Finally, A Day Together for Jon and His Wife, Marie-Anne + a New Stop for a Great Bird’s Eye View [Video]

Saturday morning, Marie-Anne and I decided to take a trip to Eustis where she had recently been on a family camping trip. Cathedral Pines is a town owned campground on Flagstaff Lake. The campsites are large and include electric hookups. If you reserve early enough in the season, you might be able to score a lakeside site. You'd better be there before 6am on January 1st, however, because that's when reservations begin and it's first come, first served for the premium sites.

The reason we went up, however, was not to visit the campground but, rather, go pistol shooting in some pits in the area and then take a ride down route 16 toward Rangeley for a side trip up Quill Hill. This scenic overlook, owned by local businessman Adrian Brochu, started out as a lumbering operation. It was formerly only accessible by atv or snowmobile. I have sat at the overlook in the past eating beef jerky with my friend Tom Johnson in about -20 degree weather. That was nice. Not as nice as driving up in a car on a 70 degree day, though!

To stand in one spot and turn 360 degrees with views all the way around is phenomenal. From the Rangely Lakes to Statton. From New Hampshire toward Mt. Blue. It's a must see for anyone who finds themselves in the area. That said, it is worth the trip just to go there and have a picnic lunch.

If you make a day of it, check out Ira Mountain, also owned by Brochu. This scenic overlook is off Route 27 in Kingfield and features a stone temple which has been used for things like church services and concerts. We plan to go there on our next sojourn.

We finished the day at Moose Alley in Rangeley with our waiter, Trevor and incredible burgers. Once back in China, we met up with David and Pam Turgeon for a nightcap at the China Dine-ah. A day well spent!

↓ Video of Quill Hill and Ira Mountain