Greetings from the coast of Maine

I’m writing this from a cottage in the woods at the edge of the sea. The description of this rental included amenities such as high speed internet service (which I would have been fine without) and a beach that was just a short walk through the woods.

Well, there’s no internet service, so I won’t be posting very often this week. A local told me that one of the little restaurants nearby has free wifi (and they also make a mean lobster roll).  I’ll head up there later this afternoon to publish this (and pick up some dinner).

(Update: The restaurant was closed. There was a sign apologizing, saying they’d be back Tuesday).

The weather is incredible and perfect, having gone up to only about 77 degrees today with a westerly breeze. I can smell is ocean and pine as I write this and I love this scent.

This is the beach that came with our place (over where the kayaks are). It turns out that it’s also a public launching place for kayaks and canoes. The realty company failed to mention that fact, but having checked the listing again, I notice that it didn’t actually say that the beach was the property of the cottage. I also checked into the internet and the owner said it “had to be fixed”. But I really  don’t care about either of these things because it’s so damn beautiful here!

I took the photo above at high tide earlier this afternoon. Just in case you don’t know, the tides in Maine are occur every eight hours or so and are around six feet between high and low marks.

The photo above was taken at low tide, on Saturday night around sunset. Can you see the water line on the rocks?  And if you look in the center of the picture, you’ll see George investigating the waves lapping at the shore. He’s about to get wet, too.

The rocks here have so many interesting things growing on them. There’s barnacles and seaweed, beautiful blue mussels (which I plan on harvesting and eating) and little snails that live inside those shells.

I turned around to take a picture of the sunset, below.

I love how rugged and wild the coast is here.

 

On Sunday morning we hiked along one of the most beautiful trails I’ve ever seen. It runs along the edge of the coast in a nearby nature preserve. The owners of the rental cottage have a bookcase that is stocked with books on the area, maps (which I love) and a whole folder entitled ‘Things To Do’. It’s where I found this little place. The hike was a couple of miles through moss-covered woods and huge boulders and all the while, you can see the water. And the scent!! It’s incredibly strong in some areas, this wonderful smell of spruce trees!

Today was crystal clear with no humidity and . . . can I tell you something?

I think I’m in love.

I’m in love with this place.

You know, every time I come to Maine, I feel the same way. Is there somewhere you visit that makes you feel like this?

Until later (whenever that may be), my friends . . .

UPDATE: I’ve been all over the place looking for internet service and am currently in a room in the local Community Center. It doubles as a day care, so the laughter of children is right down the hall. They just came in from the playground and it’s snack time. The room is full of old furniture, a pool table, shelves of books and is very comfortable. I feel as though I’ve stepped back in time about 70 years. Beautiful plants are all along one windowsill and through the clear glass windows, I can see trees, the gables of an old house next door, and gulls flying in the bright blue sky. Is this what heaven is like?