Spoffords Travel

Day 52 September 13, 2026 Binghamton New York to Bloomsburg Pennsylvania 123.3 miles

The day started cloudy with light rain. By the end of the day it was warm and mostly cloudy.

We were to turn onto a different highway. A single trailer semi was in front of us in the turning lane. It didn’t turn onto the highway but rather made a u-turn. We wished we had a video going. Could hardly believe it made it. Don’t think we have ever seen that before.

We had not gone far when we crossed into Pennsylvania. The terrain and scenery didn’t change however. We went up and down lots of rolling hills. The uphill portions were an optical illusion because they looked far longer and steeper than they actually were. Thank goodness for that however. Most likely our judgement has been affected by the earlier part of the trip.

We passed a sign for Donuts and Ammo. Sure seems like an unusual combination. The business was a little further down the road. Rob says he has seen those advertised together before.

A couple of small lakes or ponds are near the road. They are so still they are like mirrors. Too many raindrops on the window to take pictures.

It was lunch time when we arrived in Bloomsburg. We found a beautiful city park and ate our lunch. A soft serve ice cream truck stopped so we each had a sundae.

Then we headed for Bill’s Old Bike Barn. This is a museum with motorcycles and memorabilia. The building is about 55,000 square feet absolutely full of stuff. Lots of old motorcycles of different brands. So much stuff is there that if you really looked at all of it you would be there for days. A couple of other interesting pieces were a Rolls Royce pickup and a small carousel. One hall was made to look like a street in a town. The different stores had a theme such as Post Office, Mayor’s Office, Music Store and so forth. The stores were crammed with items related to the type of store. Hundreds of license plates are attached to the cross beams.

We found the nicest small motel. The price was great and the room was large and well done. Sure beat some of the other rooms we have had. Part of the hotel’s sign is a candle. The woodie spent the night under candle light.

A couple of things I forgot to mention. We found a second spider and web on the trailer. Amazing how quickly they can spin that web. The other item is the upkeep of the property and housing in Canada vs here. The Canadian houses are well maintained and the grounds neat. The last couple of days many of the houses we have seen need repairs and the grounds cleaned up. A surprising number seemed deserted.

Day 51 September 12, 2026 Ticonderoga New York to Binghamton New York 229.4 miles

We stayed in a Super 8. This one said they had a light breakfast. They weren’t kidding. They had out granola bars and fruit cups. Drinks were lukewarm coffee, water or apple juice. This had to be one of the worst breakfast options especially at a Super 8.

The day started mostly sunny but ended cloudy. We didn’t have any rain and only some wind.

Our initial destination was Fort Stanwix National Monument. On the way there we passed both Shroon Lake and Loon Lake. The lakes were beautiful and the towns near them looked well cared for. Lots of boat docks and houses on the lake. Both communities had numerous lodging options.

Most of the drive was through the Adirondack Mountains. Still not lots of color. Only in isolated places. Most of the way it is difficult to see the mountains because of the forest on each side of the road.

We did see what appeared to be a minor car wreck. One vehicle was partially in the barrow pit and the other up on the road. No one appeared seriously injured thankfully.

A very large group of motorcycles were stopped for lunch we think. Must have been at least thirty of them. Most likely the same group we saw yesterday at the fort. Then a few minutes later we saw another large group of 30 or more motorcycles going in the opposite direction. Today was a beautiful day for a ride.

A deer ran across the road a few hundred feet in front of us. We were glad it kept running. That is the first one we have seen in a long time.

Finally saw an Amish buggy. A guy was going in the opposite direction from us. Couldn’t get the phone ready for a picture fast enough.

Fort Stanwix National Monument is in the town of Rome New York. It is much smaller than Fort Ticonderoga and has a wooden outer wall. We didn’t spend much time here. Oh yes the site is free.

We ate lunch at Wendy’s nearby and then went to the Aldi grocery store across the street. Connie is not a big fan of Aldi’s. The prices on what they have are usually good but they may not have the items you are looking for. They also usually have an aisle of stuff that has little or nothing to do with a grocery store. It obviously has good prices because most of the customers are seniors.

The town of Rome used to be an industrial hub. Now it seems run down. Many buildings have been deserted as have the houses. An air base used to be here but it is long gone. The base was the site of Woodstock ‘99. The event was to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the original Woodstock. This one was a disaster for many reasons.

We decided not to stay here but to continue a little further. We did see another Amish buggy. This time a mother and two children were stopped at some kind of store. The horse was harnessed but not hooked to the buggy.

A little further down the road was a small yard sign that said “Trumpless again”.

Further yet there was a Model A parked in a lot. Pretty tough shape so you might get a good deal. Definitely needs a paint job and maybe an engine. This was the first Model A we have seen on the trip.

Turns out our hotel has a guest laundry so we decided to get that done again. The washer cost $1.00 and the dryer seems to be free. Time will tell.

