Maine Vacation 2022, Part 10
I’m continuing with my memories and photos today from our Maine vacation last September but before I forget I wanted to mention I finally made Polly’s Cornmeal Buttermilk Pancakes recipe I shared in part 8 of this series over the weekend. DH declared that I might be able to give Polly a run for her money. That’s a huge compliment on my first attempt.
WARNING!!! Before I go any further let me say this is a lengthy post! Are you ready? In my last post at the end of November, we had just departed the Mount Washington Cog Railway in New Hampshire headed for Rangeley, ME. We knew early on that we wouldn’t make it before the front desk closed. I called ahead weeks to let them of our plans. They assured me it was a small place and they would leave instructions for us. That made me nervous but we went with the flow. We arrived at the Loon Lodge after 5pm.
On the front door of the lodge were two envelopes. One with my first name and other the name of another quest. We looked at each other. I said, “I hope there isn’t another Cathy with a reservations”. This all felt so secret agent like. There was no one around that we saw. I opened the envelope to find the access code for the front door. Once inside, we found two more envelopes waiting at the front desk. Taking the one with my name on it, I found that it contained our room information with the room door access code. We proceeded and checked out our room. It was fabulous!
The room we stayed in was called Lakeside 2 – Main Lodge. It is very spacious. The bathroom is bigger than what’s in our house. lol We had access lake access from our room. You can’t see it in these pictures but there’s a door to left of the large window.
After we got settled in our room, we took a quick look around the lodge before going to dinner. We loved this place!
I didn’t want to leave the living room area. I would very much love to have a room like this, just look how warm and inviting it is? And, it’s soooo cozy! Leaving the lodge, we noticed the gorgeous sunset over Rangeley Lake. We pulled off Main Street less than 2000 feet from the Loon Lodge property entrance at Whip Willow Farm Scenic Overlook to enjoy the painted colors near the horizon with reflections of orange and yellow mirroring the sky in the water. This was an awww moment.
We went to The Rangeley Inn and Tavern for dinner.
When we got back to the lodge, a small group of elderly people sat in the living room. We exchanged hellos and joined them for conversation. They were all friends from the area who liked doing get aways together occasionally. What charming people they were! Before long it was time to turn in for bed. It had been a very full day. I had no trouble falling asleep. I woke sometime during the night to a woodland creature singing. In my sleepy state, I wondered if it was a loon calling.
The next morning, we got up and at em. This late in the season many of the businesses were not open but enough to satisfy our short stay. It was actually kind of nice. Anyway, we went back to the Rangeley Inn & Tavern. While planning our staying in the area, we marked this place as possibility for breakfast and after our fine meal the night before, we knew we had to return. Breakfast is served in the dinning room inside the inn. Isn’t it just gorgeous?
The thing about it, our timing was perfect. I liked that Rangeley wasn’t busy unlike south Maine. We were seated and served very fast. After we ate, I had to take a few pictures of the inn’s interior.
The lobby is simply beautiful! Did you see the sleigh? That really made my day. I imagined a horse drawn sleigh to be bigger. It’s really cute. It was time to get on with some sight seeing. We were under light rain showers. The temperature wasn’t bad. We weren’t going to let the drizzle slow us down.
We weren’t going to let a wet day spoil our fun 
Shelton C. Noyes 
Height of Land overlook 
Playing with telephoto feature on iPhone 
Next, we headed to Quill Hill 
Before we made the turn off Main Street, we spotted these seaplanes on Rangeley Lake 
I was so focused on the planes that I didn’t notice the pretty birch trees in front of my eyes
The drive from Main Street to Quill Hill is 11.5 miles long with the last four miles being a dirt road. I noticed this spot as a possible point of interest when I was looking at things to do while in Rangeley. The company we spent with the previous night mentioned this was a great place to check out with a 360º view.
It was quite pretty from there. The wind made it difficult to enjoy staying outdoors too long. I couldn’t believe there was a couple on motorcycle there fixing to have a picnic. I think their bike had Canada tags. I guess they were used to these kind of conditions. I don’t like the wind but I have to admit it did add to the thrill of it all. I wouldn’t like to live in a place where it’s windy all the time, though.
