Our journey started with a stop at Orchard Hill Farm in Cumberland which closed down four years ago. Six years ago we discovered this place the Gravenstein apples and it was the only place we could get them as pick your own that we have been able to find. For some reason the place closed up shop and it remains closed. We were just hoping that it might be open or at least have signs that said help yourself to the apples so they don't go to waste. They didn't.
We headed down the road a ways to Sweester's Apple Barrel, they don't have pick your own but they do have Gravensteins and several other old varieties. While picking up our bag of apples the owner at Sweester's gave us the low down on Orchard Hill. There was a divorce, then one party ended up with the Orchard and they are unable to maintain it themselves and it's a shame.
We continued on our journey driving to La Festa pizza in Dover, New Hampshire for a slice and a garlic knot. They tables were socially distant so we felt comfortable eating inside, our first time in a restaurant since Valentine's Day at the Liberal Cup.
We headed north to Conway, New Hampshire and hit a couple outlet stores, Kate got jeans at Torrid and I got all terrain sneakers at New Balance. It was a quick stop. Crossing back into Maine we stopped at The Pretzel Guy truck for a delicious fresh baked pretzel, we had stopped here last year and it's still friggin fantastic!
A few miles down the road we parked at the Fryeburg Plaza so we could hike up Jockey Cap Rock. I locked the keys in the van.
Jockey Cap Rock is a giant rock, or glacial erratic, with several trails leading to the top with the average being about 0.8 mile round trip. It is a steep hike though, but we all tackled it with no issue. At the top is a glamour panoramic view!
There is also a monument to Robert E. Peary who is the first explorer of European descent to reach the North Pole. The top of the monument features a panoramic landscape compass with every visible summit depicted to scale and listed for identification of them. Peary was raised in Portland, Maine and attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine.
I called AAA from the summit before we worked out way down. Wesley and ran halfway down the summit and he thought it was hilarious! Once we reached the bottom we had some time to kill so we checked out Quinn's Jockey Cap Store and Bakery. It was okay, a bit pricey and they force you to buy two giant cookies instead of just getting one, legit.
Once we got on our way again we made another stop in Fryeburg at Hemlock Covered Bridge. We drove over the bridge and parked, there were a lot of vehicles there. We walked the shoreline where Wesley made me throw large rocks into the water. It's very peaceful here.
Built in 1857 it is a Paddleford Truss style bridge that spans 116 feet over the Old Course Saco River. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.
We got Wesley boy some McDonald's in Bridgton and then drove home. It was a fun day with way more ups than downs. I'm glad we got to take advantage of another great weekend.
Until Next Time!
Sounds like a damn fine day. I've always wanted to pick my own apples and we have lots of apple trees here, just haven't ever taken the time to go do it.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that you commented on that, I was thinking the other day if pick your own apples is something that every state has.
DeleteWe definitely have it in NC, but something we don't have as much of are apple cider donuts. Once you hit Virginia (and go North) it seems like apple cider donuts are common near apple orchards, but not around here.
DeleteI'm not sure if all states have pick your own apples, but we definitely do here in North Carolina once you head west towards the mountains. I think the nearest orchard is about 90 minutes from me.
ReplyDeleteOne thing we dont have much is apple cider donuts. Once you hit Virginia (and North) it seems like apple cider donuts are quite common near orchards. Just not in NC.
In a 90 minute drive from me I can think of at least a couple dozen orchards.
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