Maine Stay - Day 2

Tuesday started with a book of jokes and puns. In her own words, "My appreciation for puns has increased dramatically since meeting you." Shane was born with that appreciation (once he started to understand them, at least).

Go Bucket Central was set up in the dining room. The agency is never fully shut down for business. That's why I don't want to be a travel agent. Being a family-man is already a full time job. I don't need another!

Grandma convinced Shane to try some eggs. He's a lot braver with foods than I was at his age.

Carrie had planned a morning adventure for us.

Boom. Kayaks.

We would get out on the water, get some exercise, and wear Shane out a little!

What I didn't count on was that I would get more worn out than Shane. Shane in a kayak is challenge mode. He didn't keep a rhythm or even row the the right direction most of the time. He tried to see how far he could push his paddle underwater to touch seaweed or he made ripples by braking while I rowed. I got splashed and had to keep Shane from trying to go for a swim. I splashed him to snap him into listening a few times myself.

But we were victorious. Shane said he was worn out at the end, but now you know the true story.

Carrie was in a single-seater. She was happy to paddle around and take pictures of the struggle.

It was a good activity. I prefer to traverse rivers over open waters, but I can only say that because I've done both. I could see owning a kayak or canoe if we lived in an area like Rockland, Maine.

Grandma and Grandpa met us at the docks as we came in. We went by a bagel shop for lunch.

Ah! Bagels! It was a decent shop. They didn't skimp on Shane's cream cheese. There was no hole left.

Grandpa and Shane made some more time for croquet in the afternoon. I will be shocked if croquet isn't forever associated with Maine in Shane's head (or at least Grandpa).

We got a shock near dinner time. A bat was flying around in Grandma and Grandpa's bathroom!

Tiny guy. 

Carrie went in solo and told everyone to stay away. Shane threw a fit. He squealed and hit his legs he wanted to go in so badly, but it only ended him in trouble. I wanted to go in and see the bat, but in the time it took me to settle with Shane the bat was gone. The windows had been open. Carrie popped a screen and shooed the bat out.

Carrie said the screen was loose, so it was possible the bat came in that way.

Or there was the attic. We'd seen a bat up there yesterday. We stuffed a towel in the bottom of the attic door to block anything from crawling out.

The difference between Carrie and her boys: Shane and I thought this was fun. We wanted to see the bat and get in the action! She wanted to keep everyone out and take care of it, so people could relax.

Grandpa and Grandma were happy to sit back and let Carrie take care of it.

Speaking of Grandpa, he went on a walk the other morning and reported there was a playground nearby. I wanted to walk down and see it with Shane.

Grandpa had taken Shane outstide while we dealt with the bat. It was the perfect segue into a walk (and without Pokemon Go!).

Shane really wanted to climb the tree in the front yard, but wasn't having any luck. He was getting frustrated, so I challenged him.

I said something like "I don't think you can do it. That's a tough tree to climb and I'd be surprised. But not giving up is the right attitude. I like that you keep getting back up. You're a good climber and you'll get it one day. If you do it today, I'll be really impressed." (I guess I talk a lot myself when I get started).

Shane impressed me. He got up high enough to scare Carrie! She was already worried he'd fall into the road. He got some praise and we got to start our walk!

And Shane started climbing again the moment we found the playground! Ha ha!

He wanted Mommy to give him challenges!

Part of her wanted him to keep his two feet on the ground, but she went with it!

Challenges were made.

Carrie even joined in with the balancing!

It was a great mother-son moment. I walked into the rec center next door while they were playing. I'm interested in how people live in different areas. I like to visit non-touristy areas. There was a basketball camp going on for the locals.

We passed by the library on the way back, so of course I said, "Let's go in!"

I love libraries and I love exploring!

Funny random moment:

As if Shane didn't think the world revolved around him enough, I showed him a copy of the old western, Shane. "Look! There's a movie named after you!"

Carrie laughed and took her own picture.

The adults enjoyed looking at all the different buildings on the way to the park and back more than Shane. I really like the look of the older style buildings. There were many from the 1800s in varying states of repair. The dream of a small town that's packed with all of my closest family and friends within biking distance is a nice, but unrealistic one. Still fun to look at.

We passed "The Berry Manor" on the way home. Mike Rowe stayed at it while filming Dirty Jobs! We'd just seen the episode where he went to the Jelly Belly factory and where he made blueberry pies at a bed and breakfast. Carrie recognized the house immediately when she saw yesterday. She called to ask if they sold pies, but they told us we'd have to stay with them next year. Too funny!

We earned our exercise badges for the day! Kayaking, climbing, and walking. Grandma talked openly about wanting to come back to Maine next year and it was only Tuesday.

Maine Stay - Day 1

No sleeping in for us. Shane was excited to be in Maine. To be fair, I was, too. It would have been more obvious if it hadn't been early!

Carrie, Shane, and I left to go to the Rite Aid and pick up a few supplies to start the day. Carrie looked up and said, "Bat!"

And she was right. There was a bat and bat poop on the attic window. It looked like it was in between the screen and window. The attic door is locked, so we couldn't have checked if we wanted to. Shane got to point and bounce around, but then we were off.

We ran our errand and decided to walk down main street. Highway 1 winds all down coastal Maine through these small towns.

Carrie likes the idyllic, small town feel. Shane started to pout when we got to the far end and didn't hop on the ferry (It's an hour and fifteen minute ride one way!).

I spotted a restaurant to visit later!

I also freaked Carrie out by grabbing Shane's ankles and letting him fall to hang upside down behind me. It's one of our things. Carrie wasn't expecting it.

