Get calls from Maine real estate buyers who need to invest in property someplace else that where they now live.
Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover.
Some are looking for a vacation home location and Maine scores top of the list.
Moving to Maine.
Others just know they can not stay where they live now. Either to raise a family, run a business, to retire and enjoy the Golden Years as best they can.
Had a lady from Texas as a recent example who dreams of moving to Maine.
Getting Out Of The Maine Real Estate Office, Not Pinned To The Wall By A Desk. Lucky To Live In Maine Is How I Feel Every Day!
Her husband works for the phone company, she has MS and is from Maine.
Does not need a prepping on what it is like living in Maine.
The couple bought a house for around $150,000 years ago near Houston Texas that is now worth three times that figure.
“It’s too hot and burning up” is a remark I hear a lot these days and those exact words she shared with me on the phone today.
This lady says you know it is time to move when you come out of a big box store and your jeep is parked next to a Lamborghini on one side, a Maserati on the other.
There’s one of the signs. This couple in their early 60’s are looking to sell out and move away to get to Maine.
It’s not just the cost of living outside rural Maine that is nose bleed high pushing the pack up push back to relocate to “Vacationland”.
Maine is drop dead naturally gorgeous and a four season stunner.
The simple small town way of living in rural Maine is the hook, the carrot.
The communities, the people who live in small town Maine are the best. You wake up and wonder who plowed your driveway and have no idea. A casserole shows up with a hand written note “I know you are going through a tough time in your life and hope you like this covered dish at meal time.”.
Or “heard your mom had fallen and hope she is doing okay” is also on the same note.
In large over populated rush rush hurry scurry areas, kind gestures don’t happen like that. In small town rural Maine they do all the time.
Smaller group of people, friendly happens. More intimate, personal and friendly. Less crime, no traffic and lower cost of living kicks in living in rural Maine. High price of fuel oil or gas, no problem. Heat with renewable resource wood and warm as toast.
Live Music, A Maine Community Band Supplies It Weekly For Free. That’s Maine.
Next year’s heating supply of wood is all cut, stacked, stored away. Mainers are more organized and well prepared. The root cellar in the home basement has canned fruits and vegetables. The chest freezer gets pulled from over the winter months.
A garden is a source of joy and tasty food your planted on your knees and kept weeded, watered, tended.
Sometimes searching online comes up with very little Chamber of Commerce type information blurbs.
Hard To Stay Indoors For Long Living In Maine.
No chamber, low population and just not a lot to browse and consider in typical small rural Maine towns.
Or other times, lots of write up on many websites created that just miss the mark. What should happen is testimonials on why do you live in Maine? What makes you some kind of glad everyday you live in Maine? What is life like and what do you do for fun?
One website I stumbled upon tries to pick a region of Maine and showcase a “day in the life” there.
The hour by hour break down would not attract anyone to come to Maine let alone stay here. The same format write up but find a different local coffee shop, insert it.
Life Is A Maine Beach. Salt Water, Fresh Air, A Summer Breeze At A Maine Beach.
Highlight the mill the local Maine native works at and mention how during break they take a walk to enjoy the outdoor location. That’s it. No images, no narrative written by the local native… just how someone outside Maine would describe what life is like. About as exciting as watching paint dry. It is obvious who threw together the copy does not feel grateful they live in Maine.
We Have A Green Light On Derby Hill! Heat 109, Drivers Ready…? Check Your Brakes.
I hope the images, the video embeds and what is blogged about on Me In Maine is worthwhile and transparent.
Living here, raising a family in Maine and enjoying four seasons of so much natural beauty is part of what pulls at a person’s heartstrings.
But the community spirit, the local population that steps up to help out and shares the same lucky to live in Maine attitude.
So many people in this World want to run far away to hide out somewhere, anywhere. Moving to Maine. Itching to run away and doing your home work on just where?
Maine, are you looking for small town friendly and real, wholesome, healthy?
Houlton Maine, Everyone Is Excited About The Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024!
If you know of a boy or girl in Maine, anywhere around the state who wants to race in the soap box derby, please reach out.
Every young driver should not have to wait until they are sixteen to get behind the wheel of a car. Learn the “thrill of the hill” happens at Community Park in Aroostook County’s oldest town each June.
The winner goes on to represent the state at the big All American Soap Box Derby Race out west in Akron Ohio.
Need to send them a race application for the big state of Maine race on Derby Hill in Houlton Maine.
Also, the count down has started. Ready for the big total solar eclipse in Maine? Here to help with logistics if you are heading North to experience it in Northern Maine, Aroostook County!
April 8th, 2024. Circle it several times in red magic marker please and thank you.
Sorry, you snooze and lose. It will be a lotta years before the next one in Maine. There is no rain date for the total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine 2024, the last location in the USA to experience “Totality.
Maine small towns are proud of their unique area of the state. Tourism in Maine accounts for about 6.4% percent of the state’s economy. I know, that low a figure surprised me too. Or made me think we could bump it up to way more Maine tourists traveling across the big green bridge.
All this space, no crime, no traffic. Plenty of eye candy. But still the tourism dollar numbers are impressive. Tourists pump over 8.6 billion dollars a year into the local Maine economy. One out of seven Maine jobs are tourism related. Maine tourism creates 151,000 plus employment opportunities to bring home the bacon.
Welcome To Maine. How About A Super Sized Ice Cream Cone Treat?
