Camp Timanous in Maine

What were we thinking?

I am not sure how I decided that we should work at a boys youth camp. Fortunately, Mike was on board. We had looked at a few camps but decided on Camp Timanous which is north of Portland, Maine after interviewing a few places. He will be the maintenance man and I will be one of the nurses.

We arrived a week before the boys are scheduled to arrive and settled into our cabin. We are up on the hill behind the infirmary and campers. Our cabin has a refrigerator, microwave in the kitchen with air conditioning in the bedroom and is four times larger than our trailer. Our meals are served in the dining hall with the boys and laundry picked up on Tuesdays.

 

 The head of the camp has the office on the left and the infirmary is behind it to the right overlooking Panther Pond which is a huge lake.

 

The counselors are enjoyable and witty but have needed medical attention of their own. My first day, I had to take a counselor to the Ready Care for treatment. His difficulties were above my pay grade. Doc fixed him up and in no time he was back at work.

 There are a number of counselors from England. One of the girls said she could tell who they were by looking at their legs. They are red and swollen from the bug bites. They have not been exposed to Maine's bugs and react pretty badly from the bites.

Many of the counselors that come from overseas travel with Trek America before or after their contract across the US. They are having the time of their lives. Some work in the kitchen, as naturalists or photographers while at camp.

 There is plenty to do to get ready for the campers but we had Sunday off and decided to head to Portland for the day. Once the campers arrive, I will only be able to leave once a week for any extended period of time.  

 

It really isn't a bad place to spend time even if I can't get away more often. They can contact us by walkie talkie if we are needed while away from the infirmary on a walk or kayaking.

Portland, Maine

 Our last visit to Portland, many years ago, was brief. This time after walking around, we opted for a lighthouse boat tour.

 We spotted this osprey while leaving the harbor.

 

 Civil war armory

 One of the over 100 islands in Casco Bay

 The fog was rolling in and the lighthouse faded rather quickly in the fog.

Another armory

 Fort Scammel (Portland's Ellis Island) served as a first checkpoint for immigrants coming to America once Ellis Island became overwhelmed.

Pocahontas, the smallest lighthouse at 6 feet tall and registered with the Coast Guard is on Diamond Island.



The fog drifted in and out at times.

We plan to take the ferry with our bikes to Peak Island while here.

Each lobster fisherman's buoys have specific colors. We weren't able to watch them pick up their traps since it was Sunday. 

Lunch!

It will be interesting to see how this camp works out for us. But 7 weeks, good pay, nice housing and meals provided, it should be ok. Hopefully, the campers and counselors will stay healthy and happy. Fingers crossed.....



Door County Century

 

Fall is definitely in the air with crisp 55 degrees in the morning and the sound of the leaves in the breeze. Perfect cycling weather.

Where did the time go? We left 7 weeks ago and are starting our way back to the southwest. It has far exceeded our expectations. We started this blog to help us remember as we go and share our adventures with our friends and family. We have used it a few times to remember where we were when something happened.

The lighthouse in the park overlooking Green Bay. Watch out for the poison ivy and wild parsnip.

What a fabulous route and sunshiny day for a ride along the peninsula and bay with a temp of 47 degrees at 7 am. Thankful for Tylenol and ice for the knees after 50 miles. With over 3000 riders today, these Midwest people love to ride their bikes.

 

Here come some of our friends.

Fish Creek Beach

Sometimes, it is difficult to decide where to ride next. We are trying all of them, yeah right.

 

 

A new jersey is always a conversation starter. Mike wore his Colorado Copper Triangle jersey and people just had to discuss it. People have been very welcoming and happy to give us hints on places to go and see or good places to eat. That would be all of them and we tried.

The overcast cloudiness made riding quite comfortable. The ride from town to our campsite is only 3 miles. It can seem longer after a long day but nice under the canopy of trees.

Egg Harbor

Artisanal breads and hot soup for lunch

Cheese curds have to squeak when you bite into them to know they are fresh. Nothing but squeaky cheese around here so far.

Checking out the local farms on our bike ride.

 

 

Yep, the goats are up there and the Swedish pancakes pretty darn good at Al Johnson's in Sister's Bay.

The bike ride thru Ephraim.

Thirty minutes after sunset, the bats come out of their homes. Most of the bat houses are on the side of buildings. This one was built with a special grant. But the seagulls would sit on top and catch the baby bats when they come out and eat them. The whitenose syndrome is killing off the bat population, not so good for the environment. Between the seagulls and whitenose, the bats aren't doing so well.

A camp host was watching the sunset with us and told us stories of the area and how she volunteered as a docent the Rock Island lighthouse for a week. It is very rustic but she had a bed, gas refrigerator and stove. Everyone else on the island had to bring in what they needed and walk to their camping sites. No cars allowed.

Another great sunset along Lake Michigan.