A Tapas Treat....

Barcelona night! Tonight we engaged in a good cause the "Save the Elms" benefit night at the Pentagoet Inn. We did not do much but read and chat with other guests as the day quietly passed. The benefit started at 5:30. It was too be an evening of Tapas and sangria. We dressed for the event. I wanted to wear my suit but Sarah said I would be over dressed. She also wanted to wear the outfit she bought yesterday in Bar Harbor. Her outfit had a chic casualness and she was concerned that she would be out of place next to my suit. I wanted to is a vintage double breasted, cream colored, summer weight suit. So instead I wore a nice dressy pair of pants, stone color, white shirt and an ascot and of course my Panama hat.

We arrived and the men were all in suits and sport jackets. I knew I should have followed my own instincts. I still was very smartly dressed and Sarah looked wonderful in her chic New York City black skirt, orchard top and beautiful earrings. I thought she would have done better in lighter colored clothing to mix with the summer as she had two different beautiful dresses with her. One in an off white color and the other, we had bought her last year in Castine was flowery green. For better or worst that is just my opinion. I love light colors as feel in summer they create a happier mood and look good as well.

The night began on the porch with Sangria. I didn't care for it and switched to my old reliable Ambassador. After some time on the porch, we moved in the Passport Pub for cocktails and conversation. As Sarah and I were sitting and talking, a woman walked over and introduced herself and began chatting. Her husband and son were at the small bar area. I got up began talking with her and the two men started chatting with Sarah. I find it amusing how it all seems to break up the men vie for Sarah conversation and i converse with the women.

After some time, everyone began moving toward their seats for a tapas dinner. A speech was made thanking everyone for supporting the elms and the plates of tapas kept arriving, one after the other. We ended with rum raisin ice cream and some almond cookies.

I did not take any photos not knowing if others would be comfortable. The evening had very few of the Inn guests as it was mostly town residents. It was a good night and we retired happily, abet a little tipsy to our room.

Bar Harbor

Today the sun is finally out in all its glory. We got a late start today but after some input from Jack on where to eat we set off to Bar Harbor. Now we had visited Bar Harbor last year. It is a beautiful town on the water near Acadia National Park and many wealthy homes. The wealthy from the Gilded Age came here to summer and sail on these waters. Even today, many still call Bar Harbor home during the summer. With all that said, Bar Harbor can be a very crowded, touristy town. At times, difficult to walk on the sidewalk at night due to so many people. I have this love/hate relationship with the town. I love the location, the stores, and many activities. Yet, I dislike the zoo type atmosphere of having to walk in the street or constant bunking into people on my walk. That being said, off we went.....

The ride is about an hour and a half from Castine. We took a route into and around the Northeast harbor and Seal Harbor the exclusive park of Bar Harbor. You know you reach a influential, wealthy part of the drive when all the road for about this two mile stretch was perfectly paved, not a pot hole, or cracked roadway in sight. We had many overlook vistas when you can view out into the water.

We made our way to the actual town, parked our car and decided to walk and window shop. Sarah stopped and a nice female clothes shop and picked out a wonderful skirt, shirt ensemble to go with her colorful lavender earrings for Barcelona night tomorrow evening. Strolling down Main Street we stopped at a few stores to just look. Finally, I said I was hungry and we needed to eat something or was going to go animal.

We walked to the Bar Harbor Inn on the water and it was a perfect setting and choice. We order some wonderful cocktails when all of a sudden someone comes over to Sarah and gives her a shout. I turn to see what noise this is disturbing my drinking when i see Sarah and her friend warmly embrace. It is her friend Debra who see was just with at the May conference in Alaska.
I know people always use the cliche "what a small world" but in truth it is always said because things like this happen. You make a friend on the other corner of the country and then find him/her again in the place you are on holiday. She was with her mother and we joined them for a fun filled afternoon of drinking, eating and excellent conversation. At 5:30 we said our goodbyes, headed back to our car for the drive back home. A drive that normally would have been ho hum instead had a warm glow from friends reconnecting and friendships made anew....

Me in front of the Man Store!

Need I say anything? Guess which one is my drink.

