Maine Lobster and Breaking The Rules?

We woke up in Quechee State Park at the Quechee Gorge at the far Eastern edge of Vermont. It looked like it was going to be a drizzly rainy day, so we really didn't feel like getting out and walking anywhere or doing exploring in the general vicinity. 

We took a look at the map and realized that we are getting pretty close to the Atlantic Ocean. It was just a hop skip and jump across New Hampshire to get over to Maine. And what do they have in Maine? You guessed it. LOBSTAH! 

We had a hankering for some seafood so we packed up the rig early and hit the road. 

We did some map searching and googling and some reviewing. We chose to find a "lobster pier"  or a "lobster pound" rather than a formal restaurant. Not only is it more relaxed dining, quick in and out, but also perhaps cheaper with the market price. And fresher!

We wound our way down through the New Hampshire countryside. We took back roads and so much of it is twisty-turney and winding along the narrow roads. Picturesque little villages popped up every few miles, each with a tall white church steeple. Up and down and in and out. It was kind of fun for a while. But soon we found our way across to Portsmouth. 

Portsmouth was pretty big and busy. We had to actually hop on an interstate to get over the bridge into Maine. Our first interstate of the trip! There were no cash toll lanes, only Ipass, so we have to go on their website later and list our license plate and pay our toll fees online. Otherwise the penalties are huge.

We used the GPS to get out to an island community by Kittery, home of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Beyond the shipyard entrance, we wound our way through huge mega mansions and tiny seaside cottages. It was another twisty-turney tiny narrow road and we were glad we could maneuver through with our little motorhome. 

We made our way to the Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier. We were able to get up the road a little ways and turn around and come back to park carefully tight to the edge of the road. We had to park so tightly into the shrubbery to get off the lane that we both had to exit through the driver's side door. We could never have done that with the large motorhome because we didn't have any driver's side door! 

It was mid-afternoon, so it wasn't too crowded. We hadn't eaten lunch so this was going to be both of our lunch and dinner combined in one meal. 

We had our choice to go on a table outside or under the pavilion. It had stopped raining so we decided to choose an outside table. I had eaten at a lobster pound once before and knew that you have to guard your food for any daring seagulls who might dive down to snatch it off your tray!!!! 

We walked up and down a little bit to take a few photos of the channel going past the lobster pier. This is where the boats tie up to bring the lobsters right into the back of the building. 

There weren't many people waiting ahead of us to order lobsters, on one side you could order your sides choices and things like corn or coleslaw or onion rings. On the other side is where you went in to the tanks to choose your live lobster!! 

This building is where you go to decide who is going to meet it's fate and get tossed in the boiling pot? 

Lots of items offered on the sign on the wall, or a piece of paper laying on the counter to make your choice. 

Market price was $22.75 a pound. 

We checked out the large guys swimming around in the first tank. They actually look kind of pretty with all their different colorful shells and claws. Everything was clean, and there was no stinky seafood smell around. 

Here were the medium guys that we were going to choose from. All of their claws are rubber banded by color for weight as well as keeping them from clawing each other!! 

We placed our order and then hung out like tourists and got a selfie from my phone with the little kickstand. 

We decided to split our food between us because there was so much! 

These lobster rolls are really good with cold lobster meat and mayonnaise put on warm toasted buns. 

Here is the video of the Lobster Pier on our way out after our meal:

We were so full going back to the motorhome. If we have been in a quieter spot, we probably would have stretched out and taken a nap!

Instead, we hopped back up on the tollway and headed out of Maine and back into New Hampshire. 

We had looked ahead and found a state park with some openings called Pawstuckaway. We headed there and pulled in at the main office. The gal was registering us and getting everything set for a spot when she asked if there were just the two of us. I said yes, and offhandedly remarked and also a little dog. She said oh no! No dogs allowed in this state park at all!

I couldn't believe it, there were no signs or anything anywhere saying no dogs. She said it's on the website. Sure enough, we looked back and it was in really teeny tiny print. But unless you have the internet how can you even go stay at a state park with the dog without knowing that rule? She said some of the state parks do allow them in New Hampshire, but not theirs. 

So we left there and moved on down the road. Now we went online and went through the filters and selected specifically that we had a dog and searched for New Hampshire state parks that allow dogs. 

(We thought we had those filters selected right???)

Now the park we found in the general direction we were going to was called Ellacoya. And there was ONE site left!  

SO WE RESERVED IT ONLINE BUT WE WOULD BE ARRIVING AT THE PARK AFTER OFFICE HOURS..... 

Well, we arrived at the park at about 6:30 p.m. the office was closed but they had our hang tag taped to the outside counter, for our late arrival.

I hopped back in our rig, and we drove on into the park to find our campsite.

Can you imagine our surprise to see a small sign by the sites that said NO DOGS!!!! 

Here we thought we had reserved a campsite in a campground that we clicked the filters on their website to allow dogs. Now the office was closed, so there's no way we could reverse it and get a refund. The campground is wide open like a grass field with about 30 campers all lined up next to each other. Everyone was going to see us if we pulled in with the dog! What do we do now?

YES, WE WERE BREAKING THE RULES!

We pulled in, plugged in our cord to the post, and kept our sweet little doggie inside until it was dark out!!!! 

There were geese all over the place and goose poop everywhere. So I don't think a dog really is the issue, especially when we are clean pet owners who always carry poop bags. 

And these geese were very brave. As I walked near them they all turned to face me, most of them raised one foot and looked like they were ready to attack me!

I walked down near the water of the big lake just to check it out. Then headed back to the camper to settle in for the night. 

Again, it was very rainy and stormy. We were severely lacking the exposure to Sunshine by now. I think we've had rain the last 5 days.... 

Once we were surrounded by complete darkness, Steve carried Binney out in his arms and over to the shrubbery at the edge of the campsite. 

She did her thing under the cover of darkness, and he whisked her back in his arms and back into the camper and shut the door.

We woke up about 4:00 a.m. from the overhead rain. By 4:30 there was a little lull in the raindrops and it was still dark outside. Steve took her out again under the cover of darkness and had her take care of business. 

We dozed off for another hour or two, got up and perked some coffee, and then pulled in our slides and hit the road before Binney needed to go out again. 

Time to head on down the road and get out of New Hampshire. We scooted our way back over to Vermont with more pet friendly state parks! 

We knew we were breaking the rules, but what could we do?

196 miles driven today

 1,531 miles total