Saturday morning we were up early and drove to Maine leaving at 5:30. To break up the 8 hour drive we decided to have a picnic lunch along the way. The Connecticut information area on Rt 84 has nice tables set in trees but it was too early so we thought we’d find the same thing in Mass. We asked at the first information area and were told there were tables at the info place outside of Lowell. When we arrived the tables were set in the hot sun between two roadways with noise, confusion and dust. Not what we were looking for to break up the trip.

Bob at our picnic

I looked on the map and saw Great Brook Farm State Park just south of Chelmsford which was just off Rt 495. It said they had picnicking so we headed there. It was terrific – over 900 acres of forest with hiking and biking trails plus a working dairy farm which sells ice cream. We were more interested in the trails. For $2:00 you could get a parking ticket for any of the areas in the park. We found a large rock over looking a pond that was perfect.

Refreshed we drove on to a visit with my cousin Holly and her husband Stig in Maine. We ate Lobster Rolls at The Lobster Shack – solid lobster meat with just a dollop of mayo. Walked around Portland Head Light – spent the night with Holly and Stig.

Stig, Holly and Hollyhocks

Sunday we headed for Connecticut for my Uncle Eddie’s 80th birthday party – he always called me Betsy – I don’t know why. My brothers and I also used to play a game we made up called “Eddie the Fisherman and Ethel the Bride” I have no idea how to play it today – but it was a fun party. Then a supper at my brother Senter’s which concluded with a homemade killer peanut pie and a drive home to Phila by midnight.

We were very tired – had had fun and oh yeah – I left my bag in Maine with my cell phone charger – all my make up and my favorite jeans – Thank goodness for Fed Ex!