Portland High School's Football Field

Here is my team and I after our final game this past year.

   Over the course of my last couple blogs, I’ve talked about places everyone can enjoy. This time, it’s going to be a little different. This place is a little different. This place is one that holds many memories for me, some good and some bad.
   I’ve played soccer on Portland High School’s football field for the past four years in a row. For my tiny Christian school that is saying something because we only play our championship games there. I’ve been lucky enough to have played on that field in a championship game every year that I’ve been playing soccer whether we won or lost the game.
   Each year is vastly different. My first match we lost but, not for a lack of trying. The next year I joined our school’s varsity soccer team and we became the reigning champs for two years in a row. Sadly this winning streak came to an end this past year but again, not for a lack of trying. Our team

Here I am the year before holding our championship trophy.

bonded this year, between each other and with God. We got a chance grow in humility, as we had won nearly every single match as we had the year before and didn't this past year. God really took this experience to teach us all as a team about loving your neighbor as yourself (even when you're playing soccer against them) and what true sportsmanship is all about. I’m proud of my team and how far my team came this year in every aspect imaginable and I can not wait to go and play soccer and learn with them again next year. I also can not wait to see what God has in store for our team as players and as followers of Christ. Hopefully, God willing, I’ll make it to this field again to play my heart our with my team, because this field signifies or me what we all work for every single soccer season.

Bangor Waterfront Pavilion

Here is the lead singer of Blink-182

    In past blogs, I’ve written about places that are beautiful and historic that many would love to see. Bangor Waterfront Pavilion doesn't necessarily have either of these things though the concerts you can experience there are unforgettable. It does however, offer a great experience for an outdoor concert in the summer. Over the past couple years, I’ve had the chance to see two concerts there, Fall Out Boy and Blink-182. Both of these were incredible experiences for me. I hope that everyone in their lifetime can go to a concert and enjoy their favorite music up close and personal.

    The first time I went my friend Allison and I drove up to the town of Bangor, Maine with her mom to see the Fall Out Boy. It took many hours of blasting their music to get their, but once we finally got there, we couldn't contain our excitement. The show was amazing. I couldn't have had a better first concert experience. Most importantly, my friend and I felt safe. There were multiple security guards all around enforcing rules and keeping everyone in line. This was something very important to me and still is. Then, a couple years later we saw Blink-182. The same went for this

Fall Out Boy

concert. Many fights may break out in the crowd when seeing a rock band like Blink-182 in concert, but security always escorted those people out. Even though my friend and I were in the pit both times, we still felt very safe the entire time. One thing I would recommend if you're going to be in the pit as we were is to go to the bathroom beforehand. When you're in the pit, you can’t leave your spot or else someone else will gladly take it.
   So, if you want to see a concert, I would completely recommend seeing a concert at the Bangor Waterfront Pavilion. They offer a great experience with a safe environment for everyone  to enjoy.

The Ice Castles

Here I am under the ice!

    Some places in life you'll never forget. One of these places for me were the Ice Castles in Lincoln, New Hampshire. My family and my mom’s boyfriend’s family got up early one morning to visit these amazing castles made out of ice. As cold as it was, I couldn't have enjoyed myself anymore than I did that day. The castles were built so that you can walk under them to look up and see the ice hanging down above you. It was truly an amazing experience. Over the course of the winter, sculptors work together to create something amazing for people of all ages to go and enjoy. While I was there, some people were even having their wedding and prom pictures taken. Every year they redo the castles so you can keep coming back again and again.

One of the ice sculptures.

    When I visited, the Ice Castles were filled with so many people young and old. There were elderly couples taking their time and there were also young families with little kids running from place to place. Also, they made sure to accommodate the kids. Their were slides and tunnels built into the ice to slip and slide on. This is truly a destination for the family. One recommendation I can make is that if you want to slide on any of these, be sure to bring snow pants! I only had a thin pair of jeans on and I was fine until I sat down to take group pictures on the ice benches that they'd carved out for this purpose. Another tip is to buy your tickets in advance. We had a large group so we bought ours ahead of time. On the other hand, many people arriving didn't buy tickets and had to wait for a long time.
    Although I've only visited the Ice Castles once, I really want to go again. The first time I went was during the day so the next time I go, I want to go at night because they turn on colorful lights behind the ice. This makes the ice exude different colors. I’ve seen pictures online from night visits and now I really want to give it a go. Sadly, this year the castles have closed because the weather is getting warmer but I suppose there is always next year! I’m sure they'll be even more beautiful the second time.

Washington D.C.

My friend and I in front of the Lincoln Monument

   There are so many places that are on my bucket list to visit, whether it’s in this country or not, I want to visit all of them. One destination I can cross off is Washington D.C. Our nation’s capital is one of the most breathtaking and awe inspiring places I've ever been to in my lifetime. So much history, beauty, and importance in such a “compact” place made my trip unforgettable.
   I travelled by plane to spend a week seeing the historic sights. Since this was a class trip, I met my high school classmates at my school, then we drove to Logan International Airport. We arrived and immediately started sightseeing. It felt as though we saw just about everything in the capitol! We saw two of the Smithsonian buildings within our first hours of landing in D.C. and our excitement didn't stop there. My absolute favorite places that my high school visited were the Air and Space Museum, the Lincoln Monument the Congress building and the Martin Luther King Jr. monument.