Happy couple but me with lame glasses on I forgot take off.

Notice the packages on the other chair. You wonder why she looks so happy.

Maine Fog.....

I love a foggy morning.....Early mooring, 6 am, walking out the door of the Pentagoet, I can barely see down the street..a beautiful morning fog has crept up from the bay and descended into the town covering the streets with its mist...it is glorious to walk through it as you barely can see past ten feet...like in the movie The Third Man the fog shrouds the town in mystery giving it a romantic allure. Here are a few photos..It is my hope I did it justice...

Looking toward the bay, normally 1 1/2 blocks away...

Movie day..

Yesterday, the day began again with rain and cloudy skies. I figured that it would not clear up much for the rest of the day so instead we took in a movie. The problem with "just" taking in a movie is that we had to drive 1:45 minutes the movie theater: The Railroad Cinema in Waterville. If you guess that its named because it is near are railroad track you are correct and win a cookie.
The movie was Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. What a wonderful movie, a travelogue and ode to Paris. The cinematography is incredible as the street scene in Paris are so beautiful.
Owen Wilson a hollywood hack writer transports back and forth from the present to 1920's Paris. Here he meets F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda, Hemingway, Picasso , Cole Porter and attends various salons and parties. I will leave the rest for to to see but own Wilson is an actor who has a lot of charm and so is the movie.

Our walk

I finally got Sarah to take a walk, dragged her kicking and screaming but she did enjoy the stroll. Walking is a great way to get some exercise and hopefully to help her back. Here are some photos of our walk overlooking the Penobscot Bay in Castine.

Cat

On a crisp morning, sitting on the back porch of the Pentagoet you just might find yourself startled by the friendliest cat. He jumps up on the table as I am typing and puts his face next to mine and begins rubbing me. It was so sweet as he hung out looking for lots of pets which I obliged. He comes and goes as he pleases. I believe he oblongs to someone in town somewhere and just comes around gets his pets and leaves. I hope I see this wonderful furry friend again while I am here and I will try and get a photos.

Not all raining days are bad..

The last three days we have seen a lot of rain and cloudy skies. Sarah and I pretty much just hung around the Inn racing and relaxing. Had the Bernard Cornwall book the Fort which is an Historical fiction novel set in Castle about a the battle of Penopscot Bay. A previous post I put up a number of Historical signs that are around Castine. Most of these signs have to do with this battle that took place in the book. It was so good to follow along and compliment my reading with walks and a map in front of me. You know when sometimes a book is so good you start slowing down so you do not finish so quickly. This was that kind of book. I finished the book now need to find another. My appetite is wetted for the American Revolution. I will look for more books along that genre. Sarah finished a great, in her words audio book, Cutting for Stone and now she is onto a Michael Crichton novel Martha recommended.
Our days were relax, nigh times we ate and drank in the Passport Pub talking to different people. We spent time in conversation working on our relationship and coming to terms with how outside circumstances effect our day-to-day life. I would like to think an important part of a relationship is the ability to continually self reflect on its dynamics and look at where it strong and what needs work. The self reflective loop with its constant looking inward to examine our strengths and weaknesses is a crucial important way in which I look at myself and how I have been able to change.

Anyway, not much in the way of photos because we did not really have the opportunity.

A perfect reading spot.

Nervous Nellie

Driving all over the part of Maine we are out there are so many places to pull the car over and just marvel and the different views of the Penobscot Bay. I mention this because, I do not want it to seem we are just having long, struggling drives. They are long but beautiful as well.
Nervous Nellies is somewhere everybody should see a least once in their lives.
On Deer Island off the local road you come upon Nervous Nellies. A place that sales home made, fantastic tasting jellies, jams and chutneys. There is a small cafe attached where you can partake it delicious delicacies, fresh coffee and good conversation. Along with the store, you will be reward with some of the most whimsical, fun sculpture you will have the privilege to view.the artist name is Peter Beertis and she sculpts his pieces from discarded junk. He has recreated an old west saloon complete with Bill Hitchcock still holding the dead man's hand. A general store, a old time juke joint from the Mississippi Delta, complete with old blues music playing as you walk in, are all there for you to walk around and take photos. The best of it all to see is when you follow a short path and come upon the Grail Castle made from timber with metal dragons, wild animals and knights guarding the perimeter of this
enchanted forest and entrance. Inside, we have the famous sculptor of the knights of the round table sharing a meal before the grail quest is to begin. Here you have so many wonderful photo opportunities and time to enjoy the lovely work the artist has put here for everyone to enjoy. I wish Alisa was with me as well as I am sure it would be a marvel to children. Some photos below and please follow the link.
www.nervousnellies.com/