The towns in Maine most memorable are the ones where the entire population wears an ambassador hat.
Putting on a genuine smile. Greeting the day with a healthy attitude of wanting to be helpful. Rolling out the red carpet welcome mat means putting yourself in the shoes of a tourist.
Really friendly, warm and helpful is something any new to your area visitor never forgets.
Returning trips to the small Maine town happen with frequency when the folks you bump into on vacation go all out to be the best tour guides.
The Maine folks you meet from the hospitality industry in the local lodging and dining sector have to provide first class service.
Can’t be hit or miss or depending on which way the wind happens to be blowing casual. Sincere, empathetic, sensitive to help the brand new tourist visitor have a quality stay in Maine.
Like any vacation, a brand new to your area traveler wants to explore, sample the local home grown food, to tap into the recreation. Maybe to just be left alone and veg. And usually to rest up from the very hectic week before they tidy up all the business affairs. For the pack the pack and ready or not here I go.
Take the vacation in Maine.
Life will not end if you take a break to unplug, recharge and change the scenery and routine you practice day and night on the hamster wheel right?
Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover.
You and I travel for the memories, the sights in a different setting. To try out the new culture that is not the same old same old.
Change of pace and to shake up the drill to shake off the cobwebs. To see how the rest of the World lives and what they do for downtime fun. Family vacations for couples on a budget with young children are taught travel is part of life.
Maine vacations.
Great exercise too if you like to walk, hike, bike, climb, paddle, sail or whatever mode of transportation.
But how to do a Maine vacation cheaply requires discipline and a strict budget.
And asking for help from the local Maine population that live in this section of Vacationland to guide your spending and to learn what there is to do for fun.
Saving your everyday spending dollars frugally frees up the money. The green stuff earmarked for a Maine vacation.
Feed back to the Maine hospitality service providers is critical. To learn what your customers liked on vacation and what was missing only helps shape better future stays for small Maine town travelers.
Plus your travel taps into lots of other service providers. You want to hear what they are doing right or wrong so you can adjust the dials for better performance. According to Maine government officials, state annual tourism visits show a 10 percent increase.
Nightly lodging stays in Maine are up 18 percent.
The Crown Jewels And Europe Jewel Treasures.
What do people want to do for fun, what do they consider entertainment?
Go to a local museum? Farmers markets, paddling a kayak on a bottle smooth Maine lake? To hike the trails up Baxter State park or ride a bike on miles of roads spanned by classic stone bridges around Acadia? To admire the four season space not crowded with wall to wall tourists? Maine is different than Disney Land or Cony Island, Las Vegas, most other places.
Why not own your Maine vacation property spot and possible rent it out to others with a careful background check and healthy deposits taken?
Sitting around an open fire at a Maine waterfront setting.
Enjoying a hot or cold beverage on an open porch watching Maine wildlife. Too slow paced and not action packed enough for you? Maine’s unspoiled four season setting make it low or no cost which only enhances a stay in Vacationland. Try paddling through the river rapids on the Penobscot, Dead, Kennebec Rivers for some adventure.
Camp Fires In Maine. The Circle Of Chairs For Outdoor Group Therapy.
What’s the weather forecast and being ready to pivot to a plan “B” and “C” if needed.
Not jamming so much into the Maine vacation schedule so whoever you are sharing it with does not revolt. grumble or worse mutiny.
Vacationing 101… everyone does it differently but a little help from local Mainers to suggest what should be on the itinerary is helpful.
Making it worth the money and time spent to vacation in Maine hinges on the people you meet along the way.
Vacationing In Maine. Returning To The Same Favorable Haunts Or Somewhere New?
When I was Houlton Maine Chamber of Commerce president, marketing the town for tourism was huge.
Thinking like a brand new traveler wandering into town. What would he or she need besides a warm feeling that they were welcome? How to help the new to your area tourists not waste their short time and hard earned dollars in your Maine home town? Showcasing what there is to do for fun wherever you live in Maine is huge.
So much on the list may not be your personal favorite but what do the vacation audience members want to achieve from this vacation getaway stay?
See sunrises, sunsets like no other. Meet a Maine moose, see a bald eagle, strap on a bib to eat a steamed lobster. Sample a whoopie pie or slice of blueberry filled anything. Pick up souvenirs with Maine splashed across them.
Waterfront Maine Vacations Are The Most Memorable!
How to get a Maine tourist to stick around for a stretch of days and to return for more?
To share their enjoyment with their inner circle of friends to expand on the local Maine tourism traffic to your zip code. Regional tourism and helping tourist travelers “build” an itinerary that includes more than just your corner of Maine is how state tourism dollars increase.
I just got back from a vacation to London England and Edinburgh Scotland.
Touring Edinburgh Castle In Scotland. Lots Of History. Not So Many Castles In Maine That Is A Lot Younger Historic State.
Meg, her mom and I learned a lot and got lots of exercise. How each tourism stop markets itself observed. Online and after you get there. Do you get a sense that the tour operator, restaurant, lodge owner has hospitality training?
Tower Bridge London England Toured On Recent Europe Vacation.
Is the individual providing the service you need? Or on their phone more than spending time with the “how can I help you?”. Meg and I did a lot of planning online and sorted through a lot of marketing, reviews, eyeball the media available. Again, what to do for fun is not the same list of responses for everyone polled.
Maine vacations are hard to beat and this is where our heart is.
The trip to cross the pond flying Delta to London England and Virgin Airlines back to the Logan Airport in Boston MA was different too.
