Thursday was the first time I'd ever traveled Route 26 beyond Gray/New Gloucester (Range Pond is about the farthest point we've ever gone on the road). So it was an enjoyable drive along the route to see all the places I've heard people talk about but had never seen first-hand.

For instance, Poland Spring's Preservation Park. There's some historical buildings as well as hiking trails and the kids and I agreed we needed to visit there soon.

Then there's the Oxford Plains Speedway where they hold the drag races. The girls and I thought it might be fun to check that out sometime.

We enjoy flea markets and yard sales and the Undercover Flea Market in Oxford (across from the Speedway) looked right up our alley.

Perham's is in West Paris and the kid's 4-H club is headed there later today.

We've heard Bethel has great cross country skiing and we saw signs for the Cross Country Ski Center at the Bethel Inn.

And of course Sunday River is just off the highway as well.

Then there was the silly stuff. Like the sign we read outside a country store.

I bought a pizza for my wife.
It was the best trade I ever made!

Probably an old joke for those in the area but I had a good chuckle over it and so did L.

L. also spotted a deer crossing sign with a red circle sticker on it's nose.

It turned out that the 2-hour drive to Grafton Notch State Park on the single-lane highway really wasn't so bad. Between the sights and the audio book ("Half Magic" by Edward Eager - the kids gave it a thumbs up!), it was a pleasant ride for all of us.

There are even more sights on Route 26 than what I mentioned above as well.