08/01 to 08/27 2025 4-Stops in Maine

 2025 A Month in Maine

August 01 to August 27

A - Pleasant Hill Campground, Hermon, ME
B - Bucksport / Fort Knox KOA, Orland, ME
C - Schoodic Woods Campground, Winter Harbor, ME
Not Shown - Mainstay Cottages & RV Park, Winter Harbor, ME
D - Searsport Shores Oceanfront Campground, Searsport, ME

What follows is a diary of my month in Maine. The 4-Stops include Hermon, Orland and two campgrounds in Winter Harbor. My last stop in Searsport will be a blog post unto itself. Rather than drive home only to return to visit my cousins John and Barbara, I decided to stay and wander, relax and enjoy what Maine has to offer. 

Returning from Canada August 1st, I was once again traveling the Trans-Canada Highway 2 toward the border of the USA, the crossing of which would be in Houlton, Maine. The weather perfect, the clouds even more so. What scenery.

Along the way, I caught a glimpse of St. John River originating in northern Maine, forming part of the border between Canada and the US and traveling 418 miles to empty into the Bay of Funday.

And before I knew it, there I was. Ready for my next adventure with Customs. I took off my sunglasses, removed my P.E.I. hat and approached.

I waited about ten minutes before arriving at the check point. I handed the agent my drivers license and passport and he asked, "How long were you in Canada? "Where did you go?" "Did you purchase any fruit or vegetables? After answering each, he returned my documents and said, "Have a nice day." And that was it! With a sigh of relief, off I went. I was now at the beginning of I-95 and thought; with I-95 ending in Miami, Florida, I can now claim to have driven the entire length of I-95 at some point in my RV travels. Big deal, right? Ho-hum.

Houlton / Canada Border KOA, ME

I'm listing this campground because it was just an overnight stay in Houlton, Maine. A beautiful KOA campground run by very friendly hosts, Michelle and David. This well maintained campground had full hook-ups and my site was right across from the showers and laundry. As usual, showers neat and clean. Stalls were a bit tight...or was that because I was getting larger? 

A - Pleasant Hill Campground, Hermon, ME

My site 32 has full-hookups and morning shade

Pleasant Hill Campground in Hermon, Maine was different and interesting. When I arrived Saturday, my section was alive with kids and everyone seemed to know each other. It became apparent that all these huge fifth wheels were seasonal. By Sunday, all folks but 3 of the surrounding 9 RVs had left...their RVs remained. There's a senior couple behind me, the husband of which was staff. It did feel like a community.

When they all left, it provided me with the solitude and quiet necessary not only to enjoy the terrific weather but also removed all distractions as I proceeded to create and post the last two experiences of my Canadian adventure. It was a "work week."

Sad to say, folks back home in New York have been having a tough time dealing with smoke drifting down from the Canadian wildfires. Between the heat, the smoke-filled skies and the occasional thunderstorms, weather has not been kind. Below, the GEOS satellite data collected illustrates the carbon particulates contributing to the poor air quality as well as the working of Mother Nature and the jet stream. More than 300 boreal wildfires are still burning uncontrolled.

Maine skies as of August 7th, 2025. Temperatures in the low 80's during the day and the low 60's at night. Perfect.

B - Bucksport / Fort Knox KOA, Orland, ME

With only 28 miles to drive, my next stop at the Bucksport/Ft. Knox KOA in Orland, Maine took a little extra time because of my sorely needed trip to a Walmart Supercenter.  A bit out of the way, but with plenty of time on my hands, it was trip worth taking. The store was huge, clean, with well stocked shelves; the neatest I've seen anywhere.

At my request, Seth, during registration was able to place my week-long stay at site #11 directly across from the laundry and showers. 

The Appalachian Trail

I met next door neighbor, Randy, originally from northern Florida and quickly got an earful of his travels and his health status all within the five-minute conversation we had. Traveling solo towing his RV, he's here for two weeks and hopes to hike more of the Appalachian Trail...even after his heart attack and by-pass surgery. The Appalachian Trail, the brain child of Benton MacKaye, a Massachusetts forester, conservationist and regional planner today now stretches about 2,198 miles through 14 states from Mt. Oglethorpe, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine...about 120 miles north of us and maintained by volunteers and hiking groups. I have no updates from him as to his activities.

The entrance to the Bucksport KOA

My site 11 is a back-in with full hookups although the sewer connection will have to defy the laws of gravity and flow uphill; something I've yet to prove can happen. 

Campground has 70 sites; Fire pit, concrete pad, chairs and table all part of the deal.

A 360º  view:

The bath house, laundry and showers are right across the road.

And directly behind me? Nothing to the left and...

...nothing to the right. Very dark and very quiet at night. It's always nice to get a good nights sleep.

