A Little Bit Lost

So long, 
lost loves.

I haven't forgotten you,
just yet.
I hung
your picture before I knew,
next to
scenes set in golden hues.
Your face,
still drifting inside my head.
The weight is gone,
heavy words that I could have said.
I sang instead
when other girls only cried.
I called it grace.
I am a mindless child.

You're gone.
What's left?
Memories of greater days
just ahead. 

Look on, you say.
Build together the obvious clues.
Taught you:
skip the series of laid out rules.
Go sing outside,
as clouds raining spark the night.
That's how we met.
Was it the greatest day of this life? 

Maine was windy and crisp even in the middle of summer. Dave and I decided to eat lunch in Portland as a halfway point to Acadia National Park. In Portland, people walk the streets proudly with their small town spirit as well as their salty waterdogs. The saline aroma of lobster something-or-other poured out of every restaurant and café. We picked a pub with waterfront views, sailboats, and dinghies. By tradition, we ordered a local beer, twice. The first beer Dave spilled across the table and onto the porch. As if that wasn’t a close enough call, he nearly did it again, giving me a soggy lobster melt sandwich.

After lunch, we headed for Allagash Brewery. Allagash is one of our favorite beers and we planned a little side field trip before getting back on track to Acadia. Unfortunately we did not have time to complete a full tour. But we managed to make out with a crate of goodies, including 2 beers we planned on saving for dinner later in the trip.

Back on the road, it started to sprinkle and we were not looking forward to setting up in the rain. The little bed and breakfasts and hotels we passed along the way, beckoned for us to stay in the dry, warm beds and zone out in front of the television after a long hot shower. Dave and I stood in front of a mom and pop ice cream stand that directly faced a large Hampton Inn, with a movie theater within walking distance. Tempting, but that was not what the trip was about. So we left to face the sprinkle or downpour, whichever it should be.

We set up in the dark again; however, we had a great tent site. We knew going into the campground that it was made for families and it was hard to get a great spot. But our spot, for lack of a better word, was a tent condo. Newly constructed, wooden dual level plat-form with guard rails surrounded our entire site. No rocks, boulders, stumps, or logs. No gargantuan moths due to the colder air. Completely secluded, neighbors were far and few between.

The next day we spent time at the docks and braced ourselves in the frigid current of the Atlantic Ocean. It was enough to take your breath away if you stayed in too long. And this was mid-day temperatures. We tested canoes and kayaks attached to the dock. You know, just in case we happened to come across a good deal at one of the multiple outdoor recreation shops we passed along the way. That night we decided to go into Bar Harbor for dinner, to take a break from the camp grub. When we were checking into the campground, a fellow camper suggested several places to us including Café This Way.

The next morning we drove into Acadia National Park. As a little island off the coast of southern Maine, it had many landscapes to explore. Before the sun set we rushed to the top of windy Cadillac Mountain, along with every other tourist. We grabbed a bottle of cider and two plastic cups and made a break for a secluded area to make a toast. We hastily opened the bottle while trying to keep the cups from flying off the cliff. Just as the sun went down past the skyline, we made a toast.

We're just a little bit lost
inside our houses.
We're just a little unkept
out in the streets. 

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We said good-bye to Acadia and Bar Harbor and grabbed brekkie at 2 Cats Café. Needless to say, the restaurant had acquired more than two cats over the years. But they were all well behaved and never attempted to steal our bacon and eggs. Upon paying for the bill, I asked what all the cats’ names were. They rattled off a few names and the only one I could catch was Penelope. So long last love, I haven’t forgotten you just yet. 

But I won't ever pass up
a second to tell you
replacements a myth
'Cause I know when the kids are all grown
we will still have this blue and gold print.

Didn't Have to Say a Thing...

I Knew What She was Thinkin'
Roll, roll me away,
won't you roll me away tonight
I too am lost, I feel double-crossed
and I'm sick of what's wrong and what's right
We never even said a word,
we just walked out and got on that bike
And we rolled
We rolled clean out of sight

We rolled across the high plains
Deep into the mountains
Felt so good to me
Finally feelin' free

Having already noticed a mistake, Google’s directions wanted to take us into the back of the campground, when obvious signs for the entrance stood right in front of us. We had real maps as a backup, and they contradicted the carefully planned directions. So the first part of our trip, we ditched Google Maps and planned our every mile with a fold out map and highlighter. Back to basics people! Again, plan not to plan…but maintaining an adaptable personality is always a good idea! Windows down, we drove through a back country road where the crisp air distinctly smelled of Christmas trees and pine needles. Nothing quite like it!

As liberating as this was, our first campsite in New Hampshire was a walk-in which we were in a hurry to get to before dark. Needless to say we arrived just at dusk? So as not to have to make too many trips in the dark to the site, we tried first to pile as much stuff up as possible. This did not work so well and we ended up walking past our site, stepping ankle deep in puddles and busting butts on rocks and tree limbs that we could only see by moonlight. All the while in between, my eyes swelling with tears for brief moments. Thank goodness for the full moon! Our site was so knobby, sandy, and close to the water that the campground had to install a wooden, raised tent pad above the marshland that was not quite large enough to accommodate our tent, leaving a foot of overhang on each side. In the dark, we battled 4 inch moths in our faces, all the while setting up our tent, as well as trying to cook. Meanwhile, our brand new mattresses inflated inside the tent, which we were told could take a couple of hours the first time unrolling them from their factory sealed freshness. You know that “new car smell”? Well, for people like us, there is a “new camp gear smell”. Nice! At the end of the night, we passed out on our comfy camp pads, with visions of new camp gear dancing in our heads.

The next morning, we gazed our surroundings…it was well worth the bruise on my butt. However, as beautiful as everything was, we had to go into town. Dave was scheduled to have a phone interview and we had to find a cell tower fast! We drove to the nearest town 2 hours early, grabbed greasy breakfast at a diner, and found a quiet spot to pull the car over for the interview. After it was all over, it was finally time to go back and relax!

Between the greasy diner, sweaty walk-in, muddy ankles, and oily hair, Dave was brave (or desperate) enough to swim in the pond. I on the other hand was not so easily convinced. “Where are the showers? I’d rather just have a hot bath and get fully cleaned.”
“Oh, I thought I told you. This campground doesn’t have showers.”
“Shocking.” I suddenly remembered the exact moment he was telling me. And I remember telling myself: no big deal, I’ve gone a couple of days without a shower before. But this wasn’t the same. I jealously watched Dave as he swam out to the center of the pond. I’m not really a prissy girl, but I just couldn’t get myself to join him. He managed to come out clean and leach-less, “That wasn’t so bad…except something kept wrapping around my legs.” Needless to say, the next day I found another campground nearby and took advantage of their hot showers before venturing into Maine.


Stood alone on a mountain top,
starin' out at the Great Divide
I could go east, I could go west,
it was all up to me to decide
Just then I saw a young hawk flyin'
and my soul began to rise
And pretty soon
My heart was singin'

Roll, roll me away,
I'm gonna roll me away tonight
Gotta keep rollin, gotta keep ridin',
keep searchin' till I find what's right
And as the sunset faded
I spoke to the faintest first starlight
And I said next time
Next time
We'll get it right 

~Bob Seger