We came back to take care of some work before lunch. Shane was supposed to read.

The Go Bucket List crew set up office.

I took a few pictures.

Lunch was at Millers Lobster company. Maine is known for five things: Lobsters, blueberries, coasts, cold winters, and Stephen King. Millers checked lobsters and coasts off the viewing list.

Shane really wanted to climb down on the rocks and test the water. Carrie was having none of it!

It was easy to distract him with the lobsters. He's asked to hold them before in grocery stores, but has never been able to.

One of the staff came out and Shane asked "Can I hold a lobster?" before I could tell him not to charge up and do just that.

His forwardness paid off. The lady said, "Sure! Come this way!" 

Grandma and Grandpa arrived ready to celebrate Maine.

Shane wanted to take Grandpa down to check out the boats.

He ended up making a friend out of a local lobsterman. Everyone was very friendly to the question crazy child. They opened up the lobster bins and showed him what was inside. "Each bin holds 90 lbs of lobastah!" (The guy had on a shirt that said, "I root for two teams in baseball: The Red Sox and whoever beats the Yankees!").

When the lobstermen finished unloading the boat that had pulled up, Shane's new friend pulled out a lobster for him to take a picture with.

Grandpa posted this one online. Shane gets to help advertise for their travel agency.

We sat down for lunch soon after. Shane kept looking through the floorboards. He saw a crab, "that they missed!"

He was so excited he wanted to share it with everyone. I laid down on the floor with him and confirmed: There was a crab.

Shane even got a waitress to check!

Everyone was hungry by the time food arrived.

I'm not a huge lobster fan, but I ordered one for lunch. When in Maine experience Maine! I wanted to get Shane to try it. I thought he'd like cracking it open.

Grandma got to him first and had him try some of her lobster roll (no mayo).

It went well enough that he was willing to try lobster straight from the claw!

He ate it without complaint! It wasn't his favorite and he didn't want any more after, but I was proud of him for trying. 

He got everyone to look at the crab before we go.

It was a pretty day, so we went outside when we got home. It started off normal, but felt like we stepped into Narnia or a fantasy tale later.

The backyard connected to an open, mowed field.

Which connected to a larger, mowed field. It looked great for kids playing any kind of sport. I don't know who owns the property or mows it.

Carrie and I were about to turn off when I noticed a break in the tree line. "Is that a path?" I said.

It wasn't just a path.

It was a mulched, system of trails.

Trails decorated with all sorts of errata.

Including a fairy village.

The trail system criss-crossed itself and made a maze with display pockets everywhere.

It was an unbelievable thing to stumble upon. Carrie and I both got to snapping pictures.

Hers are probably higher quality than mine. She keeps her image resolution higher. Here's some of them:

I see the difference.

Especially in the greens.

Last Carrie picture.

We would have explored longer, but the mosquitoes were terrible. I spent as much time scanning my skin as I did the countryside.

Shane was jealous when we got back. He'd stayed in the backyard chatting with Grandpa and hadn't followed when we walked into the gnome garden. He wanted us to take him there, but we wanted to get inside and away from the bloodsuckers.

I took a lot of pictures, but it was a quieter day outside of our adventure. I did a ton of writing, uploading, and posting on the blog. Maine is a working vacation for Carrie. Grandma and Grandpa are her bosses!

People made time for Shane, though. I looked up from writing and saw him outside with Grandpa.

I don't know why Grandpa had Shane switch-hitting, but it looked fun. Grandpa is a big Phillies fan.

I thought it was extra funny when I saw Carrie get in on the batting action!

Shane's focus had wandered. He went to introduce himself to the gardener.

He poked around the perimeter of the house, and...

...got in the way. Mr. Attention loves to be where the attention is.

We tried to give him a job: Catcher.

But that didn't take.

Shane took a water break after interrupting the game several times.

Grandma and Shane came out together after he'd cooled off. Then there was croquet.

I don't think I've ever played an honest game of croquet in my life. Swung some mallets? Sure. Tried to hit something under the hoops? Probably. I never learned the full rules.

Golf is one of the sports of choice on Carrie's side, so croquet is natural fit. They'd bought a set and brought it up to Maine. I cheered from the sidelines, so I could photograph.

The adults got a little competitive! There's a small amount of cutthroat in the game. If you hit someone's ball you can set your ball against it, give a whack, and send your opponent's ball off course a ways.

I love these shots of Carrie directing where to smack Grandpa's ball to stick it to him.

I love her reaction to the results, as well!

Shane hung in for most of the game. He doesn't like it when he hits a setback or realizes others are better at the game than him. I think he had a ton of fun, though. I said aloud that he's always going to remember croquet in Maine, because of them!

We retreated inside for electronics. That meant the news and TV downstairs for Grandma and Grandpa. Carrie and I broke out our laptops and played World of Warcraft upstairs together. Shane watched us. Carrie doesn't want him around when Grandpa has the news on and he prefers video games anyway.

Shane was happy to watch some of the Phillies game when I told him it was bed time. I sent him downstairs to say goodnight to Grandma and Grandpa. He never came back up.

This is how I found him.

Too funny! I wasn't mad, because I planned on this happening. I don't think Shane at this age would ever sit still and watch baseball unless he knew bed time was waiting when he got up! It's a good bonding exercise to share other people's interests with them, so I'm glad it worked out.

And so ended our first full day in Maine. Carrie and I were super tired from the drive and trouble sleeping, but we managed to have a lot of fun (and take a ton of pictures!). Shane is an inexhaustible font of energy. You know he had a good time!