Lobster, Camden, and Belfast

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There is a saying in New England that if you don't like the weather, stick around.....it will change!  I don't think that is any more evident than in this part of Maine!  One minute warm and sunny, the temperature can drop like a rock!  Yesterday sitting outside reading in the sun, a breeze came in that sent me scurrying for sweaters, and then seeking something hot to drink! 

Inside, staying warm, we played Yahtzee, and the kitties cuddled up in bed!

Today we decided to have a lobster roll for lunch at a lobster pound, then drive  to nearby Camden.  We  stopped at Young's Lobster Pound , and discovered it was where we had dinner when Jim and Joan celebrated their 30th anniversary 15 years ago!  Pretty funny!  We took a selfie when we realized where we were.

We continued on to Camden where we walked  the streets and checked out the shops, among the throngs of summer tourist traffic that clogged route 1. Fog had moved in there, so kind of spoiled my plan to go up on top of the hill for a view of the harbor at that vantage point, but it was still warm and lovely. But boom!  Went in the coach when we got back, and when I came out, it was a different day! 

Camden is a lovely little town among the many lovely little towns that dot the shore line, each competing for the title of prettiest. Beautiful old buildings, lovely gardens, quaint flower boxes overflowing with colorful blooms, .....a feast for the eyes. The harbors vary some, depending on the history and nature, and Camden's is noted for its many multi masted schooners with their billowing sails.....which were pretty flat today! I may have to return just for some photos. 

I am sitting outside, bundled in a sweatshirt, but enjoying the view of the harbor here, which is quite choppy. I noticed today they rent canoes, and I would really like to do that when it is a bit calmer and warmer! 

Jim arrived this afternoon, and they called to see if we wanted to have dinner in Belfast, which of course, we did!  

Went to Three Tides, which was an unusual place, to say the least!!  Had dinner, checked the place out, then walked up the street to have ice cream at a very cute little shop that feels like you stepped back into 1950! Good ice cream, too!

 The downstairs bar at Three Tides....dirt floor, strange collection of furnishings.....would not be my favorite place to hang out, but it definitely appeals to many gathered there!

 Really cute ice cream store feels like we stepped into 1950!

Jim took us on a driving tour of the area, places only someone who lived there would know to go!  

Really hurrying today, just copying my word processing document, using my hot spot from my phone!  We have used most of our monthly allotted data because we can't connect to the wifi, and I am trying to conserve.  We have expanded it twice, and not sure Clem wants to add any more!  So logging off....over and out!



At some point here....we did so much it was hard to keep track.....I went for a nice walk by myself, and experienced some more of the Museum in the Street signs.  I walked the bridge over the water, then once back, took the walk through the ship yard into Belfast, which was pretty neat!

Lobster everything, this bench is no exception!

Penobscot Marine Museum and a relaxing day

August 1!!

We have been out since late June, and Clem is doing really well....not antsy to go home....and I am thrilled!  We are really having a very nice time.  I think staying in one place for a good stretch has made a big difference, taking time to just relax and  sight seeing when we are in the mood, and he is even working on plans for his new train layout.  And even for me, I have not pressured myself to blog each and every day, but do it when I have time.  So this morning, I am catching up for the first time since leaving Eastport!  

Yesterday, our first morning here in Searsport, it was cool, but sunny and beautiful, and we took our coffee outside, then walked around the campground, exploring their lovely garden of flowers and vegetables, where an older woman was tending, and instructing a  teenager, who followed her along with a hose and followed directions!  I had to smile, and wish I had snapped a photo!  

In the office we encountered the owners, she speaking on the phone in French to a future Canadian camper, and he trading stories with Clem while I checked out the little gift section.  I discovered that she also makes jams and pickles, which are sold in the store, and dyes some yarn from her goats, also available!  They are very nice, and offered help for suggesting things to see while we are here, and we left with some jam, a very cute little airstream Christmas ornament, and a promise to return with what we had listed so far, so she could perhaps make some additions.  

The tide was out, and we walked down to the beach, and I walked all the way out to the waters edge, peeking in tide pools along the way.  Big tides here, too!  Shot a photo up the way, where Joan’s house has to be perched, though out of site.....I could probably hike down the the rocks, and up the hill and find her, but I sure would want better shoes than my flip flops!  

We decided a relaxing day, and staying close, was in order, so I did some housework, and made lunch to have at the picnic table, and the woman from next door came over to say hello......and tell us her life story!  She was very nice, though, and is the wife of this week’s resident artist here at camp, and also an avid fiber crafter......”fiber hussy”  she says.....and had a project set up on her picnic table, and a sewing machine in the car, and was ready to spend the day there enjoying her craft and the beautiful weather.  

We had heard from other campers that they have an artist in residence program, and some had taken a class in felting, and I was looking forward to doing something while we were here, but this week the artist makes chain male!  Chain Male!?  All I can picture is a knight in armor!  Guess I will pass on that!  Clem extended our time here....already!!.....so maybe next week will have something of more interest to me.  

After lunch, we went to town and explored the Penobscot Maritime Museum, which we discovered was actually a whole collection of buildings along a block, consisting of a Sea Captain’s house turned museum, his daughter’s house across the street, a beautiful old church, unfortunately under renovation, and not open to view, and several other buildings.  

Another sea captains house was at the bottom of the street, and furnished in period pieces, and contained the history and photos of some of the more than 500 sea captains who once lived here!   Once a thriving port, wealthy captains built large, beautiful homes, which line Rt 1, and are now mostly bed and breakfast accommodations.  Women were thought to be bad luck on ships in those days, but this area broke the mold, and some 60 women actually sailed with their husband’s, and bore children on board, and the male descendants also became captains.  Charts on the wall show the family names continuing through the years.  

Those with stars were lost at sea, this shows just some of the sea captains

 Family and history are very important here, and Joan had told us that even the cottages that line her street are rarely sold, but are passed down through the family.  When they bought theirs, she was grilled on where they were from, but she finally  passed muster when they realized she is in fact a native Mainer, and not someone “from away!”  They use that term a lot here, and we have seen it in print.....people “from away” brought  ........    Just a local phrase, like you might encounter anywhere, but an interesting one!  

Our phones are now back on US towers, and we have enabled our data, but the signals are pretty weak, and the camp wifi is even weaker, so I don’t imagine I can add any photos yet!  But I am again using word processing, and will post at least this to the blog, and post photos later.  

Searsport

Sunday, July 31

We once again rattled and rolled over Route 1, and made our way to Searsport Shores, an oceanfront campground overlooking Penobscot Bay, and about a mile down the road from friends Jim and Joan’s summer cottage!  Our site is one row off the water this time, but still a nice view, especially from inside the coach, where we are elevated enough to look over the smaller campers in the front row.  Only 3 sites that would accommodate us, and they were all booked, even though we called in April.  You could say a popular place!  

Artist loft

We discovered the wifi worked from in front of the office, so stopped there once to use it!

One of the wooly goats the woman used to make yarn. 

Joan invited us  for dinner, so we set up, then set out, and found her perched high on a hilltop with an amazing view of the bay, in a very cute nearly 100 year old cottage!  They preserved the rustic charm....ie, beams, no insulation or heat....but have painted and decorated in a nautical cottage theme, and it is adorable!  And did I mention the view!!  Wow!  

When we got back to the coach, I realized we have the same view, though not quite the same vantage point, about a mile farther west, so could see the port in the distance that she sees.  A deep water port, they bring in some freighters, and one was moored opposite us when we got back that night, and the next morning we were treated to watching the tugs come in and maneuver the big ship in to port, watching through our “picture window” , which is our windshield.