Blogs from Maine, United States, North America - page 15

Our much anticipated Puffin adventure started on May 19. We made a stop at Crane Creek State Park which is just outside of Toledo, Ohio, to look for migrating warblers, and were not disappointed. If you are the least bit interested in watching birds this is such a good place to go. There are boardwalks through wooded areas and around marshes, but the best part is the great number of experienced birders who point out and identify all the birds. This was a road trip without our camper and without Dave - we missed both by the end of our trip. We also decided to set some standards for motel/hotel rooms. 1. the toilet should be bolted to the floor 2. the reception area should not be shielded by bullet proof glass 3. electrical wiring should ... read more

Geo: 44.9653, -69.1086 Today is my birthday. Another ride around the sun completed. For as many years as I can remember, April 21 has always been a beautiful day, and today was no exception. I have always felt lucky that I was born in late April, a month of true spring, blossoming trees and flowers, the singing of the peepers, delicate scents to delight the senses, a softness in the air, the reawakening of the earth. Unfortunately, this is not true in April in Maine; it will take another three weeks until we see evidence of all this new life unfolding, and I am totally impatient waiting for winter to release us from its awful grip, especially this year even though I wasn't here for most of it. My youngest daughter came home for this Easter/birthday ... read more

Geo: 44.9653, -69.1086 I am home. Home: all the images and comforts that word conjures! After almost four months of constant international travel (there was a break for December) I left Delhi, India one morning at 11AM and by 8PM that evening was in Boston, back in the USA. 17 hours of flight time, 4 good movies, 2 Sherlock Holmes 21st century BBC productions, lots of interesting British Airways food, what felt like miles of walking through both the Delhi and Heathrow airports, saying "Happy Holi" (in India) at least a million times, saying "Happy St. Patrick's Day" (in Boston) fewer times, gaining 9 1/2 hours (from India) from heading west around the globe, seeing my luggage appear among the first few on the baggage carousel, and upon exiting the inner airport seeing my husband and ... read more

A Taste of Maine First and foremost – lobsters galore: steamed lobster, clear-meat lobster rolls, fried lobster, lobster newburg, lobster casserole, baked stuffed lobster, lobster stew, lobster macaroni & cheese and even lobster donuts; lobsters any which way you can imagine and all sweet, meaty and delicious. We are steadily working our way through the summer lobster harvest. Maine lobsters are a reason to come to Maine and many ‘out-of-staters’ do just that! We wake every morning to the sound of loon’s on Garry’s Pond. Some mornings we go for a walk around the lake (Joan the full walk of 10km and Greg partway and back). Other mornings we go for a swim. And some mornings we go out for breakfast – large fluffy pancakes covered in real Maple Syrup with sides of hash browns, bacon ... read more

Well .... almost all closed for the season but not quite as we drove from the White Mountains to the coast of Maine and then southwards back to Boston for our last night. Some blue skies greeted us at the Atlantic Ocean at Boothbay Harbour and as one of the few places open it was lunch at the Tugboat right on the water.... could we resist crab rolls and fried Maine shrimp - of course not. These towns along the coast here must be buzzing in summer with their quaint houses, interesting shops selling everything from a million sorts of popcorn to salt water taffy, lobster shacks, whale watching cruises, harbours filled with boats and then of course the light houses dotted along the rugged coastline. There were still only a few folk out and about ... read more