Kismet's Life in Maine

Hey guys, if you'll take me up to Maine for a visit I'll introduce the two of you!!

If I don't inhale too much teargas in Greece this coming Spring......you are on.

kismet said:

For a fun "eat at the wharf" experience try Shaw's in New Harbor. You can take the boat to Monhegan from there (sunset cruises and puffin and seal watches too)

We discovered Shaw's on our first trip to Maine and always make sure we get back there.

On our second trip we took the boat to Monhegan for the day. We loved that so much that, on a subsequent trip, we made reservations to stay there (at the Island Inn) for several days. What a great experience! And the kids loved seeing and making "fairy houses" there as well as pal-ing around with some (probably very rich) kids that they met while we were vacationing there.

This blog has me putting "return to Maine" (multiple times) on my bucket list.

Congrats on the inspection, kismet!

Ack I want to move to Maine! My daughter is in school in NH and I forgot how much I love the area. We used to go to Maine every summer - drive from Montreal to New Brunswick/Nova Scotia and Maine.

Do it, eliz. There is a house in my waterfront neighborhood with taxes of 4K/year! And it's a 45 minute drive to NH.

Yeah but we have those pesky jobs...

In Portland there's a great Winslow Homer exhibit that has recently been given a wonderful boost by the renovation and opening of his wonderful studio in Black Point near Scarborough, near the Black Point Inn in Prout's Neck off Rt 1. Don't miss it!

The prison store ... Exchange Place in Portland. Strawberry Ridge outside of Sanford for the best ice cream. Moody's Diner on Tuesdays for Grape Nut pudding.

July 4th harbor cruise in Portland for fireworks display and lobster cooked on the boat. Kittery Trading Post... better than LL Bean i think.

I miss Maine.

Moody's whoopie pies!

This just in...........The Seagull Cafe on Pemaquid Point just opposite the light house is for sale. The Cafe is small, maybe 20 tables and includes a nice gift shop which is attached and leads to the Cafe. Seating in the cafe offers an un interrupted view of the rocks below and out into the ocean. On a clear day Monhegan Island is easily visable. Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch and I believe early suppers. Features Captains Omlette made with lobster and various other sea foods.

The light house which is adjacent is the most photographed light house in all of Maine. Sale includes Cafe building and small house which I always thought was used by summer staff. Only eating place with in a mile or two and a true rarity. Asking price is one point something million dollars. Contact local realtors if interested.

What is life like in Maine in the winter? Is it like NJ, only longer, colder, and with more snow? Or is it somehow not as awful?

Other than (possibly) the cold in winter, I can't think of anything about Maine that would be considered awful.

Of course, I don't personally feel that anything in NJ is that awful, but I can see how others might. (And I don't see same about Maine.)

Maine draws a large tourist trade......especially along the coast. Think of a Jersey Shore town after the last warmish weekend in October.
Now of course the ocean waters stay warmer later in the season. At least along the coast the snow accumulation is not monstrous.

Also Maine, like Vermont and I guess New Hampshire is well practiced in keeping the roads safe in adverse weather. Many book stores and as I said libraries are a main stay in many towns. More Classical Music available on the radio than in the Metropolitan area.

A close reading of the local newspaper also shows many AA meetings in all areas.......which in itself is a statement.

All things considered, anyone on a fixed income might very well enjoy spending a large part of the year there.

What I don't like about winter in NJ is that I intentionally bought a house that was walking distance to a lot of things (downtown SO) so I wouldn't have to drive a lot, especially in the snow. However, walking anywhere when there is significant snow on the ground is a chore because of uncleared sidewalks and piles of plowed snow blocking intersections. Driving in the snow around here is no picnic either, especially at night, what with poorly lit streets and invisible lane dividers. Walking is easier in the city, while driving is easier in the outer burbs and countryside. This area is the worst of both worlds. Yuck.

They know how to take care of the roads here when it snows....

kismet said:

They know how to take care of the roads here when it snows....

And I'll bet that the drivers are better in snow also.

Winter along Rt 1 is easy to handle. About 10 miles from the coast is where the snow accumulates and becomes colder, and more difficult. In geography, this is called the "Continental Effect." Roads are treated with gravel and rock salt is used on a few of the major roads.

Summer brings crowds but nothing like the Jersey Shore where you will spend an hour on rt 35 going one or two miles. There might be parking problems in Portland or by LL Bean but nothing like the NJ Shore traffic on weekends.

jerseyjack said:

Winter along Rt 1 is easy to handle. About 10 miles from the coast is where the snow accumulates and becomes colder, and more difficult. In geography, this is called the "Continental Effect." Roads are treated with gravel and rock salt is used on a few of the major roads.

Summer brings crowds but nothing like the Jersey Shore where you will spend an hour on rt 35 going one or two miles. There might be
parking problems in Portland or by LL Bean but nothing like the NJ Shore traffic on weekends.

"Coastal Maine" and the Jersey Shore do not belong in the same sentence.

