Camp Like a Mainer – Follow our blog for helpful tips and advice on planning your Maine camping trip!

Harvest Host RV Stay at Boothbay Craft Brewery, Taphouse and RV

July 13, 2021 No Comments

Our first Harvest Host experience in our newly renovated Coachmen Camper Van was at Boothbay Craft Brewery (BCB). As Maine residents, we had been to Boothbay Craft Brewery about 5 years ago while following the Maine Beer Trail. Since that time BCB has expanded the family run operation and among other things have added an outdoor Biergarten complete with a Bocce ball court, the ubiquitous Cornhole bean bag toss game, plenty of both outdoor seating and covered outdoor seating. On arrival around 5 PM on a Friday evening in June, we were immediately greeted by a very cordial young man named Riley, the campground manager who directed us to our site on the edge of a grassy field. Riley is one of the sons of the owners and after making introductions told us our specific free Harvest Host site had a 115V/20 amp electrical hookup! The 20 amp service was adequate for our needs, with our small fridge only drawing 2 amps typically. Not too hot – not too cold, the forecast temperatures went from a high of 77’ to a low of around 57’.

After parking our Ford E250 camper Van on the basically level grassy site, Kim and I headed up to the Biergarten and met a couple of the BCB staff – Sharon who took our beer/food order and Brett. Sharon and Brett were working hard and doing an excellent job serving food that was ordered out to everyone’s tables. Due to us arriving when we did, we had just missed the cutoff for the Friday night Brisket BBQ which looked and smelled amazing. A couple sitting next to us who were from Austin, TX said it was as good or better than what they were accustomed to in the Austin area, and gave us the story on how the BBQ chef at BCB was mentored by a top BBQ chef from Texas, sorry I forgot to note the BBQ chef’s name.

I had a Crypto Double IPA and ordered the Camden pizza which had red sauce, a 3 cheese blend, pepperoni, fresh pineapple, and cracked pepper. The pizza came out cooked perfectly with just a hint of char on the crust. The toppings were evenly distributed so you got a taste of everything with each bite. Kim started with a glass of red wine and the farmers salad. The farmers salad was incredible and a great item to experience some of the fresh produce from Maine’s best farms. Kim prefers wine over beer and said the wine was pretty good.

The beer and food was just as awesome as it was 5 years ago, although a slightly smaller variety, as I did not see the fish and chips on the menu that I had last time I was there quite a few years ago. Just an observation and not a big deal as we were already planning on going to Bet’s Fish Fry the following day…

We had three rounds of beers/wine. I didn’t partake in the wine but am crazy for a juicy tasting New England IPA (NE IPA) and loved both beers I tried, Thirsty Botanist and Crypto Double IPA (DIPA). I prefer DIPA(s) but 8.5% ABV I limited myself to one DIPA and two of the NE IPA(s). Ah… so relaxing knowing you can retire to your RV after imbibing in a few adult beverages. We chatted it up with Sharon and Brett during the night as things got a little quieter. When we stayed until closing Brett gave us a behind the scenes look at the second floor speakeasy in the Tavern and told some great stories about the construction of the buildings and all the community collaboration. We absolutely loved getting a sneak peak at the Speakeasy behind the secret hidden door and Brett was a perfect host who genuinely interacted with us and made us feel very welcome.

Boothbay Craft Brewery, Taphouse & RV Resort - Craft Brewery Beer List - Order your next round! — Boothbay Craft Brewery and Taphouse in Boothbay, Maine. Bier Garten reorder window

Boothbay Craft Brewery, Taphouse & RV Resort - Bocce Ball Court - Beer Garden — Boothbay Craft Brewery and Taphouse in Boothbay, Maine. Bier Garten reorder window

Sometime shortly after 9 PM we headed back to the RV. It was a quiet and peaceful evening. In the morning we got up around 9 AM, made some Peet’s coffee and were soon off to the Boothbay (Town) Commons to await the opening of Bet’s Fish Fry, – if you like fried haddock and the biggest fish sandwich ever, you will be impressed. I have had haddock from all over Maine and feel Bet’s is up there with the best, if not the best. Tip – try the dill tartar sauce.

We are already planning a return trip to the BCB through our Harvest Host membership and will combine our stay there with another visit to Bet’s and maybe a trip out to Bristol/So. Bristol/Christmas Cove to hear some music and hit up the white sand beach at Pemaquid. Vacationland.

Harvest Host is a network of 2110+ Wineries, Breweries, Farms & Attractions That Invite RVers to Stay Overnight! With most RV parks charging $35-$50 per night a yearly membership will quickly pay for itself.

To learn more about how you can join Harvest Host, and save 15% click here.

Camping, Travel

Happier than a Clam at High Tide

June 7, 2021 No Comments

One of our absolute favorite weekend destinations is the MidCoast of Maine. We camp to escape our daily Monday – Friday routines and to experience our state while enjoying the MidCoast “Where the Mainland meets the Ocean”. We’ll head out right after work on a Friday, drive an hour or so north from the Portland, Maine area and be sitting around our campfire sipping an adult beverage that same evening. A little planning and preparation in advance of your camping trip will help things run smoother, not rushing around last minute so that you too can be “Happier than a Clam at High Tide”. And yes don’t worry you’ll be able to get some fresh fried clams as an appetizer to your lobster roll if that’s your thing.

