I have chosen Keep Calm And Carry On as a title for this story for a few reasons. For starters, the stress of planning a route and arranging accommodations, hoping all would be acceptable to members who decided to come on the tour, to trying to have everything run smoothly. Also, Keep Calm And Carry On was the attitude of Don, Peter and Sandy, Carol, as well as Paula and I as we dealt with breakdowns, rain and a tremendous amount of traffic that we encountered along the way. So we "Kept Calm And Carried On"  throughout our amazing trip from good ole Cape Breton to the southern tip of Maine, Kittery. 

Day 1-- Carol, Don, Paula and I met at the Bras D'or View restaurant at 7am to start our day, and wouldn't you know, Don was there ahead of us all, eating breakfast. Don knew it was going to be a long day so he bulked up on some great grub.  About 7:05 we were mobile, time to meet up with Peter and Sandy in their Jaguar XJS V12 just outside the village of Baddeck. Now this is important..... Peter and Sandy, I am sure, filled up in Baddeck and Carol and I filled up in Bras D'or, there is no reason to stop other then a nature call. Good-bye Cape Breton, we'll see you in 5 days. Stop 1, Tim Hortons in New Glasgow. Here we said Sackville New Brunswick we'll fuel up.

Traffic was light and we made great time and believe it or not, the sun was shining all day. Yes the roofs are up today because being pounded by the wind in a convertible for 9 hours can be quite exhausting. No construction to slow us down, I think the only time we hit the brakes was for the toll booth at the Cobiquid Pass. Onward and westward we drove. Sun still shining as we crossed over into New Brunswick and still no delays this is great. Just before Aulac, about 5 k from Sackville N.B. there was a crackle on the radio. A very scratchy message was heard and it sounded like "need gas soon running out" so I pulled off the highway to the big Irving in Aulac. Only Pete and I at the Pumps, where is Carol and Don? Peter said they were behind him. Well, where are they? Just then the cell phone rang...... Don Peters came up on call ID. I hate seeing this when we are on the road. Buy a gallon of gas he said, we are still on the highway on the marsh. OK I am thinking, we pulled off and no sign of them so they must be towards the Nova Scotia side of the marsh. So, off Paula and I go, back towards Nova Scotia and to Don or Carol. There was no sight of them so I had to call Don... Where are you? By the CBC towers, New Brunswick Side he said. I am thinking why didn't they pull off at Aulac. After turning around and the CBC towers came into view, sure enough there they were. Don explained that Carol's car was running out of gas and was slowing down and we pulled ahead. The car would catch some gas in the tank again and off she would go but by now we pulled off toward Aulac and she didn't see us. Don was behind Carol and seen her pull over and slow down and then take off again, he knew she was running out of gas and the crackled message was "Carol is running out of gas". When the car picked up the gas she tried to make it to Sackville but didn't make it. A small jerry can of gas and away she went to Sackville.  Lunch at Paterson's Family Restaurant in Sackville and off we went again, Destination, Saint Andrews.

For those of you who drove through Saint John before, you seen all the bridges and off ramps and you have to keep a sharp eye on everything. Today, there were miles of pylons and they lead us through two way traffic where once was four lanes. The toll on the bridge was closed but I am thinking temporarily, as I am sure all will be paying for these upgrades. Pass the toll booths and the rain started. We had a shower back in Moncton but this was no shower, this rain stayed. Saint Andrews is just up the road about 1.5 hours, can't wait.

It was a full day, 9 hours on the road and now it's raining cats and dogs. Rolling into Saint Andrews, our motel, The Picket Fence was there on the left, what a great sight. We checked in and freshened up and now time for supper. I checked on line for the menu at the Algonquin, A little rich for my blood, so a local restaurant it will be. One of my biggest pleasures while on these tours is visiting new places and seeing the little towns, Saint Andrews didn't let me down, this place is loaded with charm. After a drive through town, we parked, myself and three lively ladies of the BCCCB Paula Sandy and Carol, walked the main street. To tell the truth, we walked up to the liquor store to see if it was open.

We had a few choices for supper but the Gables looked the best. Don and Peter went into secure our seats and I took the time to take a pic of the lovely ladies on the step of the Gables. A guy came out of the restaurant and offered to take our picture, sure I said. Me with my two Moms I said.

This restaurant was a great choice. As it turns out, we weren't disappointed with any meals on this trip. The service was excellent but the experience would have been much better is it was a nice evening and we were out on the patio overlooking the Bay of Fundy. Lets hit the Algonquin after supper. And so we did, we took our own personal tour.

