Boston to Home

 An early alarm at the Embassy Suites Boston Logan this morning and we were at the airport by 8 am.   Our flight was uneventful and we arrived in Atlanta early.  As we exited the plane, my phone rang and it was Boutique Air!   My heart sank as my first thought was that our flight had been cancelled....but instead the agent was just checking to make sure we were flying with them (although we had already checked in online) and to tell us which gate they were at.  

We grabbed lunch at TGI Friday and made our way to the gate.  The little 8 seater with 2 pilots and 3 passengers once again delivered a safe 50 min flight back to Muscle Shoals.

Boutique Air

We arrived back to our house by 3:45 pm.   

In summary, this was an amazing trip.  We have heard about these places since we met D&D in 2016 and now completely "get it".   We were honored to be asked to visit and hopefully we didn't start smelling like fish after 3 days!   If we did, they never showed it.

Sutton Island to Boston

Today is check out day on Sutton Island.   What wonderful hosts we had for 4 nights on Cape Cod and 4 nights on Sutton Island.  Penny got used to having us around, as she slept outside our bedroom door every night.  We do so love that dog!

After breakfast, we finished packing and straightening up and by 9 am we were on D's boat back to Northeast Harbor.  

We made our way back to Boston for an overnight prior to an early flight the next morning.  I spent my time on the drive back, making notes for this blog.  We did so much every day, it had so many good times that it was difficult to recall them all.   

Lobster Stew & Acadia National Park

We had a lunch reservation at the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor.  It was originally built in 1883 but was destroyed by fire in 1899 and rebuilt 2 years later.  Our table was on the patio that overlooked the Northeast Harbor inlet, which opens out to the Atlantic Ocean.  Its only open from Memorial Day through Columbus Day.  Once again, D&D introduced us to new foods....lobster stew and popovers!   Popovers are light rolls made from an egg batter similar to yorkshire pudding; typically baked in muffin tins.    Both were fabulous.

Since our vehicles were parked at Northeast Harbor, we took an afternoon drive to Acadia National Park.  We were quite surprised how crowded it was.   Traffic was very heavy throughout the park and parking places were difficult to find.  We managed to park and walk to Thunder Hole though.  Thunder Hole is a small inlet, naturally carved out of rocks, where the waves roll into.  At the end of the inlet, there is a small cavern where when the rush of waves hit, air and water are forced out like a clap of thunder.  

That evening we enjoyed the nice weather, good company, and some Dr. Frank wine while sitting in the rocking chairs on the front portch.   Life is good!

Fog, Furniture, and more Fun

When I worke up this morning, I could hear a roaring fire in the pot belly stove in the dining room.   This and the fireplace are the only source of heat, and it felt wonderful!

There was also a very heavy fog.  We were unable to see Acadia and then in a few minutes we couldn't even see the water!  So we took this opportunity to help out with some projects around the house.   

This is the water tank that stores water for 8 houses on the island.  Its going to be torn down and a pressure tank will replace it.  The water comes from a well on D&D's property.

By 11 am, the fog has started to clear.

By 1:30, D decided it was clear enough to take a ride to Somes Sound; the only fjord on the east coast of the United States.  It runs deep into Mount Desert Island and is 175 feet deep at one point.  The sound is so long, it almost splits the island in half.

Along the way, I spotted an eagle flying into the top of a tall pine tree.  D slowly pointed the boat in that direction and we got to see 5 bald eagles flying and diving into the water for fish before returning to their perch in the trees.   It was truly an amazing site.

Before heading back, we stopped at Great Cranberry Island; the largest of the 5 islands.  Its about 2 miles long and 1-1/2 mile wide.   All of the stores were closed so we just walked around and enjoyed the architecture and the views.  

The fog started rolling back in as we headed back to Sutton Island.

We enjoyed another delicious home cooked meal and visited around the fire....until our normal bedtime of 9 pm!   Another spectacular day in Maine!

Baker Island and Lobster

 

...Oh!  you won't know why and you can't say how

                                              Such a change upon you came,

                                              But once you have slept on an island,

                                              You'll never be quite the same.

               Rachel Lyman Field

Rachel Field was an American novelist, poet, and children's fiction writer.  She was born in 1894 and died in 1942.  She owned a home on Sutton Island and spent her summers there.   