Not because of jet lag or lack of hydration or sleep. Did it by the book. But like the flight experience, the dining, train travel, the museums, historical and scenery experience were not the same either. Like a movie or book you remember for days after you finish it. There is a reason why and all of us harvest different take aways looking back on any vacation.
Delta Airlines Over, Virgin Airlines Back “Across The Pond” On Vacation.
Our bus tour guide to Sterling Castle Paul gave us the history lesson on Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, Robert the Bruce, Kelpies, Nessie the monster folklore.
Train Travel On Vacation in Scotland.
In between hearing Scottish local historic information about the clans, Paul was awesome. All the information served up from a Scotsman while driving the bus along the highland country sides dotted with sheep. There was music. Fill from Paul’s playlist shared with our group added to the local Scottish immersion.
The Chieftains, Proclaimers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds and other artists on the small bus ride with the panoramic windows made it memorable. We were not in Kansas or Maine or stateside anymore.
Ran into one fellow wearing a kilt who we asked are you cold? He smiled and quickly retorted “it’s not cold, this is Scotland”. Overall the weather was a lot warmer than everyone in London and Edinburgh remembers just like here in the Maine.
Edinburgh Castle View In Edinburgh Scotland.
This trip made me really think about the new to Maine traveler and all the maps, GPS tools available to guide them.
And in my small town in Northern Maine, how to beef up the technology to create a digital guide to help travelers more completely.
The reviews on places to stay, the Maine attractions, where to eat, etc are all well and good. There are lots of happy, crabby and in between remarks and tourism propaganda to sort through building your Maine vacation experience. But what are your expectations and are they reasonable for the time and money available?
Everyone who lives, works and plays in Maine wears a tourism fire in my belly hat. Or should.
Touring Edinburgh Castle In Scotland. Lots Of History. Not So Many Castles In Maine That Is A Lot Younger Historic State. It’s Good To Explore In Travel.Scottish Bag Pipe Shop. Lots Of Bag Pipe Music Heard As You Climb The Hills, Down The Dales In Edinburgh Scotland.
I am proud of where I live and want to share why.
That is a big part of what the Me In Maine blog is all about right? To help shape vacations in Maine for others looking for rest, relaxation, entertainment, culinary delight. And to save them money in the process to help assure the Maine vacation is the best it can be.
All the locals pitch in and because we are not over crowded or withdrawn, the travel to Maine is a lot more relaxed for everyone involved.
Low population and less online to glean and study forces small town Maine vacations to be kept simple.
Need A Mineral Rich Healthy Bath? The Romans Built This Bath England Communal “Hot Tub”.
Instead of a commercialized Disney Land of expensive vacation package options to slide, scroll and display on your device, rural Maine if naturally different.
Less four color glassy tri-fold tourism paperwork to eyeball. The approach to peddling Maine tourism has to be creative. Limited resources and careful spending is the Maine frugal way.
Maine Lake Ice Fishing, Frozen Lakes Needed.
In Maine, there are a handful of cities and over 450 small communities.
Well oiled Chamber of Commerce resources are not always so plentiful online. To use in connecting the dots and reading between the lines to shape up your planned Maine vacation.
Time For Fish & Chips In London England.
But ask a local Mainer who is helpful and more than willing to suggest vacation options for your day and weekend ahead. Don’t just rely on skimpy online reviews and limited blog posts, videos, websites to tell the Maine vacation story.
Taken any interesting trips or are you over due for some R&R?
Houlton Maine, Last Place To Experience Totality, The Total Solar Eclipse 2024!
Reach out and here for questions about anything Maine.
Please consider you are personally invited and on the VIP invite list for a solar eclipse visit or whenever you can take the trek to Maine. Would love to meet any of your blog post followers and here for questions or tips in getting around, where to go, what the options are!
This total eclipse in Houlton Maine is the last stop for totality in the USA. Maine tourism, something that goes not happen again in my lifetime. No better spot to experience the total solar eclipse than in Houlton Maine, Aroostook County!
Saving money during construction tips to lower the cost building a new Maine home. Steps to take to stretch your dollars. To just shy of the breaking point to save the most money possible to get what you want.
This blog post highlights the best cost cutting and top money saving house building tips to follow.
Everything from finding the perfect Maine land to the step by step build from scratch dance steps. It’s all about timing and for most of us remembering that money and time are limited. Pouring your hard earned money into home construction is expensive, scary and exciting all rolled up into one.
So, let’s hop to it. Where to begin? Your location, the land in Maine where you chose to build a house.
Is the land level or sloping, open or wooded? How long a driveway to get to that perfect building spot to capture the view and southern exposure sunshine? Some Maine land listings are easier to develop than others.
In rural Maine it is not so hard to have privacy space and elbow room to protect from too many neighbors. Where I live there are just 11 friendly folks per acres in Northern Maine.
Maine Land. More Acres, Wildlife, Less People!
But how much in the house building budget for buying Maine land?
The more you buy, the cheaper per acreage cost but you can’t blow the whole wad on just land right? Unless your new home is just a tent. Or you plan to haul in an old camper trailer and call it good enough.
Is the Maine land now serviced by a municipality town water, sewer and power ?
Home On The Range… Er I Mean In Maine? More Space, Lower Price, Less People!
Or do you have to drill a private water well, septic system and run juice to the building site? Run the numbers, make one of many financial decisions along the way unless money is no object.
