it's a...TUNA SUB!" (Explanatory note: In the northeast, sandwiches made baguette-style bread are often referred to as "subs" or "submarines", and "albacore" is a type of tuna, hence this pun, a lasting favorite of [Jennifer and Bruce] and bane of those close to them.)
The U.S.S. Albacore and the Mustang, a.k.a. the Silver Steed.
WARNING! Potentially Insensitive Captions Follow!
On a Portsmouth side street was the Religious Mystical Rose Gift and Book Shop. Regrettably it was closed.
Jesus, Mary, the Flag and a No Income Tax! sign.
We have hearts! See! Hearts!
A saint has a mystical vision of Red Hook IPA while Mary watches...
Our friend Dorinda's favorite state motto (Q: Do prison inmates make these license plates?):
Driving in Maine with the top down, a stop at Gifford's in Farmington for some Grape Nut ice cream was in order:
Giffords has some unusual ice cream flavors.
While a dry summer meant less fall color overall, there were still some vivid hues to be seen:
In Rangeley (Bruce's home town):
The Steed by Bruce's cousins' recently-enlarged summer house...
...and the dramatic sky to the west.
Rangeley Lake as seen from the Town and Lake Motel.
For decades Ed Fitzgerald served residents and tourists fine doughnuts and coffee at Fitzy's Donut Shop on Main Street (and hosted the town's "Shadow Government", aledgedly the group making the REAL decisions for the town). The shop itself was on the market for much of that period and the ever-present "For Sale" sign in the window was a reassuring sight on Rangeley visits. Bruce was stunned, however, to find that the shop had finally been sold and turned into "Moosely Bagels and More". What's Rangeley coming to?!?
The old house (built by Bruce's grandfather and where Bruce's father grew up) has been thoroughly rennovated and landscaped by the new owner, Ronnie Haines. Unlike the sale of Fitzy's, Ronnies improvements are a welcome sight.
In Caribou, Maine on the way to Canada, Bruce spotted Bangor and Aroostook Railroad cars:
A snow plow car.
The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad logo.