Having spent our first night on Sutton Island, she might be on to something!

First on the agenda today was a trip to Baker Island.  Part of the Cranberry Isles, Baker is mostly uninhabited and is home to the greater area's first lighthouse completed in 1828.  The first settlers were William and Hannah Gilley; who simply took possession of the island.   They raised 12 children there....guess there wasn't much else to do?

D&D had a book about the Gilleys, which I read while I was there.  

Because the shoreline of Baker Island was all rock, we tied to a buoy offshore and D rowed us ashore (making two trips each way).  

It was a beautiful little island; and totally worth exploring if you get the chance.

Penny loved exploring the island.  There are only two houses on the island.

We hiked to the other side of the island and enjoyed a picnic lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the beach while watching the surf.   

When D said let me get your picture....Penny ran over and posed with us!  We all got a chuckle out of that.  

After lunch, like many days, Richard decided a siesta was in order.

D, on the other hand spent time testing the movement of a huge flat rock.

The view from Baker Island was awesome!

We successfully managed the dinghy back to the boat and continued our trek to Little Cranberry Island where we toured the local museum and purchased some spectacular lobster for dinner.

After returning to Sutton Island, D and I walked to the nearby rocky beach and looked for sea glass.  She makes fabulous jewelry from her finds here.  Every year they bring colored bottles to the island, break them off their dock, and after about 2 years, after the tides have smoothed their edges, they are ready to pick!

Oh, and the lobster was fabulous!

Sutton Island

We left Belfast this morning and our first stop was at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge.   It was originally built in 1931 and was originally named the Waldo-Hancock Bridge.  It was a stunning engineering achievement.  However, due to corrosion, the bridge had to be replaced.  From conception to completion, it took only 42 months to build the replacement.  

The Penobscot Narrows Observatory on top of the bridge was the first bridge observatory tower in the US and the tallest public bridge observatory in the world.  Its 420 feet high!  

Our next stop was the Fort Knox historic site.  Yes, we are still in Prospect, Maine.  This and the one in Kentucky are both named for General Henry Knox, the first US Secretary of War and a Commander in the American Revoluation.   Construction began in 1844.  It was built to guard a narrow channel of the Penobscot River, through which all enemy ships going up and down the river would have to pass.   The fort was never attacked, so its in great condition to this day.

But enough about forts.....we are now at Northeast Harbor and here comes our ride!

Ok, so at this point we are beyond excited.  D&D invited us to join them on Sutton Island two years ago.  Then covid prevented anyone from going to Maine in 2020 so we are finally here.

Sutton Island is a small private island south of Mount Desert (pronounced dessert....still learning) Island and north of the Cranberry Isles.  From the 1950s until 2008 mail was delivered by private ferry and it was left in a specially marked trash can on the dock for the recipients to pick up.  The island is only inhabited during the summer.

The island has no roads and the only way there is by ferry, water taxi, or private boat.  D's grandparents owned this house and it continues to be passed down through the generations.  His mother enjoyed visiting the island as a child, as did he, his children, and now his grandchildern.

Remember all that stuff we had in the trunk of our rental car....it all had to be carried up to the house.  Great teamwork got it done!

This wooden foot path was awesome for getting around the island.  Layers of chipped wood helped maintain these paths.

After settling in, we took a walk across to the other side of the island.  D&D are on the north side of the island, looking at Acadia National Park, the south side is facing the Cranberry Islands.

Late afternoon we were treated to a boat ride around Sutton Island.  

D&D pointed out a house perched on the shoreline.  It was previously owned by Nelson Rockefeller.  While his summer home was located on Mount Desert Island, he liked to come to this "little house" on Sutton every afternoon for tea.

Rockefeller's "tea house"

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After a delicious home cooked meal, we settled in with our after dinner drinks in front of this spectacular fire!

Can it get any better than this?  Well yeah!   Look who is needing some attention.

Penny

Blues Trail in Maine...Rockland, Rockport, Camden, & Belfast

 

While walking around Rockland, Maine we were surprised to see this sign.  Apparently Maine was first prominently mentioned in blues lyrics in 1928 (The Brakeman's Blues).   Through the years, many of the popular blues artists have performed in Maine and the annual North Atlantic Blues Festival featured many artists from Mississippi.   Still learning!