Are you going off grid and what extra expense are solar, wind, whatever alternative energy source going to set you back developing the Maine land?
It’s constantly doing the math all along the way from ground work to nailing in the last piece of finish trim. Add and subtract and constant study asking lots of questions. Take very good notes in interviews with other folks who built a house. And what they share that was a smart move or not the steps they would have taken again if ever building another house in Maine.
Best Way To Insulate The Cathedral Ceiling In A Maine Lake Camp?
Talks with contractors who are no stranger to the house building process has to happen until you assemble the team you trust to guide you. Do the math each and every step.
Like with all home building weighing the cost and considerations, be ready to pivot and modify the build the house from scratch plan.
Maybe the Maine land you bought already has utilities to tap into that are modern and up to snuff. Is there the cost of tearing down an existing old home on the building site? Hauling it away rather than burying it on your Maine land?
Calculate the expense and hopefully it was all factored in before you even buy the Maine land.
Maine Land, Are You Building A Home With A Major View In Your Lap?
There are a lot of moving parts and costly variable to navigate when you start fresh building a house in Maine.
Instead of buying a house to undo, redo and then make do that is not quite what you had in mind. Building on Maine land can be cheaper in the long run if you plan your work and work your plan. What house design did you set on and was it cost saving because the kitchen and bathroom plumbing is back to back in close proximity?
Land To Build A Home On, Sometimes It Is Waterfront Property in Maine.
Spreading out the blue prints to see lots of open living space not rooms combined to avoid extra walls, halls and doors?
Pick a house plan that efficiently uses dimensional lumber the way it is sold. In the lengths it comes out of the warehouse. Or better yet, there is lumber on the Maine land and a nearby sawmill to process it?
How else to reduce your house building expenses costs?
Put the floor plan home square footage on a diet. Less home inside, more outdoor living. Keep it simple and less is more thinking if you open up and combine the living areas. Smaller home, less materials, easier to heat, less to clean, kinda cozy. It all saves costs.
Outdoors, Maine Is All About Being Outdoors Any Chance You Get All Year Round! Kids Play Outside, Adults Don’t Forget To Do The Same In Maine!
Also, building a second floor and go up or a daylight basement to walk out can be extra living space.
Instead of a bigger footprint and higher basement wall and floor expansion costs, a two-story house design is cheaper. An attached garage saves one wall and reduces the costs. Stay away from custom designs and lots of “jogs” in the cellar foundation.
Each two feet in and so many feet out bay window or recessed front porch basement wall twist and turn adds thousands to the cost.
A simple rectangle or square is cheaper and easier to build on. Do you even need a full basement and the older we all get, stairs become more and more less fun to navigate right? Crawl space, insulated slab with radiant heat, or a full walk out daylight basement to save on the foundation cost square footage?
Small Maine Towns Are Closer To The Wildlife, The Recreational Trails. Less People, More Space, Clear Air, Fresh Water Make It Unspoiled Special!
It’s all about calculating time, materials, labor costs and your enjoyment with the finished product Maine house design at this stage of your life.
Maybe you are using a local Maine log home make for the building materials? If they are local, no extra cost of trucking the logs in from far away when they grow up and harvested all around you. The best price on the cost of materials, who’s available to star in your house building dream that you don’t want to turn into a nightmare.
Getting the labor team lined up and keeping them working on house construction.
So no one is standing around killing precious time. Being paid to only push a clean up broom to look busy while waiting for material deliveries or other MIA tradesmen to show up to work.
Maine Fall Colors, See Them Shine Brightly Four Wheeling On An ATV Seat. Plan To Build Home Or Camp In Maine?
People are different, the combination of who builds your home can go smooth or have rough edges causing friction.
When they house building crew gets along and works together, harmony happens. If they don’t there can be back biting, wasted time, cost over runs, the blame game as tempers flare.
Resale of whatever you build, that 3rd bedroom you use as a den that has a closet will add appeal. To the couple with Jimmy and Julie who need the extra bedroom you don’t.
Also building a house in Maine. Consider what if you needed to add on for a loved one to be close but living independently. That door off the kitchen would work fine for future construction for you or the next real estate buyer. The septic and well were not in the way and purposely put elsewhere just in case adding on to the house had to happen.
Lots to consider and here to help in your exciting build a house on your own Maine land.
As a local native I know the lay of the land and have personal experience with lots of construction projects over the years. Here to help your Maine land buying, to guide your house building desire to get exactly what you want for “home sweet new home”.
Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover.
I know a recent Maine land buyer who purchased 15 acres to build a new home on.
Instead of going head over heels in debt with a construction loan and lots of bank interest payments and fees piled high to carry, this couple is going a different route. The Maine land purchased for cash. The buyer’s Dad has a dooryard with lots of excavation road building and wood timbering equipment. The site prep work already done and the land cleared.
The long driveway installed with drainage culverts and turn around. The start for the septic system prep work in place and the couple knows exactly where the private water well will go on the Maine land.
Building On Land In Maine Ground Work Takes Money And Planning.
Living in the full concrete cellar is the plan. Month to month adding money from their income stream slow but sure put a roof over their head.
Their existing Maine home is on the market. Neat, clean, priced attractively to sell. Once it does, the profit from that Maine house sale will be funneled into the new home being built in Southern Aroostook County.
