Monhegan Island weekend.......

Up at the crack of 5:00 A.M. Hitting the road at 6:00 A.M.  6:34 A.M. Heading to New Harbor, Maine to catch the 9:00 A.M. boat to Monhegan Island. The Hardy Boat Line takes us 10 miles through 100 foot swells (literally) slamming into our little boat every 4 feet and taking us into another world. (Literally)

 Shaw's Lobster and Fish Market is right there on the wharf in case you all would like to order some wicked good Lobstahs and other salty delicacies. These things were alive just minutes before. (Don't think about it.)

Boarding the boat from the front and past the little Galley serving coffee, tea, snacks and homemade cinnamon buns, we were able to choose sitting inside or up on the top deck outside. 
We I chose to sit inside. The captain said that the lower you sit in the boat, the less rocky it's going to be and since he wouldn't let me sit in the bilge, we sat in one of the inside benches. You see, I'm somewhat prone to motion sickness.....even just walking around on dry land sometimes.

 This was the view from the back of the boat, before we shoved off. Looks calm, huh? Well now, the captain announces that he can see the big buoy way out there somewhere and IT appears to be bouncing around somewhat. Quite a bit, actually.

"We have some complimentary ginger candies in the Galley for motion sickness.", announces the Captain. Help yourself. 

I took a handful.

Complimentary.

:-)

 Complimentary ginger candies. (Taste like putting black pepper into your mouth, but whatever....)

I have no photos of the boat ride there. Not a one.The swells were so large, scenes from the Posiden Adventure and Titanic were scrolling in my head.

 I could not move or take my eyes off of the horizon, which, btw, is what keeps one from puking. I sat like a zombie for an hour.

The boat literally fell from the top of one swell after another, I swear, a hundred feet.

(Captain says they were 4 foot swells, but what does he know....)

Mr. Downeastdoingstuff took a video of it on his i phone, but I don't know how to access that. 

(Me? I have one of the first cell phone ever invented. No apps.)

So we had reservations at the Monhegan House, pictured below. There were old and/or mini pickup trucks from the major Inns waiting for us at the dock. We gave them our bags and they were waiting right outside our room when we checked in. Our room was the two windows on the far right on the second floor.

Our room. All the rooms are basic farmhouse style rooms. There are shared bathrooms and showers down a long hall. At first that might seem yucky, but everything, and I mean everything, was spotless and it was maintained that way. Not a problem at all.
Toto toilets, lights that went on and off automatically, paper towel dispensers that gave you a paper towel. You didn't even have to wave your hand around at some unknown sensor to maybe get it to work. It just did. Nice showers.

We stayed at this Inn 10 years ago and since then it's been freshly painted, remodeled and updated. It's very, very nice.

This was a view from the window of our room toward the Black Duck establishment and the harbor.

This was inside the Black Duck establishment. Starbuck's type of coffee and lattes, munchies and gifts. I bought myself a couple of gifts. 

The Fish Market 'restaurant' provided outdoor picnic tables for it's patrons and seagulls.

Walking around, there were a million things to photograph. Now, I tend to exaggerate about things now and then, but this was no exaggeration. Notice the lighthouse on the hill!

How many photos did you take, Birdman??

The island just off the island is called Manana. The Manana hermit used to live there. Apparently 'Rusty' will take you there. Check out the asterisk at the bottom....."*Call Rusty on the radio in the box." Top technology everywhere you look! ;-) (Rusty needs to use spellcheck...he spelled Manana wrong on the poster!) We did not call Rusty. 

The Red House. Jamie Wyeth painted the Red House.

I thought these were cute.

The Shining Sails Inn.

The Island Inn from the top of Lighthouse Hill. Manana Island is in the background.

Jamie Wyeth also painted this bell.

After a walk to Lobster Cove, a sign on the ground pointed the way. 

"Town",  by the way, is our Inn, a Church, the Black Duck and the Post Office.

This is the main street in town.

We had our last lunch at this Cafe right next to the dock. Half a sandwich and yummy Clam Chowder.

This was not our boat, but ours was very similar. The ride back, at 3:15,  did not sport the monster swells we experienced going to Monhegan. BUT, it was very choppy and we still we rocked and rolled quite a bit. 

Took two more ginger candies and made it back to shore with my lunch intact.

It truly was a perfect weekend.

Here's Johnny!

If you have ever seen the movie the Shining with Jack Nicholson, this is the outside of the hotel they were living in. In the movie it was called the Overlook. In real life, it's the Timberline Lodge.
We were here last week. It is half way up Mt. Hood in Oregon, at about 6,000 feet. In July, people are still skiing here, chairlift and all. Everyone else, such as Birdman and I, were in shorts and t shirts and sandals because it was summer! Very, very weird.

This is the view from the back side of the hotel looking toward the peak.