By the time we left Quill Hill the clouds parted as the sun showed itself. The rain was gone but the gray overhead lingered. We wanted to go into town to browse a few shops. As I said, it wasn’t busy. We had no problem finding parking on the street and we were able to casually walk around. I believe we were on the only people trying to visits shop on this afternoon. Earlier in the morning it was busier, though. I have to tell you a funny story. When we left the Rangeley Inn for breakfast, I needed to mail the postcards we got from Mount Washington. We located a drop box at the post office in town. There weren’t any parking spots on the street and it was raining. However, the post office had a small lot behind their building. He let me out. I jumped out of the car, ran to the dropbox, deposited the cards, and hopped back in the car. He drove to the back side of the post office so he could turn around but when we got to the entrance there was a chain over the road. Where did that come from? I couldn’t figure out how to work it so I went inside to tell them postmaster we pulled in to their lot to turn around while dropping cards off but can’t get out. The lady was a bit short. “The lot is closed to the public.” I apologized explaining I needed to drop the cards off and when we turned around we couldn’t get out. In our defense, we didn’t see any signs saying to keep out. There may well be one but the drizzle and unfamiliarity didn’t help. I guess that woman was tired of tourists being trapped behind their chain fence.
DH bought me a couple of Rangeley shirts, one is a thick sweatshirt hoodie with a moose on the front and the other is a light weight t-shirt material hoodie. The sweatshirt hoodie is super cozy warm. I enjoy wearing it on the cooler evenings this winter. The day got away from us fast. Despite the drizzle, we had a great time. We didn’t want to be up late, so we decided to have an early dinner at the Rangeley Tavern. We had the same thing fish and chips but skipped dessert because we wanted to get it at the Loon Lodge dining room which was open on our final night’s stay.
The Loon Lodge provided complimentary freshly baked muffins for their guests. Yesterday, we skipped ours since we wanted a full meal but it was perfect for our departure and I’m so glad that we took the time. The banana walnut muffins were delicious and we got to enjoy the living room one last time. Oh how I’d love to have a room like this!
There’s no question if we decide to stay in Rangeley again where we’d like to lay our head each night. The Loon Lodge is operated by a husband and wife team. The wife runs the front end and the husband is the chef. They did an excellent job. We felt at home with their superior homey accommodations! In case you’re wondering, this isn’t a sponsored pitch. This is just me giving you my thoughts on the place and area.
Unfortunately, I can’t commit to another installment next week in this series. I haven’t even started working on the next segment of photos yet. I will announce in a future Monday’s Music Moves Me post when to expect the next volume. Speaking of Monday, come hit the dance floor with me. We can boogie to songs from the weekly theme suggested!
Thanks for including me in your day. Have a wild and wonderful day! X💋X💋, Cathy
Check out these mid-week connections hosted by a few of my good friends…. Sandee, Natasha, & Wordless Wednesday!
23 Comments
Tommy and Teaghan
Thank you for such a lovely post! Having been to Maine many times, this was a real treat to get to see a different area. We will keep it in mind for a future return to the area. I love love love that style of house and the Inn. It’s what I miss the most after moving to the south. I can almost taste and smell those muffins! Nothing better than the cooking and baking that happens at an inn/B&B.
Brenda and the Ts
Cathy Kennedy
Brenda,
The old buildings in New England are amazing. We need to take more opportunity to scout out such places in our neck of the woods. We’ve been to a few but it’s been years. Thanks for visiting!
allstarme
I have been to Maine exactly one time in my life and I think I was either 12 or 14; hard to remember. My grandmother had a cousin there and they lived in a beautiful A-frame wooden lodge on a bay. When it was low tide, her cousin Jack took me out to see all manner of sea life left on the rocks. They also took us to the dock where fishermen unloaded crates of lobster and later, we cooked and ate them. It’s a great memory and I would totally go back for a visit!
Cathy Kennedy
Oh that’s cool you got to get out on the beach at low tide. We were able to do that once this time but only long enough for a few pictures. Maybe next time, we can make more time to look for things left behind by the sea.
Eugenia
Everything looks so cozy and welcoming! Thank you for sharing your amazing trip, Cathy!
Cathy Kennedy
Eugenia,
And it was cozy and welcoming! I really want a house like Loon Lodge but I know log homes are high maintenance.
Eugenia
I love log homes too and would love to have one in the mountains.
Nicole/DVArtist
Wow! What a beautiful place. If feels so peacful there.
Cathy Kennedy
Nicole,
It’s a very relaxing place and the landscape so beautiful!
Kinga K.
Lovely place, I love that nature <3
Cathy Kennedy
Thanks for sharing in my photo and memories revisit, Kinga!
messymimi's meanderings
Wow! We went to Maine once when i was young, but we didn’t get to see most of this, just a few touristy places
Cathy Kennedy
Mimi,
You need to plan a trip to Maine to see anything and everything you want. There is more than enough to do. We couldn’t get all we wanted done, so I guess we’ll have to go back. 🙂
15andmeowing
That lodge looks amazing. Thanks for sharing your photos. All the food looks amazing too. XO
Cathy Kennedy
Ellen,
Loon Lodge is beautiful and Rangeley was very peaceful. The food was amazing, too!!
