Chapter II ~ Ebb and Flow

Traveling is a lot like ~ ebb and flow ~ if you will.  A little of this and a little of that to fill our day.
I will usually pick out a new place to stop and see to break up our drive.  I'm not one to go to the same spot time after time.  Think of all the little surprises you'd be missing.  Get off that beaten path.

Ebb and flow...

  On this drive up the coast we stopped in Damariscotta for lunch.  I had read about the oystering farms and was intrigued.  After a delightful plate of baked oysters and lobster BLT to fill our bellies the owner noticed us looking about as we were getting ready to leave and he gave us a personal history of oyster farming in
the Pemaquid River.

  It was the perfect dessert.      Ebb and flow...

  A brief visit to Marshall Point gave us a lovely sunset to button up our day.  Prior to that our day began with biking out and around Rackliff Island.  A pretty ride with spectacular sweeping ocean views, dirt roads and granite bridges to cross... and surprisingly more than a few hills to climb.  Ebb and flow...

I hadn't realized how many quarries were in this area before we arrived.  A little history lesson thrown in along our route added to the fun.

 Once back to our inn we took the trek out to the Clark Island Quarry.  No cars or bicycles - so we hoofed it.

  A quick walk with trails that skirt the waters edge ending with the quarry.  A number of large granite slabs made into a docking area with the protective wall surrounded us.


  The mosquitoes were quite vigilant so our stop was brief and our pace back turned swift.     Ebb and flow....

  During the month the July the sun sure does rise early.  I awoke with the light and decided to take a walk down to the water just outside our front door.


  Peaceful is the most fitting word to describe this particular time of day.  No boats around, no other people around, a heron looking for breakfast was about the only activity in this little harbor.

  We shared the space.  I, most likely more than he, was relaxed as I knew I would be served a beautiful homemade breakfast back at the inn.

   The morning light warmed the landscape and the air revealing the beautiful summers' day that was to follow.  Just as I was heading back up to our room I noticed the tide was beginning to change.  It was coming back in too.       Ebb and flow...

  It was before 6 am when I returned back to our room and I climbed back in under the sheets.
Ebb and flow...

enjoy,

k

Chapter I ~ Spruce Head, ME

 Through my work I've always enjoyed the "story telling" aspect of photography.

  I do believe that carries forward for
me when I travel.  The prospect of
going somewhere new to explore brings along an excitement - that likens to a young child.

  On this trip we chose to go out
to the island of Vinalhaven.  I had traveled solo to Vinalhaven on a workshop a few years back and knew Jim would enjoy seeing it.  It's a laid back island ~ a working island ~ not touristy per se which is right up our alley.

  We threw our bikes into the back of the van and off we
went.  Our first stop was a lovely old inn in Spruce Head ~ The Craignair Inn on mainland just south of Rockland.  Built in 1928 to house granite quarry workers the Craignair is now owned by a delightful, young couple who are enthusiastically sharing her past with their guests.

  Granite pulled from the Clark Island Quarry was used
in buildings throughout New England.  One of the more
prominent buildings was 26 Broadway in NYC.

  The inn itself holds within her walls a storied past.
I enjoyed poking around and thinking of those that came before us back in their day.

  Our day was filled with biking around Rackliff Island and walking out to the quarry on Clark Island.  Taking in
the sights and the sounds of this small slice of Maine.
Not a strenuous day as it would have been 100 or so years ago.  But a day that left us feeling happy and relaxed.

  To finish off our day a quick drive out to see the Marshall Point Lighthouse just in time to see the setting sun.  And a light
and lively dinner at the Happy Clam!

  Yup ~ "happy clams" that sums us up to a T!

enjoy,

k