There were 8 of us in our party. (And a party it was!) Living together for a week with my sister-in-law and her husband. They were the most gracious hosts there could be. One of the days we ventured up to Mt. Hood. Everyone, but Birdman and I, went for a hike up the mountain in the snow. They had sneakers. I had sandals. My sandals were not meant for snow. So we sat on a lovely stone veranda in the sun and sipped Martinis instead, watching the skiiers lug their gear to the chair lifts.

Ahhhh, winter sports!

Romantic weekend....Part 2.....

So after settling in our room, we went for a walk around the shops in Rockland. Not everything was opened yet because it was before the 'season', but we did cruise around a few stores.

Upon returning to the Inn, this is how we found our room.

Lest you think those are sliced beets, be assured, they are rose petals!! And some chocolate on a silver tray. Nice touch.

So we cracked open some  champagne we brought, served up some cheese and crackers and built a fire in the fireplace. Oh yeah, I already told you it was a push button fire. Nice anyway.

After enjoying that, we took off for a local restaurant on the water that had good reviews. We decided to just go to the lounge and order a couple of appetizers and some adult beverages. Very relaxing.

Next morning..... BREAKFAST ....

Home-made hot applesauce, a breakfast bread that I think was almond, coconut and poppyseed, coffee, tea or juice.
Quiche with basil and homefries.

BUT.....BUT...the piece de resistance was this.....CHECK IT OUT !!!! They had a pantry that was open 24/7. In that pantry were 3 or 4 PIES, that were available all the time!!! Coffee and tea.In the fridge were sodas, water, BEER  and  ICE CREAM !!!!!! The deal was HELP YOURSELF!!!!! YIKES!!!

So we came back after the appetizers, fixed ourselves up with pie, ice cream and tea (for me) and went back up to our room. Perfect, perfect time.

I want that pantry in my house.

Well, Hello there?

  The gift shop in the Portland Jetport is in the gate area. It smells of a pleasant pine potpourri and is festooned with products from Maine. I’ve lived in Maine for over forty years, but still can be tempted to buy pine cone decorated candle holders or moose refrigerator magnets. It’s the same feeling that comes over me when I’m at a Disneyworld gift shop. That oven glove that looks like Mickey Mouse’s hand seems like a necessity and the Goofy clocks are to die for. Both of those items are totally out of place once they are in a home. 

   Because of the Philadelphia airport incident of August 2010, I am scrutinizing emergency items necessary to survive a night in a freezing cold airport, such as socks, sweatshirts and multiple candy bars and making sure I know the exact time the gift shop closes, when I notice someone unfamiliar that appears to be approaching me out of the corner of my eye. I veer to the right toward the paperback books and pretend to read the titles. I notice the same shadowy tall figure nearing me on my right and I turn left toward the Maine sweatshirts and t-shirts. Finally I turn on my heels and head toward the exit when a man about my age stops himself directly in front of me. I look up and see a huge smile on his face, and he was looking directly into my eyes. 

Do I know this person? My mind is racing, mentally taking inventory of every man I’ve ever met. He looks vaguely familiar and he finally asks of me.....

“Do I know you?”

I say, “ I don’t know.” 

He says, “You look very, very familiar.”

I said, “You look kinda familiar.” (I figured this was a wise thing to say just in case I actually did know this person. I didn’t want to seem like I forgot all about him or that he was so insignificant in my life that I didn’t remember him.) 

“Are you a teacher?” , I ask. (Teachers are just about the only people I know. Tons of them)

“No”

“Where are you from?”, he inquires.

“Orginally?”, I ask.

“Yeah”

“New Jersey”, I say, thinking maybe I went to high school with him!! I’ve always wanted to run into someone from high school that I’ve haven’t seen in like, forever, and then realize we know each other.

New Jersey did not put a knowing look on his face.

“You’re a teacher?”, he aks.

“Yes.”

“Where?” (Now at this point I’m surveying him for terrorist accessories, or hidden box cutters.)

Suddenly, probably sensing my razor sharp eyes scanning him, he tells me he’s a surgeon in Camden, Maine.

“Hmmm”,I tell him, “I’ve been to Camden several times before.”

That didn’t impress him at all, so he very politely said, “ It was nice to meet you, but I’m guessing I don’t know you”.

He left the gift shop and entered the bar next door. He probably needed a stiff drink to help him recover from the  disappointment of not being able to reminisce with me about our spontaneous romantic trip to the Isles of Greece when we were in our twenties.....or something like that. 

Ah, those were the days.

Update: I just want to wish a sweet lady, Annie's Mom, a very happy, happy birthday! Love ya!

 

Happy Wedding D and V.....

Congratulations to my sweet nephew and his beautiful bride. May your lives be filled with joy and love.

Hey, Birdman! Why didn't we have car like this to pick us up after our wedding? huh?

Back to the trip.....

