Leaving Maine

I’ve been in Maine a week and have finally decided to head homeward. This has been the most extraordinary week – absolutely amazing weather (record breaking warmth in fact), great times with old friends, and loads of revisiting old haunts. I am leaving tomorrow, not because I’m ready to go but because I fear that if I stay longer, I might not want to leave. Ever. But I guess that’s a wonderful way to end my visit, with all of my memories good ones.

Tomorrow I’m heading into New Hampshire, through the White Mountains, then across Vermont to Burlington. It’s not the fastest way to Michigan, but it IS wonderfully scenic. And since I’m totally in summer vacation mode, the detour seems appropriate.

And speaking of vacation mode, I played the tourist yesterday, driving up the Maine coast as far as Camden, visiting a great museum, popping into shops, splurging on some souvenirs, and eating very fresh haddock and chips with Maine blueberry cheesecake for dessert in a harbor-side restaurant. Yum! (Actually, I've managed to eat cheesecake every day for the last few days. I've been extremely extravagant in the dessert department lately. I guess it's all part of the being-on-vacation-self-indulgence thing.)


I also did the tourist thing in our old hometown of Cape Elizabeth, visiting lighthouses and beaches, as well as our old houses, the elementary school and library, and walking until Toby was absolutely worn out, which doesn't happen very often or very easily.


I’ve also continued to spend time in the Old Port in Portland. One of my favorite discoveries downtown was when I went into a Starbucks (and yes, I seem to be fixated on Starbucks), looked around and noticed it's strange interior shape (very very narrow), and went outside to discover that it is located in one of my all-time favorite buildings. That made me smile. I don't have a list of favorite Starbucks but if I did, this Starbucks would be in the number one slot.