Wednesday and on to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The guest house was a lovely peice of Maine traditional summer house design. Don't let "summer house" make you think it was small, it had a huge hall, sweeping staircase and lavish rooms. The gardens were very well kept and all in flower.

Thursday we took the car in to the park. The landscape is spectacular, with clear air and the sun shining the view from the top of Cadillac Mountain was stunning. We did the Park Loop Road as we only had a day and then took a detour into Northeast Harbor where they were having an arts and shop opening event. Live jazz played by two teenagers was really good and there were a few engaging shops.

That night we dined simply at Gringos, a Mexican burrito bar which made the best Margeritas.

Friday took us back south to Ogunquit (hour and a half from Boston) where we stayed at the Puffin Inn run by two charming gay fellows. Again a lovely guest house. That night we dined at Tapas and Tinis and eat to much Tapas and drunk too many Tinis!

Saturday moring we walked around ogunquit and then headed for Boston Logan Airport where I am typing this while having a glass of Champagne in the Virgin Clubhouse. 2 hours till we board... boo hoo.

Tuesday continued: So cursing under my breath, we fought our way through breakfast and then went to kit up for rafting. Luckily Kath had booked us on the "Row Frame" which meant we had a boat to ourselves with a guide who did all the work. Also we would be at the back and able to watch any disasters as they happen ahead.

The trip to the river was in old American school buses with hooting and whooping excited kids.... lovely. The phrase "totally frickin awesome" is rather over used here.

Got to the top of the river where there is a huge dam and hydro plant, The river flow is controlled through timed releases from the dam and our trip was during a medium sized release. The guides were busy winding the kids up but Robert (the son of the owner) was just chatting about the beautiful weather. We had a gentle breeze and cloudless skies, up to now they've had pretty poor weather.

So to rafting, I must say it wasn't up there on my list of things to do but now I can see the appeal. What a laugh, although could do without all the getting wet bit! In between the vaguely scary bits the drifting down the Kennebec River was lovely.

Post rafting was a steak lunch with the horrors, I mean kids. Luckily they all disapeared after lunch and we headed for the pool and the hot tub.
So to dinner which we again took in the lodge bar. What could of been a quiet night turned in to one of the best of the holiday. It all started by me talking to an ageing hippy called Frodo and his partner Maggy. He was an ex-politician who had dropped out to be a painter and decorator. This led to lemon drop shots.... Then we chatted to another 60's generation hippy chic which led to more drinking and finally they wanted to shut the bar so we had to go to bed... Probably just as well but a really good night.

So Thursday was supposed to be shooting in New Hampshire but luckily I phoned the range before I set off from Boston. It now turns out you cannot turn up on your own and shoot, you need someone else there to meet the insurance requirements. So ended up moochng around Boston and going to the pictures to kill time.

Friday Kath finished around 14:00 so we headed down to Faneuil Hall to hunt for presents for Kath's sister. Luckily we ended up in the other Cheers Bar and had a rather groovy afternoon......

Saturday we headed off to Booth Bay Maine. Very nice B&B and found an excellent Tapas restaurant called the Boatyard. Thoroughly recommend eating (and drinking) there if you get the chance.

Sunday, woke up to dense fog and we were going sailing! Met Captain Franke Grande (Italian American ex US Sailor) at the dock and decided to do a bit of re-scheduling. So we wandered back in to Booth Bay and this gave me a chance to look at all the Harley's that were there for the 29th Lobster Bake run. About 3000 bikes, very nice.

Later we returned for a lobster dinner on the boat (Maine soft shell lobster are fantastic) and an overnight to see what tomorrow would bring.

Monday, after a slightly foggy start we had sunshine. After breakfast we went for a 7 hour sail, we both got to drive, learn a few knots and I pulled some sails. Lovely day and I also saw the fin of a whale - not that Kath believes me cos she was asleep lying in the sun.

 Once we docked I then drove the 3 hours to Two Forks where we had booked white water rafting the next day. Welcome to HicksVille USA. Crab Apple Lodge was a bit basic by our standards but it did have a pool, hot tub and a jacuzzi bath for two in each room. Rather limited menu but it was OK, very quiet in the bar so we thought it would be quiet tomorrow.

Tueday, went to breakfast at 8 and the lodge was full of hundreds of American school kids from 2 summer camps. It was my idea of hell on earth, and yes they were all going rafting.

Until last night I didn't think I would get a decent meal in the US. So far I've had an over salted Italian sea bass, deep fried prawns, unremarkable lobster, a hideous Mexican fajita but finally Boston saved itself with a brilliant Tapas restaurant on Newbury Street.

But enough of food, what have we done so far. Arrived Saturday evening around 2 hours late and took a $40 cab ride to the hotel (only 5 miles but Boston traffic is pretty bad). The Boston Park Plaza and Towers Hotel is very grand in a 1920's style (yes it is that old). Kath had to call maintainance almost immediately to fix the air-con (you couldn't switch it off) and to get the window open. It seems US health and safety doesn't trust you not to jump at any chance you get! So we can now switch off the air-con and open a window. Just to note that since the first night with sirens going off and sounds of partying people in the street, the window has remained shut and the air-con on..... Also had a fire alarm in the wee small hours of the first night... False alarm of course.

Sunday we walked for miles around Boston, took a tour bus and had a look at Harvard and Cambridge finishing with a pint in Cheers (Bull & Finch).. Technically 2 pints then.

Monday picked up our 2 door hire car which turned out to be a huge white min-van.... Typical. It is huge. Drove to Plymouth and visited the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock (yes it is just a rock).

Stayed at a lovely B&B overnight and then went Whale watching in the morning. Saw many Humpbacks which was great... didn't see any breaching though.

After that we mooched about Plymouth and then headed back to Boston.

Wednesday, Kath went off to first day of her conference and I headed off in to Boston. Made my way down to Faneuil Hall and found the other Cheers bar... so had a couple of pints. Wandered around the Aquarium, very nice and then went and watched a 3D Imax film on Whales and Dolphins. We need more 3D stuff cos its groovy! Wandered back to the hotel to meet Kath and have another beer. Evening was the Tapas restaurant, which is where I started.. so now I'll stop.

Rest of the pics at http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/IansPicasa/BostonMAAndMaine2009#