Smart, careful, frugal and doing just as much of the house construction, building a home work themselves. Rather than hiring it all out because they have the tools, equipment, skills and determination to pull off the build a house in Maine from scratch. Mainers have common sense and a wide skill set to do more than survive. Building your own home in Maine is not such a nerve wracking ordeal when you grow up helping doing all kinds of building maintenance and construction.
The warmer than usual temperatures earlier this winter made Maine lake ice fishing impossible. Open water kept ice fishing shacks from populating Maine lakes earlier this winter. And this week’s Maine weather forecast is calling for more above freezing point temperatures.
Everyone Enjoys Outdoor Maine Lake Ice Fishing. Even The Family Dog.
The tug of war from no ice to a thin layer then back to open water forced Maine winter outdoor lovers to try other sports.
Not that small Maine down hill ski areas have it much better. Lucky to have any mountain trails available like this Hermon Mountain ski area short video shows.
Making snow is expensive and higher than normal Maine temperatures messed up skiing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing too. Winter snow is vital to Maine tourism at local lodges, motels, restaurants and communities that depend on the white stuff to boost the economy.
So back to lake ice fishing in Maine.
This past weekend thanks to a few days of lower weather forecast temperatures, Maine lakes firmed up enough to allow ice fishing.
Saturday all around Northern Maine ice fishing enthusiasts headed out onto frozen lakes to set up the shacks. To drill the maximum five holes to open up the Maine lake. Dropping the baited lines, setting ice fishing traps to wait and watch for the orange flags to trip. You’re not going to get a hernia from the pace of the Maine lake ice fishing sport. It’s not a race waiting for fish of all types to nibble on the line.
Ice fishing Maine lakes is not a highly strenuous outdoor winter spot.
But there is lots more to it than just catching your limit or the largest fish pulled up through the hole during an ice fishing derby.
Kinda Windy Out In The Open On A Maine Lake Ice Fishing. No Trees For A Wind Break As Gusts Pick Up Speed Down Across The Frozen Layer Of Lake Ice.
The ice fishing shacks have all the creature comforts.
More chili? Pulled pork sandwiches or baked beans? Oyster or better yet fish chowder? Some hot chocolate? I’ve seen Satellite dishes to watch the super bowl. Gas or wood unit stoves heating the smaller square footage. The wind gusts pummel the small shack hauled out to be your temporary home ice fishing.
Winds and blowing snow creates the cozy, tight quarters home away from home by yourself on a Maine frozen sheet of lake ice.
This year’s drought of snow and unseasonably warm temperatures have fouled up ice fishing, snow skiing, all of the winter recreation in Maine. Here is the local Maine ice fishing lake report around the state.
Snowmobiles A Big Part Of Maine Ice Fishing. Lugging Your Gear, Food, Fire Wood… The Shack Out To Your Spot On A Maine Lake.
Spirited cribbage board and card games happen during Maine lake ice fishing season.
The kids are pulled by snowmobiles on toboggans, saucers and sleds. Four wheelers are equipped with tracks to keep them from getting stuck.
Ice Fishing On Maine Lakes, A Plowed Or Groomed Roadway Leads To The Village Of Ice Fishing Shacks.
Roads are plowed down the middle of Maine lakes using pickups or snow sled club groomers for the temporary transportation.
Hauling out the ice shack, the tents, the Jiffy ice auger and supplies for food and fun.
An eight inch hole is best for larger fish that won’t fit so easily through a six inch one. But a ten inch hole would be dangerous for ice fisherman and their friends, families who could accidently step into them and potentially hurt their legs.
Drews Lake Maine Group Of Ice Fishing Shacks. Fishing Derbies Around Maine Lakes Make Angling For Fish Profitable And Competitive.
I know a friend of mine who was fishing for salmon on Deering Lake in Weston Maine who cut his leg on the ice auger.
A few years back, he had an accident. He lost quite a bit of blood and drove himself to the local hospital. The motorized auger got too close to this snow sledding boots. Bit him. A buddy system and measuring the ice depths all help make ice fishing less stressful for the local Maine game warden.
Maine Drews Lake Ice Fishing Derby Happened As Part Of Moosestompers Weekend.
A friend of mine lived on Drews Lake and in high school if I ask permission to spend the night, my Dad would always make me promise.
Don’t drive on the ice. I can hold my breath, but not until spring. You go through the hole in the ice and might not find an opening to come back up through if their is a water current.
Socializing, More Than Just Fishing For Supper Or A Trophy Under The Frozen Sheet Of Maine Lake Ice.
The thought of falling through the ice walking, on a snowmobile or in a vehicle is a nightmare I don’t want to be in. But flying the drone and thanks to a telephoto camera lens brought along for the capture from shore,
Dad would be happy. I did not have to drive out on the ice to get closer to the ice fishing lake action for the video and still photography.
Making A Weekend, Enjoying A Maine Winter Ice Fishing On Drews Lake!
Ever do it? It is peaceful, quiet and you never know who will stop in by cross country ski, snowmobile or driving out to your ice shack to visit. Maine, we don’t hibernate and sit on a couch shivering. Playing outside learned as a kid and sticks with you until the end of your days living and enjoying rural Maine.
Drone Aerial Of Nickerson Lake Ice Fishing This Past Weekend Up In Aroostook County.
Dressing with layers and the right gear to be out in the fresh air in Maine.
True Mainers are outdoors everyday of the year and loving it. Blue sky, fresh sparkling snow, the sound of it crunching under foot. Winter air invigorates and increases awareness in the stillness around you up to camp in Maine.
