We load our belongings into the truck and head out into the woods. Scenic two-lane backroads twist through forested mountains and small towns along the way from the Appalachians in Pittsburgh to our destination of Rockland, Maine Lobster Festival.

All seven of the campsites at Minister Creek Campground in the Allegheny National Forest are full. We drive on and Marilynn goes into a nearby biker bar to use the Wi-Fi, since we are off the grid of cellular signal. “Just find a clearing off the road next to the creek,” a woman behind the bar says. “Most clearings have campfire rings of stones and its free.”

Dispersed Camping in Allegheny National Forest Pennsylvania

Dispersed camping (no services, but free) on Minister Creek in the Allegheny National Forest, with no neighbors, brings back that peaceful feeling of sitting by the campfire. Sleeping to the sounds of rippling water and night forest noises make the back of the truck our favorite place to snooze. As long as the temperatures remain cool, we plan to do this. Morning brought a slight challenge when we realized we forgot toilet paper.

Dispersed Camping near Minister Creek Pennsylvania

Driving north towards the Finger Lakes in New York, we are still on two-lane forested roads, but now interspersed with large farms. The Blueberry Patch campground provides us with another wooded campsite, this time with services (outhouse and picnic table) for only $7.50 with our Senior National Parks Discount. Great basecamp for hiking “Interloken Trail” and “Burnt Hill Trail” in Finger Lakes National Forest.

Camping Finger Lakes Region New York

After five days, the campfire scent loses ground to our sweaty, smelly bodies that grow sticky in the back of the truck as temperatures rise. Indeed, we are quite ripe for a shower, especially after heart pumping hikes.

Hiking Interlocken Trail Finger Lakes National Forest

Hiking Burnt Hill Trail Finger Lakes Region

Viola! A state campground in the New York Adirondack Mountains offers a shower. Feels so good that we shall take another the following day after hiking Cook Mountain.

Hiking in the Adirondack New York

Views from Cook Mountain in the Adirondack New York

We cruised through Vermont farmland to New Hampshire, where we hiked the Flume Gorge Trail. This natural gorge, at the base of Mount Liberty in Franconia Notch State Park, provides fresh views and heavy breathing climbs. Lovely light rain and mist from the Pemigewasset river keep our bodies cool.

Vermont

Hiking The Flume Gorge Trail, New Hampshire

Flume Gorge Trail, New Hampshire

Flume Gorge Hike

Even in the rain, temperatures are warming up, like they already have in the rest of the country right now. With the heat and the humidity on the rise, I am happy to relax in the shade at camp, while Marilynn takes off and hikes to Lonesome Lake for a little alone time.

Hiking to Lonesome Lake, New Hampshire

Lonesome Lake, New Hampshire

Onward to Lobsterfest! Our new campsite in Camden Hills State Park, Maine keeps us close enough to the festivities, yet still in the woods. This annual event, run by volunteers, offers a friendly outing full of foods, crafts, and live music covering primarily Gordon Lightfoot songs.

Lobster Fest, Rockland, Maine

Volunteers at Lobster Fest, Rockland Maine

Lobster Fest, Rockland Maine

Lobster Fest, Rockland Maine

A little crowd goes a long way for us, so we opt to gnaw on fresh lobster and corn on the cob by the fire in the woods at our campsite. No need for bone scissors, as lobsters’ shells are still soft. Once a year males shed their shells to grow by molting. Females molt every two years. We peel the lobster shells easily by hand and devour them like Neanderthals.

Lobsters to go, Lobster Fest, Rockland Maine

Let’s Eat Lobster! Camping Camden, Maine

Can a person overdose on lobster? We try, thanks primarily to daily lobster rolls from our favorite restaurant (food truck) which we stumbled upon while taking care of necessary business at the laundromat. Let’s sit by the Harbor and enjoy the view and the lobster.

Our Favorite Restaurant, Camden, Maine

Lobster Rolls!

Camden, Maine

Steps away from our campsite, the steep road to Mt. Battie tells us that there are no excuses for laziness. Must hike this sweat-maker daily to repent for our lobster roll (and other) indulgences. Views from the top reward our efforts. Afterwards, a local YMCA provided other necessary workout options, and most importantly a shower!

Views from Mt. Battie, Maine

Back in the woods, night temperatures soar, and the downpour of rain does little to cool it off. But yes, rain is also a gamechanger for primitive camping. Everything feels moldy and the back of our truck smells like four old hobos living in a one room shack.

Time to pack up in the morning. In the pouring rain of Tropical Storm Debby. Suddenly, the truck alarm blasts. Wait, where are the truck keys? It was quite a comedic routine as we ran around in the rain pulling everything back out of the truck looking for keys while the alarm blared with flashing lights. I do not know how to make my truck keys do this if I wanted to. Probably not so funny to our neighboring campers, at 6 am. Eventually, we found the key FOB thing trapped in the truck’s tailgate hinges.

These Nomads are back on the road, heading to Portland, Maine to meet up with good friends Carla and John, who find us a sweet (special deal) Airbnb and make us feel at home.

Portland, Maine

Fort Gorges, Portland, Maine

Views from South Portland, Maine

We manage to clean ourselves, the camping gear, and the truck, and enjoy our friends during the final days of our own personal lobster fest which concludes on our 30^th wedding anniversary.

Thank you Carla and John!!

Next stop Quebec City, Canada, via scenic routes, for a stay before we head back into the woods.

Thank You, Abundant Universe!