2 pipes

2 pipes...

with oriental lids!

happy birthday to ME

for my birthday, i found myself in portland maine, my favorite city in the summertime.
i went out to the portland head light and then went on another windjammer cruise.

it was a perfect day, the sky was clear, and the winds were just right.  we were able to set sail at the dock, and sail away into the casco bay.

and i met two new friends (from portland) while sailing.

karen and liz

peak's island

it is probably obvious by now that i love portland maine.
today i walked to becky's diner and sat at the counter, ordered blueberry pancakes (yum....enough for two people) and coffee.


i then walked down to the wharfs, and looked at brochures for outings.  i thought about taking the mail boat out to the islands, but then decided to just hop on the ferry and go to peak's island.


i dont know the population of year-round residents, but its ranks swell in the summer.  it is a quaint new england island, with bikes and golf carts being the most popular form of transportation.


beaches in new england are much different than sandy beaches of the south.  these are craggy, rocky, shallow little inlets where children look for shells, fully clothed in sweatshirts.  not much more than wading here.


cottages look the way i would expect them to....a bit worn and weather-beaten with picket fences and rambling gardens, blue hydrangeas, window boxes, a bike parked out front, windows thrown wide open to let the summer breezes through.


boys of summer fishing off the piers while seagulls perch in wait.


an idyllic life.

more schooner photos

i had a good time trying to capture some of the close-up equipment.

jammin'

i have been trying to go on a windjammer cruise in portland, maine and every time something seems to go wrong.  weather, rescheduling, and today seemed like it was going to be another problem.


when i awoke, it was overcast and foggy.  i decided to walk to becky's diner for (maine) blueberry pancakes (yum).  it would be iffy as to whether i could have breakfast and still make it to the terminal in time.  when i stepped into becky's there was a line waiting, so i decided instead to walk to the schooner dock.


i spoke with the crew and yes, they were going out.  (yea!!)  only two other people were there, so the cruise was for only 3 of us...a private charter.  it began in the fog, but that soon burned off and we had a wonderful, serene cruise around the islands of casco bay.

as an added surprise, we saw an osprey nest out in the harbor!

dockside fine dining

while strolling through the docks in portland recently,
i came across this scene. it made me laugh out loud!!

fine dining....dockside

socked in

portland was "socked in" this morning,

rain and fog halted my big plans to sail today.

at 6 am you couldn't see your hand in front of your face!

by 10 it was beginning to lift, but there was still no life

in the bay.  soon the boats began to start their engines, 

and moved out of the wharf area.

\

one of these days, i will get here on the right day!!

live on a boat

although i can't swim, i am always attracted to be near or on the water.

during my portland visit, i learned of a windjammer cruise which sails to

a nearby island for a lobster roast, sunset, and sleep on the ship.

this is my idea of  how to "live on a boat"

to get more information, click on the link below

http://portlandschooner.com/

portland

i have crossed the country and now
after a longgggg day, we finally arrived in portland.
this was a layover i had been looking forward to....a
long layover (19 hours)
all day to cruise the streets,
antique shop, go to the art museum,
hang out with the locals, and
have some good clam chowder.

it was a beautiful morning.
i began by walking a few blocks to the little
biker bar turned diner called Marcy's
(pronounced MAH-sees or MAIR-sees depending upon
whether you are boston native or a mainer)

i sat at the counter and watched my eggs
begin prepared.  a rough looking (and raspy sounding)
biker came into the bar....sounds like the start of a joke
"a biker came into the bar...."
sat down and ordered coffee.  i ate my breakfast,
paid my tab, (cash only) and waved good-bye
to the cook and waitress.

it was off to all of my favorite portland shops.