Ice fishing in Maine is one more winter sport to help pass the time as the kitchen calendar sheets one by one get checked off and used up slowly.
The estimates are 10,000 up to 40,000 viewers taking the trek to the last USA Houlton Maine solar eclipse 2024. There are lots of logistics to plan to manage that many additional people heading to Aroostook County Maine. When you consider the total local small Maine town population is around 6000 happy souls. May be a little outnumbered but Houlton and the communities surrounding it are ready for a little company.
Plenty of long range problem solving, public discussions needed to happen and did for the total solar eclipse Houlton ME event April 8, 2024.
To pull of the solar eclipse event without a hitch for a positive experience takes everyone on the same page to how best to pull off the four day festival event.
Maine, The Way Life Should Be. One Big State, Lots Of Special Hidden Areas To Discover. Thought About Going To The Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine?
What’s the big deal about a total solar eclipse?
Oh, I don’t know. Just the wrap up of the 13 state 2024 solar eclipse light show tour. A celestial astronomical event that is not going to cause totality again in my home town of Houlton Maine for hundreds of years. There is no rain date and no dress rehearsal. It’s showtime. Hit the lights.
Starting in Texas as the opening act, ending up just an hour later passing over Houlton Maine. Houlton Maine is lucky to be dead center for totality in the path of darkness bathing the Earth as it passes overhead.
The fun continues “over home” as we like to call Canada on this side of the border eh? My Dad’s mom, my grandmother Bessie Burtt was 100% Canadian red maple leaf DNA. Everyone is related back and forth on both sides of the USA / Canada International boundary line. You learn how to play better hockey on the solid sheet of frozen water at a Canadian ice arena.
Last USA total solar eclipse Houlton ME.
Big happenings with the 2024 total solar eclipse as it exits Maine, enters New Brunswick Canada.
Houlton Maine, Last Place To Experience Totality, The Total Solar Eclipse 2024! (Poster copyright by local Mainer Cynthia Taylor Studios)
The solar eclipse 2024 continues rolling on without stopping at customs and immigration inspections thru New Brunswick into Atlantic Canada, then out to sea.
So opening up the highways leading to your small Maine home town. This blog post is about rolling out the red carpet, firing up the welcome wagon. What’s involved in a slightly more complex event with all these out of town visitors. Attendance was high at last night’s meeting, lots of questions and brain storming at one of many solar eclipse gatherings at the Houlton High School auditorium.
What about cell phones and are the local tower systems designed for up to 40,000 visitors for the 4 day festival?
The extra load on communications, Internet, highways, local services, EMS. Traffic flow, what roadways to make one way? Coordinating public safety with the local Houlton Maine police working hand in hand with state police, sheriff’s patrol, US border patrol. I wondered about street lamps on sensors coming on to take away from the afternoon totality black out in Houlton Maine.
Where do you plan to view the eclipse wearing your special eye protection glasses?
Mt Katahdin, the very top would be a crowded place if Baxter Park was open to hikers in April which it is not. Or the site for the Waston Settlement covered bridge in Littleton that is a whisker north of Houlton Maine.
Houlton Maine, Aroostook County. Home Of Totality, The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse.
Local WHOU radio station and Channel 8 public service announcements to keep the public in the know of what to expect.
Solar totality blog posts, Houlton Pioneer Times and Bangor Daily News read all about the latest developments during planning and the actual eclipse festival event. Folks toying with the idea of traveling to Houlton Maine for the total eclipse. They all need to know all about the area, the festival of events, places to stay, where to eat and what to do for fun.
Questions, Answers, Updates From Houlton Maine Eclipse Planners Sharing The Houlton High School Auditorium Stage Last Night.
It’s a lot different than when this is your fourth, seventh or a yearly tradition to know what to expect for the next one.
There is no minutes from the wrap up meeting of last year’s total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine to re-read and build on. Learning from past years lessons to fine tune and tighten up the event are not here to glean.
Adjustments and refinement, like we make yearly to the Houlton Fair, Rotary Auction, Northern Maine Soap Box Derby or Moosestompers etc local events.
Those are easy because something to build on and either worked or did not from experience on each recurring yearly event. This is like the first ever let’s send some astronauts to Moon and back exercise. Risks, weather, expenses and unknowns on just how many people will show up in Houlton Maine wearing solar glasses.
Mark Hovarth, Holder Of A PHD In Astronomy Teaches The Houlton Maine Audience About Solar Eclipses.
The AirBnB and VRBO vacation sites, local motels for lodging are booked solid.
Local folks are opening up their houses, camps, cottages as extra places to stay. Transportation with five buses so far to shuttle solar eclipse watchers, event goers opening up local options to help shuttle all these guests. Want to be an Uber or Lyft operator for a weekend and have a clean driver’s license? Lots of ways to monetize the solar eclipse event.
Parking lots, places to camp with tents, RV’s on open land near the festivities. Lots of opportunities for local property owners to consider sharing their private location for eclipse watchers this April 8th,2024. Parking your vacation on wheels rig at Walmart store #1974? Only so many spaces for the last USA Total Solar Eclipse.
Big Green Bridge To Maine. Heading Up I-95 To Attend The 4 Day Festival Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine. You Going?
You can read to learn what to do, what to avoid online accounts are helpful. But experience with something of this magnitude and event planning that started years ago. The weather forecast, time of year affectionately known as “mud season”.