Here are our tips to maximize your time:

Organize – Have a place for everything – Use a Camp Box – Use labels – Be packed and ready to go
Gear – Keep it simple – Bring only what you need – Take Care of it
Meals – Plan – Use Shortcuts – Use a 5 Day Cooler – Grab and Go
Get there early – Parking lots at Maine Beaches can fill up quickly – You don’t want to be turned away

Organization is the key to being a successful weekend warrior. Let’s face it; work weeks are long and by comparison weekends pass by so quickly, so it helps to develop habits to make the most of every summer weekend. From packing our Subaru Forester on Thursday evening, to filling the cooler on Friday morning with only items that have been prechilled, we are already one foot out the door before Friday @ 5:00 PM rolls around.

We have a place for everything and keep everything in its place. When we first started out camping, we used plastic bins for kitchen storage. While this worked it was ideally not what we had in mind. What we longed for (and thought we wanted) was a traditional camping chuck box. To that end we created our own prototype custom camping chuck box and considered building it, but changed course when we determined it would be too heavy when constructed with wood. The last thing we wanted was a storage solution that weighed more than what we were carrying.

Then we found the Sherpa Camp Table & Organizer by Camp Chef. It’s everything we need and has exceeded our expectations after one season of use (12 separate camping trips in 2020!). The Sherpa is lightweight at 13 pounds empty and has comfortable padded handles. We prefer to place it in the vehicle first and then load the 4 separate zippered 600 Denier ripstop fabric bags into the compartments. These empty bags measure 12” x 11” x 6 ½ “and you’d be surprised with how much they can hold. We keep the roll top table in place and use the fixed rear storage compartment for other items. We even use the area under the tabletop for storage.

It is a very versatile piece of gear. We like to place it on a picnic table without extending the legs because it’s at our preferred working height. With legs extended, it makes a great extra side table. The 600 Denier Cordura style fabric material is very durable and cleans up nicely with soap and water. The heavy-duty zippers are of excellent quality. We created our own labels using cards for the bag inserts to identify the contents of each bag.

For our meals we keep it very simple. We prefer not to spend all our time cooking and cleaning up after meals on beach weekends. So, here’s what works for us. We bring a prepared dish such as a casserole, soup, or stew that we will reheat for our Friday night dinner after setting up camp. Often these are just homemade leftovers that we pull out of our freezer to take along. For Saturday and Sunday lunches we bring bagged salad kits such as what you can find at Trader Joes. We add packaged turkey breast, sliced cheeses and supplement with grab and go pre-portioned snacks. After a day at the beach, Saturday night dinner is usually a trip to the local lobster pound/fishermans co-op. Of course, we bring refillable water bottles and a cooler full of beverages and generally speaking a traditional fisherman’s co-op will allow you to bring your own side dishes to save a few bucks, but of course you can always get a complete seafood dinner with corn-on-the cob and cole slaw, etc. Gets me hungry just thinking about it!

When we arrive home after a relaxing weekend we unpack, clean everything, reorganize, and prepare everything for the next weekend. By starting our weekend straight away after work on Friday, by Sunday we’re generally recharged and “Happier than a Clam at High Tide!”

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.)

Camp Chef Sherpa Camp Table & Organizer

Gas ONE GS-3900P New Dual Fuel Propane or Butane Portable Stove

Thermos 34 Ounce Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Coffee Press

Camp cooking, Camping

It all begins with Coffee

May 22, 2021 No Comments

It all begins with coffee or so it seems in our universe. When camping, our daily coffee habit is magically elevated to a sacred ritual. The simple act of brewing the pot and sipping the coffee becomes a spiritual experience amongst the outdoors. It is truly an uplifting way to embrace a new day.

There are no compromises when it comes to our coffee and we certainly aren’t roughing it. After breaking our glass French press, and testing everything from percolated to pour over, we discovered the Thermos Coffee Press. This well designed, stainless steel coffee press is sturdy and lightweight. It is vacuum insulated and keeps 34 ounces of coffee hot and fresh for up to six hours while the carafe stays cool to the touch. It’s simple to use and easily cleaned.

Just heat water in a separate vessel. Add ground coffee to the carafe and pour in the hot water. Cover assuring that you align the lid so that it is not in the open pouring position. If you don’t do this you risk splashing when you press the plunger. Wait at least four minutes before slowly pressing the plunger and that’s it, enjoy.

If it’s a travel day then no worries, take along the filled coffee press/carafe and save time and money. If it’s a slow morning, there’s nothing better than savoring cup after cup around the camp fire. We’re delighted to have found the right solution to meet our needs and absolutely love our Thermos Coffee Press! You can find the Thermos Coffee press that we have been using for several camping seasons here: price should be under $30!

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.)

