Biking/walking - Camden

It took us about half an hour to reach the U.S. border, and crossing was a breeze. Before leaving Canada, we made a critical stop — we found a grocery store and stocked up on Pump House Radlers. We’re totally hooked on these light, fruity beers, and we’ll be searching for them in the states.

At the border, the only thing the agents seemed remotely interested in was whether we had any fresh produce. Not a single question about weapons or firearms. Thanks, Trump — stellar job on border enforcement. 

The drive through Maine was scenic and relaxing, especially when we passed through a string of small, quaint towns that looked like they were pulled straight from a postcard.

We arrived at Camden Hills State Park, set up camp, and quickly unloaded our bikes. We crossed the highway to explore the park’s coastal trail, which winds along the water — or at least above it. The path runs through the trees along a rocky cliff, and while beautiful, we would have preferred to be closer to the water, so we turned back and headed into downtown Camden.

Camden is a charming, bustling little town of about 8,000 people, filled with quaint shops, art galleries, and restaurants. One of our favorite discoveries was a small woodworking shop filled entirely with pieces handmade by a single artisan — from cutting boards and utensils to intricate candleholders and carved maps. The detail in every item was incredible. I can’t imagine how he ever gets to sleep.

We walked across a footbridge built by a local hotel, which crossed a stream that fed into a waterfall before spilling into the harbor. It was low tide when we arrived, but even then, the harbor was beautiful — boats resting quietly, their reflections mirrored in the still water.

We chose Sea Dog Brewing Co. for dinner and grabbed a table on the outdoor patio overlooking the harbor. Scotty had fish and chips (he gave it a solid thumbs up). I had haddock fish tacos and a side of roasted Brussels sprouts in a miso teriyaki glaze — quite possibly the best Brussels sprouts I’ve ever had. Perfection!