A Life, Lived

A Slow Week on Deer Isle

On the morning we were to leave Portland we made a stop at the Whole Foods to load up on provisions for our week at the cottage. We knew from past experience that once we got on Deer Isle we weren't always likely to find the selection of food that we might be looking for! Of course, the Portland Whole Foods was amazing, making our own nearby Whole Foods look as if it was a corner store by comparison. SIGH

We set off up the coast with one stop planned for along the way. We all wanted to see the Farnsworth gallery in Rockland. The Farnsworth is one of the most respected little art museums in New England. Located right downtown, the Farnsworth has a superb collection of paintings and sculptures by renowned American artists with connections to Maine -- not only Louise Nevelson (who lived in Rockland), but also three generations of Wyeths (N. C., Andrew, and Jamie), plus Rockwell Kent, Childe Hassam, and Maurice Prendergast. Clearly this area of Maine is a magnet for artists!

Rockland was a lovely spot but it was teeming with rain so we didn't feel like wandering about. We weren't alone because the streets were rather deserted. It was to rain on and off until the day we left Deer Isle! Every the local paper was full of articles about the amount of rain and the impact it was having on the area farmers.

Now the constant rain might have dampened the spirits of many but we took it as a sign that we were to sit tight, relax, and slow things down. We are never one to ignore a sign.

The first night we we on the island we treated ourselves to some cheese and crackers to welcome us to the cottage (which was every bit as nice as we had remembered - although the knives had grown exceptionally dull over the two years since we were last there! LOL)

Deer Isle is a fascinating mix of contrasts. It is home to Maine's largest lobster fleet and every day during the season 100s of lobster boats head out to check the traps in the morning and return later with their catch. It is also home to some rather hard living folks. Yet at the same time it is home to wealthy people from 'beyond' who live in massive homes and clearly funnel a good deal of money into the local economy. The island has a HUGE art school and the island is peppered with galleries and studios. The islands has restaurants that feature nothing on the menu that isn't fried (yes, I do include dessert in this). It also has a great cafe (Lily's Cafe) where you can get some of the best sandwiches I have ever tasted. The quirky mix of contrasts make it such a fun place to explore.

Unfortunately, while we were there it was also home to some of the worst fog we had ever seen. The fog was so bad that we weren't able to get out in the kayaks! The lobster boats were fine . . . with their GPS they could skirt the rocks and shoals. Unfortunately we Canadians in our kayaks would not be on the GPS and would be at rish of being sliced in two!

We discovered that there were numerous land preserves on the island - each with relatively well-maintained hiking trails. Whenever there was a break in the rain we headed out. One of the trails went through land that was once owned by Frederick Law Olmsted who is more famous as the co-planner of Central park in NYC. The trail went along a rocky cliff with some stunning views of the ocean and the Stonnington archipelago off in the distance.

The wildflowers on the island were amazing this year. Deer Isle has an annual Lupine Festival that had taken place the week before we arrived. Because the weather had been so cool the lupine were still out in glorious blooms.

Paul turned 34 while we were on the island and we celebrated his birthday in style. I thought that we did pretty good to pull off a home-baked cake in a vacation rental 1000 km from home!

Because we didn't take long day trips off of the island we had a lot of time to explore. We saw so many things that we had missed two years ago when we were crossing to the mainland on a seemingly daily basis.

Mom and I were fascinated by the old graveyards we found - the record they gave of life and death in a remote part of Maine was quite telling. The number of women who died in childbirth was shocking. The number of families lost at sea sad. We were impressed with the way the markers on the graves of veterans were decorated with the American flag. This grave marks the final resting spot of a veteran fo the Revolutionary War:

It was nice to not be rushing about. We read lots of books, watched DVDs and took the most glorious naps. I MISS those naps.

Have I mentioned that the lobster was inexpensive and plentiful? How sad for the fishermen that their best season in years came at the same time as the recession had driven the price of lobster to its lowest level in years. We did our best to assist them but I doubt it will be enough.

Is it any wonder that I have just managed to work off my 'Maine' weight? It takes lots of time on the tread mill to work off all of that lobster!

