Lobsters, Lighthouses, and LL Bean

 

Welcome to the coast of Maine - Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

 

 

 

Camden, ME - 2121 EDT

 

 

I'm happy to report that in just the short while that we've been in Maine, it's exceeding my expectations!  We've seen just a very small part of the state so far, and it's what I hoped it would be: pretty, rocky coastlines & lakes, lots and lots of pine trees, roads winding through rural countryside, friendly people.  Ah-yup.

 

 

We're spending the night in Camden tonight, along the coast.  Some years ago, Nancy took a Windjammer cruise out of Camden, and she very much wanted to see the place again.  If one takes a direct route, Camden isn't very far from Freeport, where we were last night.  Ah, but we aren't taking the direct route on this trip, at least not if we can help it.  So, we meandered our way up the coast, taking frequent detours down the small peninsulas that mark the Midcoast region.

 

 

First, though, a pilgrimage to LL Bean, of course.  As I said yesterday, it's kind of like being at REI, and/or Eddie Bauer, so it's not like it's a fully unique experience.  Still, we've both been faithful customers of LL Bean over the years, and what a great chance to look around, try stuff on, etc.  We both came away with a pretty good "haul" including shirts, shoes, socks, and various other things.  I bought a pair of boots, and they will meet me back home, thanks to the free shipping!  Nancy got shoes, socks, shirts, and a sweater. 

 

 Now that's a BIG boot....

 

We were out of Freeport by noon, and pointed toward Boothbay Harbor.  We took various detours along the way, winding through countryside that reminded me somewhat of the San Juans.  Frequent glimpses of water, lots of meadows, small farms, pretty houses.  We arrived in Boothbay Harbor, parking next to a pet treat and supply store.  There just happened to be two (make that three!)  black Lbs out front, both advertising the store's wares (presumably) and greeting customers.  How could I say no? :-)

 

Lunch and a stroll around pretty Boothbay Harbor, inc. crossing a pedestrian bridge over one of the waterways.  Halfway across the bridge is a small house, the dock tender's house (? I think?)  and it's for sale!   No matter how cool it would be to live in a wooden shack that was built in 1902, just imagine having all the tourists going by in the summer....

 

 

We continued to explore the various peninsulas, seeing some very nice houses, some small houses, and everything in between.  Lobster traps everywhere, too: out of the water, and in the water.  You see the floats bobbing everywhere.  Reminds me of dodging crab pots back in WA state in the seaplane!

 

 

Something we've both noticed in New England is the presence of large stars on some houses.  It's a decorative thing: just one single star on the side of the house or garage.  Don't know what it means, exactly, but we've seen it from CT up to ME.  Just thought I'd mention it.

 

 

We traveled down to Pemaquid Point, and its fabulous lighthouse.  There are quite a few lighthouses along the coast, as one can imagine!  This one, lucky for us, had just opened its season for visitors today!  The weather for most of the afternoon was clear and brilliantly blue sky, except for right along the coast, where that ethereal fog presisted.  This was true around the lighthouse, also - within 1/2 mile of the coast, the fog screened our views.  It really enhanced it, though. 

 

The rocky coast around the lighthouse is fascinating - it looked to me like petrified wood, although of course it isn't.  It's in layers with stripes, and we enjoyed clambering all over it (carefully!)  There were a few other visitors there, but mostly, it was pretty quiet.  We couldn't climb up the lighthouse, but we were able to visit the fishing museum attached to it. Saw their prize:  a 22-lb. lobster, shellacked and mounted in a display case.  The museum tender allowed that he'd once tried to eat a large lobster, and it wasn't very good.... guess size isn't everything!  Anyway, it was cool to see the old pictures, tools, lobster traps, etc.  And Nancy was amused by a collection marked, simply, "Old Documents."

We wandered on to Camden, by way of Knox Regional Airport (of course!)  We did stop by the Boothbay Harbor Library, too, so it's not all airport-centric.  Today's count: two airports, one library.

We're staying in an older motel - a Mom & Pop place that came highly recommended on Trip Advisor.  Camden is a pretty little harbor town, with a mountain nearby, so there are a number of places to stay, but a lot of them are pricey.  The Towne Inn, though, is unpretentious, clean, with friendly proprietors, and it's just a 5-minute walk into the village.  Suits just fine!

 

Dinner - my very first whole Maine Lobster!  1.25 lbs., the preferred size.  I chose the "not lazy" option, which meant I had to do all the crackin' myself.  Nancy, who in adulthood developed a lobster and crab allergy, nonetheless coached me through the process, as the lobsters are somewhat harder to crack than the crabs we have back in the NW.  What good stuff!!!!  It was cool to have the whole thing on the plate, albeit slightly off-putting to see the eyes staring at me, and also all the, um, innards.... haha!  And, all that for only $21.95. Welcome to Maine!

 

We strolled around the village a bit, and met Camden's most famous dog, a Bernese Mtn. dog named "Jackson."  He and his person were "talking" -- Jackson howling for his part.  His person said "everybody in town knows Jackson."  Now, we do too.  :-)

 

 

Tomorrow: more coast!  More water!  More lobster!  (for one of us, at least!)

 

cheers,

--Kit and Nancy