A little bit of R&R in Maine

Hello readers! Hope your summer is going well! I’m still in shock that it is August! Where did summer go?

To help further celebrate my favorite season, I spent the past few days at cute little B&B called The Inn by the River in The Forks, Maine. This town has a very small population (<50 people) and is located so far north that it almost touches Canada. It is called “The Forks” since two rivers (Kennebec and the Dead) intersect in the town and form a fork in the river.  A great destination spot to reconnect, relax and restore since cell phone service is non-existent.

View of the Kennebec River from the B&B.

The trip was special since it planned entirely by mi novio who was sweet enough to be flexible with my availability. The final weeks of marathon training can be intense since it takes time to run “distance” and also recover.  Mi novio understands this and planned our get-a-way specifically around a “rest week” or “off week” of training. As a result, I was able to slightly alter my training to fit in my longer runs in while I was still in Boston. For example, I was pounding pavement at 5:30 am on Wednesday morning for my 12 miler.

Hoping this is true come this fall. =)

Besides the trip being on a low mileage training week, my other criteria was that we did something active.Thus, it would count towards my cross training day. Having a consistent workout schedule is great, but there are so many ways to take exercising outside the local YMCA. (As a side note, check out this great blog post written by my friend Monique of Burpees to Bubbly who frequently posts at-home workouts).

• Whitewater Rafting: We did a day trip sponsored by Three Rivers Rafting Company—the home of serious fun. 😉 We rafted for approximately 13 miles down the Kennebec River tackling rapids with impressive names like Rock Garden, Big Mama, Whitewasher and Magic Falls. I was so exhausted when the day was over that I had trouble lifting my diet cherry coke and ended up spilling it all over myself! Great arm workout!
  

  Gearing up for the river and my evening karaoke performance of “Proud Mary.” Rollin on the river. =)

• Moxie Falls: Before heading back to home, we did a morning hike to Moxie Falls which is also located just up the street from the B&B. Moxie Falls is breathtaking and is one of the highest water falls in New England!
  

  Nature always wins–Moxie Falls.

Other highlights of the trip included getting “lost” in Kennebunkport for a lobsta roll and deluxe iced-coffee, stopping at a Farmer’s Market for wild blueberries and a surprise visit to the New Balance Factory Outlet! All and all a great trip. Rats, is tomorrow really Monday???

ISOL (in search of lobsta) in Kennebunkport, Maine

My addiction to iced-coffee is ever apparent. Check out the old school milk bottle.

This was a surprise. I had no idea we would stop at New Balance Factory Outlet! Picked up a new pair of kicks for under $50 at their tent sale. I’ll take it!

We stopped at a farm stand on the way home for some wild blueberries. I created this dessert containing reduced fat vanilla ice-cream with granola and blueberries. YUM!

While I loved the get-away, it was nice to get back to home. Chartreuse was tuckered out from playing with one of his favorite cat sitter and her father.

The lion sleeps tonight…