Did we even go to Maine? LOL

The other day while we were out for our evening walk Paul wondered why I had not featured anything about our recent Maine trip on my blog. I had to laugh - we've been back more than 2 weeks and I haven't posted so much as a picture.

I will correct that today. Things have just been a tad hectic since we returned.

So here goes . . .

Our trip to Maine was amazing! We put more than 3000 km on the car so much driving was involved, yet we sure relaxed a lot. Normally lots of driving does not = relaxing trip, but this time it did.

We stopped the first night in Syracuse and made a return visit to Dinosaur BBQ. It was every bit as good as it had been back in 2007. The only drawback was the HUGE wait for a table - more than an hour. The food made it all worthwhile.

Yes, the diet was on vacation as well! Dear lord, this was GREAT BBQ!

The next day we did a long drive - Syracuse to Portland, Maine. We made a few stops along the way - I have never been the sort who can get behind the wheel of a car and drive non-stop in some sort of bizarre catatonic state.

We LOVED Portland. In fact, it is one of my favourite American cities that I have visited.

Yes, I have visited more than Portland.

We checked out an amazing seafood shack on the coast south of the city. here we had the first of many lobster rolls consumed on the trip.

While in Portland we visited the wharves where I took a this picture of a cat patiently waiting outside of a fish store. Who says cats aren't smart?

I was amazed at how well preserved Old Port is. Old Port is one of the most successful revitalized warehouse districts in the US. Seamlessly connected to the waterfront, the Old Port is both a working waterfront and a chic shopping, dining, and entertainment district.

Taking a walk at the water’s edge along Commercial Street provides a window into the working waterfront. Just steps from the water, we strolled down the cobblestone streets and experienced the  charm of this district. The boutique shopping, one-of-a-kind stores, restaurants serving Maine’s famous lobster dishes or the latest nouveau cuisine, and a vibrant nightlife are all unparallel to any other New England city.

The smell of the sea air, the sound of a foghorn, and the chatter of seagulls add to an atmosphere that is undeniably Portland, undeniably Maine. Did I say that we REALLY liked Portland?

We checked out some of the amazing shops and visited a few galleries. We all agreed that Portland was a place to return to!

We also had the best meals of the year in Portland. Funny how a city in Maine of just slightly more than 60,000 folks has so many great restaurant choices. Two of Food and Wine's best chefs of the year have restaurants in the city. I treated mom and Paul to dinner at 555 where the food was just amazing.

With food like this it was easy to see why chef Steve Corey was selected as one of the best new chefs in the US! The food is all made with locally sourced ingredients where possible and the menu changes regularly in order to make the best use of seasonally products - with one exception.

This is one item that is always on the menu - regardless of seasonality - lobster mac and cheese with shaved truffles. Oh WOW! This was amazing. The chef was generous with the lobster and the truffles. This was a dish of decadent flavours - after one bite one could immediately see why it is the most popular item on the menu.

Oh yes, did I say the diet was on vacation too?

We were sad to have to leave Portland. In fact, if we hadn't had our cottage reserved on Deer Isle I suspect we might have extended our visit.

More on the rest of the trek to come . . .

Photo Hunt - Rocks

This week's Photo Hunt theme is "rocks".

OUCH

That was the sound my head made as I tried to decide which photo to use. And no, comments about rocks in my head are not helpful.

We recently returned from Maine where rocks are EVERYWHERE. I am sure some folks think of nice, sandy beaches. Nope. Rather there are huge tumbles of rocks lining the shores with waves crashing up against them. Beautiful.

This shot is from one of Maine's 'best' lobster shacks (there is a best lobster shack along every 4 miles of the coast) at Cape Elizabeth. You order your food and can eat inside or out on the rocks. INSIDE? I was shocked at the concept. Thank goodness because it was the few times on our trip where eating outside was even a possibility.

We did a lot of hiking on our trip and I was always amazed at how life managed to spring forth on the rocky coast.

Lots of the slow travel  community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below. 

