Into Maine

Sunday, June 18

Cross the Piscataqua River...

...land in Maine.

On the road before 10, destination York, Maine, where we’re having lunch w/ a high school friend of mine. Easy, uneventful drive. We can’t check into our new campground until late afternoon, so we hang unhook the car and hang out at MeadowBrook Plaza, a small shopping mall that just happens to have another Italian bakery. I had hoped to take shortbread to Diana’s, but Italian pastries will have to suffice. Again, it’s everything from carrot cake to ricotta pie and Italian wedding cookies. We choose a piece of the highly-rated ricotta pie and an oversized éclair aptly named “lobster tail” for ourselves (tomorrow) and a selection of cookies (including 2 large and lovely NYC “black & whites”) for Diana & George. I also peruse a consignment shop (We Buy Junk & Sell Antiques) and end up with a Maine Coast landscape in oils. Local artist, $50. It’ll never hang in the Nat’l Gallery, but I like it.

(The canvas is actually a proper rectangle.)

Good lunch and visit with Diana & George. I haven't seen her for about 40 years, but it was easy to catch up, and we agreed that our high school Latin and choral teachers (both very no-nonsense women) had been strong, positive influences in our lives. George is a model train aficionado, with a complex system (multiple routes, deliveries, dispatch sheets, etc) that fills the entire garage attic. And, even in tiny little York, several fellows of similar ilk get together weekly to "play." 

Dinner Venue

After lunch we checked into the campground (poorly maintained, but certainly sufficient for our needs, and walking distance to the beach). The camp owner guaranteed we'd find the world's best chowder at the nearby Union Pub & Grill (facing the beach). We were expecting one of those great little hole-in-the-wall places, but it turned out to be a big hotel w/ an upscale (but casual) dining room. The chowder was excellent, and we enjoyed watching the beach activity (including a couple struggling surfers). It's a lovely little seaside town.

York Beach, from the restaurant, nearly sunset.