Reid State Park, Georgetown, Maine

Continuing the 'vacation in Maine' theme, we hit Popham Beach on Friday and Reid State Park on Sunday. I write about Popham a lot, so just this to say- if you go out on the sand bar near the Morse River, unless it's a really low tide or you want to get wet, there's no way to get back to the main beach except the way you came. THAT was a walk!

We've been timing our trips to the beach for low tide. There's more beach that way! Here we were a couple of hours ahead of low tide, but you can see the more rocky shore along this stretch of Half Mile Beach. Reid State Park is really an excellent place for families as you find more tidal pools and things to discover here.

We pulled in at the trail head for Half Mile Beach (the other access was closed to traffic when we were there). There are snack bars at both parking locations. Restrooms and changing areas are also available here. Both 'sides' of the park have grassy & slightly graveled trails to walk on. But, you know me, I head straight for the water!



And, I wasn't the only one. At the end of the beach, we found this flock of sandpipers. Rock stayed back with Bre while I stood perfectly still until they settled in. They are a riot to watch because they will go right up to the water's edge and when the tide comes in, they race up the beach.

We hiked along the beach to the end, turned and came back. At the end of the beach closest to the parking lot is rocky outcropping you can climb on when it's low tide. (High tide and waves make it pretty slippery and unwalkable, but there is a path around the snack bar that takes you to the other beach.)

Where, apparently, the cast of Survivor was encamped, if the found structures are any indication. Immunity anyone? 'Cuz without it, this is where you get voted off to...


Over the dunes behind this lean-to is a tidal pool that is a great place for kids to swim if you want them to not be in the surf. The water is usually warmer in the tidal pool than in the ocean (where it is never 'warm') but don't plan on 80 degree water in either location!

There are great places to stop along the way and take photos while you're walking around the park. Definitely a whole day excursion. Pack a picnic lunch or just cruise the snack bar for refreshments. Bring a blanket, some beach chairs, toys and an umbrella and you're set for a day at the beach!

And don't forget, you can continue on down the islands to Five Islands Lobster for dinner!

Directions: On Rt 1 heading north from here, cross the Sagadahoc Bridge in Bath and turn right immediately at the end of the bridge. Turn left at the stop sign and continue on 127 until you see the huge American flag painted on the rock wall. Turn right, the road ends at the park. To go to Five Islands Lobster, just stay on 127 until your hat gets wet, then back up...you're there.

A Day in Portland, Maine

Maine Narrow Gauge Railway

Recommencing the vacation in Maine the next day, we headed back to Portland to do some serious wandering around. Yes, parking in Portland is an adventure, but we found a lot right on the wharf on Commercial Street where we could park all day for $8. (And all day meant just that, we could come back at 7 AM the next day to get the car.) A lot of parking areas are unattended, so you need cash to park your car.

We strolled along Commercial St up to the Casco Bay Lines terminal and then back down Commercial on the other side, weaving in and out of the side streets. If you're headed downtown, we've got maps here or you can pop into the Tourist Info at the International Ferry Terminal.

If you're not into shopping, what else is there to do in Portland for a day? (The short list)

• Take the train- Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad & Museum is right on Fore St. Train rides are daily during the summer and on weekends late May to early Oct. (Special events are scheduled thruout the year.)
• Foodie Tour- Maine Foodie Tours offers a culinary walking tour, a just desserts walking tour, a Port City beer tour and they have more ideas in the works. Stop in at 10 Moulton St for tix.
• Guided walking tour of the Old Port or Portland's Golden Age homes. (July-early Oct)
• Hop the mail boat for a 3 hour cruise around Casco Bay. (year round)
  
• Go lobstering with Lucky Catch Lobster Cruises (Memorial Day-Columbus Day)- book the lobstering package with us as part of your vacation.
• Bike along the Eastern Prom and the Back Cove.
• Climb the Portland Observatory for 360 degree views of Portland.
• Get back in the car and head over to Maine Indoor Karting for some go-cart fun.
• Head back to Portland for dinner and a Wicked Walking Tour in the dark. (Wed-Sat 8 PM)

Seals and cormorants in Casco Bay

And that list doesn't even begin to touch on the museums around Portland:

• Portland Museum of Art
• Children's Museum of Maine
• Victoria Mansion
• Longfellow House
• Maine Historical Society
• Portland Harbor Museum
  

Or the music and art galleries.