• Old Shoes, New Trip
• Eden's Wanderings and Wonderings
• My Place in the Sun
• Churches in Venice – Mosaics, Marble, and Miracle-Working Madonnas
• Palmabella's Passions
• What I Really Think
• shave Ice and Gelato
• Jerry's Thoughts, Musings, and Rants!
• Keep your Feet in the Street
• Baked Alaska
• That's my story...and I'm stickin' to it!
• Postcards from the Trail
• Cooking at the Whistlestop Cafe
• Candi's Corner
• Trekcapri's Blog
• Destination Anywhere

Photo Hunt - Pink

First up - Happy 4th of July to my American friends south of the border!

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "pink". There was all together too many pictures to select from this week. An embarrassment of riches . . . In the end I went with this one:

I took this picture of water lilies on July 4th, 2007 when we were on Deer Isle, Maine. Given that we're back on Deer Isle THIS July 4th it seemed like the perfect selection.

Happy photo hunting y'all!

Lots of the slow travel  community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below. 

• Old Shoes, New Trip
• Eden's Wanderings and Wonderings
• My Place in the Sun
• Churches in Venice – Mosaics, Marble, and Miracle-Working Madonnas
• Palmabella's Passions
• What I Really Think
• shave Ice and Gelato
• Jerry's Thoughts, Musings, and Rants!
• Keep your Feet in the Street
• Baked Alaska
• That's my story...and I'm stickin' to it!
• Postcards from the Trail
• Cooking at the Whistlestop Cafe
• Candi's Corner
• Trekcapri's Blog
• Destination Anywhere

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "pink". There was all together too many pictures to select from this week. An embarrassment of riches . . . In the end I went with this one:

I took this picture of water lilies on July 4th, 2007 when we were on Deer Isle, Maine. Given that we're back on Deer Isle THIS July 4th it seemed like the perfect selection.

Happy photo hunting y'all!

Lots of the slow travel  community members also photo hunt when they aren't traveling. You can find their posts by clicking the links below. 

• Old Shoes, New Trip
• Eden's Wanderings and Wonderings
• My Place in the Sun
• Churches in Venice – Mosaics, Marble, and Miracle-Working Madonnas
• Palmabella's Passions
• What I Really Think
• shave Ice and Gelato
• Jerry's Thoughts, Musings, and Rants!
• Keep your Feet in the Street
• Baked Alaska
• That's my story...and I'm stickin' to it!
• Postcards from the Trail
• Cooking at the Whistlestop Cafe
• Candi's Corner
• Trekcapri's Blog
• Destination Anywhere

On the Road Again

This time the destination is Maine!

Our house sitter is set. The car packed . . . mom is loaded into the back seat . . . and we're off!

We have rented the same cottage on Deer Isle that we loved back in 2007.

 The cottage is located about 10 minutes form the beautiful lobster town of Stonington.

We hope to do some kayaking again.

Of course, a lot of what we'll be doing is just relaxing and taking it easy - Maine style!

It will be nice to view the Deer Isle 4th of July parade . . .

 Don't worry, we will be eating plenty of these critters:

YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See you'll in a few weeks.

Shrimp Roll Sandwich

Everyone has heard of the lobster roll . . . right?

A lobster roll is a sandwich filled with lobster meat. A traditional lobster roll contains the fresh cooked meat of a one-pound lobster, tossed with mayonnaise and served on a grilled hot dog bun or similar roll, served so that the opening is on the top rather than on the side. The filling may also contain diced celery and/or scallion, in addition to the mayonnaise. The sandwich can also contain lettuce and lemon. Traditional New England restaurants serve lobster rolls with chilled lobster mixed with mayonnaise and celery packed in a grilled hot dog bun and chips or french fries on the side.

This is a lobster roll we enjoyed on our last trip to Maine:

Oh WOW!

Lobster rolls in the U.S. are especially associated with the state of Maine, but are also commonly available at seafood restaurants in the other New England states and on Eastern Long Island in the U.S., where lobster fishing is common. They tend to be virtually unheard-of in landlocked regions (such as the Upper Midwest), where lobster is an expensive delicacy.