The girls went shopping in one of the Algonquin's Boutique while the guys relaxed in the lounge, it wasn't long when the ladies met up with us. A night cap was in order and when the waiter came with our drinks he offered to take our picture as well. Sure enough, here we are in the lounge at the Algonquin having a night cap. I though about staying here for the night but it was a tad pricy and we were all tired and we really wouldn't enjoy the experience but, with all the rain, this place perhaps would have been out best bet as everything we needed was in-house, we wouldn't have to leave the building. Time to get back to our motel and hit the hay, another big day tomorrow.

 Day 2... How can anyone visit Saint Andrews and not start their day without having breakfast at the Algonquin? We just had to go there. OK.. three ways to have our breakfast, the big breakfast buffet, the continental buffet or ala carte. Don chose ala carte the rest of us, the big breakfast buffet, and what a big breakfast it was. A 40 foot island full of everything one could ever want for breakfast, even an omelette chef standing at the ready to make the perfect omelette, what an experience!

So long Saint Andrews, I have a feeling I'll be back. Next stop Saint George then Letete to catch the ferry to Deer Island. Again, small town charm took over, Saint George is gorgeous. We were coming into town when I spied the gorge, a quick look was in order. This is great! there was a dam with a salmon ladder beside it. I was so hoping that there would be salmon but there was none, to bad. Looking down the gorge I seen what looked like a mill and there was a bridge in front of it, so off we went to find the bridge and get a better look at the gorge.

What a beautiful scene, I just wish the sun was shining, oh well, make the best of what I have. Still a nice shot. Oh no! what' this! Carols car had a sudden radiator leak and had to pull out of the tour. As luck would have it, Carol's daughter lived about an hour away and CAA took the car to her house in Saint John. The plan now is to meet up with Carol on our way back and take her home in Don's car. A family friend will haul the car home in a few days. If these grand tours keep up, I may have to look at CAA as they really looked after Carol. CAA looked after Carol and so did Reid Kierstead. A big BCCCB Thank you Reid, for your help.

Deer Island Princess II, the ferry to Deer Island. She sat low next to the dock and the steep, long ramp to the ferry was a tad intimidating. Just look at the dock beside Don's car, the tide must drop 30 feet.

20 minutes later the dock on Deer Island came into view. The tide didn't change much in 20 minutes, just look at the high water mark on the dock. exiting the boat and up the ramp. I am sure if Peter put the pedal to the floor, the old Jag would take flight. One wouldn't want a coffee in the cup holder on this ramp, it would be half full by the time the car levelled out at the top.

The drive across Deer island is a mere 12 km and is dotted with the tiniest of fishing villages strung along a road, that provides nice views of hill and docks as it crosses from the ferry wharf in the east to Fairhaven in the west were we met up with the Deer Island - Campobello Island ferry. This is interesting, the ferry basically runs up on the shore and drops it's ramp on a gravel beach. To funny, Paula was saying "my god, what do you have me on"

What a unique vessel, the tug boat that powers it is on a swivel. The tug swings around and tethers itself to the other end of the boat to head in the right direction, surely a first for me to see.

The beach must have been a little soft on Campobello Island because Cement pads were laid as an exit ramp. Still quite the experience for sure. At a restaurant on Campobello I came across the old black and white photo of the ferry that plied the waters between Maine and Campobello, same concept and I bet it's the same family who are running the ferry we sailed on. 

Whale Watch Motel was our stop for the night and what a lovely place it was, beautiful rooms and a balcony where we could sit out on. Yes, the rain had stopped. I originally booked the top five rooms but over time I had to cancel two rooms, oh well. Time to relax and have a drink. Don picked up his regular celebratory shooters, a quick drink and a little sight seeing was in order.

At the southern tip of Campobello Island is the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial Bridge which leads into the U.S. and on the northern point you have the East Quoddy Lighthouse. The Lighthouse is only accessible during low tide and only for about two hours.  If your out there on the island and the tide comes in, your stuck there for 8 hours, the sign said, as the current and the cold water of Passamaquoddy Bay makes swimming across imposable. If you look closely you can see where the tide is beginning to cover the sandbar that you walk across to the island lighthouse.

We had choices of restaurants for supper but the Family Fisheries was between our motel and the East Quoddy Lighthouse, so, with a location such as this, we didn't consider any other place, and thank goodness. This place was awesome! For starters, the walls are covered with pictures from the past. These pictures showed the history of the island, from the thriving fishing industry to the old wooden ferries, very interesting. Then you have the food, OH MY GOD! All was fantastic tasting and there was plenty of everything and then you hade the price. I can't recall what Peter paid for two lobsters but Sandy said that you can't get a lobster supper with one lobster back home for that price. What a find for sure.