Brian
Maine sure is beautiful and the food looks most incredible, yum!
Cathy Kennedy
It sure is! 🙂
C.A. Post
You need to go in mid-August-early September so you can get “soft-shelled-lobster!” The most delicious and succulent lobster you will ever taste. Who knew lobsters molt!? Right after molting, before the shell is hard you can get them all along the coast; our favorite is at S. Freeport Maine. The lobsters are too fragile to ship, not even inland to other cities in Maine, so you have to buy them at the seashore.
http://www.harraseeketlunchandlobster.com/
Enjoy! 😉
Cathy Kennedy
Thanks for sharing your favorite place to get lobster while in Maine. We aren’t huge seafood lovers so we probably won’t make a special trip during the busiest part of the summer. It does sound delicious, though. Have a blessed day!
Sandee
What a wonderful vacation to Maine you had. I would love to visit. A beautiful room and all that delicious food. Yummy.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Love and hugs, Cathy. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
Thanks for dropping by. I hope you get to see Maine one day. It really is a beautiful state!
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
I’m excited knowing that you tickled DH’s tastebuds on your very first attempt at making those Cornmeal Buttermilk Pancakes. I will again urge Mrs. Shady to try the recipe, because I love pancakes as much as your hubby does. Those folks at Loon Lodge had it all figured out and made sure all bases were covered so that you could get into your room after your long and tiring day exploring Mount Washington. Your room looks clean, spacious and beautiful, and so does the rustic lodge itself! I’m so glad the place did not disappoint. I can easily understand how it made you yearn to have a house with those same features someday. That is indeed a gorgeous sunset over Rangeley Lake! It took a great artist indeed to paint that lovely scene for you. I wish I could taste the fish and chips dinner you enjoyed at The Rangeley Inn and Tavern. The handsome blue structure makes a great first impression as you approach and sets the mood for fine new England style dining. You seemed able to sleep well on this trip, awakened only briefly by what might have been the call of a loon. Dining at Rangeley Inn and Tavern was such a nice experience that you returned in the morning for breakfast and DH got his blueberry pancakes with maple syrup. That’s exactly what I would have ordered. The Inn is charming and inviting. I love that vintage sleigh! What a pleasant place to enjoy a morning or evening meal and then linger a while to soak up the ambience.
Even with clouds and drizzle that day, your camera captured breathtaking scenes of the new from Height if Land, the seaplanes on Rangeley Lake and the birches. I enjoyed the video you took on windswept Quill Hill. Like you, I do not favor windy days and would not enjoy living in a place where gusty winds are common. It was a pleasure to listen to your sweet, clear voice again and this is the first time I ever saw DH, the luck many who gets to hear your friendly voice every day of his life. it is a funny story about being chained in while dropping off your batch of postcards at the post office drop box. I’m willing to bet the clerk that scolded you was the only testy individual you met on your trip. That certainly is a funny sign showing travelers the way to the Equator or the North Pole. I’d love to see that moose sweatshirt hoodie DH bought for you. Heavens, I never heard of chocolate peanut butter pie, but it looks delicious, and I know I’d love those banana walnut muffins, too. How in the world do you and DH remain so slim and trim? You both must have incredible metabolism. Yessum, the mom and pop who operate the Loon Lodge really know how to make guests feel welcome and treat them right. It’s sad to think that a car striking a moose is a common occurrence along that particular stretch of highway. I’m glad it didn’t happen to you guys.
This was most enjoyable, Cathy. Thanks to this series of yours, I am really getting a sense of the area. I will have a new post starting tomorrow for a four-day run if you’d like to stop by. Enjoy the rest of your Wild Wacky and Almost Wordless Wednesday and I’ll be back to see you here on 4M Monday!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
Thanks for continuing to be apart of this series. You would most certainly love visiting New England given your love for blueberry pancakes as much as DH. Definitely nudge your wife to try the recipe. I’m going to make another batch soon. We have maple syrup that will soon expire so I don’t want to waste that delicious stuff and I have plenty of Wyman’s blueberries in the freezer. Speaking of which, we passed Wyman’s blueberry farm while on vacation. If we had time, then it would’ve been cool to drive to it. Perhaps, I need to put that on our list to do next time.