Fighting a dragon, traveling isn't always easy.

Sarah standing up to a knight...

Right behind her.....

Hanging with the boys...

Fair princess sharing a grail meal with her knights..

A long, long day..

For some reason, we got an earlier start today and left the Inn at 9:45. Sarah was feeling great and I was as well. My morning walks feel good. I get up about 5 am shower, dress and make it downstairs by 6am. I usually walk for 45 minutes to an hour. I stop and get a large hazelnut coffee at the local market come back to the Pentagoet and read the papers online, go over the day before expensive, look at mail, upload photos, read my kindle and blog until about 9am.
We decided to take a long drive day trip first to Pumpkin Island then further over the Deer Island Bridge down to Stonington. The drive is well marked with signs but the roads are narrow and two lane so it takes a while to get anywhere. That is the charm of these craggy inlets and the bay. We drove down an unmarked road toward Pumpkin Island which unfortunately we could only see from a short distance as it is only assessable by boat. Not that there is anything to do there but it would have a nice vista. We met up with a nice gentlemen named Jim from Baltimore who chatted us up talking about good places we should visit. He mentioned a mail boat to an island that had a wonderful place to hike and picnic. The boat goes out of Stonington Harbor once a day. We said our thanks to Jim and off we went.
Sarah handles the navigation, no small tasks with these roads and I just ask questions and drive. At Stonington, we park our car on the harbor. Stonington is not a harbor built up for tourism, the town has it's shops for such but not the harbor. It is still used as a commercial fishing and mostly lobster harbor. They do not call it Maine lobster for nothing. We stop and a small used book store and brick and brac place. Further down the street we recognize the place we had lunch on the dock last year called Seasons. I had a flavorful, salmon, mushroom and onion chowder and Sarah a sliced tuna salad. The weather began to change and started feeling cold on the deck so we left to search for the mail boat. After a few missed turns, we found it got a flyer and off we went Nervous Nellies......

To get an idea of all the inlets and islands...

Above two photos Stonington dock.

Pumpkin island.

A difficult day....

We had directions for a day out to various towns along the south coast of Penobscot Bay. However, Sarah was not feeling well so instead she recommended a shorter drive back to Belfast to visit the antique store that was closed on Sunday. Driving toward Belfast, we stopped at a supermarket in Bucksport then headed on our way. The store called Our Stuff was run by an elderly lady who also fixed and put together small lamps. We picked up a couple of wonderful frames very reasonable in the store and Sarah picked out a small vase from China the name escapes me at the moment. We drove back to the Inn and spent the day trying to relax. It seemed the Garden Club Federation of Maine had invaded the place. Mostly, older women blabbering away. Jack seemed exhausted and we do jot know how he does it--- keeping his cool. I could never be so diplomatic and cordial when someone annoyed me. The Inn is totally booked for the next few days. So I gather we will spend long days out driving.
While Sarah was in the room, I was able to spend some time with my book, Our Man In Havana a novel by Graham Greene, which along with three Ambassadors I was able to finish relaxing in the Passport Pub. Sarah finally came own for a bowl of chowder and some ice tea. We hung out in the Pub for about an hour then retired to the room.

Town of Brooklin and Blue Hill Bay

I had to break up the photos as the connection is too slow to upload so many at one time.

Blue Hill drive...