How much food to order, like a cruise ship, the best way to serve it up without long lines, big delays or bottle necks.
How to assure a fire truck or ambulance or police officer can respond to an emergency situation with all the traffic and wall to wall people. When you have around a 6000 population, the getting ready for possible six times or more that number of people roaming around in your small Maine community is exciting.
Where Are You? Houlton Maine Welcomes You To The April 8th 2024 Totality. Ever Experienced A Total Solar Eclipse? You Are Invited To Houlton Maine For One!
Lots of jobs and responsibilities for paid staff and volunteers to pull together to make the event a positive experience.
It makes a small Maine community pull together and work hard to tackle the known and unknowns. Stay tuned for more in future posts in this Maine blogging channel.
Communicating what is happening as the event schedule fills up and the calendar days accelerate toward April 8th, 2024’s total solar eclipse.
Maine Humorist, Tim Sample From Fort Fairfield Part Of The Houlton Maine Total Eclipse 2024!
The count down toward totality, the last place in continental USA for a total solar eclipse in Houlton Maine.
Local eclipse watchers to crane their necks skyward to view the light show wearing eye protection. This celestial chain of events is once in a lifetime for most. Protect the peepers and avoid life long damage by covering up eyes to filter out the harmful, powerful Sun please.
This simple video shows you what happens that causes wildlife to hush and everything goes dark in Houlton Maine’s total eclipse.
The area 15 churches and counting are onboard and working together for warming areas, additional places to dine according to Hollie McAffee.
Besides church groups, eclipse planner Hollie McAfee says the local area snowmobile, fish and game clubs, area schools are coming together. Any gym, barn, warehouse is fair game to retool and use for some aspect of the total darkness in Houlton Maine. 10,000 of the 60,000 special safety approved eclipse eye glasses are given free to the area schools. Safety talks and reminders how to not damage your eyes for life education is so critical.
Totality, The Scientific Parts Of A Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine.
I remember the 1963 partial eclipse in Houlton Maine.
My 3 older brothers, mom and dad were ready to watch through welder’s glass for eye protection. But many of my friends were rushed inside into rooms with the blinds and shades pulled down.
As local panel speaker Mark Horvath, holder of a PHD in astronomy warned the group. During last night’s Q&A public session, he told the group you don’t want the total solar eclipse blinding light as the Moon slides away from between the Sun and Earth to be the last thing you ever see.
What Happens During A Solar Eclipse. Total Or Partial Events, What Happens?
Safety first and last. Burning your retina and doing damage of any degree to your eyes is not worth it.
Dumpsters, is 100 porta potties enough? Do we need more venues for dining and how to creatively open up extra lodging options? More varied event entertainment, food trucks, pop up businesses and parking, spacing. Five star parks sponsored and designated for group watching as of this date.
The list of what’s going on for eclipse events grows and changes daily.
Learned last night the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd is ordering 1500 fresh lobsters, steaming them up, adding a baked potato and home made whoopie pies. Last USA Total Solar Eclipse Houlton Maine, you planning the trip north?
The Event Calendar For 4 Day Eclipse Festival Continues To Grow. Stay Tuned For The Calendar Of Events.
Locals are told to get your prescriptions filled, fuel up your vehicles before the mass exodus to the final total solar eclipse 2024 in Houlton Maine.
Like preparing for a Maine storm, stock up on what you need while you can buy it from local stores. School is off, local businesses are encouraged to free up their work force to create additional labor for the solar eclipse 4 day festival. It like a Monday national holiday in Houlton Maine.
Last USA total solar eclipse Houlton Maine.
The climax being the 2:22 to 4:41 April 8th here we go. The actual total solar eclipse is 3:32 to 3:35 PM April 8th, 2024.
The last major crowd traveling through “The County” was one of the two Phish concerts held at former Loring Air Force
Base in Limestone Maine. It is estimated 65,000 music lovers following their favorite band traveled up into Aroostook County a few years back for the outdoor live musical event. Some band followers and music lovers missed the Houlton I-95 Exit 302 and ended up in Canada. But that is a ‘hole ‘nother story for another Maine blog post.
So, Last USA Total Solar Eclipse Houlton Maine, here is why the math has to be just so for planet Earth, the Moon and Sun.
The Moon, Earth, Sun All Have A Major Part In A Solar Eclipse.
The full schedule for the four days of family fun events continues to be added to in Houlton, Presque Isle, Caribou and over into New Brunswick, Canada.
Guided historical walking tours, Howl At The Moon Dueling Piano Show, John Cariani presents “Almost Maine”, Maine author and comedian Tim Sample, Blackfly Brewfest, 3.32 mile road race, astronaut talk, solar system bus tour & planetarium visit. And so much more being added and updated daily.
Lots of fun, food, bring the entire family. Share the eclipse 2024 event with all your friends on social media outlets please.
What Is Happening, What Needs To Get Squared Away Before April 9th’s Solar Eclipse?
The party celebration happens before, during, after the total eclipse ends in Houlton Maine and continues across into Canada.
More to come as the event gets closer and the schedule of events firms up to help you have the best experience possible. Reach out with questions and here to help as a local lifelong native of Houlton Maine. Everyone is an ambassador of Houlton Maine and home town proud. Here’s Market Square, one of your five local star parks to observe with facilities and friends the solar eclipse. Why not attend the last USA Total Solar Eclipse Houlton Maine?
In this video, Market Square Houlton Maine used as a farmers market venue.
