Finally Escaped Maine! In New Hampshire Now.

Days 81 and 82 of Trip, Friday and Saturday, August 29 and 30, 2014

Yesterday morning after our breakfast at the King's Hill Inn B&B, and a long visit with Janice, the owner, we roamed around the beautiful grounds and took some photos. First, here's the room we stayed in, tucked under the eaves upstairs:

Before I show you some photos of the property, I'll mention this. Janice and her husband, Glenn, have been operating the B&B for fifteen years. Because of some significant health concerns, they really need to sell it. Now, I'm not turning real estate agent, but I'm just mentioning this in case someone reading this blog knows someone who knows someone who wants to own and operate a B&B. I can't imagine a better deal than this: 25 stunning acres in Maine, some wooded and some beautifully landscaped, a historic house for the B&B, another beautiful house either for rental or for the owners to live in, a newly restored 100-year-old barn for weddings, dances, events of any kind, a lovely little chapel, AND a thriving business thrown into the mix. We couldn't believe how low their asking price is for all this. They really do need to sell, and that need is reflected in the price. You can see the full real estate tour on Youtube if you're interested, or you can forward the link to a friend who might be... It has all the details, and an aerial tour as well as room by room tour. Just Google search: You tube, King's Hill Inn.

Janice was saying that an ideal scenario would be for two energetic couples to go in together. That way they could relieve each other, and both could get regular vacations (which is a difficult thing for B&B owners to do, generally), and there is PLENTY of income opportunity to support two families.

If you have questions, just look up the King's Hill Inn B&B online and contact Janice or her realtor. Now...ready to see some of what I've been describing? Well, feast your eyes on this!

The chapel:

The amazing 100-year-old + Barn:

Upstairs barn loft:

View from the barn. Tallest mountain in the distance (hard to see with my iPad photo) is a ski resort 30 minutes away, so plenty of winter income as well.

Old carriage lane with original rock fence leading to cleared areas:

Looking back toward barn in distance.

Second house on Property

2nd house on left, Barn on right with B&B just visible beyond it.

Curt and Janice in front of B&B

We have been praying for Janice and Glenn steadily since we left yesterday morning. We would be thrilled if somehow this information found its way to someone who might be able to relieve their situation. Janice said they would even entertain the idea of someone coming to operate the B&B for a year or two to try it out, with the option of buying if they wished. So, think.... Which of your friends have you heard saying, "I'd love to try running a B&B someday..."?

After leaving the B&B, we headed to the quaint town of Norway, Maine. As we drove down the Main Street, I saw a sign that said "Fiber and Vine." From my quick glimpse, I couldn't tell if it was a yarn store or a wine store, so I asked Dear, Patient Curt (DPC) to park so I could run back and see. It turned out to be BOTH! Now in my travels so far in Maine, I've seen yarn paired with dog accessories (Wags and Wool in Lubec), with candy at Bea's Yarns in Bar Harbor (which, by the way, is properly pronounced Bah Hahbah around here), and now with wine in Norway, Maine. I can't wait to see what other unique combinations I find on this trip!

I was having such a great time with Sarah, who works there, that I was shocked to see that almost an hour had gone by when the door opened and Curt came in to see if I was still alive. 

I waved goodbye to Sarah as DPC towed me out the door . . . 

. . . But I managed to get one last shot of the felted wool mail box hanging on the door and the wonderful spinning wheel in the shop window:

Too bad. We have to go right past there next week when we pick up our new travel trailer. I think I'll give Curt a copy of one of James Michener's novels to read that day!

Since we were visiting exotic places, we (accidentally) drove through Naples and narrowly missed Denmark before we left Maine and crossed into New Hampshire. The scenery is much different here than in Maine. There are lakes, mountains and green trees everywhere!

Since we're not using a GPS and are just relying on maps, road signs, and intuition, occasionally we have to make a U turn and give something another try. This wonderful farm and country store was the prize we found on one of our U-turns. We filled our cooler with fresh vegetables!

On our way our I noticed the pumpkins. We've been watching for signs of fall, but even at this northern latitude we haven't seen too many indicators. The trees are still VERY green, with a very occasional tiny spot of bronze or light red in a small part of a maple tree here and there. At this point, when we look out at the landscape, the predominant color is still GREEN!

 

The pumpkins, however, were a definite sign that fall is on the way. And I know we'll be seeing more and more colors in the coming weeks. I'll be sure to share them with you.

Today we had our first excursion into an L.L. Bean Outlet Store. What fun!!!!

We're camped in a KOA near Chocorua, New Hampshire, south of Conway. We arrived yesterday, and we'll be here two more nights (the last 3 nights in our pop-up). Then we'll head back to Ross and Lorna's house (Curt's brother and sister-in-law in Massachusetts) to temporarily offload a fair amount of the stuff we're hauling, so we can head back to Maine Wednesday and switch out our pop-up for the new travel trailer. Then we'll spend a couple of days with my cousin Kim and her husband, Brad in Henniker, N.H. before going back to Ross and Lorna's to properly "move in" to our new home on wheels, and to spend some more hilarious family time (after almost two months away, my sides have finally stopped aching from the Shirer Shenanigans I endured on the last visit!). From that point, we're not sure where we'll go next. We generally plan about a week in advance, and just see what comes up!

Have a restful, festive and safe Labor Day weekend!