Or the lighthouses! You could spend the day just visiting all the lighthouses, by land and by sea.

• Portland Head Light
• Bug Light
• Spring Point Ledge Light
• Cape Elizabeth Light (Two Lights)
• Ram Island Light and Halfway Rock Light (by boat only for close views)
  

A view to the harbor

You just never know what you'll come across wandering around in Portland...this statue of George Cleeve backed by what appears to be his original ship, but which is actually Raw Faith, a replica of a seventeenth century English galleon. (Update: Raw Faith sunk of the coast of Nantucket Island.)

Take a walk in Portland, there's a lot to be discovered!

Other posts about Portland:

Fort Allen

Lobster Boat Cruise

Mail Boat on the Casco Bay

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

Becky's Diner Portland, Maine

Part of our Maine vacation included a day in Portland wandering around in the Old Port, poking our noses in here and there to see what the shops had to offer and trying out different places for lunch. The trip really started on Tuesday when we were on our way back home from leaving the Riv at the garage station. We decided to stop and get lunch at Becky's Diner.

Becky's is right on the Hobson's Wharf on Commercial Street. Last time we were there they were in the middle of an extensive reno which is now complete. My 'taste test' for a diner is the BLT on white toast. It's a tough recipe to mess up but you'd be surprised how often I've been disappointed. Not this time- Becky's nailed the BLT. Perfectly toasted bread, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes and just enough bacon for every bite. Yum!

Becky's is the kind of place you can go to no matter who you are. Everyone was in there from blue-haired grannies to Cole Haan-wearing professionals to guys just off the boats to college kids on break to tourists. You name it, they were represented. It's that kind of place. Everyone is comfortable in a diner.

While we sat there it was like old home week with people from Augusta greeting long-lost friends in Portland, college kids getting together with friends and business people meeting up for lunch.

Once inside, Becky's is very reminiscent of a ferry boat. If you've ever taken the ferry between Burlington and Plattsburgh (or the Casco Bay Ferry) you'll know just what I mean. Other than it wasn't moving, it was just like being on one of those dinner cruises around Lake Champlain or Casco Bay (without the diesel fumes!). In case you didn't enjoy your ferry ride and you're wondering why I'm making this comparison, I actually LIKE the ferry so this felt very homey to me!

After eating, we decided to come back to Portland the next day to explore.

All around, Becky's is a quick place to drop in for a great lunch. (Headed toward the bridge on Commercial St, Becky's is just before you go under the bridge, on the left.)

Tool Time Tour

View Tool Time Tour in a larger map

If you've been to Freeport, you know there's a lot of shopping going on here. You may also know that your spouse or SO is not necessarily interested in spending a day shopping for frilly, girly stuff. You also know that the longer spouse or SO is amused, the longer you get to shop. (OK, I totally tried to make that gender-neutral but it's impossible. Face it, a lot of guys glaze over when a day of shopping for frilly, girly things is mentioned. Alright, got that out of the way.)

So, now that I've got you thinking how you can keep spouse busy while you shop, look no further, I've put together the 'Tool Time Tour' just for hubs. (Again, making huge assumptions that hubs is interested in tools, but hey, give it a shot!)

The Tool Time Tour will take about 6 hours (longer if he's really into tools). It may cost you as we're going to hit some really high end tool emporiums, as well as ridiculously cheap tool places (good tools, just inexpensively priced). But, look at it as a cheap price to pay to have hubs happy while you're happy, too.

One small corner of the three storey Liberty Tool Company building. Just multiply by 100 to try to get an idea what this place is like!

So, without further ado, the Tool Time Tour:

Starting here at White Cedar Inn, turn right on Route 1 just in front of the house. The following are the highlights of the Tour, the map above will show the route!

• Shelter Institute/Woodbutcher Tools - Woolwich. Check here for the Shelter blog telling about one day, free classes. (Approx 20 miles north on Rt 1, on right)
  
• Liberty Tools- Liberty. Check here for Liberty Tool website. (Approx 22 miles from intersection of Rts 1 & 220 in Waldoboro, turn is 5 miles south of Lie-Nielsen.)
  
• Lie-Nielsen Toolworks- Waldoboro. Check here for the Lie-Nielsen website for hours and more info. (Approx 30 miles north of Shelter Institute, on Rt 1, on right.)
  