Supper is over and trust me, we are full, time to relax on the balcony on this beautiful evening. We raised our glasses to Carol, wishing she was with us but there is always a next time. A moment later a gentleman drove up asking who owned the MGBs, he said he had one and we invited him up for drink. Ron Pitts was his name and owning a beautiful 78 MGB was his game. He said his car was just up the road at his house and he went home to retrieve both the car and his wife, Wendy.

They soon returned with a very nice British Racing Green MGB. I can't remember where he bought it and I think he said $9,000 he paid for it. Don and I went over the car..... flawless and worth every cent and perhaps more. The engine bay looked great and the engine sported a weber carb and a set of wrapped headers, looks good. Nice car Ron and it was a pleasure meeting you both.

Day 3 ... You can't stay on Campobello Island without checking out Roosevelt Campobello International Park. the link says it all. We strolled around the impeccable grounds and looked through as many windows that were in our reach. At the Hubbard Cottage, we were all taken by the round window, what a place for a Christmas Tree said Sandy, and yes it would be a great spot. The large wrap around patio caught my attention, what a place to relax and look over the waters of the Bay of Fundy. This place was a stop not to be passed by.

After Campobello we had about a 4 hour drive ahead of us but before we can start our drive we had to check in at the US Boarder in Lubec Maine. A quiet little crossing but don't let that fool you, the guard check my trunk and Don's trunk as well, Peter and Sandy passed with out delay. A nice drive through Lubec, a quiet little town with lots of pride and away we went through many towns to get to Freeport.

Driving along, sinking in the beautiful sights of Maine, when the highway took a turn and there before us was the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. What a sight! Paula said, "look at the lights, it must be beautiful at night." So I looked it up on the net, and sure enough, a picture of the bridge at night. Crossing the Bridge we could see the town of Bucksport Maine. We need more time in Maine to see stuff like this, the sights was beautiful.

We drove through so many towns and each were beautiful to see but one or two stood out. Camden Maine was one. Although traffic was heavy, it was at this point were it became worrisome as it was bumper to bumper. Camden had some amazing scenes, we wanted to park and walk the streets. Sandy looked up some Bed and Breakfasts in the where to stay book and the prices were outrageous but you know, I bet they were all full. Again, we needed more time to explore. Next time we will have more knowledge of Maine and the trip will be even more exciting. 

It was still a beautiful day as we rolled into Freeport, we settled in at the Econo Lodge, Nice Motel. Don took a quick run into town as we settled in and after he returned we had a wee nip and decided to walk into town for a peek at the stores and have some supper. We separated at an outside stage where a play was being performed and said we would rally here in 45 minutes. We all went our separate ways, searching out stores. L.L. Bean was the destination for the others, Paula and I hit the North Face Outlet. Some great deals but nothing that tickled our fancy, time to meet up with the others. We strolled the streets looking for a good restaurant and stopped in at the Mangy Moose for a peek at their store. We asked a clerk to recommend a restaurant, the Jameson Tavern he said. Alright, if a local tells you to try a place, then try it. This place was great!

Leaving Jameson Tavern, it was a beautiful night. We walked about a mile back to our motel at the end of town, just what we needed after a day sitting in a British Car.

Day 4 ...The next day...... rain again. We checked out of the motel and hit the shops of Freeport, wouldn't you know, the store weren't open until 10, no problem, we walked the streets searching for stores too visit. What a beautiful town, and so clean. As we were exploring, we seen a guy walking down the sidewalk with a broom and dustpan picking up any trash, something towns around here should look into, heck I never seen as much as a cigarette butt on the curb.  

Oh man, Old Orchard Beach! For years I wanted to come and see this place, and today I finally had the opportunity. Yes it was raining again and thank god that it was as there were so many people milling about, I couldn't imagine what it would be like if it were a hot day, this place would have been crazy. Looking closely at the first photo you can see the Ferris Wheel in the background. On site is the largest midway I have ever seen, this will keep the young ones busy. The board walk is what I wanted to see most of all. I ran out on the beautiful sandy beach to take this shot. Paula was yelling that I wasn't getting in her car with sand on my feet, I believe Peter said the same thing to Sandy.

What a sight on the pier, there were food shops and gift shops of all kinds. I looked off to my left, sandy beach as far as the eye could see. I looked to my right, and yet again, sandy beach as far as the eye can see. What a spot, despite the weather there were people playing in the rather large waves.

