This past weekend the Alpine Women Collective hosted our first camping weekend! On Saturday we met in Portland and got on a bus to Camden. Transportation was provided by Northeast Charter & Tour Co. and made the trip so much easier. With a trailer full of camping gear, hiking packs and food, we headed north on our adventure!
Camden Hills State Park is a stunning area where the mountains meet the ocean. We arrived at the group site and began setting up camp. Our campsite was surrounded by tall trees and provided plenty of room for all of our tents. A short walk through the woods led us right to the ocean!
We were so excited to hand out a small gift for everyone who joined us. Hills and Trails graciously designed and printed these gold bandanas. It features the mountains we hiked and our sponsor, Midcoast Maine. Without Midcoast Maine, this trip would not have been possible.
A few ladies met us at the campground and by 11, we were ready to hike our first mountain. Since we were staying at the state park, we were able to walk right to the trail head across the road. We took the Megunticook Trail to the summit, where we relaxed and ate lunch while taking in the ocean views. The trail wasn't too busy and we met a few cute dogs on the way!
Once we were back at the campsite, it was time for dinner. From baked beans to burritos to mac 'n cheese, everyone brought something delicious to enjoy over the campfire.
Our next activity was a sunset cruise on A Morning in Maine, navigated by Captain Bob. We could not have picked a better night to be out in the Rockland harbor. Right away, we were given incredible views of Owl's Head Lighthouse and Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. In the distance, we could see the mountain we had just hiked! We highly recommend A Morning in Maine; it is one of the best ways to experience midcoast Maine.
Once back at camp, we settled in for the night around the campfire. We celebrated Sara's birthday with cupcakes from East End Cupcakes
Good morning from Summit, our little friend who joined us!
We packed up camp and headed to our second hike of the trip, Mt. Battie. We took the short Tablelands Trail up to the summit to enjoy our last views of Camden Harbor.
It was time to pack up camp and head to Thomaston for our last day of adventures!
After a quick drive, we arrived at Waterman's Beach Lobster for a delicious lunch. Some of the ladies enjoyed lobster and clams, while others indulged in corn on the cob, ice cream and pie. This spot is right on the ocean and was such a beautiful place to eat.
The final stop on our trip was Oxbow Brewery in Newcastle. We were treated to a wonderful tour of the property by Rocky. We saw bee keepers harvesting honey for beer, piglets, chickens and the Oxbow cat, Dizzy. Oxbow specializes in traditional Belgian-style ales. Many of the ladies enjoyed tasting each kind of beer with a delicious flight.
We arrived back in Portland around 5:30pm and said our goodbyes. It was the perfect weekend full of hiking, beer, babes and new friends. We cannot thank you all enough for joining us on our first camping trip. We are already beginning to plan the next. Cheers, babes!