What are you doing around April 8th, 2024?
Last USA total solar eclipse Houlton Maine. Have you ever witnessed a total or partial eclipse in your lifetime? There is a major difference between the two. Here’s your chance to travel to Houlton Maine for an out of this World experience. Want to volunteer or help underwrite the tremendous expense to open up a small Maine community for a total solar eclipse? Reach out and let the Maine Eclipse folks know you want to volunteer time, money or both and help in any way.
A total solar eclipse only happens every 100 years or so in a given location. A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth orbits align. The Moon gets caught in the middle of the three objects causing a 50 mile wide shadow traveling across on Earth.
Houlton Maine is the state’s darkest point during the next total solar eclipse this spring.
Houlton ME, Everyone’s Excited About The Total Solar Eclipse April 8, 2024!
How to get here, where to stay, places to eat and things to do while in Houlton Maine for the black out total solar eclipse experience.
On Monday, April 8, 2024, at 3:32 in the afternoon, the Houlton Maine total solar eclipse will last 3 minutes, 18 seconds.
That’s not that long really. Just about the time you spend listening to Marvin Gaye’s “Heard It Through The Grapevine”. (Gladys Knight and The Pips, not Marvin did the song originally by the way).
The view of the total solar eclipse happens west to east and in a specific location as the Earth rotates. Maine is the last of 13 states of totality the solar eclipse passes over April 8th, 2024.
I was seven, remember my school teachers telling us what an eclipse was and what causes one. My parents making sure we had welder’s dark glass on to see the partial solar eclipse on the Maine farm I grew up and still own in Houlton Maine.
Houlton Maine, The Place To Be For The Total Solar Eclipse April 8th, 2024!
The next one is aways off in 2079 with two lunar and two solar eclipses. I may sit that one out, how about you?
They are not the same, lunar and solar eclipses.
With a lunar eclipse the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, creating a shadow on the Moon. When the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, a shadow is cast on the Earth.
Houlton Maine, GPS coordinates 46.126, -67.84 is four leaf clover lucky to be dead center in the path of totality for the stargazing maximum effect.
Your trip to experience the total solar eclipse can expanded to take in lots of other special area events.
Learn more on what the Northern Maine community has planned for upcoming solar eclipse celestial cosmic celebration. This Me In Maine blog post gets updated as we get closer to the big event overhead in the sky.
You’re at the US / Canada border customs and immigration International crossing, just after passing the Houlton Maine I-95 exit 302 and 305 choices. Exit 302 gets you to the town of Houlton, exit 305 is the last stop at Houlton International Airport and industrial park.
Do you own a small private plane and think it would be fun to fly into Houlton Maine?
You could draw up a flight plan to KHUL for the solar eclipse in Houlton Maine. You could also fly into Presque Isle Airport and rent a car to motor around the area. Make a vacation in Northern Maine seeing the eclipse, checking out the neat communities around Houlton Maine.
If you prefer driving, after a few simple border port of entry questions, you can also continue on along the Gateway to the Atlantic Canadian provinces.
It’s more than the the solar eclipse to enjoy while visiting Northern Maine. Solar totality darkness continues over Carleton County New Brunswick. The solar eclipse 50 mile wide swatch of darkness does not have to stop at customs and immigration inspections. More on Woodstock New Brunswick Canada’s solar eclipse community page.
US Rt 1, 2, 2A also connect in Houlton Maine.
Houlton Maine, Aroostook County Town Where Totality Happens During The Solar Eclipse.
Folks in Portland, Lewiston, Augusta, Bangor and elsewhere down country in Maine will have to travel North to experience totality in this next solar eclipse. Houlton Maine is definitely at the cross roads for transportation.
Houlton Maine, Last Chance, Last Place To Experience Totality, The Total Solar Eclipse 2024! Totally Houlton Maine Totality!
Lots more dining options than local Houlton Maine restaurants, diners and cafes. Local snowmobile clubs, the farmer’s museum, civic, school and church groups all rally together to make sure no one goes hungry or unfed.
Everyone is a buzz and gearing up for the Houlton Maine Eclipse Festival fun! This solar eclipse event is truly a regional task to tackle. Many are involved in rolling out the red VIP welcome carpet to make all visitors feel right at home! All are invited to come north to experience total darkness planetary show happening April 8th, 2024 at 3:32 PM. Don’t forget your eye viewing protection or locally you can pick up what you need for the eclipse watching glasses.
There are four kinds of solar eclipses and experiencing totality is the most exciting and by far memorable.
The temperature drops, animals act differently, everything goes dark along with many stages before, during, after the total solar eclipse.
The Earth, Moon And Sun Getting Together To Create A Total Solar Eclipse In Houlton Maine.
What to expect, what exactly happens during a total solar eclipse?
Also, around Aroostook County, more about the solar eclipse here. “Over home” as we like to call the province of New Brunswick Canada and beyond, here is what is planned in Woodstock’s solar eclipse on the other side of the border. A million people are on the move to track and witness the 2024 solar eclipse.
More from a Maine television broadcasting outlet Newscenter report.
Thinking about a little vacation up in Northern Maine, a road trip to look up and see, feel the awesome power of a total solar Maine eclipse?
Here for questions, getting around Southern Aroostook County, over into Canada,eating, lodging, directions and who to contact for help! Glean all the logistics from a lifelong local native if you plan to be in Houlton Maine area for the total solar eclipse.