The attraction for this campground lies in its name, Fort Knox. The fort lies about 5 miles to the west in Prospect, Maine. Construction began in 1844 and completed in the 1860's primarily to protect the Penobscot River Valley from British naval attacks. Heavily fortified, it never saw or was engaged in battle.  It's one of the best preserved granite forts in the U.S.  Self and guided tours are available. The fort features massive granite walls, underground powder magazines, tunnels and gun emplacements with observation points overlooking the river.

Right next to the fort is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. It the tallest public bridge observatory in the world at 420 feet high. The link above has a 3-minute video show the early construction in 2006. And for an inside tour of the tallest tower and what lies within, check out this 5 minute tour. 

C - Schoodic Woods Campground, Winter Harbor, ME

The one hour+ trip to Schoodic Woods Campground was interrupted with a stop at a another Walmart Supercenter and the Global Beverages Warehouse, both of which were on my route. (Happy Hour needed replenishing.) Many of the following photos are from related websites.

Having enjoyed camping in National Parks in the past, I was eager to add this to my list. I also knew going in, that the amenities would be limited. 

What a rich assortment of scenery, history and culture awaits the adventuresome. The park land is about 2,266 acres of protected land known for its granite outcrops, crashing surf and spruce-fir forests.

The name, Schoodic is believed to come from the Passamaquoddy/Pennobscot language both tribes part of the Wabanaki Confederacy. Often translated as "end" or "point" looking at the map you can see why. The Schoodic Peninsula is the only part of Acadia National Park located on the mainland; the bulk of Acadia is on Mount Desert Island.

The campground and its infrastructure (bike paths, trails, amphitheater) were built on land privately purchased by an anonymous donor—originally intended for a resort—and then donated to the park to help protect it.

Opened in the Fall of 2015, just around 10% of Acadia’s visitors venture to the Schoodic Peninsula, making it a serene, introvert-friendly alternative to the busier Mount Desert Island. Park management intentionally keeps visitation low to preserve this peaceful character.

My Senior National Park Pass gave me a nice discount. The 5-night stay was $21.00/night.

The Amphitheatre where nature talks and presentations by Park Rangers and volunteers are held.

Bathrooms are clean BUT do not have showers...purposely. In the planning, the logic was to have campers trek into town for such services and contribute to the community. Don't ask me where they go or how much they have to pay to shower.

The Island Explorer is a fare-free, propane-powered shuttle system serving both Mount Desert Island and the Schoodic Peninsula. On the Schoodic side, it offers service to destinations including Schoodic Woods Campground, Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor, Prospect Harbor, and Schoodic Point.

My spacious site in the A-Loop, A03 was a back-in with picnic table and fire ring. No sewer connections and no water. Just 30-amp service.

I made sure at my previous campground, laundry and a shower were taken care of; the black and gray water tanks were emptied and flushed and and my 37-gallon fresh water tank was full. The Internet, my life line to the outside world, was spotty at best; some days good, some days excruciatingly slow.

There were neighbors. I rarely heard voices and had to search through the thicket to see tents or RVs. But throughout it all SILENCE was the word of the week.

A bit out of character, I was sitting outside one day when the Internet was not with me and, being bored, must have drifted or zoned into the meditative world and thought about the word "silence." I came up with the following.

As I sat out in this thickly wooded forest, I soon realized there was no noise. None whatsoever. The world’s sounds are gone. No human activity, no sounds of nature, no birdcalls, no insect hum, just complete and utter silence. A silence so whole it fills the air like a substance. For me, that sound of silence is deafening. Beside being palatable, it is therapeutic. Silence is the absence of sound. It acts like a vacuum and draws the noise from within the human mind, body and soul. The ancient pines, firs and spruce that surround me have no leaves to rustle. They too are silent. Only needles, that whisper faintly when the wind insists. The occasional gentle breeze of the woodland trees quietly act as a broom sweeping the noise of a crowded mind into oblivion allowing more to be drawn from the human existence; the cluttered thoughts, the restless pulse, the aches that belong to being human. The process is magical and transformative. The result is pure and total relaxation.  Silence gives new life to the cluttered brain, the aches and pains of mortality and refreshes the human spirit.

I searched the relationship of boredom vs. creativity and found Erich Fromm's quote: “Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties — and often comes from boredom.”

On that note, I'll end my journal at Schoodic Woods and prepare for my next visit a mile and a half up the road. This was truly a week of perfect weather, seclusion, silence, relaxation and inner peace.

Mainstay Cottages and RV Park, Winter Haven, ME

Yes, a mile and a half up the road is Mainstay Cottages and RV Park, my last 7-day layover before my week in Searsport visiting cousins John and Barbara. But first an unexpected event from Mother Nature; a sample of its awesome beauty and power, the approach of Hurricane Erin. 

