Monday, June 2, Driving the Maine Coast and the Arrival

We slept so well last night. The B&B had a sound machine, black out shades and this morning we had the most amazing breakfast imaginable. One of the innkeepers, Tim, loves to cook. This was our breakfast: homemade honey wheat bread, fresh blueberry or cranberry jam, yogurt (delicious Cabot) with maple syrup, egg fritatta with Maine fiddle heads, fresh brewed coffee with cream. So wonderful. And the company of a couple from Brooklyn and a couple from South Carolina.

Look Bob! A moose! LL Bean window

Look Bob! Two meese.

Bob moosing around--I think it's a theme.

The flagship in Freeport ME

Outlet shopping in Freeport ME

When we checked out of the B&B, we drove to Route 1, the coastal route. We drove through a number of picturesque villages/towns and stopped in Freeport where we visited the over-priced LLBean (and came out with an individual cup coffee maker). I picked up a few things at Maidenform (sleeping wardrobe) and Bob picked up a few things at Tommy Hilfiger. We got bored with shopping pretty quickly.

Rock Harbor Pub and Brewery

Rock Harbor Brewery

Later, since it was time for lunch, we stopped at the Rock Harbor Brewery and Pub. I had a delicious roasted tomato, with goat cheese and pesto on foccaccia and Bob had a "Growler" which was shredded pork with ham and Swiss cheese on a pretzel roll. We each had a beer. Then we visited an art store and picked up supplies, a book store and picked up a few books and magazines, and a number of other shops.

By this point, Bob was ready to book it to the cottage. After a few traffic jams, we arrived at the cottage. The changes the young couple (new owners) made were remarkable. It's so lovely--and it seems so much more spacious. When I tell you that Bob and I had tears in our eyes, I'm underplaying it. Bethany showed us where everything was and gave us some information about some events happening in nearby towns. She was so gracious--she works for a non-profit in Milbridge, is a vegetarian, recycles, gardens, and bakes--can you say VERONICA!!! She so reminds us of our wonderful daugher-in-law.

The cottage as you drive in

The long driveway to the cottage from the dirt road

Behind the cottage

To the right of the cottage looking out to the bay

Part of the deck (BBQ grill on other side). This is where Bob and I watch the sun set.

The front lawn and the water

The front of the cottage facing the water, deck on left, chairs and fire pit (note the windows that look out on the water--that's the living area of the cottage

When we arrived, we noticed the beautiful flowers she had planted and that it was high tide and very cool (about 50 degrees with a strong breeze). We loved it. She had left us fresh wildflowers throughout the cottage, wine, cheese, and crackers. The refrigerator and stove are smaller, but there's also an apartment sized washer and dryer, which means no more trips into Milbridge to the laundromat. The smaller refrigerator means that we cannot go crazy buying food that we end up giving to the mission when we leave.

This is the summer for healthy eating--smaller meals, exercise, walking, kayaking, and enjoying each other. I am also going to force myself to write an hour every day--maybe more. Because there's no television, we go to bed earlier here (we both read, though) and wake up when the sun comes up. I'm hoping that in addition to changing our daily cycle in that way, we also change our eating and drinking habits and are more active. We have to start now. We're not getting any younger and we need to be healthy so we can live long enough to see all the grandchildren that will be coming.