Maine... Shipbuilders to Lobster Boat Races to Granite

July in Maine.  Doesn't get much better...

A visit to historic Bath.  A quaint city steeped in shipbuilding.

A visit to the museum with a boat tour aboard the Merrymeeting on the Kennebec River.  

 

We were able to see up close the making of these amazing ships at the Bath Iron Works and learn of the history and process building and launching them.  

A city picnic and then it's time to cross another bridge...

Next stop for a few days is Little Deer Isle.  

As soon as you cross over the bridge and breathe in the salt air you know you've landed somewhere special.

Sand Beach was a favorite stop after exploring the Deer Island and Stonington for a refreshing swim. 

We've known about the weekly Lobster Boat races along the coast of Maine.  But this is the first time we

were able to sit and watch.  These folks work hard all week long lobstering and you can see come Sunday it's all "fun day"....

Barred Island is a little treasure of a place to go exploring.  The rugged beauty of the Maine coast always surprises me in delightful ways.  

Settlement Quarry is one of the many quarries we've visited during our Maine travels.  It's great when a history lesson is thrown in to our travels now and again.  The techniques used to cut and transport these beasts of granite is hard to comprehend and amazing to learn about.  Granite from this particular quarry was used throughout NY and Boston.  Her last shipments went out in the late 60's.   

One of my favorite places to stop is Camden.  We found The Drift Oceanside Inn a few years back and stay frequently as our overnight at the beginning or ending of our trip.  It's a 3 1/2 hr drive to or from home and makes for a relaxing drive.  Cabins and motel rooms directly on the water lovingly restored by a young family.  

This photo was taken from our balcony - literally a stones throw to the ocean.  I saw a couple heading to the "hot tub" but if you've spent any time in Maine you know that it probably is not "hot"

enjoy, 

k