The pond is covered with snow, nothing else just the surface of the pond -flurries flying elsewhere - all very pretty.

author said:

jerseyjack said:

Winter along Rt 1 is easy to handle. About 10 miles from the coast is where the snow accumulates and becomes colder, and more difficult. In geography, this is called the "Continental Effect." Roads are treated with gravel and rock salt is used on a few of the major roads.

Summer brings crowds but nothing like the Jersey Shore where you will spend an hour on rt 35 going one or two miles. There might be
parking problems in Portland or by LL Bean but nothing like the NJ Shore traffic on weekends.

"Coastal Maine" and the Jersey Shore do not belong in the same sentence.

You're the one who brought it up.

)

A MidCoast Maine Story........

Maybe 20 years or so ago we were on one of our typical Pemaquid Penninsula summer vacations. I was driving an old Nissan or Datsun that was starting to give me trouble. I thought I could nurse it through the vacation and then bring it in for repairs.............wrong.
On our second day there we returned to the car that was parked in Damariscotta in the large waterfront parking area. Tried to start the car,
grind, grind and grind. Finally on the 6th try it started. I knew I needed help now but did not want to use one of the two stations on the main street as our rental was about 30 miles south near the light house.

Drove down is it rt 100 or 130 till we passed the Bristol Library and were about 3 miles from the light house. Opposite Riley's Market on the fork there is a gas station/general store. Hoping to get mechanical help but no luck. He sent me back a few miles........make a left hand turn at the red mailbox and follow the road into the woods. Following instructions I found my self finally at a clearing and saw an old broken down house ahead. All of a sudden the two largest dogs I have ever seen surrounded the car. Cujo, and there were two of them. Finally the owner/mechanic came out.

I explained the situation and he said "sure he could fix it....in about two days as he does not keep an inventory of parts" The price was reasonable and he would drive me down to my rental and bring the car to me on the afternoon of the second day. We were in business.

Sure enough, two days later he delivers the car as promised. He also hands me the largest wrench I have ever seen. It seems I had ruined the teeth on something or other and he did not have a lift to raise the car to make the repair. All I had to do to start the car was lift the hood,
place the wrench around something in there and turn a few inches clockwise. This would by pass the bad teeth and the car would start.

OK........the next day we had to drive our daughter down to Portland as she was flying back to school. At their cute little air port we had access to payphones and a zillion calling cars. I phoned a Datsun dealer in West Orange who gave me what seemed like an inflated quote
to fix the problem. Then my daughter, who is smarter than me but I am bigger and stronger, said "Dad, why not try a dealer here in Maine.

Phoned a dealer just outside of Rockport. Gave me a price $200.00 dollars cheaper and told me to bring the car to him in two days.
The dealership gave us a ride into Rockport for a few hours and returned to pick us up as scheduled. Now we are happy campers......
actually we are always happy campers in Maine.

One slight aside. While we waited about an hour for our daughter's plane to arrive........who is sitting across a narrow aisle but Harry Belafonte? He had done a concert the evening before in Portland and was flying out for parts unknown. How do you sit within 15 feet of Harry Belafonte and not act like a duffus by asking for his autograph. I managed but as he got up to catch his plane, I did a very quiet
chorus of "Hey Mr. tally man tally me bananas" He gave me a slight smile that said" Don't give up your day job.........but thanks for respecting my privacy".

Love that story author.

This past summer(before the move - was just up for a week) I too was parked in the big lot in town. Came out, got in the car and ...no brakes, NONE! Called my dad on my cell phone -"dad, who's your mechanic up here?" He tells me they are just past Hannaford on Biscay Rd - about a mile away.

Well, using everything I learned way back driver's ed - I SLOWLY drove to the mechanics (thank God not NJ traffic) , pulled in the lot, rolled to an almost stop ,threw it in park and shakily went into the office. Now, they don't know me and all the bays are full. I say "I'm Doug's daughter, I just lost my brakes, I'm am leaving to go back to NJ in 2 days and that was scary!" The wonderful man behind the counter says - "let me get it up on the lift and see whats' going on, my guys are at lunch, how about you grab a cup of coffee and I'll call you."

A half hour later he calls- "your brake lines ruptured". He says he can fix but will need the car until tomorrow. I call dad and he comes and gets me. Not 3 hours later Mr. Wonderful calls and says "all done". We run back to town to get car - all fixed and drum roll .....the bill was $107! I can only imagine what it would have been in NJ. He also said "when you move up here, bring that car in for a free once over (as I was not happy with said car after the brakes "event) - seems to be in good shape but we'll check it out for you."

I'll say it again, "I'm jealous."

Not that we don't have a great mechanic who is always giving us a break on the price 'cause Mr. Z was his mailman for a while - but he's in IronBound.

I just posted this in lisats blog but want to post it here too. I have turned to this time and time again -please take a minute to read -

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

© Max Ehrmann 1927

Read this in the Spring from a bench near the Pemaquid Lighthouse........looking out at Monhegan

Or from the top of Mt. Washington in Acadia National Park

Or sitting by the waters of Rangely Lake............

or.............................

....in a kayak at Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth...or at the Lobster Shack in the same town (as melted butter drips from your lips), or at Crescent Beach State Park in Scarborough....

sigh......

I am so very happy to be here

so happy for you----but this thread is making me very wistful