Day 50 September 11, 2026 Rutland Vermont to Ticonderoga New York 48 miles

Today is mostly sunny with a gentle breeze. Seems like a good day to tour Fort Ticonderoga.

The fort is only about 40 miles from Rutland. Still narrow winding hills. The drive is really pretty even if the colors haven’t changed much. Small towns and small farms dominate. Occasionally a field of corn.

Just before the entrance to the fort we came to a ferry. That was the only way to cross the La Chute River. The ferry is small so it will hold at most 18 cars. The other thing to note is you must pay on the ferry in cash. Exact change preferred. The ride is about 7 minutes long. The total charge for our ride was $18.

The entrance to the Fort Ticonderoga grounds is a short distance from the ferry exit. We were charged the senior rate of $28 each. This does allow entrance for two days and the entrance to the drive up Mount Defiance.

Most of the fort was reconstructed beginning in 1908. It looks very much like it did during the time of its major use (1755-1777). It played key roles during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. They have lots of canons surrounding the perimeter. The museum houses artifacts found in the area as well as those donated by individuals. We arrived just in time to join the morning guided tour of the museum. Our guide added lots of information about many of the items in the small museum. The only down side was that his voice didn’t carry well. They also have demonstrations and reenactments going on all the time. The reenactments follow journals left by people who served here. Many of the canons played key roles during the Revolutionary War as many were transported to Boston to help protect it. They were transported back later.

We ate lunch at the restaurant in the Visitors Center. It’s not very big but was convenient. They will also make picnic lunches to take with you.

We left the fort grounds to go to Mount Defiance. The journey is about 3 miles. Just as we were leaving the grounds the car made a terrible noise. Rob kept driving even though he has no idea what the sound was. We pulled over in a turnout a short distance down the road so he could think. He checked a few things. Nothing came to mind so we continued to the entrance to drive up the mountain. Connie felt we should turn around but Rob wanted to give it a try. The road is a little more than a one lane so cars can go each direction if they go slowly and carefully. Some of the stretches are rather steep since you can’t get a running start. Some sharp turns but no hairpin turns. The car made it without help thank goodness. After you get there a rather steep walk takes you to the viewing area. The views from the top are beautiful. The fort from there looks very small.

Back down seemed a little easier. Still steep so the brakes got a workout. Since it was after 3:00 we got a hotel and quit for the day.

Day 49 September 10, 2026 Freeport Maine to Rutland Vermont 214 miles

Today was mostly sunny and warm but the wind blew like crazy. The trees and our car were all over the place. It rained overnight because the car was wet and there were lots of puddles.

When Rob got in the car he noticed a spider on the door. It had built a good sized web too. We turned into the gas station to fill up and to get the spider. The spider found a good hiding place so finding it was a challenge.

We encountered two stretches of construction that required flaggers. The two stretches were very close together. They are repaving a long section of road.

We drove through the town of Ossipee New Hampshire. They claim to be home to the first snowmobile. Not sure that is true but it makes for a good story.

We went through so many little towns and villages. It’s almost like one big town. The roads were mostly narrow and winding. We had to make lots of highway changes too. So all day it was up down left right. Do we turn here? Then of course we have to pull over occasionally to let other vehicles pass.

We were going to stop at a wonderful quilt shop in New Hampshire but learned it has moved to South Carolina. We also considered stopping at the organ museum but it is only open 2 hours on Saturday and Sunday. Now we have an excuse to go on another road trip.

We ended up going to Baird Family Farm to buy maple syrup. They have about 15,000 trees located on two mountains. They have a crew of four that does all the work.

Day 48 September 9, 2026 Belfast Maine to Freeport Maine 119.3 miles

Cloudy all day with a short rainfall while we ate a late lunch.

Most of the roads today were narrow, winding rolling hills. Many places the trees almost formed a canopy. Lots of small farms or large lots not sure which. Farm fresh eggs sell for $5 dozen and are very available.

We passed another Christmas tree farm. These were quite small so most likely won’t be ready for this season. The others we passed would be good for this season.

Quite a few of the mailboxes are suspended from the post by chains. Sometimes only one mailbox and sometimes two. Most mailboxes are on top of a horizontal bar attached to a pole. Never got a picture of either kind.

Another surprising thing is the number of single and double wide manufactured houses sitting on lots and not part of a mobile home park. They look nice and well maintained.

Finally came to some evergreen trees that were larger in diameter. All through Canada and the upper portion of Maine the trees have been very small in diameter but very close together.

We came to a traffic backup as we crossed a river. There is a traffic light just on the other side of the bridge. A large gathering of people are at that corner. A small restaurant is located there called Red’s Eats. It is world famous for its lobster rolls. The wait to get in can be as much as three hours according to Google. We didn’t stop because parking was not favorable for us.

