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Traveling to Maine |
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Where: Willard Kane House, 7 Wharf Road, Surry, Maine Note that on the Google Maps map, the house is just above (North of) the ‘A’ marker.
When: We can get into the house after 3 pm on July 19th. Please be there between 3 and 5 pm. If your transportation schedules (i.e., your flight doesn’t get in until later) make this impossible, please contact me (bcarterATdrew.edu).
You have a variety of choices to get to Maine. These range from quite expensive, but quick, or very reasonable, but quite slow. I highly encourage students to contact each other to carpool to Maine– this is probably the least expensive and most flexible option. Plus, you may get to know someone that you have not gotten to know yet. If you do carpool, please be very clear about the costs to be incurred by riders and driver (I suggest that riders pay for gas because the driver is incurring the cost of wear and tear on the vehicle).
CAR To drive to Maine, you have a variety of options to get to Augusta, Maine. From there, you all follow the same basic directions (see below).
To get to Augusta, Maine: 1. From NJ/PA you can take the 78 to 287 (cross Tappan Zee Bridge) to 684 to 84 to 90 (Mass Turnpike) to 290 (through Worchester) to 495 (around Boston) to 95 (all the way to Augusta). This is how I usually go. Here is a Google Maps map of this route: Click Here. 2. Or you can take the much more heavily traveled 95 basically all the way through. I don’t recommend this as traffic can be very heavy and treacherous. 3. Or you can take the slightly longer route a little farther north – from 287 take 87 north to 84 (cross Hudson on Newburgh Bridge)- follow directions in #1 from 84. This is our second choice, when we know that there is construction on the Tappan Zee, which seems to be often. I suggest you check. 4. You can even go farther north to nearly Albany on 87 and reconnect with 90. This is a beautiful ride with relatively little traffic, but it is significantly farther. Hints- Try to avoid Hartford, Connecticut and Worchester, Mass, during rush hours- they often grind to a halt. The Boston Metro area (mainly on 495) can also be quite busy during rush hour, but there are few major bottlenecks. From Augusta, Maine to the Project house: 1. Get off 95 at the Route 3 exit (I believe it is exit 113, but please check). 2. You will essentially follow Route 3 for most of the drive. You will go through Belfast (about 45 minutes from Augusta- where rt 1 joins rt 3) and Searsport and many small towns (watch the speed limit!). You will go over a very new, large bridge over the Penobscot River onto Verona Island and then into Bucksport. Continue to follow Route 3 (right at the light). 3. At around 8-9 miles from downtown Bucksport (i.e., the one light), you will come upon Route 176 on your right. Turn down this road. You will follow it for approximately 9 miles when it will end in a T at Route 172. Make a left. Less than ˝ mile down that road you should see Sweet Pea Gardens and Borealis Press on your right. Turn down the little road (Wharf Road) on your right just past Borealis Press. 4. The driveway is just down Wharf Road in the quaint village of Surry, Maine. The house is just to the left and behind Borealis Press. Pictures of the house are on the Photos page of this website.
A few notes on bringing your own vehicle: 1. There may not be enough space at the house in which we are staying, so we may need to park your car at the community center or elementary school nearby. You will not need a vehicle during the week as we will be using the project vehicles. 2. Access to your car may be limited. Do not worry about security; Surry is a small town and very safe. That said- the usual precautions apply- don’t leave electronics sitting in the seat, always lock the car, etc...
BUS
This is the most affordable way to get to Maine, but it can be uncomfortable and take a long time. There are a number of bus routes from New York and the metro area. If you take a bus, you will need to end up on either Greyhound or Concord Trailways, which both have depots in Bangor, Maine (Note that Concord Trailways tend to have movies, but Greyhound does not- or at least they didn’t the last time I took the bus- c. 7 years ago). Please check their websites for schedules and fares. From Bangor, you will need to take a shuttle bus to Ellsworth, Maine (see below).
Please note that there are some flights into Bar Harbor, which is much closer. Please check the US Airways website. I do not know what the shuttle situation is, but I can probably simply pick you up at this airport instead of dealing with shuttles. I have not flown into Bar Harbor, so I do not know this airport well. I do know that it is quite a bit more expensive.
PLANE You will probably need to fly into Bangor International (BGR). Flights to BGR originate in Philly, Newark and La Guardia Airports, as well as other airports outside the NJ/PA area.
There are only a few flights so you probably want to book early. I suggest using one of the large travel websites (such as Expedia or Travelocity) to buy tickets.
Once you get to the airport, you will need to take a shuttle bus to Ellsworth, Maine (see below).
TRAIN This is a little more expensive than the bus, but usually quicker, more comfortable and less susceptible to traffic conditions (though trains may have their own problems) I have not taken the train in many years, but you can take Amtrak to Bangor, although it is actually a bus from Portland to Bangor. From Bangor, you will need to take a shuttle to Ellsworth, Maine (see below).
SHUTTLE If you choose any other option other than driving, then you will have to go through Bangor. There are two shuttle buses that pick up at the bus depots (where the Amtrak bus also drops off) and the airport. These are West Coastal Connection and Bar Harbor- Bangor Connection. Please check their websites, listed below, for times and schedules.
Please let me know if you will be arriving on the bus and when because I will need to pick you up at the bus stop to bring you to Surry. |
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Drew UNiversity: Archaeological field study in maine |