That's it. This is the entrance to Roger and Pearl's cozy property on Henry's cove. There's history here and it's shared by Pearl herself:

History: "Jabez (Jãbz) Myrick moved his family from Fox Island (Vinalhaven) about 1845 to 350 acres on Schoodic Point, now within the boundaries of Acadia National Park. After Jabez drowned at sea, his wife, Eleanor, moved to the home of her youngest son, Sewell; a fish house, extending over the water on pilings from Big Moose Island. As a settlement grew on Frazer’s Point, the Myricks moved their home to be closer to other fishermen. Sewell Myrick married Eunice Sargent in 1882 and brought his home to its current spot on the eastern shores of Henry’s Cove. We believe that our beloved “Boathouse” is the original structure that was moved over the water twice. As Sewell’s great granddaughter, I have tried to maintain his homestead and prepare it for the next century."

Overlooking Henry's Cove, owners, Roger and Pearl have recently added RV sites to their property on the Cove.

Site 8 is a back-in site with 30/50 amp service as well as sewer and water. The white pole behind is a repeater providing me with 25 Mbps of Internet service, a welcomed amenity. 

My unobstructive view overlooking Henry's Cove with Mark Island way in the background.

This is the best my camera could capture. The Winter Harbor Lighthouse (no longer in use) and the keepers house.

The Internet provided a closer and better view. Now privately owned, it was built in 1856 and decommissioned in 1934. The brick and asphalt cylindrical tower stands only 19' high, topped by the original octagonal lantern. A buoy now marks the safe channel into Winter Harbor.

The 360º  view

My site 8 was directly in front of a huge fifth-wheel. Apparently this didn't seem to bother anyone. The senior couple, Kay and Pete, behind me were seasonal.

This aerial view shows the proximity of the Ferry Terminal that departs five times a day to Bar Harbor, a 50-minute ride for $20 one way. Available also is the free Island Explorer Shuttle.

One evening I invited the couples in the three surrounding RVs over to my site for cocktails. Richard and Gail from New Hampshire with their dog, Salty, Bill and Pam full-timers and Cort and Marilyn from Delaware chatted till about sunset. Their travels, past and future, the workings and pleasures of their RV's and some of their nightmares encountered while on the road; all common topics among RVers. I caught a lot of coincidences. Bill's brother lives in Clermont, FL and knows of Elite Resorts. Richard and Gail have stayed at my next destination in Searsport and have traveled Cabot's Trail, Cort is retired Navy as is my friend, Dan. On Friday, Tom (retired Navy) and Mary arrived.

Richard, Gail and Salty

Tom and Mary's Class A taking some of my view.

On Friday, the swells created by Hurricane Erin out at sea combined with a high tide at 11:00 a.m. prompted me to visit Schoodic Pont, the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula to maybe witness the crashing waves on the typically rugged shoreline of Maine. 

The warnings and advisories were plentiful and frequent:  High surf, dangerous rip tides and small craft warnings. My location is the blue dot.

Cort offered to drive and take a look. A very pleasant, scenic drive but we soon encountered the throng who also had the same idea. Parked on both sides of the road to capture pics, traffic was slow going at best.

Cort did an admirable job avoiding parked cars, bikers and pedestrians as we made our very slow approach to the Point. Heaven help anyone needing 911 services.

At the Point, the swells looked menacing but crashing waves were not part of the scene.

Though looking calm, you still respected the mighty ocean before you. The impressive rocky coast left you in awe.

The awesome power of the past Ice Age 25,000 ago lasting 15.000 years with an ice sheet a mile thick really sculpted Maine's landscape to what it is today.

Leaving the Point, however, presented a more turbulent scene as the following videos will depict. The road out was still a nightmare blocked by sightseers in cars, on foot and on bikes. Being a passenger though afforded me the luxury of more photos and videos.

Later that day, I expressed my thanks to Cort for the adventure by taking him and Marilyn to lunch at J.M. Gerrish Cafe in town.

A Lobster Salad roll. As always, delicious and a hefty portion.

Thank you, Cort for the photo. Remind me to get a haircut and a beard trim. I'm overdue.

Having stayed at this campground in the past and biking the area, Cort and Marilyn gave me a tour of the western portion of Winter Harbor.

Right across the street from the Cafe was a "Five & Dime" with everything you'd expect from such an establishment.

The Inner Winter Harbor where the lobster fleet is moored. The white Winter Harbor Lobster Co-op building is seen in the distance. 

Grindstone Point looking out to the Mt. Desert Narrows. Thank you, Cort and Marilyn for the tour.

As this visually stimulating week draws to a close, there's always that part of the day that makes the day even more special. Sunset. Though not as spectacular as you and I have witnessed, it's a fitting way to end this post and my week at Mainstay Cottages and RV Park.

A sunset from my site

A sunset from Cort/Marilyn's site

A sunset from the campground's gallery.

This campsite, the town of Winter Harbor, the surrounding area within Acadia National Park remains one of the most picturesque areas I've visited. My next stop in Searsport, Maine will be just as picturesque; this time on Penobscot Bay. I'm looking forward to sharing that experience with you.

"The coast of Maine is stern and quiet, severe and tender. Granite and surf—yet soft with fog and spruce. A place where man must bend to nature’s rhythm." Rockwell Kent (artist who painted Maine’s rugged shores)