My family and I are considering renting a house in Maine for the month of August. It really could be anywhere, but we would like to be on or near the water. Camden, Rockport, Blue Hill are examples. I also would like to be in a good area to continue my IM training: access to good rides, maybe some trail runs, some open water swims (I know it is cold), and then on occasion a lap pool.
Anyone from Maine out there have an opinion?
stay home! we dont want your type around here. JUST KIDDING:-)
In that area, the riding and running will be awesome, likely some ponds for OWS too. Use www.swimmersguide.com or the US Masters sight to check for lap pools though.
Kurt
Kurt, if you could pick anywhere in Maine in August, where would you pick?
Thanks,
David
that area would be cool, but a bit removed for me.
I know a lot of folks rent places down on Cape Elizabeth, then the get the ocean/tourist sites, and are close to Portland and all the cool things there…
I live in Brunswick, 20 mile North of Portland.
In terms of where you want to stay I think its important to tell us what you want. Do you want quientessential New England town…do you want ocean, mountains, lakes…is it important to be able to visit cities (ie. Portland, Camden) without driving to far?
I live in Southern Maine, 45 minutes South of Portland. A stones throw to Portsmouth, NH (awesome awesome town). If you stay in Southern Maine, you can rent a house on the Ocean in York, Cape Neddick or Ogunquit…and still be close to alot!
And even, better, you can train on the Pumpkinman Half Course.
Kurt:
I’ll be at Migis Lode in S. Casco after IMLP and was wondering if you know of any places in that area where I could do some not-so-difficult recovery riding? ?
Bob
I live on Mount Desert Island and train yearlong here so I would say access to Acadia National park, although congested at times in the summer provides 50+ miles of carrage roads, mostly bike friendly island pavement and the Cadillac mtn. climb for repeats and excellent views. Lakes and the YMCA pool for swimming.
The downside is lack of nearby tri races in August but several roadraces and our bike timetrial are available then.
Longer rides will take me off island usually on/off route 1 which has good shoulders and is considerable LESS crowded than
midcoast or southern Maine.
If you come and want to train here get a place on the island as car traffic onto/offof the Islamd can lose you a lot of summer hours.
Maybe see you next summer
I grew up in Blue Hill. There are a few nice rides around the area. There is a YMCA in Ellsworth, about 13 miles away and Acadia National Park is about 35 miles away for the carrage trails and the Park look and of course the climb up the mountain. I’ve biked to the Park a few times to climb the mountain and then met family in Bar Harbor. Nice for the wife if she likes shopping. In Blue Hill there are lots of rural roads with no continous flat stretches. Not much for shoulders unless on the main roads but low traffic for the most part. I’ve never done much open water swimming but there is ocean access and some public areas on ponds in the area.
PM me if you do go to Blue Hill. We could get together when I head home to visit family.
Dana
I dont know that area too well, but I am sure you will be ok.
The roads around here tend to have “rollers” and you could “jog” on the sand, or soak the legs in the balmy atlantic ocean!
I live in NYC and spend a good portion of my summers on Eastern Long Island. We will likely be renting our LI house out for August and want to turn around and go someplace different, but still seaside oriented. Access to larger cities or towns is not necessary. So, basically, anywhere along the coast or close to the coast, with good riding, some hiking/running trails and some open water swimming and/or lap swimming. Could be as far away as Mt Desert Island/Bar Harbor or closer in down the southern part.
David
“I’ll be at Migis Lode in S. Casco”
I rented a cottage on a lake in that area (Thompson Lake in Casco) last summer. It is some of the hilliest riding I’ve ever done.
I did a couple of rides that went around Sebago and remember cursing many times a ride after rounding a corner and being faced with another hill that went straight upwards…
To the OP: If you want to get off the beaten track a bit, the “Lakes Region” will be a lot less crowded and generally less expensive than along the ocean, and the water is a lot warmer than the ocean. (my 2 year old basically spent from 9-5 in the water)
If you want to be on the ocean, it is hard to beat MDI for all the activities you listed.
Third vote for Mount Desert Island.
Because island life rocks.
And I am now summer-homesick
Whatever you do, don’t enter any races in the summer around here as Trukweaz wins them all 
Gotta go do New Hampshire races if you want to win.
If money isn’t a concern…check out Anne Erwin Real Estate for a rental (PM me if you want a direct contact). http://www.anneerwin.com/find_a_property/summer-rentals.shtml
Amazing ocean front rental homes in Southern Maine.
"Whatever you do, don’t enter any races in the summer around here as Trukweaz wins them all Gotta go do New Hampshire races if you want to win. "
Trukweaz, while speedy, is a distant second to the fastest S. Maine ST’er…as was proven at Pumpkinman this year. Although, Kurt would have won had he not pointed out to the eventual winner that he was missing his timing chip about 1 minute before the start…
We dont count Pumpkinman…rumor has it the RD artificially stacked the field against Kurt.
pretty sure you dont have to worry about this Trukweaz dude…he is washed up.
He wasn’t washed up on Saturday was he?
Whatever you do, don’t enter any races in the summer around here as Trukweaz wins them all Gotta go do New Hampshire races if you want to win.
LOL! tis true though…
I get to go back to my precious island on Thursday. I’m interviewing for a job at the Jackson Lab - I’ve worked at a summer camp for the past 7 years and I need something “real” on my resume 
PS. if you see this Trukweaz character tell him he missed out on some fun at the Bowdoin pool yesterday!