We did Maine right

My Maine goal (Ha, see what I did there!) was lobster every day.  I made it 8 days. 8 days!  By day 9, my body needed salad, vegetables, pizza, something, anything, other than sweet, sweet lobster.  I was totally surprised by that. I honestly thought lobster every day would be easy.  In my defense, I did get a second wind and had plenty more lobster starting again on day 10.  I’m done with lobster now. Not “done” in a bad way, done in a “We did Maine right” way and no other lobster dinner will ever compare! Now I’m looking forward to diversifying my seafood consumption as we continue our New England adventure!

Maine is lobster!  Clams, scallops, haddock too, but lobster is king. Lobster buoys in the water.  Lobster traps in the back of pickup trucks.  Lobster boats.  Lobstermen.  Lobster on every menu. There are lobster companies situated in the harbors, selling lobster fresh off the boats.   That was our favorite – driving to the marina, seeing a lobster boat come in and unload their catch, talking to the lobstermen, buying their lobsters and cooking these lovely crustaceans for dinner.  This is the most economical way to have lobster – lobster is plentiful, but they aren’t giving it away for free here – although you have to be willing to put those little guys in that pot of boiling water.   If that’s not you, there are an infinite number of “Lobster Pounds” that will cook you up a fresh lobster or make you a lobster roll.  I am now a lobster roll connoisseur.  Pre-Maine, I thought a lobster roll was like a tuna fish sandwich, but it’s not, it’s nothing at all like a tuna fish sandwich.  It’s big, huge, whole chunks of tail and claw meat, piled high on top of a toasted hot dog-type roll, served cold, with a little mayo.  A big mouthful – a challenge to keep together! You can also get your lobster roll hot, with butter.  We liked cold better.  The most absolutely delicious lobster roll I found had coleslaw and 1000 Island dressing.  Not traditional, but wonderful.

Maine is breathtaking. The whole Maine coast is exactly what I imaged it would be – jagged cliffs, endless ocean, islands, pine trees and lighthouses.  We never got tired of looking at it (hopefully you won’t either as you look at the hundred pictures I posted!) Tons of hiking trails that take you right to the edge of those cliffs. We didn’t go far inland, we hugged the coast, from the North to the South.   What really differed, North to South, was the amount of summer tourists.  I think our campground lady said it the best – there is a lot of Maine past Bar Harbor.  Most tourists don’t venture past Bar Harbor. Quiet, secluded Maine is past Bar Harbor. Venture there. The lobsters are still plentiful.  The coastline is equally as jagged, the cliffs are just as high and the views are just as beautiful.  It was along the quiet Northern coastline where I really felt the state motto – Maine, the way life should be. 

Maine is a bit chilly. Well, OK, chilly is relative. Highs in the 70’s and 80’s. Lows in the 50’s and 60’s. You know me, I bundled up, while the locals complained of the heat! Sorry to brag my Arizona friends, but it did make for some perfect hiking and biking days.

And, of course, Maine is nautical. Lobster buoys decorate houses, businesses, mailboxes – people hang them from everything.  The buoys make everything look like quintessential Maine to me.  Sometimes you’ll see one or two hanging as decoration, sometimes you’ll see hundreds.  A tour guide told us this decorating practice originated many years ago, long before the lobster industry was regulated.  I’d have my lobster territory with my uniquely painted buoys, and you’d have yours.  If you dropped your lobster traps in my territory, I would pull up your line, cut your buoy and commandeer your lobsters and your traps.    Later, to make sure you knew what you did and who you wronged (in case you thought the tide did it), I would hang your buoy on my house, like a prize, so everyone could see it.  All I could think of when I heard this story was that it’s better than a horse head in your bed!  😊  No need for territorial posturing now, the gift stores sell all the buoys your house needs!

Today we leave Maine.  Bye lobster.  Bye amazingly beautiful coastline.  I could definitely come back for a summer vacation.  Hike.  Bike.  Beach.  Eat lobster.  Repeat!

We’re on to Massachusetts and some family time.  I’m still expecting perfect weather – all my AZ friends are invited over for a weather reprieve.