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope."

 

    There are two things I would recommend to bring on your trip to D.C. The first, would be a really good pair of walking shoes. I did so much walking when I visited and I would have enjoyed everything around me more if my feet were not throbbing the entire trip. I surely can attest to the fact that a pair of converse will not do the trick. My other recommendation is to bring plenty of water. I visited in the spring before it got too hot and even then I needed plenty of water during the day. If I remember correctly, we walked at the least five miles a day so both of these items are essentials if you're going to visit Washington D.C.
   Sadly, I had to return home much too soon for my liking but, my mom is already beginning to plan a trip to our nation’s capitol so that her and my sister will have a chance to see the monuments and museums for themselves. I’m looking forward to seeing everything again with the same excitement I had while planning my first visit down. In my opinion, the time for my second trip can’t come soon enough.

Acadia National Park

Here I am in the plane above Acadia!

     Over the course of my life, I’ve only been to Acadia National Park once. For a “Mainer”, this is usually something that is seen by others as strange. But, I have been over it. About three or four years ago my aunt took me to Scenic Flights of Acadia to get in a tiny four person plane to see Acadia from a different perspective. My aunt and her friend Karen picked me up bright and early one morning to drive up to just outside of Acadia to meet Karen’s brother, who was going to fly us up in the plane around the park. After the seemingly never ending ride, we finally made it to our destination.
   I still remember the nerves and the adrenaline climbing into the crammed plane and taking off. After the nerve-racking rise to the air, the ride quickly became absolutely amazing. The views were breathtaking. Looking out over the sun shining and the water glistening, I remember thinking how it couldn't get anymore beautiful. The flips and turns the plane took made my stomach twist with excitement and I couldn't get enough.

My "flight crew!"

   Sadly, this type of experience is not as fun for people who get motion sickness. Our friend soon had to have her brother land the plane in hopes of relieving her sick feeling. So, if you do get motion sick, I advise to prepare yourself if you're planning to go on this kind of an excursion. This is an experience that shouldn’t be passed up if given the chance.
    Another opportunity that should never be passed up is the chance to fly the plane. Sadly, still being as young as I was couldn't but, my aunt on the other hand could. We dropped off our friend and then, much to my own horror, she climbed in the front seat. She got a flying lesson and then, took off with us passengers in tow. Thankfully, she did wonderfully and we returned to the ground soon after but it was surely involved a lot of trust on my part! Then, when leaving, the sun was setting and the sight was unforgettable. This was truly an amazing experience that I would recommend to anyone and wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Walker's Falls

From front to back: My sister, myself, my mom, and my aunt

     Everyone has a place that feels like home. A place you can go to relax and have all your problems melt away. For me, it has always been Walkers Falls Campground in Brownfield, Maine. This campground has been a part of my family since my mom was 13, swimming and camping as a girl scout all those years ago. Now, my sister and I have been going there since I could barely walk. All the while, we’ve been running the campground alongside other caretakers who volunteer to keep the camp that we all love up and running. This has been a family affair for the last 16 years at the least. My family goes up to care take for the campground alongside my aunts and my cousins and head caretaker Lorry.
   Walker's Falls is located on the Saco River, more specifically on the Walker’s Rips. The camp consists of 6-8 wooden shelters or lean-tos that are completely off the grid. Water to wash or eat has to be brought with you on your kayak or canoe or gathered from the Saco River and boiled. Also, if you plan to make a trip down the river and camp at Walker’s Falls, make sure to remember your bug spray! My recommendation is to make your trip late in the summer when the horseflies and mosquitos aren’t as bad. I can attest to the fact that Walker’s Falls is not for the faint of heart but, once you immerse yourself in what the camp can offer, you’ll never want to leave.
 

Walker's Rips can be seen in the far back.

 Now, a word of advice for those of you who haven’t taken a trip down the Saco River before: Walker’s Rips and Walker’s Bridge are two completely different places. There used to be a covered bridge many many years ago that covered the rips but, sadly over time it broke down and now all that's left to show in its place are giant boulders. This seems to be where people notice that this is in fact not Walker's Bridge. I don’t think I could count the number of times I’ve had to bring the bad news to a group of people who were supposed to be meeting the canoe rental company that they indeed went too far. The water’s current can be so rough that it’s nearly impossible to go backwards towards their true destination, so be careful. The river is so horribly marked that you don’t know when you’ve met Walker’s Bridge until it’s too late.
   Walker's Falls is such a beautiful place that I can say from experience, will only make you want to stay longer. Whether it's because of the warm beaches, cool water, fishing, camp fires, canoeing, kayaking, or the multiple rope swings found along the river, once you visit you'll never want to leave the calming waters of the Saco River.