We have thoroughly enjoyed all of our stops along this journey, that is for sure. There is simply nothing like travel — slow travel at that, and, furthermore, in a tiny house on wheels. This globe that is the Earth is beautiful. People are kind. There is so much to see and do. It is all very exciting, grounding and reassuring.

For so long, we really just wanted to get to Maine. There was definitely a tug on our hearts to be here. When we cast our line due east from Conway, New Hampshire, it landed in Rockport, which has turned out to be much more than expected — easy, accessible, slow, self-assured, aware, beautiful and delicious. We have enjoyed it so much that we decided to stay here the whole month of September. Life on a rock, the beach, the campground or at the harbor is good.

Rejoicing in Rockport

Rockport, Maine, is a small town of about 3,300 people, but it is in the middle of everything and along the popular coastline route that meanders throughout Maine’s gorgeous shore and harbor towns. Originally known as Goose River Village, Rockport was settled in 1769. Early industries were shipbuilding, ice harvesting and lime manufacturing. Lime casks were sent to Washington DC to help rebuild the White House after it was damaged by the British in the War of 1812. (Wikipedia) The lime kilns are preserved in Rockport Harbor and are really quite interesting and unique.

It is an artists’ town; there are many galleries and artists afoot painting the landscape. Rockport is also famous for “Oreo Cookie Cows,” Belted Galloways that call the old Aldermere Farm home. At Rockport Harbor, you will also find a statue of Andre the Seal, the late, famous, friendly, hungry pal that often visited harbor crew.

Rockport also has been listed as one of America’s prettiest towns. We attest to that. Snug in its corner of the world, Rockport is situated on Penobscot Bay and the Gulf of Maine, and then eventually the Atlantic Ocean. It is abundant in local food and fresh fish and crustaceans. The terrain offers wooded forests with huge, bizarre pines, rolling hills and a few low mountains, as well as miles and miles of rugged coast. The tides are very high and very low and very obviously so. Everything has its role and its place here in Rockport, Maine. Just plug in, sit, watch and be. You will get the vibe.

Which is why we love it so. It’s easy to be here. There isn’t much traffic, the neighboring villages are small, the food is delicious and the folks just offer up what they know and what they have. So we decided to stay until the weather pushes us southward. We call Camden Hills RV Resort home. It reflects the rest of the area so well. We feel welcome here in the woods near the coast.

Camping Camden Hills Style

Some people believe in good luck, some people don’t. All we know is that we struck gold at Camden Hills RV Resort. Inexpensive, it offers so much to campers like us. It is quiet, beautiful and peaceful. Nestled in the woods, we hear owls, we mingle with the enormous pines and we pick wild berries. There is a pool, there are swings and a laundry facility. Cell connection is good, the host/concierge informed and generous. Furthermore, it is in the middle of everything and away from busy and touristy areas. We can’t say enough about our stay here. It is a real treasure and has been really wonderful.

So far, we have visited Camden State Park just up the road for some spectacular vistas of the islands and ocean, and we have gone south to foodie/industrial Rockland. Scot has taken some trail runs at nearby Georges Highland Path, and we spend lots of time at Rockport Harbor and on the rocks off of the secret scenic byway on the peninsula. There we observe the tides, the lobster fishermen and women, recreational boaters, kayakers and paddleboarders, swimmers, schooners, tourists and more. We have picnics and cocktails, take naps and play, ride Luna’s scooter and talk to each other and the harbor master or artist in residence. We have plans to spend more time in Camden and New Harbor, as well as at all of our current favorite locations.

We eat local fare, too — the blueberries, apples from the random coastal apple trees, the lobster and crab and haddock — and chat to those that provide them for us. We buy local fish from famous Graffam Brothers Seafood Market and local produce from Fresh Off the Farm. There are lots of wine shops and cheese from the State of Maine Cheese Company. All of these local goodies have provided me with lots of inspiration for delicious menus, such as my version of lobster or crab rolls. We are very grateful for all that they provide.

Finally, it is important to note how much travel continues to make our hearts swell. We have met amazing people along the way, some we knew and others who are new to us. Most recently, travelers in Maine have included folks from Milan, Nova Scotia, Las Vegas, Caribou, Maine, and Israel. And, to our great surprise, our Michigan neighbors, who are leaf-peeping with the rest of us, happened to be going by and stopped in for a visit. We are very fortunate to know such people — all of them — and share in our travel experiences. Soon, we will be researching camping in Canada and Israel, but in the meantime, we call this home.

We love the Maine way of life. It’s a beautiful place to be.