Travel

You Can Get Here from There

May 8, 2021 No Comments

Piscataqua River Bridge between Portsmouth NH and Kittery, Maine

So, you’re “from away” and want to come “upta Maine”? Welcome to our blog. We are fortunate to call Maine home. You are lucky enough to visit. Our goal is to share our experiences to help you plan your trip so that you can make the most of your time here.

There are many ways to plan a trip, but we feel that information gathered from local insiders is most valuable. Why? Well for starters, you are certainly going to avoid the tourist traps. Not only that, you may even avoid the crowds. Sure, there are touristy places that are a must see for many different reasons, but the bottom line is a little planning will go a long way.

This means you need to get out your pen, paper, calendar, and map. I know that sounds old fashioned in this paperless world, but it is so much easier than you think. It is OK that you know nothing about Maine. That is why we are here. To simplify this whole planning process so you can get started and get out on the road.

First and foremost, before you “get in the cah” get yourself the map that no true Mainer can live without, the Maine Atlas & Gazetteer. People in Maine are known to have multiple copies, one for every car and even one for the house. Again, this may sound terribly old fashioned in the age of GPS, but trust us, buy it early. It’s a large format book that gives you a true perspective of our state including topography, waterways, trails, and logging roads. It’s over 90 pages and costs around $25.00 Buy it here and start dreaming:

(As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.)

Next, you need to decide what you want to do. What is the goal of your trip and when will you come? Don’t even think about creating your itinerary until you have this figured out. Want to avoid the crowds? Don’t come in July and August. Want to take a dip in the ocean? Come in July and August. Want to fill up on lobster? Most Lobster shacks are open by June. Want to do a restaurant and brewery tour of Portland? Us too. We try out new places all year round. Want to avoid the black flies? Stay away Mid-May to Mid-June or bring lots bug repellant!

Get your map, schedule that vacation time and start taking some notes. Please subscribe and check back here often as we post new content about:

How to get here
When to come
Where to stay
Where to eat
What to do

Our goal is to share our experiences to help you plan your trip so you can make the most of your time. Realize that you can get here from there!

Coachmen Camper Van

Ellie’s Cinco de Mayo

May 6, 2021 No Comments

Another cold, rainy May morning in Maine and I’m enjoying my coffee by the window. Outside – the tall pines are saturated and the lichen seems to glow at this early hour. I watch a red squirrel run along the moss covered rocks bordering the property. Often I wish that the warmer weather would just hurry up and get here but I know that we need this time to prepare for our first season of RV camping.

We purchased our 1997 Ford Coachmen E250 Camper Van on Labor Day Weekend 2020. She came from Ellsworth Maine, the gateway to Acadia National Park and we eventually named her Ellie. We spent that entire long weekend cleaning every surface but she still had this overwhelming musty odor that hit you the moment you got in. We took her on a couple of overnights before the season ended and spent our winter making plans for what will be a very busy and fun summer 2021.

Ellie’s signature scent lessened quite noticeably during the time she was in winter storage. I think it was partly due to all the clove, cinnamon and peppermint placed around the rig to deter pests but nonetheless, I was already calling her Smelly Ellie. A few days ago, we discovered what we think may be the source of the smell. A rotted wood window frame up in the bunk. We brought her to the our RV repair shop and are awaiting a call to advise us of next steps.

Meanwhile, we continue with the interior projects. This is our first RV and renovation so needless to say, we are learning as we go. Initially it was obvious to us that we would paint and reupholster but once we got started we quickly learned that one project leads to another and before long we had torn the entire interior apart.

The door panels were an eyesore. The upper plastic panels framing the windows were discolored, cracked and broken. They didn’t hold the curtain rods securely so we removed them and repaired them using J-B weld Plastic Bonder. After gluing, sanding, cleaning and priming we painted them with Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric Coating. Unfortunately, the (tan) color match was disappointing so we repainted with a different color (grey) and are pleased with the result.

Ford Coachmen Camper Van Door Panel after painting with Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric Specialty Coating

The lower fabric covered panels looked old, worn and dingy. We took them down, tore off the fabric and sanded the board before attaching new foam and recovering in vinyl. We are happy with how they look and feel they will be easy to keep clean. We ordered replacement hardware because many of the original parts were rusty. We can hardly wait to see the finished result however all the interior painting needs to be completed prior to installation. See photo mock-up with our handmade window shades.

Mock up with handmade window shades and renovated upper and lower door panels.

Sometimes I find it’s difficult to know where to begin when it comes to a lot of things in life. I have all these creative ideas but don’t take any action. I guess you could call it a form of analysis paralysis. Other times I am able to jump right in, even when I don’t know what I am doing. That’s the reason it’s taken so long to publish our first blog post. I honestly didn’t know where to begin so, I simply started with where we are at today. Thank you for being here.

Kim @ CampLikeaMainer

Uncategorized

Coming Soon!

February 23, 2021 1 Comment

We are continuing to fine tune our NEW Camping Blog and really look forward to catching up soon with you all! So please stay tuned…