Drive Report: None - we spent the day in the shadow of 41 and 43...
Kennebunkport, ME - Where Bush 41 went to remove himself (as much as a President can) from the travails of office. We checked out the spread where he hung out as President - and a lot of other stuff today as well. And yes - you can still buy ball caps with an American flag, "Kennebunkport", "41" and "43" on ‘em. Place your orders and I’ll bring them back to MHK with me. No checks or credit cards, just mail $16.95 in cash per hat to:
The Thin Blue Ride
c/o Accounting Department
2235 Alta Drive
Manhattan, KS. 66502
And my thanks to the Research Department's California branch - we've got some pretty smart folks out there in the Land of Nod. Recall that yesterday, I didn't know the word to use when describing that we had gotten off our tour boat. Well then - Research Department to the rescue. They contacted me via private message (OK - they left a post on the blog) and let me know that when one leaves a means of conveyance, it is referred to as "debarking". If I understood correctly, that means when ya get on you're "barking". Again, my thanks to Research for clearing up my egregious use of the Queen's English.
We had a bit of a slower day today, not leaving the RV park till Susan had a couple loads of laundry done. But this was OK since the day started out a bit cooler than previous days and we have just the scooter to get around on. For my part, I came up with a new “Maine” ball cap while out and about today, as shocking as that may be. And as I type this, it’s sprinkling outside with every indication that said sprinkles have the intention of persisting. Time will tell.
Tomorrow we head to Lake Champlain, but that’s tomorrow. Before tomorrow came today. First, we headed over to Cape Porpoise from which one can see Goat's Island. This is a big deal, because the goats apparently built a lighthouse on their island, and we wanted a pic of it. And from the shoreline where the lighthouse was visible, the fine folks of Kennebunkport had placed this...
This is me practicing for the remake of "Master and Commander". I struck my best Sea Captain pose. The reader should note my stately manner and how I appear to be gazing off into the distance at some hazard yet unseen by my intrepid crew. Everybody tells me I look like Russell Crowe. I tried to get Susan to throw a bucket of salt water on me as she took the pic, but she refused mumbling something about me looking more like the Skipper on Gilligan's Island. Stately Sea Captains are immune to grumbling by the crew.
Once Susan apologized and affirmed that I was indeed stately, I forgot all about it and we got this shot of the lobster boats in Kennebunkport harbor. It's a bit unusual as far as harbors we've seen, consisting of the channel of the Kennebunk River. There's a lot of water to either side of the channel, but no boats were moored there - it looks too shallow. So, the lobstermen all row out to their boats in ...smaller boats... then anchor them in place and go lobstering (?), then reverse the process when they return.
This would be the fabled Goat's Island Lqaighthouse. Sorry - but this is the best shot you're gonna get of it. I think the goats did darned fine work.
The Pier in this shot would be he same one to which the lobster boats come to unload their catch. We got to watch one do it. There is a big winch farther down the pier. The lobster boat pulls in, a guy goes up the ladder to the pier, the guy still on the boat hooks up what look like 35-50 gallon barrels to the winch and up they go. The guy on the pier then wheels them over to a nearby building on a two wheeled cart. The boat we watched unloaded three barrels. We think they keep the lobsters in these barrels of water to keep 'em alive till they get back to the pier.
After we'd seen all there was to see at Kennebunkport, we headed over to Kennebunk. No - I'm not kidding. And yes - they have a cool sign. The bridge we're standing on used to be a draw bridge back in the day. Apparently there was quite a ship building thing going on here back in the days of sailing ships and the drawbridge was necessary to let them pass.
I saw this sign for the Psychic By The Sea and told Susan I'd go. It was then that I learned she'd been saying "psychiatrist" for all these years. If she'd enunciate better I'd be a lot less confused.
Once we got that little misunderstanding cleared up, we checked out this sign pole to decide where to head next. It reminds me of that one they had in the TV series MASH.
We settled on heading over to Walkers Point - this is it. The significance of this little detour is that the house you see here is where President Bush 41 spent his time away from the White House. I remember the press following him mercilessly - even when he'd go out fishing with a buddy. This, of course, was followed by the, "Doesn't he have something better to do?" story. It's a beautiful location is it not?
But then that's pretty much true of the entire shore line around here, as evidenced by this pic.
While we were there we also ran across this memorial to 41 erected by locals - apparently after his passing. The anchor is, no doubt, in honor of his service during WWII. He was a carrier pilot who was shot down and later rescued.
Then it was off to St. Ann's Episcopal Church. This thing looks amazing. From what I could see, it was made from the same rocks you see on all the beaches around here. There is no finish to the rock walls on the interior and the walls appear to be quite thick. The corner stone was laid on August 22, 1887.
Interestingly, the interior supports for the ceiling are nearly identical to those inside the church we toured in Plymouth, MA a few days ago. But given that they were built in the same time frame, I guess it's probably to be expected. It was absolutely beautiful - and quaint at the same time..
This is us with Gooch's Beach in the background. I dunno - maybe some guy named Gooch gave it to the City. It remains a public beach to this day. We followed Ocean Drive to St. Ann's and are still in the Church's open space for this pic. Ocean drive runs from the Bush compound to well past Gooch's beach and provided some very scenic views of the Atlantic.
We're still on St. Ann's property. The large, open, grassy space to the side of St. Ann's church was acquired by the Church in 1970 - they then opened it to the public. They're quite up front about it and even invite people to picnic there while they enjoy the view. Pretty surprising in today's world.
This is "Oaks Neck". While you couldn't see it it the previous pic with Gooch's Beach in the background, it was at the far left just out of the pic. Oaks Neck is mostly a rock outcropping jutting out into the Atlantic. We wandered out onto the tip of the outcropping and sat to watch the waves for a bit. It was relaxing. We didn't find any oaks.
I couldn't talk Susan into dipping her feet in the Atlantic in a reprise of our pic from yesterday, but she did agree to this pic. Somehow it just ain't the same. And then she got her foot all over mine. I told her not to play footsies in the pic, but she just ignored me.
And in the best tradition of tourists everywhere, we hit the trinket shops. Susan has made a habit of buying Christmas Tree ornaments when we travel. I think this one is the 5th or 6th on this trip. Yes, a lobster claw. I think it looks very festive in that neon shade of red. Betcha nobody else in Kansas has one - and not for lack of wanting either.
After that we were pretty much done for the day. Susan decided to do two more loads of laundry, I needed to dump tanks (don't ask) and get the scooter ready for loading. There's always plenty to do the night before we move.
Till next time.
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