After a few days, the Maine coastline towns began running together.  Rockland, Rockport, and Camden, are only a few miles apart and having toured these all in one day, I can't really tell which is which as they all had beautiful harbors, touristy shops, great restaurants, and lots of lobsters!

    

                            

Belfast, however, was a pleasant surprise.  Not only do they have Perry's Nut House, which is right on the highway, and a place you must stop; but the harbor there was beautiful.  The breathtaking 139 foot yacht "Rebecca" was docked in the harbor.  Its owned by Charles Butt, who spends summers in Maine.  Charles is the majority shareholder in the grocery chain HEB (380 stores).

The city's crosswalks were all painted with colorful happy murals.  We had a great dinner at Delvino's Grill and Pasta House.  We had the lasagna entree with side salad and bread.  

Kennebunkport, Portland, Boothbay Harbor, & Bath MAINE

 

Kennebunkport, Maine is a picturesque town on the coast.  

 Its well known for being the location of the Bush family compound.   It was very nice, but modest and understated....as former Presidential summer homes go.

Bush Compound

We stopped in Portland, Maine for lunch and did a quick drive around there.   

We then drove to the coast to Boothbay Harbor; a popular yachting and tourist destination in the summer.  The streets were lined with touristy shops.  After walking along the harbor and downtown, we ended our day in Bath, Maine and had dinner at JR Maxwell & Co.   I had lobster crepes and Richard enjoyed blackened salmon.

Massachusetts to Maine

Today we left Cape Cod, with the trunk of our rental car loaded with things that D&D wanted to send to Sutton Island.   We had packed lightly, so we had plenty of room.  But because everything had been vacumn sealed, we were afraid to open the trunk before we met back up, in case there was an explosion of bags that had refilled with air.

We drove through the beautiful town of Glouster and Rockport, MA. 

Rockport, MA

Rockport, MA

This red fishing shack at the end of a granite wharf in Rockport, MA is known as 

Motif No. 1.  Rockport is known as a colony of artists and fishermen.

Cape Neddick Lighthouse, York MA

We stopped to see a magnificant lighthouse in York; then had to pull over to look at the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound; a nearby restaurant that was closed.

We finally made it to our final destination for the day, Ogunquit, Maine!   A long day in the car, but lots of stops along the way.  We came across this beautiful Church building, that unfortunately had been turned into a retail establishment.  It was named "Revelations Gifts and Home Accents"; just a reminder that its just a building that formerly housed a Church.

Chatham & NFL

 On Sunday, we decided to tour the nearby quaint town of Chatham.  Still learning, we discovered "swackets".  Its not a sweater, and its not a jacket....its a swacket.   We saw more beautiful beaches.

Since D&D are major Patriot fans, and the Patriots were playing Miami, we chose to stay close to the TV and watch two former Alabama quarterbacks take each other on.  Mac Jones and Tua Tagovailoa.    Either way, our team was going to win!

Another Beautiful Day in CC!

The sun was shining and the skies were blue today.   We took a long walk on Cold Storage Beach.  Penny went with us and enjoyed running and playing on the beach.    We were amazed at the sand ripples caused by low tide.  

The 5 Amigos

We stopped by Sesuit Harbor Cafe, a quaint beach side dive, for lunch and enjoyed a lobster roll and oyster po boy at a picnic table beside the water.

D&D then took us to the historical Windmill Village in Brewster.  There was a blacksmith shop, an old house, and a windmill that you could tour.   The top of the windmill rotated 360 degrees.

 

We then stopped by this road side grist mill.  Behind it was a water ladder to enable fish to migrate upstream to spawn.   

After arriving back home, D&D's daughter and granddaughter surprised us with a visit.  At 4 years old, Little "A" doesn't know a stranger and we became fast friends; but we do believe she's got her granddad wrapped around her little finger.

Penny, in the meantime, was enjoying chasing the ducks from the dock. 

 

We enjoyed "stuffies" for dinner.  I think they were stuffed clams (or quahogs).   We're learning a lot of new things here.

D made up for not getting the SEC channel on TV (Alabama was playing!), by showing us what she had learned on the ukelele she received for her birthday.

Another full and satisfying day on the Cape!