• Davistown Museum- Liberty. The entire downtown of Liberty is one big mecca for tools, tool museums, antiques, t-shirts, art galleries and more. The town itself is worth a 2-hour stop just to look at tools! (Across the street from Liberty Tool Co.)
  
• Morse's Sauerkraut- Waldoboro. Holy cow! If your guy can't find something to eat in here well I just don't know. This is guy heaven- pickles, sausage, sauerkraut, bacon, and more. (On the way to Liberty.)
  
• Moody's Diner- Waldoboro. Say no more! (Intersection of Rts 1 & 220.)
  
• Borealis Bread- Waldoboro. Some of the best bread in Maine + sandwiches. (Intersection of Rts 1 & 220.)
  
• Montsweag Roadhouse- Montsweag. A roadhouse-style restaurant that is family-friendly during the day and a is a hopping roadhouse with music at night.
• Back home again, check out John Libby Houses and Barns (just around the corner)- Freeport. More info at the John Libby blog.
  

A Maine Vacation

Earlier this week, Tuesday to be exact, we headed out happily singing the 'we're on vacation' song with me doing the 'we're on vacation' dance. (Ask to see that sometime, it's good for a laugh.)

It was pouring rain, but that was ok- we were on vacation! Well, the fun and frivolity lasted until around Biddeford, where the car died. There was a bit a of sputtering so we beat a hasty retreat off the interstate and pulled over into a 'No Parking' zone to see what was up. What was up was that, after a good, solid 15 year (!) run, the Riv bit the dust. Hard.

So, after getting a tow to the garage station and a loaner car from them, we headed home to get a rental car to continue the vacation. A little bit later, we were back on the road headed for the garage station to attend the wake for the Riv. End of vacation.

At this point, we'd already gotten it into our heads that 'we were on vacation!' so, instead of just rehanging the 'vacancy' sign, we decided to be on vacation in Maine.

Tune in tomorrow for where we went and what we did.

(BTW- when you see Rock commiserate with him about the Riv, he's bummed. 12 years with the same car will do that to you.)

Spamalot comes to MSMT!

As a long ago fan of Monty Python's Flying Circus, I was thrilled to see that Spamalot is on the line up this summer at the Maine State Music Theatre at the Pickard Theatre on the campus of Bowdoin College! The quest is on- I'm going to make sure we get to this one if no others!

Here's the full schedule, but go to the MSMT website for times, prices and to buy your tickets. We're just a quick drive to the college, so pick you favorite show(s) and then call to make your room reservations! Or book your room online.

Always...Patsy Cline: June 9-26
My Fair Lady: June 30-July17
Chicago: July 21- August 7
Spamalot: August 11- August 28

And it will definitely help if, on the morning after I see this musical, you can all join in for a chorus of 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life!' Even if the only words you know are the 'ta-dum, ta-dum' part!

Ogunquit's Marginal Way, Maine

Road trip today down to Crate & Barrel in Kittery and then off to Stonewall Kitchens for lunch! I had the chicken salad wrap and Rock had the Italian Panini special. Yum!

Of course, if we're all the way down there, I have to stop in Ogunquit to either walk on the beach or the Marginal Way. Today we drove down to Perkins Cove and walked from there back into town via the Marginal Way.

Wow! What a lot of work has been done there since the last time I walked the path! It's wonderful. It's obvious the town and the Marginal Way supporters have a real love for that area. I really like how almost all of the benches now have a nice 'landing pad' of stone they are sitting on. It's truly beautiful!

When you're headed up this way, or headed back home, be sure to take a detour to walk along this beautiful trail along the coast. (Not suggested July-September. The traffic is wicked bad.) For a similar walk, albeit shorter, you can try the trail for the Giants Stairs on Bailey Island.

We squeaked in under the wire as no dogs are allowed starting April 1. For good reason, too, the trail is just too narrow for people with dogs on leashes to be manoeuvering. For the same reason, it's not the best walk for baby strollers, either. Today there were all sorts of walkers out there...locals, tourists, kids, seniors, the gamut. And, as we find most everywhere, there was a friendly 'hi' from everyone.

It's a walk I love to take. My mother likes it, too. Which is why I, rotten kid that I am, called her from one of the benches and told her I was at her favorite place in Maine. 'The Marginal Way??? You're not!!!' Yup, Mom, I was. I'll send her the link to this so she can see the pix. Rotten, rotten child.