My last few years of work before retirement were fairly hectic: a government position in times of political and financial crisis. My semiannual vacations were the only times I was truly free of the cares and aggravations of the workplace. We had gotten our Roadtrek in early 2007, and twice a year we would head out as far as we could within the two weeks we had, only to return to another six months of drudgery. Then it got worse – I worked straight through from October 2008 until I retired in the summer of 2010; 22 months of unrelenting toil.
The 2008 trip was to Newfoundland and back from our home in Florida – like I said, we were trying to escape, so we headed northeast until it was nothing but the north Atlantic in front of us and the breeze smelling of cold, salty things coming in off the ocean. Fiona delighted in looking out over the ocean from the headlands we were camping on.
After a wonderful week exploring Newfoundland, whose scenery is magnificent and whose people are unsurpassed in hospitality and just general common human decency, we headed back to what I knew in my heart was going to be a long grind through to the end of my glorious *cough* career with the state. And I felt the burden of that grind with every mile I drove back toward Florida.
We had crossed the border from New Brunswick back into the States just before dusk, and I kept driving down US 1 through Maine until it became too late to push on. We started looking for a place to spend the night, and saw a sign – Pleasant River RV Park. This was in the days when our Roadtrek was pretty much stock, so we didn't have a lot of boondocking capability – we hit the commercial parks when driving so we could get water and electricity. I followed a truly narrow and winding road down to this RV park, and we grabbed an empty spot- the office was long closed by the time we arrived.
And then magic happened – I woke up at dawn to a beautiful scene. We were in the tiny (population 1000) town of Addison, Maine on a tidal river, and the lobster boats were heading out to sea through the morning mist. Fall was in the air, the leaves were glorious, apples were hanging from the trees all around us, and I had to be back to work in three days. I was seized by a longing to just stay here and never go back to my sorry job. I made myself a promise that one day I would return here, to this spot, and stay as long as I wanted to.
Fast forward two years to October 2010 – I've been retired two months, and we're exploring the northern Maine coast, driving along US 1. And there's this sign – Pleasant River RV Park. I think we'll turn down this narrow and winding road and take it to the end, to where the lobster boats go out at dawn.
We stayed a month. I would just lie there in the hammock on warm sunny afternoons and smile a little smile to myself.
10 Responses to “A Promise Kept: Our Return to Addison, ME”
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July 11, 2014at1:01 pm, Karsten Askeland said:
Life doesn’t get any better than that. I visit Maine often and long to go back every time I leave. Reading your story here makes me want to return this fall. But alas … I have to wait till next fall and will look up this location. Retirement is a wonderful time of our lives. I’m smiling just thinking about lying back in my gravity lounger smelling the fresh salt air.
April 13, 2014at4:30 pm, Susan FG Smith said:
Love your article. We think Down East Maine is a huge slice of heaven, too. Spent last summer volunteering at the Maine Sea Coast Mission in Cherryfield. After living and traveling full time in our RT for 2 yrs, we’ve decided to build a tiny cabin in the coastal Maine town of Eastport.
April 12, 2014at9:51 pm, John Benson said:
That is a great story. My in-laws live near there. As soon as we get our RoadTrek, we’re going to do the same thing.
I’ve seen a photo of your hammock. I think you said you keep it in your Stowaway. Where did you get the hammock?
April 13, 2014at12:30 pm, Campskunk said:
mrs campskunk found it online, and they’re no longer carried. the frame is great – the sling lasted maybe two years before we had to replace it. a sailmaking shop did a great job for us.
October 05, 2013at10:33 pm, Cheryl Gregorie said:
On the bucket list! Great story!
October 04, 2013at1:59 pm, Barbara K said:
Wonderful!
October 04, 2013at1:23 pm, Maureen said:
Serenity..YES…I shall look for this little spot on my trek. Thanks Campskunk
October 04, 2013at7:31 pm, Campskunk said:
ward and harriet have a website up now http://www.pleasantriverrv.com/
it’s really a non-RV park RV park. the sites are HUGE and all overlook the river. you can have a land line phone, a mailbox, even a vegetable garden, since most of the sites are occupied for the season. nice people, nice town – it’s a great place.
October 04, 2013at11:53 am, Sherry said:
Wish I were there right now. Our RV (not a Roadtrek…sigh**) is being repaired. I’m not sure if your posts help my cabin fever or makes it worse. LOL. Thanks for a lovely post.
October 04, 2013at8:05 am, Rick said:
Glad to read that you made it back and that the park was still open. Your first impression must have been a great one to stay a month the second time. I i enjoy your post.