South Coast 3: The Boat Trip Edition

No summer in Maine would be complete unless we take a boat trip. And this summer, the trip was the lighthouse tour from Dock Wharf in Portland, Me. This guest blogger has always liked Portland.....I worked there for 3 years, saw the start of the changes to the waterfront in 1977. Boy, what a change! JoAnn calls Portland the "Seattle of the East". And I would agree.

Now on to the picture to your left. Ducks on an island during the boat ride. Why is it important? Here's the story. While waiting in line to board our ship, there were a bunch of seniors in walkers, a wheelchair and helpers trying to get them on the ship. An employee of the line apologized later for "the inordinate number of wheelchairs" for this trip. Hey, just let us on the ship. Anyway, it looked like these ducks on the rocks. Slow getting on, and last getting off. Lined up with no where to go.

Well we were near the tail end of the embarking people. However, the blog owner came through. As we were walking forward, she noticed some chairs under the staircase to the upper deck. We immediately took them. Easy to exit from, interesting because the only people next to us was a couple from Germany, and a GREAT post to take pix (which when we got home, the blogger-owner said "96 photos": hey, I thought we were on vacation. Trip was great: sun and wind and just a good time. After the end, we walked up to Commercial Street; JoAnn took a seat on a bench, and I got the car from the garage.

Oh, yea. On the trip, we had a gentlemen discuss the ducks on the rocks. He stated that they were amazing. Thinking about sitting up there, etc. And then, while waiting for me, he walked by JoAnn on Commercial Street and greeted her again. I guess the ducks are an omen. Of what I don't know. But this I do know, no boat trip in Maine has ever been without something interesting to remember. And, the South Coast is no different.

As an aside, the spoiled chocolate lab, Amber, is also on vacation. Noticed that she slept on the couch while we were gone, and on the rug, sound alseep, when we got home. Maine.....time seems to be slower here.

South Coast 2: The Bob's Clam Hut Story

JoAnn had been to Bob's way back when. She even remembered the gravelly parking lot. And she has always commented about the soft-belly fried clams. Thus one of the missions today was to take in the best of Maine eats. It started with the blogger hinting that we should have breakfast/brunch/lunch at The Maine Diner (featured on the Food Network, etc.). Well, when we got there, she decided that we would have lunch because "I can get breakfast anywhere." Sure. After all, they have a neon clock that states "Breakfast Anytime". Thus she did what she always does: change her mind. The order was for the famous two's : 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 sausages, 2 blueberry pancakes, and, of course, 2 toasts. She gave me a pancake, so she could get some of my potatoes. Breakfast was alright...hehehe.

Thus, the day well in hand, we proceeded (after some driving around and visiting lighthouses, and the Strawberry Banke area of Portsmouth, NH, we ended up at Bob's Clam Hut. Lots of people for lunch at 2 PM in the afternoon. "Clam Roll....$13.95" said the handwritten board. Of course, she made a suggestion, "Let's get and split the fried clam platter." Great suggestion, we got more clams, and spend less cash. Ok, the clams. Sweet, batter is over-the-top, and what can you say, they are the best in the world according to some. Mission accomplished: 2 Maine attractions visited in one trip. And without getting lost: thanks to Noreen at the Garmin Station.

As an aside.....the blogger is on vacation this week. And I have been forced to sum up the day's activities.

Maine 2009: The South Coast Edition By The Guest Blogger

Saturday night, quarter to 9, sitting at a table, looking over the salt marsh at high tide, I am the "guest blogger" tonight. Our drive from Bethlehem, Pa to Kennebunkport, Me of 402 miles was uneventful. No real side trips. Navigation with Noreen is always a trip however: some suggestions are plain stupid or plain brilliant. I don't know which. Got to the place at 56 Dyke Road (after Noreen could not find it). Exactly as advertised when we leased it. Even though we have not been here a full 12 hours, I know we will love the location to explore southern Maine. Quite different than Martha Stewart Downeast, the Boothbay Harbor midcoast location. The week here is going to be different: not much rushing about. I did promise JoAnn that she could go to antique shops this week, probably down in Wells (Kennebunkport will not have those tourist traps on their streets, hehe). Well, Saturday night would not be complete without the 1st dinner in Maine. Lobster, of course. But the Maine steamers were over the top. I had had them in the past, but never with JoAnn. She loved them. Anyway, Amber, the chocolate lab traveler, is now asleep on the rug; very much the vacation dog. We are sitting here, and ready to talk, liking the evening, and prepared for Sunday. Perhaps the Maine Diner for breakfast, featured on the Food Network, and then some shopping. It feels like Maine, again, and it feels right.

We Should Have Taken Big Mine Road

• J says: Ed and I made a little day trip to Centralia, PA today. It is known as a ghost town in Pennsylvania, since it is the site of a mine fire that has been burning for over 40 years. It was kind of creepy, actually. It's just a grid of streets with vegetation growing over the streets and not much else. We didn't see anything like the steaming picture above, but you can certainly tell that there's something wrong in Centralia!

• E says: There is always a reason that JoAnn wants to go on these trips. It's a feeling that she wants to go to the end of things. Something that her father always did, thus the daughter. We went to easternmost point of the US in Maine. We just added Centralia to this list. Won't be the last either. Anyway, I did enjoy the drive; and didn't watch any sports today. But enjoyed the 4 hour trip, and the small conversation.