Acadia Birding Festival

Hilary Nangle
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Acadia Birding Festival

IMG_1411Here’s something to tweet about: No less an authority than Roger Tory Peterson called Mount Desert Island “the Warbler capital of the world.” If you’re a birder—neophyte or experienced—make plans to attend the Acadia Birding Festival, June 11-14, 2009, on Mt. Desert Island.

Festival organizer Michael Good, of Downeast Nature Tours, took the former Warblers and Wildlfowers festival and relaunched it as Acadia Birding a couple of years ago. He’s got the street cred to bring in topnotch guests—noted orinthologists, naturalists, biologists, researchers, bird carvers and illustrators, ecologists, etc.— for guided walks and talks. It’s a great opportunity to add a few species to your life list.

Stratton in spring

Hilary Nangle
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We planned to rendezvous over breakfast with friends at The Lonely Moose in Stratton this morning, but it was closed (spring hours). Instead, we chowed at The Stratton Diner. Loved it, and definitely will return. Here’s why: It’s spotless. It’s cheap. It’s got that country-diner-charm-decor thing. Service was prompt, friendly, and efficient. What’s not to like?

Afterwards, we popped over to the Dead River Historical Society to check its hours, and found Pat Simpson, a local with deep, deep roots, bustling about and awaiting a cleaning crew. She let us pop in for quick look-see, even though the museum doesn’t officially open until Memorial Day weekend (thereafter, Saturday and Sunday only, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

For fusty museum fans, this place rocks. It’s chock full of artifacts and memories from Stratton, Eustis, and the lost town of Flagstaff, now buried under the lake that carries its name.

Get Pat talking about her memories: She started collecting her finds at the dump more than 30 years ago, when she realized the town’s residents were discarding them. There are pieces in here that would make an Antiques Road Show appraiser’s eyes pop. We’ll definitely return when it’s officially open, after Pat and her crew of volunteers have cleaned up and organized it for the season.

Free family fishing festival

Hilary Nangle
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Free family fishing festival

troutforpleasantrivermotel290It’s spring, and the fish are biting. The Upper Andro Anglers Alliance in co-operation with Trout Unlimited are hoping to hook families on fishing with a free Family Fishing Festival on Saturday, May 30.

The festival will be held at the Grand Summit Hotel Pond at Sunday River Ski Resort in Newry, from 9 am to 2 pm, rain or shine.

For those new to the sport, free casting workshops and fly-tying instruction will be available throughout the day. Instruction will include both spin casting and fly casting for older youth and parents.

No need to bring equipment, Maine’s Hooked on Fishing—Not on Drugs Program will supply complimentary rods and reels for festival use.

Get this: the Grand Summit Pond will be stocked with trout courtesy of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and participants can take home any catches.

There’s even swag: Each young angler will receive a mini-tackle box complete with bobber, sinkers and hook courtesy of the Upper Andro Anglers Alliance. Kids can learn how to tie flies with materials provided by Trout Unlimited and fibers from Sunday River Alpacas. Families participating in the event will be eligible for door prizes from local outfitters and businesses.

Of course, food, too: an outdoor barbecue will feed tired anglers.

Can’t make it to Bethel? The weekend of May 30-31 is a free fishing weekend throughout Maine. Resident and Non-resident freshwater fishing licenses are waived each day.

For those families wishing to stay overnight and fish or canoe the Androscoggin River on Sunday, special family packages are available for the weekend at local lodging establishments. Check with the Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce.

Moose Mainea

Hilary Nangle
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Moose Mainea

IMG_3520Wanna see a moose? This is the best time of year to do so, and the area around Moosehead Lake is prime moose-spotting territory. Head to Greenville, mid-May to mid-June for the annual Moose Mainea celebration. Stop by the chamber to pick up maps and info sheet about the gangly critters and where their favorite grub and gossip spots are located. Then arm yourself with a camera, and go shooting. Among Moose Mainea special activities are a photo contest, canoe race, craft fair, kid’s fun day, famous moose tales, and quest fest.

Be sure to stop by Northwoods Outfitters if you want to arrange a guided hike, moose safari, cruise, or other outdoor adventure.

Where to stay:
If you can swing it, splurge on a room at the Blair Hill Inn, an elegant, architecturally stunning hillside mansion with expansive views over Moosehead Lake.

Far less pricey, yet with a location that’s practically in the lake is the Chalet Moosehead motel; pets are allowed in some units. Rates include use of dock and paddle boats.

IMG_3533For an authentic Maine experience and the opportunity to catch a breakfast trout or view a moose swimming from your room, check into West Branch Camps (image right), a traditional Maine sporting camp. Don’t expect luxury; this is a few steps above camping, but not to be missed. Fourth-generation owner Eric Stirling is slowly fixing up the late-19th-century lodge and cabins. Rates include all meals (food is terrific!), boat, firewood, and linens. It’s pet-friendly.

Want your own cottage by the lake? Take a gander at Wilsons On Moosehead Lake, a collection of one- to five-bedroom housekeeping cottages that rent by the day or week. All have screened porches (remember, it’s black fly season), fireplaces (evenings can still be chilly), kitchens, and Wifi.

 

Is your pooch stressed?

Hilary Nangle
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Is your pooch stressed?

IMG_8804Take him for a spa escape at the Cliff House, in Ogunquit.

Doggie massage is the newest service at the oceanfront resort topping Bald Head Cliff. Just like with humans, it helps minimize pain from arthritis and hip problems, increases circulation, improves cardiovascular health, relieves pain, provides relaxation, and reduces anxiety, stress, fear and other emotional issues.

“Many middle-aged and older pets suffer from arthritis and joint disease. Massage improves not only their health, but their quality of life,” says Maine veterinarian Dr. Gary Stuer, who integrates Western veterinary medicine with complimentary and holistic therapies.

