Poland Spring Campground

until Clean Up Weekend!

I just received a call from the nursery, and we’ll have trees for planting this year. In 2007, there was a little mix up, the trees didn’t come in on time, and the kids were so disappointed. We ended up sending one of our employees into the woods to carefully dig up one-foot baby pines. It’s always warms my heart to see how much the kids enjoy this ecological activity.  Some families request the same site year after year so they can check on “their trees”.

Every year we lose new growth between the sites, due to people cutting between sites, kids riding bikes off road, or campers setting up their equipment off the cleared site area. If we didn’t transplant trees, over time we’d end up with a tree-less campground.

Those of you who are camping this weekend, don’t forget about our pot luck supper on Saturday night! We’ll have a sign-up sheet in the office.  Hmmmm . . . maybe I’ll bring chili.

A snow update: Cookie and I walked the park early this morning and found only four little areas with the white stuff. Yea! There were still a few spongy road spots, but between the rain (to help get rid of the frost) and the sunshine they’re predicting after it, those areas will be firm enough by the weekend.

Halfway through my walk, the haunting sound of the loon reached out to me.  It was sweet, sweet music to my ears!

I would have headed down to the water’s edge to sneak a peek and catch if there were one or a pair,but alas . . . I had to get Ben ready for school. He was not a happy camper this morning. April vacation went by much too quickly . . .

The weather has been gorgeous these last couple of weeks!  The snow is melting nicely.  There’s still a few snow covered areas like here in the 40’s

but for the most part, the campground now looks like this

And Sam . . . your site looks like this

Isn’t that better!?

The roads are still too soft to drive on, but I think I can put those snow shoes away now.

Within the last week, we’ve watched the ice on the lake recede a few yards at a time. Last Sunday, there was still quite a bit off to the left of our point.  Today, I’m pleased to announce there wasn’t a smidgen of ice in sight.

The loons are back!  I can’t wait to hear their call over a roaring, crackling campfire.  It’s one of my favorite things.  There were ducks everywhere too!  At least fifty dotted the lake between our frontage and the golf course.

Even Mama Eagle was up on the edge of her nest, enjoying the warmth in the air

So keep thinking those Spring like thoughts!

I’ve been sub teaching a lot lately, and I’ve had my buddy Sam quite a bit. Every time I see him, he asks:

“Is the snow gone from my site yet?”

Well Sam, here’s your answer:

And no, I can’t put the the heaters on it!

But don’t feel too badly. You’re site could look like Big Joe’s:

See how he still has snow on his roof? Just look at his picnic table!! And I don’t know about you, but I don’t think he’ll be opening that front door for a week or so.

The whole campground is like this Sam. Bare spots of ground are poking through here and there, but I’m sinking in up to my knees in most places when I walk to the lake. I still had to wear snowshoes as of yesterday!

I think it’s going to melt wicked quickly now, though. You’ll see!

Remember this picture from my March 1st post?

Well, from the same spot, it looks like this now . . .

Isn’t that better?

Before you know it we’ll be seeing this:

And swimming like Cookie did yesterday!

So hang in there Sam. Spring is coming!

The Freeport area is one of our favorite family Monday outings.  It has something for all of us and is only thirty to forty miles from the campground.

We usually pack a picnic lunch and go to Wolf Neck Woods State Park first to get a little hiking in.

Wolf Neck boasts five miles of fairly level trails, with one of them being handicapped accessible.  You can choose from several lengths of trail, and all are easy hiking.  Still, be sure to carry some drinking water and wear your sneakers.

There’s plenty of streams to poke around in

and some bridges to cross

Just be careful you don’t run into a troll!!
Some of the trails wind along the edge of Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River where the boys climbed rocks, poked in crevices and explored tidal pools to their hearts content.

Our favorite trail is the Casco Bay Trail.  It takes you down to where you can see a series of islands.  Osprey’s nest there.  Have you ever seen them fish?  They’re fun to watch.

So bring your binoculars and/or camera!

When we reach the coastline, we usually sit for a bit and drink it all in.  The views are gorgeous.  The forest is peaceful.  It’s the perfect place to get away from everything, experience nature and do a little bird watching.

After hiking, we have lunch in the picnic area under the trees.  Tables and grills are provided . . . bathrooms are nearby.

Then we load up and drive into downtown Freeport, home of the famous L. L. Bean.  We always hit the Outlet Store before going to the retail store.  You can usually find some wicked good deals there.

After shopping at L. L. Bean, we get an ice cream at the Ben and Jerry’s stand.  It’s conveniently located right outside Bean’s entrance.  Mmmmmm . . . coffee heathbar on a sugar cone.  My favorite!

Then we shop a little more:  Cool As A Moose, The Mangy Moose, Yankee Candle, Lindt Chocolate, Earrings and Co., Reebok . . . the list goes on and on and on!  It’s fun to walk the streets and look at everything they have to offer.

There are many, many fabulous places to eat in Freeport, from hot dog stands, to pubs to fine dining.  You’ll see a list on the Freeport website (link is listed above) as well as other sightseeing ideas.

But we like to stop on the way home at the  Muddy Rudder in Yarmouth, right off of Route 1.   Steak, seafood, pasta . . . their menu has something for everyone.  I can recommend the Broiled Seafood Medley.

It was such a gorgeous day today - 50 degrees - sun streaming through my office window - bright blue sky -

Not thinking, I headed out on a walk without the snowshoes. About twenty steps later, I found myself knee deep in snow. Mumbling to myself, I reluctantly went back for snowshoes. Crunch, crunch, crunch, was the sound I made as I wound my way down the main street, through the playing field and out onto the trail along the edge of the lake. I wasn’t surprised to see a lot more open water today:

But I was surprised to find some tiny hints of spring! Like this patch of bare ground . . .

And evidence of beavers hard at work . . .

Homes being built:

And teeny, tiny buds on the trees . . .

In fact, I was so busy looking for spring, that I forgot to watch where I was going and before I knew it, I was knee deep in water. Whoo! And was it co-old! The hiking trail floods every spring in this ooooooone spot that winds oh-so-close to the edge of the lake.  But I didn’t see it was flooded because the trail was covered with three feet of snow!

After that, I sounded like this as I walked: Crunch, slosh, crunch, slosh, crunch, slosh.

Before heading home to take off my sopping wet boots, I checked on the eagles. As I came up to my viewing spot, I saw the nesting eagle up and moving around. She was probably poking at the nest a bit, or changing positions, because she sat back down before I could even focus on her. But with the blue sky behind her, you can easily see the top of her head -

Think spring everybody!

A special note to Sam W: sorry buddy, but there’s still a lot of snow on your site. I’ll keep you posted though.