It must be because of our upcoming trip to Maine but when I tasted the shrimp salad on Saturday all I could think was 'this would make an amazing shrimp roll'! It was the easiest thing to make! I buttered an 'open top' hot dog bun, toasted it. When it was all toasty brown, I lined with a lettuce leaf, piled on the shrimp salad mixture and was in heaven!

There was no doubt that I was the happiest guy on the street at that moment!

On Monday Paul got the leftovers as his sandwich. He too was a very happy boy!

The shrimp salad recipe was amazing - easy, tasty, and versatile!

Independence Day Trivia

232 years ago the United States of America was created. Immediately challenged by war, it defeated the mightiest nation on the planet at the time to truly gain its independence. While there are those who may make snide comments about Americans (with a baboon as a President who could you not . . . .hmmm . . . we have Stephen Harper. I shall shut up now!) you can't fault the influence that the US has had on world history and economic growth over the past 200 years.

Last year we had the privilege of celebrating the fourth of July with the folks of Deer Isle, Maine - it was wonderful to gather with them to watch the parade that was representative of the community and its history.

Later we gathered in a church basement for a lobster lunch. Ummmmmmm mom LOVES lobster.

That evening we went out with Captain Bill and the gang on his boat into Stonington Harbour where we watched in awe as the fireworks shot into the sky, the colours reflecting upon the inky water and the bangs reverberating off of the cliffs. It was an amazing day

So, in honour of my friends south of the bnorder, here is a trivia quiz . . .

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE U.S.?

1. Where is the only royal palace in the U.S.?

2. What state in the U.S. has the smallest population?

3. What current state of the U.S. was once owned by another state?

4. What is the first place in the continental U.S. on which each morning's sun shines?

5. What is the only city in the U.S. which is named after a radio or TV show?

6. Where was the first American "skid row"--New York, Seattle, Chicago, or St. Louis?

7. What part of the U.S. was originally known as the state of Frankland, or Franklin?

8. Were any signers of the Declaration of Independence foreign-born?

9. What is the oldest city in the U.S.?

10. What is the tallest mountain in the U.S.?

11. What's the windiest site in the U.S.?

12. Which U.S. city has the longest subway system--San Francisco, Chicago, Philadelphia, or New York?

13. Which three states are named after famous women?

14. What two states are surrounded and touched by the most other states?

15. Parts of what two states were included in the Gadsden Purchase?

16. What is the only state in the U.S. without houseflies?

17. Why was 1 Cherry Street, New York City, important in American history?

18. Of which state has it been said, "It's a good state for the shape it's in"?

19. What is the most popular place-name in America?

20. Was there ever a state or territory named after Thomas Jefferson?

21. What American city was called "the Paris of the Colonies"?

22. Which were the first six foreign countries to officially recognize the existence of the U.S.?

23. What official U.S. coin has never been minted?

24. Who were the first two women ever elected to Congress, and which political party did each represent?

25. What great American lake was formed by accident in 1905-1907?

26. Not counting Alaska, what state in the U.S. is the farthest north?

27. What state in the nation is adjoined or touched by only one other state?

28. Has any one of the Great Lakes ever been completely frozen over?

29. What area in Colorado is not part of the U.S. for three days a year?

30. What is the only state in the Union to have lived under six different flags?

The answers coming tomorrow . . .

Maine Trip Eats

When I reflect upon our recent trip and think about the food (doesn't everyone do this? No? Perhaps I am a tab obsessed) there are four 'restaurants' (I used quotations for fear that a fellow foodie will flame me for calling a quintessential Maine Lobster Shack a restaurant!) which come to mind:

Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse, NY

246 W. Willow Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
315-476-4937

You may wonder about BBQ. It isn't the normal high end food that appears on the pages of food magazines, however there is nothing like the taste of amazing BBQ! We Canadians love our BBQ and we just can't get good BBQ at home (unless we're cooking it in our backyards). We found the restaurant (thank you MapQuest), parked ($ 2) but there was a wait for a table. Even though it was after 8, we waited: the smells wafting out from the door were that good.

When we got in we enjoyed one of the best BBQ meals we had ever had. Inside the restaurant had a décor that screamed roadhouse, some of the clientele were ‘rough around the edge' but this is what we have come to expect from a BBQ joint.