I can only imagine what this pier would be like if it was a hot sunny day, it was crowed enough in the rain. My itinerary said lunch in Old Orchard Beach and wouldn't you know ... lunch time. Patio Pub on the pier looked good, and what a spot it was. The waitress came with menus and I asked.... is the pier moving? Oh yes she said and some days it's like on a boat. This is soooo cool, with every crashing wave against the pilings of the pier, the restaurant shook, not violently, more of a shimmy. This all added to the charm of the place. The plank floors has small separations in it and you could see the waves below. I loved every minute of it. Like the restaurant on Campobello Island, this place had historic pictures on the wall. The BW picture above reminded us of Barc and heck, it could have been him on his first visit to Old Orchard Beach.

In Kittery, The Coachman Inn was Peter's pic and what a choice. This place was next to the first of many shops that lined both sides of highway 1. The rooms were huge and so clean, got to love it. Oh man the people and the traffic in Kittery. I was to overwhelmed to even think of pulling out the camera. Parking a scarce and the outlets were filled with people. We never had the time to check out all the shops, there were just to many. We did our thing and returned unscaved to out great little motel.  Another plus to this great motel was the fact that it was a hop, skip and jump to Roberts Maine Grill . What a spot! Two floors of seating and the service was second to none. At the end of our meal, the waitress brought over three blueberry crisps for us to enjoy, and enjoy it we did, what a great meal.

Day 5 .... We got up early Thursday Morning knowing that we had about a 8 hour run to Saint John to meet up with Carol. We left the Coachman Inn at 8 AM, fuelled up down the street and hit the I 95. 3 lanes going 70 MPH freaked Paula out but she Kept Calm and Carried On. Three toll stations past and before we knew it we were at the route 9 intersection, our highway to the border. I knew a little restaurant in Brewer that Barc had taken us to a couple of years ago, the Eagle Nest Restaurant. This is to funny, because of the fact that this is truly a hole in the wall kind of spot with slanted floors and one bathroom, Paula and Sandy were a tad worried. A tad worried until the food arrived, what a scoff. Peter had breakfast with a side order of corn beef hash. I don't know where the guy put it all. Paula and Sandy had the scallop roll and they said it was fantastic. Don had ordered a piece of pie after his lunch and the waitress brought out a quarter of a pie, we all looked in amazement as Don shovelled most of it in. Next stop the big Irving in Calais for fuel before crossing the border.

AHHH the border, another step closer to home. No trunk check here, they zipped each of us through. Still an hour or so to Saint John and our very nice motel, The Amsterdam Inn.

A little rest was in order and afterwards a phone call to Carol to meet up with us in the parking lot to go out for supper. Vitos was suggested by the Front desk Clerk and we took the chance, sure enough it was great. The perfect evening as everything and everyone came together. Carol was in great spirits despite missing the trip and arraignments are made to have her car towed and fixed, as I said, "everything came together". Another great nights sleep and we hit the road around 8 am for home.

Day 6 ... East Bound And Down, I can almost hear my bed calling my name. The first pic is where Carol ran out of gas, by the CBC towers. I should have taken a picture of Don pouring gas in Carol's tank but I missed the opportunity. The second is our return to Nova Scotia ... yay... Next stop Haylett and Nina's beautiful Cottage in New Glasgow.

2500 KLM Behind us and Haylett and Nina's cottage is like paradise to us. What a great place to relax, even if only for an hour. It's funny how so many event in life are related to another, we just have to find a link. Hayett, knowing that Carol needed a Radiator, he told us a story about an Austin Healey we came across at a car show at MacKinnon's camp ground in Lake Ainslie. The car originated in New Glasgow and Haylett loaned his spare rad to someone and he thinks it's in that car. what a coincidence.

That's right 2500 KLM of heart stopping vistas, I wanna go back, and one day I will. Everything went like clockwork except for Carol's Radiator. This was a drivers tour for sure, as we cover many miles and seen many things. The next trip to Maine I will have a few more stops planned, no more countless hours behind the wheel, to exhausting. I soon won't forget the things I seen, Camden and Old Orchard Beach as well as Belfast are places I want a second chance to see, these places were breathtaking.

The BCCCB gives us many opportunities to get out and see things we normally wouldn't see. Over the last few years there were trips to Lunenburg, P.E.I., Newfoundland, Stowe Vermont, The Gaspe and now Maine, all in a British Sports Car. I would never take the car alone but when traveling with the club there is always someone with a part or knowledge to keep the car going and this is a comforting feeling. What a great trip this was and what ever will be next. Never fear the unknown, if you do, you will never go anywhere, as for me,  I wish to see as much as I can. You know how it goes.... if your weren't there you missed it, and miss it big time you did. Come along next time.