PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — They’re heading to Al’s Diner in Mars Hill on Thursday morning for the first of many diner breakfast bus trips on tap for the Presque Isle Recreation and Parks Department.
“We have one planned every other week,” Josh Stahl, the Rec Department’s new director of outdoor programming, said.
Geared toward a more senior population, the bus trips will travel to different diners around The County and also take in some of the area’s natural sites along the way.
“I thought it would be a good idea,” Stahl said. “As people age, they tend to not venture far from home and I thought why not get these people and bring them to other areas?”
Heading out on Thursday for the inaugural excursion, the diner breakfast bus trip departs at 7:45 a.m. from the Sargent Community Center in Presque Isle.
And in a beguiling Facebook video invite, Stahl teases, “Oh, hey there, tell me, are you a fan of stimulating conversation, majestic county views and delicious mouth-watering breakfast? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, join us Thursday for our first-ever breakfast bus excursion.”
Stahl, a certified Maine guide and EMT, will lead the trip to Al’s Diner in Mars Hill. Departing at 7:45 a.m. from the Sargent Family Community Center, Stahl said that on the way home they will swing up and check out Big Rock Ski Area and then continue on down the mountain road for a loop around the mountain and then return to Presque Isle via Route 1A.
Right now, there is one van available, but the Rec Department is getting another, Stahl said. And depending on the interest, they may be able to use both vans and go every week.
The next diner trips are slated for April 8, The Elm Tree Diner in Houlton; and April 22, the Mapleton Diner.
Stahl called the selected diners before scheduling the trips to make sure they could accommodate the group.
The trip is limited to 14 people. Call the Sargent Family Community Center at 764-2545 to register for a spot on the shuttle.
