Our last few days in Eastport....

Thursday, july  27

Rain was supposed to arrive in the afternoon, but it started pretty early, and came down pretty hard, and was very cold!!  Clem had started the day in shorts, but soon switched to jeans, and I started some laundry, and put on a pot of chili, which warmed us with its steam and aromas!  When it finally stopped, we put aside our books, and bundled up for a walk around town.  I layered a sweatshirt over my shirt, and dug a fleece out!  I haven’t had that many clothes on in a very long time!  

most clothes we have donned in ages!

Seemed like some hot coffee and a sweet treat were in order....and Clem is always curious about real estate values!

 A lot of folks apparently also enjoying being out after the rain, we were all roaming in and out of the shops, housed in lovely historic old buildings, in a town that was once booming, and now seems to be undergoing some renovation.  The coffee shop was full!  We bought a cup of coffee....Clem opted for hot chocolate....and we sat outside and watched the new pier construction, and the birds and the water, before heading back for our chili dinner.  

Raye's Stone Ground Mustard

 Unfortunately, missed the tour times at Raye's Stone Ground Mustard, but we sampled all the many varieties of what is supposed to be the only stone ground mustard producer left in the country.  So confused, we left without one!

Played Blokus on a chilly evening indoors

Friday started out foggy, with a promise of a nice day again, and we decided to once again cross over the border, but this time going in the other direction, and into Saint Stephens, and St. Andrews by the Sea.   Along the way, I saw a sign for St Croix National Historic Site, and we pulled off to check it out.  The park ranger was very knowledgeable about the first  settlement here, earlier even than the Pilgrims, of French fur trappers/traders and we chatted with him a while, and were about to leave, when in walks a friend from PGA!  Amazing coincidence, she had been in Canada, where we were headed, for two weeks, and had stopped as we did, curious about the sign, at just the moment we were leaving!  I got the ranger to take our photo and posted it on Facebook for friends back home to see, before heading on and across the border. 

First stop, the Chocolate Museum!  

St  Stephens

I had never heard of Ganong, but they are famous hand made Canadian candies, that started  just around the time that Hershey’s and other companies were starting in the US.  A family owned business, they operated on the principle that employees should be well taken care of, enjoy their work, and in essence be a part of the family.  I have to believe by the incredibly friendly and helpful young people who met and guided us through the museum and store, that the principle remains today.  

Museum is in back of what was the original factory.

Gaining makes their own boxes, and was the first to introduce Valentine boxes!

I had to try my hand at "packing chocolates", most likely provided for kids, with a timer.  No doubt I would not be hired!!  

The original factory now houses the chocolate store, but  chocolates were made  here for 100 years. 

We really enjoyed the informative tour and videos, and watched one of only 4  remaining hand dippers dipping chocolates, and enjoyed some delicious free samples.  The company used to employ 100 women who were trained to hand dip, and were provided with housing, but machine enrobers replaced most of them. 

This 225 pound "Evangeline", an early symbol of the chocolates, was carved by a chef .

We continued on to St. Andrews, where we first walked around the little town and wandered into the many shops, and admired the water front.  Not wanting to take the time for a sit down lunch, and not having brought a picnic, we started looking for something quick, and noticed a grocery store, and went in to see what we could find.  Not only were we able to get some picnic food, it was fun looking some of the different merchandise.  We found a picnic table on the wharf and enjoyed our lunch, then the rest of the stores before heading to the Algonquin Inn, a lovely historic old place on the hill......with no view!  Odd!  Gorgeous day, got some photos, and decided to head back and sit outside and enjoy, and we passed up the Botanic Garden......maybe another time!

Algonquin Inn

That evening after dinner, we took our wine, and set out for a walk, and ended up joining the crew on the top of the lot, where the fire was burning, and folks were gathered, and welcomed us to join in.  Met a young couple.....with a 4 year old and a 3 month old.......who were on a one year trip!  ONE YEAR!!  I asked of course, and they manage rental units.  I’m not sure how that works exactly, but they have booked a month at this campground, and were obviously a solid part of the group!  Another part of Bob’s main group is a couple from Texas, who have been here since the first of June.  They had all met someplace a few years ago, and apparently meet up here now.   

Saturday was cool and sunny, and I had wanted to clean out my car, which is full of pine needles, and pebbles from the variuos campgrounds and wet weather, so I did that while Clem folded up the screen house and made some early preparations for our departure tomorrow, then we sat and relaxed outside and enjoyed the gorgeous day. I have to admit, it is going to be hard to leave this site!  

We took a late afternoon ride to check out the 45th Parallel, which was a store we had passed up, and then the actual 45th parallel marker, the oldest in the world, placed in 1889, where we took the requisite photos, and checked it off my Roadside America list!

Store sign that many people mistake for the actual  marker.  

The real deal!  Oldest ever installed, done in 1889

Had to prove we were there....hard to get a selfie with it! 

We decided to drive back into Eastport for an early,  last night dinner on the water at Chowder House, where we had eaten when we arrived.  Out back there is a rock that looks like a bear head, if the light and one’s imagination is in the right place, and checked off “interesting installation” number 304!  Nice, relaxing dinner, Clem working on the special, two soft shell lobsters, then back to camp, and the most amazing sunset!  

bear head rock!

The special of the night, two soft-shells for $21!!

It has been a very nice stay here in Eastport, with a beautiful site, interesting attractions,  

picnics, fun neighbors, and just kicking back and relaxing.