The traveling manatees by Nancy French: Gouldsboro, ME

Through the years we have made numerous trips, to Maine--some of them recounted elsewhere on this blog. Last January, Alan saw an ad for a workshop with accomplished watercolorist Fred Graff in our favorite town, Stonington, and making the decision to return there again took only a few moments. Even though it seemed we should have plenty of time to secure accommodations, the places we had rented in the past were not available and I found only one rental for the time, size, and price point that worked for us. However, it was only available for the week of the workshop. Hating to fly up for only one week we found an Airbnb rental about an hour away in Gouldsboro, so we locked in reservations for that property as well.

On prior trips, we had explored this laid back area and this is what we had in mind. The southern coastal portion of Maine can be pretty intense during their short summer season and we didn't want that. Prior to our arrival, our hostess had let us know that her boyfriend was a lobsterman, and would deliver lobsters to the house if we would like. It took no time at all to consider that offer!

The delivery of 5 live Maine lobsters our first afternoon was the beginning of two weeks of seriously good eating. Steamed lobster, lobster stew, Lobster Benedict, lobster quiche, plus steamed clams, crab cakes (made from Jonah crab), fresh blueberries, and raspberries, yum! With evening temps around 60 and daytime highs in the mid-70s, we couldn't have asked for better weather. Most days started out with a heavy fog, but that didn't interfere with our exploring.

Checking for things to do, we came upon a few quality galleries, but the five and dime store in Winter Harbor was like a trip back in time. Listed as one of the top things to do, we had to visit. This quaint, old-fashioned store seemed to carry a little bit of everything from hardware to games to unique-to-Maine foods. Alan was able to buy a sweatshirt for our upcoming boat outing and a corkscrew.

Scheduling a Puffin Tour with Robertson Tours of Milbridge, we headed out to Petit Manan Light Station. Managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the island is closed to visitors during the spring and summer to protect nesting birds. But, dozens of Atlantic Puffins were easily spotted as they darted around the island and the 6-passenger vessel. With intimate knowledge of the waterway, our captain provided an ongoing narrative and answered questions about the physical structures we saw, as well as the harbor seals, black guillemots, and terns that were seen along the ride.

One day trip took us to Bar Harbor, spending hours walking around we remembered why we typically avoid the city during high season. Parking was available over a mile outside of town, and then we had to wait for an opening. The waterfront, though, was as beautiful as ever, and it was nice to revisit in spite of the crowds. Our timing was perfect for a walk on Bar Island Path out to Bar Island which opens for 3 hours a day at low tide.

Dozens of restaurants provide ample opportunity to indulge in lobster, but we were set in that regard and opted for salads and excellent locally-made ice cream. A trip to the overview provided at the top of Cadillac Mountain is a must-do for us when we are in the vicinity.