Here are more pictures of the happy day. I have seperated them in to a few albums.
Enjoy.

Picasa - Jon and Leanne Photos

If anyone wants a photo removed due to any reason (incriminating, not your best side or you are wanted by Interpol) then let me know at ian.smedley@longcrest.co.uk.

I shall be giving all the pictures to Jon, so if you want copies then please chase him, not me.

Ta

Ian :-)

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.