Brief synopsis.....A two day mini holiday....many miles away. Up at the crack of dawn on Saturday.......drive a bazillion miles to Bar Harbor, Maine. Stay overnight in Prospect Harbor, Maine which is another hour drive in the opposite direction of our home.

Sunday morning......nice breakfast at the Inn with a lovely couple celebrating their first anniversary. Pack up and begin the trek home from our utterly delightful Downeast sojourn.

So where do we end up??

Every hear of Lubec? (Looooooo-BEC) Check out the fine print on the sign. See the word 'Easternmost'?  Ayuh. It's true. The 'Easternmost', 'Westernmost', 'Northernmost' or 'Southernmost' of anything can't be all that good, can it?

Mr. Downeastdoing stuff: (after checking out of the Inn) "Well, what do you want to do now?"

Me: "I don't know, what do you want to do?"

Mr. D: "Well, it's your birthday trip, what do YOU want to do?"

Me: "Well, we can go to Boothbay Harbor on the way home and walk around town a bit."

(translation: go shopping.)

Mr. D: "I don't like Boothbay Harbor, I've been there before."

(Note: He's been to Bar Harbor before, too, but that didn't stop him from going back.)

By now we have driven north out of the Schoodic Peninsula and are approaching Route One.

Mr. D sees a sign.....'MACHIAS 45 miles'

Mr. D: "Oh, look, it's only 45 more miles to MACHIAS! Let's go there!"

Me: groan

Mr. D: "I'd like to go to MACHIAS and since we're so close, why don't we go there?"

Me: "But we've been to MACHIAS before and there is nothing there!" (No offense Machiasites)

Mr. D: "Oh come on, you know I've been asking to go there."

(Yes, he has said a couple of times in the last few weeks that we should drive up there some weekend for whatever God knows what reason. Doing some quick Math in my head I decide that driving the 45 miles today is better than taking an entire other weekend and driving up there for whatever God knows what reason.)

Me: Stupid Me: "Okay"

So off we go.  45 miles more AWAY from home. (Did I mention that we were a bazillion miles from home already?)

Upon arrival in MACHIAS we see that it's only 28 miles more to LUBEC!!  So guess what?

Anyway, the rest is history, so you might as well enjoy some photos of the Easternmost point in the world.

The bridge to Canada. Thank God we didn't have our passports or we might have ended up in the tundra.

Lighthouse in Canada. 

By the way, (I'm so excited about this...) THAT is a REAL eagle on the peak of that little shed. Not a fake one....it actually moved and later flew away. I never saw one that close!

OK, folks, now get ready for this. THIS is the Main Street in Lubec. Not many Main Streets that the photographer can stand out in the middle of the road, like, forever, and snap this photo.

Many store fronts seem vacant. (Really called Water Street)

End of the world aka end of Main Street. (aka Water Street)


The only open place we could find. Went in for a cup of coffee. The proprietor was sooooo nice, made a fresh pot of coffee for Mr. D AND decaf for me. 

A view from one of the windows in the cafe.

West Quoddy Head Light.

Wild blueberry fields.....

BACK in MACHIAS. (again...) Had to stop at the famous Helen's Restaurant for Helen's famous blueberry pie, supposedly the best in the world!

It WAS very good.

Then the old trustworthy Mapquest told us to drive 20-25 miles NORTH from MACHIAS (we were supposed to be heading south...) to get onto the 'Airline' (Route 9) to "destination Bangor, Maine. No clock, no pools, no pets....ain't got no cigarettes".... and then south on the Maine Turnpike, finally heading in the direction of home. 

It was a wonderful weekend that the blueberry pie managed to salvage. It really was.

Thanks, Birdman.

Road trip......Part Two.....

About an hour away from Bar Harbor and Acadia Park on Mt. Desert Island, is another section of Acadia that is across the water from Bar Harbor and down another peninsula. It's called Schoodic.

This area is far removed from the hustle and bustle of Mt. Desert Island. It's like night and day.

The Park loop is quiet and inviting. We arrived at our Bed and Breakfast, checked in and headed to the Park to see the setting sun do it's thing on the area's beauty.

This is the Bed and Breakfast that we stayed in in Prospect Harbor called Elsa's. It was a lovely, warm and inviting homestead directly across from the harbor.

The view across the street from the Inn. (Notice the light house in the distance.)

A corner of the living room.

The dining room.

The view from our upstairs bedroom. We had our own private entrance from the front porch.

We ate dinner in Winter Harbor. They have their own Village Doctor! 

...and a 5 and 10!

Photo of my husband, Mr. Downeastdoingstuff, aka Birdman (on his blog.) This is the position I see him in most of the time when we are out and about. Heck, even at home he takes many photos of our surroundings!

Down the street was this massive guy. I actually EAT that brand sardines! I didn't think they actually came from somewhere. (yes, I like sardines....me and about 2 other people)

More to come......