Category: Weekend Recap

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Maine Coast Marathon Weekend

A perfect weekend to race the Maine Coast Marathon. The weather was perfect for a marathon: cold at the start, no wind and the sun peeked out a few times during the day.

These pictures were taken the day before the race walking the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells. We walked the mile loop and could see the ocean in the distance.

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge


This photo was taken around mile 10 on the marathon course. I didn’t stop to take pictures after mile 10 although we ran past the ocean for several miles. It was a gorgeous course albeit very hilly.

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Black Bear: Mama and cub

Today while hiking in Winant Park in Concord I stumbled upon a big, black bear and her cub. Actually, I just saw a big, black furry blob and a small, cute cub – stopped, called Winnie and started running back to the car.

I know you’re not suppose to run but I did. I’ve never – in all my years of hiking – seen a bear on the trail; much less a mama and her cub.

Winnie was so great – she came to me and we ran back to the car. So scary.

This was us just the day before on a more calm, no-wildlife hike:

 

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Neil Diamond, Laurence Olivier the Jazz Singer

I watched the Jazz Singer last night. The movie was originally released in 1980 – 38 years ago. Man, those songs are so important. And the actors are fantastic:
Neil Diamond
Laurence Olivier
Lucie Arnez

I remember watching that movie so many years ago and loving the music and wishing I had Lucie Arnez’s hair.
The movie starts and ends with the song, America. Oh the irony of watching this movie today with the current administration not wanting anyone into our country. The song at both times in the movie is powerful with images of the Statue of Liberty. Such a great way to start a movie:

“Far, We’ve been traveling far. Without a home, But not without a star. Free, Only want to be free, We huddle close. Hang on to a dream. On the boats and on the planes, They’re coming to America. Never looking back again, They’re coming to America”

The movie is about so many things: following your dream, finding love, the importance of family. I may just have to watch it again.

I loved the scenes with Neil Diamond dancing and singing with Laurence Olivier.

Watching the movie again reminded me of my obsession with with Laurence Olivier in the 90s. I watched every movie and read every book about him and Vivien Leigh. 

One of my all-time favorite songs from Neil Diamond is “Songs of Life”. When music is such a big part of your life and songs bring you to a particular place in time, this song is so meaningful.

“Songs of life, they ring From quiet steeples to distant valleys Along the hillsides of lovers’ hearts, Of lovers’ heart.
Come sing you songs of life, And they will keep you, From ever wanting, from ever needing, Forever more, forever more.
Oh, and when the moment’s true It sings so softly to me and you, You know it’s true.
So I sing my songs of life, That I will hold you inside forever, And you will know me, And I’ll be yours and you’ll be mine.”

 

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Road Trips, New Hampshire Brewery Tour, Happy Easter

Wallis Sands Beach Rye NH April 2018

The second weekend in a row that there were all-day road trips that took me to places I’ve never been. Last week was western Maine and this weekend the lakes region in New Hampshire.

On Saturday Jeff and I planned to go to at least two breweries: Kettlehead Brewing Company in Tilton and Woodman’s Brewery in Bristol.

Winnie came along for the ride too.

We met Kendra and her boyfriend at Kettlehead and had a great time trying new beers. I had the Shuttlebus Rye IPA and the others tried flights of different beer. I forgot to take a picture of us.

Then Jeff I I headed north to hike off the calories to find that the trail we were hoping to hike was closed: Rattlesnake Mountain. Bummer. So we decided to drive to Meredith, get some coffee and walk around. This is the southern tip of Lake Winnipesaukee and normally it is bumper to bumper traffic, according to Jeff.

Jeff and Winnie-dog

But it is March so there wasn’t much traffic. The day was sunny and in the 50s. A perfect day for a road trip.

Then we headed to Bristol to find the Woodman’s Brewery, a very rural-type tap room. We lost cell service in Bristol and need to actually ask for directions. Once we found it – it was indeed rural up a hilly paved road, then the driveway was a hilly-muddy dirt round. I had the Subaru so we made it just fine. And, boy, was it worth it.

Woodman's Brewery Bristol NH

The people were fantastic and I was able to bring Winnie inside.  

Dog Friendly Woodman's Brewery

It was a good road trip followed by some great Vegan food at Hermanos back in Concord.

Today, Sunday, I spent the morning with my parents, went to church with my Mom and then we walked on the beach in Rye. It was the first time I can remember that there were big seashells on the sand. I brought a few home to remember the day.

Wallis Sands Beach in Rye

 

Happy Easter everyone!

The real reason for the holiday

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Winter Adventure in Western Maine

My adventure to Western Maine was so much fun. I started the drive east through Wolfeboro, which I’ve never driven through and then into Ossipee and small towns in western Maine I’ve never seen. My GPS offered the fastest route which included small town roads off the beaten path that at times scared me so much with the thought of losing service and not knowing where the heck I was.

The initial destination was the Norway Brewing Company but when we got there at noon they were serving brunch and had no vegetarian options so the second (and best) choice was Cafe Nomad just down the street. We stopped in to the bike shop where Brad used to work and they were busy! The Green Machine Bike Shop on Main St.

Cafe Nomad had the best beer (Maine Beer Company, Lunch) and I had Nomad burger, a bean veggie burger – delicious combination. Brad had the cuban sandwich.

Cafe Nomad Norway, ME

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then we drove north to see Brad’s new house and snowshoed around his property.

It is such a great feeling to connect with friends that you haven’t seen in so long. Brad is his same silly self and still loves to walk slowly in the woods and see everything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was still so much snow in the woods and snow squalls came in from the east as we hiked around. Winnie loved running around the steep snow and was exhausted, sleeping the entire ride home.

I drove home the northern route, through Gorham and Jefferson, down through Franconia Notch. Northern New Hampshire is so beautiful and I want to get to know it again after being away for so long. I still have some mountains to climb.