After two days of hikes in Acadia, we spend the next two days exploring Bangor. Saturday was 75 degrees and mostly sunny. My leg muscles were tight and tired after the two long days of hikes. But we started off walking to Stephen King's home. Stephen King grew up in Bangor, Maine and purchased this home in 1980. He does not currently spend time at this home. The home sits in the historic Whitney District at 47 W. Broadway among other homes built for sawmill barons during the lumbering days. King's house is a gothic bring house with a spiky iron fence complete with bats, spiders, and three headed dragons and sculptures in the yard.
Steven King's House
Bats and spiders adorn the fence
Sculpture in the yard
We continued our walk through neighborhoods leading to the Paul Bunyan statue. Bangor was lumber town and they lay claim to Paul Bunyan (as does Wisconsin and Minnesota). As we were walking toward the statue, we passed the horse racing track. They were racing trotters as we walked by. The horse track is part of the Hollywood Casino. The casino was across the street from the Paul Bunyan.
Horse track stand and horses to the right
Paul Bunyan Statue
Just a short distance from the casino, is the Penobscot River and a trail going along the river. As we walked along the river, we came across a large outdoor amphitheater where they hold music concerts during the summer. Further down the path, we saw tents and people gathered. As we got closer, we saw adults and children in costumes (mostly witches). There were booths with arts and crafts, tarots cards, etc. There were was a circle of women in witch costumes singing. Later, I found out it was part of the Maine Witch Walk. A portion of the proceeds from this event goes to support a homeless shelter in Bangor.
The lighting for the stage of the amphitheater
Along the Penobscot River
The tents in the distance
A little girl dress as a witch from Hocus Pocus
Circle of singing witches
More witches
Hydrofoils on the river
The path along the river ended where the Kenduskeag Stream flows into the Penobscot and our walk went from the river through the downtown. There, the businesses were handing out treats to children in costumes. It was fun to see the kids in costume as we walked along the many little shops and eateries. From downtown, it is about .9 miles back to our house sit. It was starting to get gloomier and I needed to head back to take my laundry off the line.
Laundry drying outside in the 75 degree weather
Sunday's high temperature was only 45 degrees and felt really cold after the 75 degrees of the day before. We did two short walks today. Our first walk was to the farmer's market near downtown. It was a nice little farmer's market and I found maple syrup and fresh vegetables.
On our walks around Bangor, I have noticed that Halloween decorations are much less elaborate and often more subtle. I saw one house in which the only decoration is a dead person hanging out the window. Others have gourds and pumpkins. We saw a few houses getting ready for Trick or Treat with tubes to pass candy out.
The upper left window and the body hanging out
A tube on the rails for send treats
PVC makes a great tube
Our second hike was at the Orono Bogs Boardwalk at the City Forest. The bog was fascinating with the various mosses, small tree and the floating boardwalk to walk on. There placards station throughout the walk explaining the vegetation that grows in different area of the bog. The bog is a partnership between the city and the University of Maine.
The beginning of the bog walk
This part of the bog is in forest
Sphagnum Moss is red
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