Instead of dogs visiting the full-service spa (oh, and do treat  yourself while there), a therapist will come to your room to give your dog a private, 25-minute massage. Two choices are available, a customized massage that targets muscles needing attention and an aromotherapy massage, which uses essential oils to leave your dog not only feeling better, but also smelling sweeter, too.

The Cliff House has eight pet-friendly rooms in the Ledges building. Each comes with a water dish, canine bed, PYOP bag, ground floor access to an enclosed exercise area, and all-natural dog treats.  Dogs are welcome (on a leash) to walk the resort’s 65 acres of lawns, woods and rocky seashore.

Miss Portland shines and scores

Hilary Nangle
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My new favorite breakfast joint is the Miss Portland Diner, on Marginal Way (between Franklin and Forest). The  restored, original Worcester Lunch Car Company #818 shines not only in its gleaming metal surfaces, but also in service and food. (For the story on its rescue, go here)

I sat at the counter, soaking in the flavors and sights. There also are booths in the main car, plus more booths and tables in a pleasant addition (but really, go for the original diner, if seats are available).

The Miss Portland scored points on many fronts. For starters, the help: It’s rare to be waited on by such clearly just-happy-to-be-here folks, people who enjoyed their jobs and made it a point to make their customers feel right at home with genuine warmth in their greetings and chatter.

Second, the food: Although the setting is authentic, the menu reaches beyond the usual diner classics. My Greek omelet was fat with fresh spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, and feta cheese. It came with a generous portion of homefries (my own preference is for crispier, but the flavor was good), and an order of toast. I had the Italian bread—I figured, Hey! that’s close to Greece, it should complement the omelet, and it did. Not cheap, at nearly $8 plus change, but definitely worth the price.

Third: Cleanliness, no greasy spoons here, no sticky counters, either.

Fourth: The adjacent free parking lot.

I’ll be back  to try lunch and dinner.

Bermuda dreaming

Hilary Nangle
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Bermuda dreaming

img_9380If Crayola doesn’t have a color named Bermuda Blue, it should. Nothing compares with the brilliance and depth, the clarity or the dreaminess of Bermuda’s vivid bluesy sea.

Turquoise in the sandy shallows, a seaworthy marine in deeper waters, shimmering like a jewel under sunny skies, but blue it is, an unmistakable, undeniable blue as true to Bermuda as its pink sand.

img_9067I spent the last five days on this Atlantic island, exploring it from St. George’s on the East End to Dockyard on the West, walking much of it on the Railway Trail, with detours off to the sights along the way.

I’ll detail some of my adventures over the coming days. In the meantime, check out the view from my room at the Fairmont Southampton Princess.

UPDATE: Go here for my spa review.

Fini! And what a difference 24 hours makes

Hilary Nangle
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Sugarloaf remains open through Sunday, but I logged my last runs this morning. Quite a change from yesterday, when temps were in the 80s and the outlook was marginal at best. Today, woke up to temps in the 20s.

I waited until nearly noon before braving the deceptively coolish conditions. Three runs up the SuperQuad, two down Hayburner, one down King’s Landing. Skidder opened, but it was still rather, uhm, firm over there. Hayburner and King’s were frozen granular giving way to corn. When I left, it still hadn’t turned to slush, except for a small patch near the lift.

Hayburner’s in the best shape, but that may be because it had been groomed. Skidder still has plenty of snow, and should be superb if groomed. King’s was good, but required a bit of maneuvering to thread the thin spots between swatches of decent cover. Still, it’s time for the rock skis.

And with that, good-bye to another season. Tomorrow I’m off to Boston, then Bermuda on Friday to research  assignments. In the meantime, enjoy those last runs, should you make your way to the loaf.

Puffins, warblers, and eagles, oh my!

Hilary Nangle
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Puffins, warblers, and eagles, oh my!

wingswaveswoods2009Deer Isle is going to the birds. The third annual Wings, Waves & Woods festival of birding and art, sponsored by the Island Heritage Trust, is coming up May 15-17.

Avian-centered events include Introduction to Birding, Warbler Walk, Nesting Eagles and their Neighbors, Puffin Boat Trip to Seal Island, Birding by Ear, and Found-Object Sculpture. Most events are free; boat trips range from $13 to $60 per person (reservations required for some).

On Saturday night, the Local Foods Chowder Supper highlights Dick Bridges’ fish chowder, along with homemade biscuits, Nervous Nellie’s jams and chutneys, fresh green salad, and the Ice Cream Lady’s homemade treat. A delicious feed, limited to 80 people, and costing $12 for the whole shebang.

Plan now to snag boat and supper seats. Need lodging, here’s a list. My faves include Boyce’s Motel for cheap sleeps, Inn on the Harbor for best location, Pilgrim’s Inn for country inn style, The Inn at Ferry Landing for a quiet B&B. Be sure to check any specials.

And then there was one

Hilary Nangle
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Lift, that is. I thought it was lonely at Sugarloaf yesterday; today there were perhaps two dozen skiers. Only the SuperQuad is running—you can’t get to Spillway any more. Only four trails: Tote, King’s Landing, Hayburner, and Skidder. And with temps in the 80s (I kid you not), it’s going fast, fast, fast.

I took three runs this morning, and by the third run, the muddy strand of snow to the quad was just about gone. Not sure how they’re going to make it to tomorrow, never mind Sunday. Big gaps are opening–Tote required threading the needle a few times and had big ice flows. The other three are in better shape, but were a cobbly this morning (I know, given the temps, makes no sense, but they were).

The fat lady may not be singing yet, but she’s definitely warming up. With temps predicted to drop to the 20s tonight, she may be able to hold off the encore. We’ll see.

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