We arrived at the Sabbathday Shaker Village about noon. We have been to other Shaker Villages that were much more crowded with tourists. This one had very few. The village has several buildings remaining that all look in good condition. The last three living Shakers live here. They are supported by several volunteers and maybe some paid staff. They have sheep and three Highland cows. A small museum and gift shop are open to the public. You are welcome to wander around if you wish. The gift shop sells items made by local craftsmen and things made by the village. The museum was upstairs and small.

We ate a late lunch at a brewery and then headed for the motel and an early stop. It is nice to be flexible with our starts, stops and destinations.

Day 47 September 8, 2026 Skowhegan Maine to Belfast Maine 102.3 miles

The day started cloudy but soon turned into mostly sunny. Still a lot of wind.

The scenery is much the same as yesterday. Didn’t see as much color change however. Still lots of small towns except for Augusta. That is the state capital and is a little larger. We went down town to the post office to mail a card. Somehow we managed to miss the capital building. Next time maybe.

We have seen a couple of signs warning of Amish buggies. We haven’t seen one yet. We did see what may have been an Amish store.

We arrived in Belfast early afternoon so we decided to book our room even if we couldn’t check in. We decided to try Colonial Gables. Well it sits right on the ocean. They have a few motel rooms and then about 40 cottages in various sizes. We got lucky and were given one of the cottages. It’s actually a small house with a porch that looks out to the ocean. This would be a great place to come with a family.

Then we went downtown to the laundromat. They have a large parking lot but not for the woodie and trailer. We went around the block but didn’t find anything. Rob finally asked the real estate office across the street if we could park there for a couple of hours. They agreed. The washers and dryers take coins or credit cards. A small load costs $5 and drying costs $0.25 for four minutes. The place is busy but well maintained and clean. We were finished in about an hour.

We returned to the cottage and relaxed for about 45 minutes. We are to meet the daughter of one of Rob’s classmates at 4 o’clock for dinner. We made it there right on time. She suggested parking at the marina and walking a short distance to the restaurant. We did that. The restaurant was all up hill. But that meant downhill on the way back to the car. We had a lovely visit and good food.

Now to decide where to go tomorrow.

Day 46 September 7, 2026 Bangor Maine to Skowhegan Maine 193.1 miles

Today is partly sunny. It stayed that way all day which was a nice break from the rain. The wind was strong in some areas which did affect the drive.

We decided to go the long way to Skowhegan by way of Greenville located on the Moosehead Lake and Jackman which is known as the Switzerland of Maine without the Bernina factory. The highway from Jackman to Skowhegan is known as the Old Canada Scenic Byway. It follows the Kennebec River and was the route used by Benedict Arnold to attack Quebec City during the Revolutionary War.

The terrain here is flatter than in Canada. We drove over more rolling hills. Lots of small towns with houses and small farms in between. Many of the small farms are selling fresh vegetables and fire wood. The forested areas have more deciduous trees. Some of those are beginning to show fall colors. Many times the color is on only one limb.

A couple of wild turkeys hurried into the brush just ahead of us. Those were the only wild animals we saw today. Several life size statues of moose were in towns. We saw lots of signs warning of moose but no actual moose.

The town of Greenville is bigger than expected. Gas Buddy said there were no gas stations here but there were two. The town sits at the bottom of Moosehead Lake which happens to be the largest lake in the state. We saw a couple of small marinas and lots of activity involving boats or ATVs. One of the nearby mountains is called Moose Mountain.

We ate lunch at a small turnout on the edge of town. Then it was on to Jackman. The road there follows the Moose River. Lots of nice houses line the river. Most have small docks. Two of the places had float planes. The river is certainly wide enough for a float plane to land and take off.

We drove along a couple of other lakes. Lots of cottages and campgrounds. The area is a great place for outdoor activities. Lots of RVs are headed in both directions. One pickup was pulling a small boat with two skeletons riding along.

Jackman is a little smaller town. The activity level is less also. Lots of motorcycles out today. It would be a great day for a ride. Lots of ATVs both on the street and in trailers. The sign says Jackman is the Switzerland of Maine because of all the large nearby mountains. Well, it didn’t look like the Switzerland we saw in 2015.

The road south out of Jackman is a beautiful drive. The road follows the Kennebec River most of the way. The river is quite wide so lots of activity possible. One business had numerous inflated rafts out drying. They most likely had a busy day since its a holiday and the weather is great. We didn’t see any in the water.

We stopped at the historic turnout that commentated the journey Benedict Arnold took to Quebec City. Those unfortunate guys that made the trip. The boats and supplies used to get them there was amazing. The 400 pound boats were hauled by hand up more than 1000 feet.

A wooden retaining wall in the area had hundreds of decorated bird houses. They came in all shapes and sizes. Don’t know who came up with the idea but it was interesting. Not easy to stop and admire them. They were on a busy curve so we didn’t get a photo.

As a note the drivers here seem to take lots of risk when passing. They speed up, zoom around and cut in quickly just missing the oncoming vehicle. Seems there might be lots of accidents.

This was a beautiful drive and worth the time if you ever get the chance. If you get a picture of the bird houses please share.