Home away from home

By Karen Donato
Staff Writer
    After the winter winds have diminished and the snowbanks have disappeared folks from around the state dig their tents and campers out of storage and prepare for camping season. Some die-hard folks reserve a seasonal campsite at a favorite place, while others like to travel from campground to campground exploring what all parts of the state has to offer.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Karen Donato
THE BELLS — Caleb and Brenda Bell greet many campers at the Greenland Cove Campground on the shores of East Grand Lake in Danforth. Former owners of the Elm Tree Diner, the Bells manage the campground for the Brenda Brown family of Houlton.
    A popular destination just 35 or so miles south down Route One from Houlton is Greenland Cove on the banks of East Grand Lake just outside of the town of Danforth. To add to the familiarity for anyone living in the greater Houlton area is that it has been owned by the Brenda Brown family for more than 25 years and since 2006, managed by former owners of the Elm Tree Diner, Brenda and Caleb Bell.
    The Bells love it. This business, while different from operating a restaurant, still offers them the opportunity to meet people from many parts of the world. Since many campers reserve a seasonal site, they establish longtime friendships, while meeting others they may never cross paths with again.
    Living in a camper themselves near the lodge, the Bells arrive from Florida in May to get the campground ready. There are 80 sites, giving campers a choice of being near the water or tucked into a grove of trees for more privacy. The campground is located on a hill so many of the sites have views of the water even though not on the shore. Some campers stake their claim a year in advance to be assured of their preference.
    “The atmosphere is very laid back,” said Brenda Bell, “it doesn’t have the fast pace that the restaurant business did.”
    The Bells keep the convenience store stocked with grocery items, toiletries, ice, kindling wood and Greenland Cove clothing. Sweatshirts, polar fleece and rain gear have been ‘hot’ items this summer.
    Included in the main lodge is a large living room with comfortable furniture to watch TV or videos or to enjoy a fire in the woodstove with your favorite book. There is also a dining area for larger groups or for special occasions. There are shower and laundry facilities.
    Outside, the heated in-ground pool draws the youngsters even on a cool day. Many campers bring their ATVs to ride on the trails. And they come in handy for a float in their campground parades. There is also boat ramp for docking and boat rentals for a pleasure ride or a great day of fishing for the best landlocked salmon, lake trout or small mouth bass. Children like the outside basketball court and playground.
    The Browns and the Bells organize a variety of special activities throughout the summer such as their own Fourth of July parade, hayrides, a fishing derby or special potluck supper or barbecue. They provide a bonfire for the campers at various times and campers and friends entertain with a variety of music,
    Marlene and Marty Glidden live in Orrington in the winter and have been summering at Greenland Cove for five years.
   Marlene said, “We have a seasonal reservation, staying from late spring to fall. We go home to Orrington every week or so for appointments. It is 106 miles to our front door, but when we get there, we want to turn around and come back. This is home.”
    “We love everything about the facility,” said Marlene with Marty nodding his head in agreement.
    Marlene loves to listen to the birds and work in the gardens that she has created around their camper. She even has a special fairy garden for her 6-year-old granddaughter Raegan, from Greenfield. Raegan comes with her grandparents at various times during school vacation and loves to see the flowers blossoming in her special place and all of the wind-chimes and trinkets that decorate it,
    The Gliddens had camped for 20 years in the Millinocket area before discovering Greenland Cove. They bring their camper Mother’s Day weekend and move up at the end of May, staying until Labor Day. Then they move to the Fryeburg Fair for two weeks before putting their “home away from home” back into storage.
    The Bells were not only glad to be back at the campground this summer, but very thankful.  In May of 2008, Caleb, in his early 60s had been diagnosed with lung cancer. With a short window of life before him they sought a second opinion at the Dana Farber Clinic in Boston. Though very risky, doctors there had confidence that surgery could be successful. Caleb received both radiation and chemotherapy treatments for several weeks before his surgery last September. Following a few months of recovery, he was well enough to spend most of the winter in Florida returning to Boston for checkups every three months.
    Caleb is still recovering and doesn’t have quite as much stamina as before, but being around the campground with lots of friends, gives him some natural medicine of encouragement.
    The Bells are true believers that when a life is at stake, a second opinion is something they will never regret.
    This summer, they are giving thanks and enjoying the simpler things in life at East Grand Lake; such as the singing of the birds, the call of the loons, the crackling campfire, the lapping of the waves and the sounds of laughter. They are surrounded by their many new friends, as well as old friends and lots of family.
    Adding additional joy to their lives was news that son Caleb II had become engaged; their youngest son, Chris and his wife Martha are expecting a little girl in late fall and their only daughter, Jennifer will be married in December.