A beautiful morning greets us as we leave the Pentagoet and enter our chariot for the excursion of the day. Our destination is Blue Hill about a hour or so drive south of Castine. The town of Blue Hill in my opinion is not as pretty as Castine. However, the subsequent drive around Blue Hill Bay into the small towns of Brooklin, Sargentville and Segwick is gorgeous. Beautiful vistas overlooking the bay and wonderful chances to take some photographs. I am getting ahead of myself.
We stopped in Blue Hill, park the car and walked down Main Street. After a brief walk, we realized that our walk was going through the commercial part of town so we headed back. Sarah wanted to pick up some bath salts and products because we have an old fashioned tub in our room. It was not long before we came upon such a store, a place that sold a little bit of everything for I am sure mostly tourists. We managed to get her bath products, a bunch of other stuff like a small journal, a little silk zippered change pouch that I will use for small gadget items like headphones, camera connection. Sarah picked up a light cotton turtleneck for the cool mornings and evenings. I got a wonderful little dance skirt for Alisa that Sarah picked out and told me she will love it.
It is funny the last sentence I kept struggling to not call the zippered pouch a purse. I guess sometimes I am not as liberal as I believe myself to be in reality. Just a fun observation.
After our store trip, we wanted to get some coffee and Sarah wanted something to eat. We walked around the corner and found C-Shells Coffee billed as a nautical coffee and pastry shop on the harbor. It was that a more. Sarah had a wonderful tasting crabmeat and bacon wrap and I had a cafe machiatto. We met Michele the owner and chef who is a friendly, gregarious woman who loves to travel and moved backup to Blue Hill to open this shop. She haves us directions to a drive around the bay where you see the photos below and past little towns. There was a retired English Literature teacher we chatted up and I asked who he liked better Fitzgerald or Hemingway. He said Fitzgerald. I happen to agree. The Great Gatsby is one of my favorite books of all time.
After our drive, we made it back to the Inn about 3 pm. We usually drive and walkabout for five hours or so then retire back to the Inn for some relaxation on the Porch or in The Passport Pub.

A theater in Ellsworth we spotted and where we stopped to have lunch.

Across the street from our lunch spot.

Antiquing in Maine

After early breakfast, we spent some time in the Passport Pub getting directions to some stores for a day of antiquing. Sarah and I have decided to search for some antique frames to begin putting more of our travel and personal photos on the wall. It was a beautiful Sunday for a drive, sun shinning and about 75 degrees. The only problem I enchanted here is getting bitten up by mosquitoes on the porch the other evening.
Our first stop was Belfast to a store called Old Stuff. However, it was closed but up the road was another wonderful but what seem like expensive place called Pumpkin Patch. We did not see any frames. Sarah mentioned that she would like a small table where I have the suitcases in the living room. We look at a table that folded out at the sides and had a column base. I said we would have no room for the suitcases. I mentioned that I did not want to lose the look of a living room that was travel oriented. What to do? The wonders of a relationship, how do you compromise two reasonable but different and at times opposing visions/viewpoints. I proposed the compromise position that we look for a writing table with legs and then could have photos and knickknacks on top but place the suitcases down below. That fought seem to carry the day.
An 1812 writing desk caught our fancy but we wanted to look around more before we decided. We headed of to the third antique spot Jack mentioned and found a wealth of fantastic old frames. We ended up filing two boxes with frames. A gentlemen took some fun photos of us acting silly in from of the place.

Where we went frame crazy

Signs of Castine...

Castine, a small coastal village of approximately 7.9 square miles, is located on a peninsula in the East Penobscot Bay Region of Maine, 1 hour from Bangor, and 1.25 hours from Camden and from Bar Harbor. The town, on the National Register of Historic Places, consists of two distinct geographic areas referred to as the Village and "off neck," a narrow strip of land that separates the Bagaduce River on one side from the Penobscot River on the other.

More than 100 historic markers can be found in this town characterized by its 18th century architecture. Major landmarks include Fort George, built by the British in 1779 and partially restored as a state memorial, and Fort Madison, earthwork remnants built by the Americans in 1811, occupied by the British during the War of 1812 and reconstructed during the American Civil War.

Below are some of those photos of signs are took along my walks.

Other places besides the bar...

Here are some photos of the front area and sitting room of the Pentagoet.

Our Sarah getting ready for a walk to the bay.