We decided to try an order of fried green tomatoes something we had never had before. We split a sampler platter as an appetizer (fried green tomatoes, chicken wings, boiled shrimp, and deviled eggs).

There was a slight incident when Paul ordered his mug of beer  . . . the waitress thought he wanted a bucket! Mom and I were amused even if Paul wasn’t.

For our main course mom ordered ½ a rack of ribs, Paul a brisket sandwich, and I ordered the granddaddy sampler platter – a 1/3 rack of ribs, ¼ chicken, and brisket. Mom and I also got two sides and cornbread with our meals. Paul received fries, pickles, and cole slaw with his. We all loved our meals and shared with one another.

Dinner (appetizers, mains, 4 beers, and root beer for mom) was amazing and only $ 66 with drinks etc!

 

BGs Boathouse in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

191 Wentworth Road
Portsmouth, NH 03801
(603) 431-1074

BGs doesn’t look like much from the outside, nor does it look like much from the inside, yet the place was full of folk from the local area who clearly knew where to go for good seafood. We sat out on the deck overlooking the water and watched boaters pull up in their boats, tie them up, and come up to the restaurant for dinner and drinks.

Our waitress brought us some drinks and we ordered. As soon as she left mom was convinced that she had ordered the wrong thing and wanted to change her order (the sight of the guy next to us having the seafood platter delivered to his table convinced her that the baked haddock wasn’t what she really wanted! LOL). Alas, it was too late for her to change.

The appetizers came quickly, buffalo chicken tenders which were crisply fried with a light breading and a zesty buffalo sauce and crab cakes. We devoured them. I don’t know where this appetite came from because all we had done all day was sit in a car, eaten, and shopped. It must have been the sea air.

Our main courses arrived shortly after – baked haddock stuffed with crab and zucchini for mom and Paul and a lobster roll for me (I thought for my first lobster of the trip I wanted someone else to break it out of the shell). It was amazing! Normally lobster rolls are made with leftover bits of lobster but this one had the equivalent of ½ a pound of lobster meat – including my favourite claw meat! It was lightly mixed with mayo, some lemon juice and I think tarragon. YUM

After dinner we were far too full for dessert. We paid the bill ($ 96 for 4 beers, 2 appetizers, and three mains). More expensive than last night but still below $ 35 a person – you can’t get food this good at home!

The Whale's Rib in Deer Isle Village, Maine

20 Main Street,
Deer Isle,
Maine 04627
1 888-778-7505
207-348-6615

We had made reservations at the Whale’s Rib for 7 pm so we changed and headed out. The restaurant is located in an old Inn which was originally built in 1793 and has been an Inn since 1899. We had been warned that you can wait for a table even if you have reservations; I take this to be a good sign because in my mind it means people don’t want to leave!

We were seated in the dining room which is rustic and has about 15 tables. It was everything you would expect from a dining room in a 200 year-old inn to be. Most of the menu items were seafood but there were some non-seafood appetizers and entrees to please the 'landlubber.

Mom and Paul ordered the Maine Peekytoe Crab Cakes and I ordered the Calamari. Each was perfectly cooked; I believe calamari is a good judge of a kitchen’s skill: unskilled chefs will turn out calamari which is like eating a large rubber band; this calamari was perfect with the squid tender and the batter crispy.

For our main courses Mom ordered a grilled tuna special which was served over tender spears of asparagus and a Tuscan bean salad. The Tuna was marinated in flavours similar to those in the salad so the tastes were perfectly paired. I ordered the seafood casserole which arrived as a large dish full of scallops, lobster, crab, and haddock in a zesty cream sauce, covered with buttered bread crumbs and broiled until brown. YUM Paul ordered broiled haddock which was perfectly cooked and served on a medley of vegetables and rice.

I didn’t eat all of my dinner because I knew I wanted some dessert; it was to be our birthday dinner courtesy of mom. Paul ordered a chocolate peanut butter pie and it was so good that he practically inhaled it before I could snap a picture of it for the blog. Mom and I ordered a strawberry rhubarb crisp which was delicious.

I can see why this restaurant does so well. The food is incredible; while the service isn’t what you would expect to find in high-end restaurant in the city it was friendly and warm. On of the best things was the price – dinner for three (appetizers, mains, dessert, sparkling water, a bottle of wine, and coffee) was only $ 133!!!!!! Before we left we were already making plans to return!

Bagaduce Lunch in Brooksville, Maine

19 Bridge Road
Brooksville, ME
04617
207.326.4729

This classic lunch counter had been written up in one of the guide books as ‘absolutely the best spot fro seafood baskets and burgers’. Who were we to ignore this recommendation? Of course, the fact that they have been serving up seafood delights since 1946 was convincing evidence as well.

There were tables scattered over the lawn overlooking the reversing falls and the Bagaduce River. Mom secured a table in the shade while Paul and I ordered our lunch: a large scallop basket (I managed to secure the LAST of the scallops SCORE) which came with fries and cole slaw, a cheeseburger for Paul (apparently he was all 'seafooded' out by this point - his mom would be shocked that this would happen to anyone related to her! *smile*), an order of onion rings, an order of fries, and two diet Pepsis (I know – why bother with diet with all of that fried stuff?) The total was about $25. When your order was taken you were given a number, when it was ready they called out your number and you were able to pick it up.

The seafood was amazing. My scallops were huge and there were about 25 in the basket. Luckily mom and Paul were ‘willing’ to help me out because there was no way I could have eaten them all on my own! By the time we were ready to head out again there was a huge line up of people waiting for their lunch – obviously this place was well known and for good reason!

Cottage in the Woods

As I have mentioned we decided to rent a cottage to stay in while we were on Deer Isle. I found the cottage on-line. It is owned and rented by a company called Dry Cove Cottages.

The web site looked quite interesting and after a series of e-mails back and forth we had our contract signed and ready to go. The interactions with the owners were quick and efficient. The cost of the rental for the week was $ 900 which worked out to $ 300 each, far less than any hotel would have been.

The cottages (we stayed in cottage # 1) were uniquely located and beautifully finished with knotty pine and other natural finishes. Our cottage was situated in a grassy  clearing surrounded by towering alders and fir trees,  located  in the quiet, beautiful woods of Maine.  There are two cottages and each is identical (with the exception of color) and they are a 1/16 of a mile apart.  Away from the road, located on a 20+ acre plot, surrounded by woods and wildlife.  The quiet and privacy was incredible!

The cottages are suitable for active couples, groups of friends and families with or without children, yachters and kayakers, seminars or retreats. In short, anyone who wanted to take advantage of all Deer Isle and the surrounding area had to offer.

The cottage's kitchen was fully equipped for our cooking needs.  It was fully supplied with brand new appliances including: Stove, Refrigerator, Microwave, Coffee maker & Grinder. In addition there was a block of great knives, dishes and silverware, glasses, assorted pots and pans, mixing bowls; just about anything you'd need for cooking. The only thing missing was a toaster but we ended up using the broiler for that.

The owners have also included everything you will need to prepare, cook and eat lobster (except the lobster of coarse), including cooking books for Maine's famous seafood.  The kitchen's design made cooking enjoyable and easy.  The owners have toped the kitchen off with beautiful wood floors, a big bar top and very wide, comfortable bar stools.

The remainder of the main floor was made up of a large great room. It had a huge coach (which pulled out into a Queen sized bed), 2 reclining chairs (which mom and Paul enjoyed a good deal) and a TV with a built in DVD/VHS player.

You reached the upstairs by way of a wide flight of stairs:

Upstairs were two bedrooms and the bathroom. The first bedroom contained a queen sized bed, the second a set of bunk beds and a twin bed. The linens were provided. The mattresses were the most comfortable we had ever slept on. We all wanted to bring them home! The only drawback about the bedrooms was a lack of dressers or closets; when I'm in a rental I like to be able to take my stuff out of the suitcase and feel as if I belonged! It was a small point and we made do just fine.

The bathroom was large. It contained a shower stall, toilet, and sink. Again, ample linens were provided. There was lots of hot water (another thing which can be a problem in rentals).

One of the nicest things about the cottage was the large wrap-around veranda. We spent countless hours on the veranda reading, sipping martinis, listening to the birds, watching the fireflies, and just relaxing.

Over the years we have rented numerous cottages and other vacation rentals. We have decided that this was one of the best ever! We can't wait to go back again and enjoy all that Deer Isle has to offer.

Our Trip

This spring Paul and I did a road trip up the coast of California. It was quite far removed from the philosophy of slowtravel and I felt unsettled. I convinced myself that I'd not do something like that again; I felt like I just never got to see anything.

This summer we decided to rent a cabin in Maine to avoid the 'unsettling feeling' of a road trip - this would provide a slowtravel feeling however it would also provide a bit of a road trip because it is such a long drive from home!

This was our itinerary:

Day 1 - leave Burlington late in the afternoon (after Paul finished up work), drive to Syracuse NY

Day 2 - Syracuse to Portsmouth NH, explore Portsmouth

Day 3 - Outlet Mall shopping in Kittery, ME; explore York ME, Yarmouth ME, and shopping at LL Bean in Freeport, ME. Finish the day in Augusta

Day 4 - Deer Isle

Day 5 - Deer Isle (Eco Cruise on Captain Bill's lobster boat in the afternoon) 

Day 6 - Deer Isle (sea kayaking)

Day 7 - Deer Isle (4th of July)

Day 8 - Deer Isle and Bar Harbor

Day 9 - Deer Isle

Day 10 - Deer Isle

Day 11 - Deer Isle - Albany NY

Day 12 - Albany NY to home

The parts of the trip there and back were really just a blurr consisting of driving, buying gas, eating, and sleeping. We had a wonderful first dinner in Syracuse at a restaurant called Dinosaur BBQ, followed by great dinners at BGs Boathouse in Portsmouth, and the Whale's Rib, in Deer Isle.

California used to be my favourite US State but now I'm not so sure. Maine was amazing. The cottage was great, boating was great, the day of sea kayaking was great, the lobster, scallops, crab, haddock, halibut etc was great, Deer Isle was great, the art was great. Oh, did I say Maine was great?

The highlight of the week for me was spending the 4th on Deer Isle. The parade was wonderful - not the glitz you'd find in a big city but honest local emotion and feeling. We followed the parade with a trip to Ames' Pond - a HUGE pond (formerly used for ice blocks to send to Jamaica) that is now filled in with the most brilliant pink, white, and yellow water lilies; it made those paintings by that Monet look like washed out scribbles. Then we went to the Masonic Hall where we enjoyed the lobster supper - $ 15.99 got you a lobster, corn, salad, cake, a drink, and lots of great conversation and fun. We rested in the afternoon and then went to the Stonington Pier for the fish and fritter fry - YUM The evening finished off with a ride on Captain Bill's lobster boat out into the harbour to watch the fireworks set off on an island. WOW It was so amazing to share the 4th with the folks on Deer Isle!

It really was relaxing (once we got on the island) I finished up the last 2 books in the Anne Perry WW I  mystery series, read the latest Stephanie Plum mystery, and plunged through the first 2 Harry Potter books. . . 4 more to go before the 19th . . . I miss the birds, the fireflies, and sitting on the deck at night sipping martinis.

I wish Maine were closer dammit!

Oh yeah - the outlet shopping was great! Far too great. I am now afraid to go on-line and look at my VISA statement. OUCH Thank god the Canadian dollar went up to 95 cents US last week.

We spoke to so many locals who just wanted to chat our ears off. They apologized for W, coveted our health care, and many even knew we had some problems of our own with our prime minister. Never have I met such friendly people (well, away from Slow travel anyway).

Deer Isle is a hot bed of art and crafts. We spent a number of days gallery hopping. I bought 3 paintings, some pottery, glasswork, and some hand woven linens.

The weather was great. Nice temperatures, it only rained for a prolonged period once. I am dieing in this heat and humidity here at home.

The cottage was everything we had hoped for -nestled in a stand of pine trees, it was private, very well equipped, and had the most comfortable beds we have ever experienced. I wanted to bring them home!