The Maine Report

My new friends, Wanda and Harold at the blog picnic at Sandy Beach Park.

What a difference a summer makes. Last summer I spent a lot of time looking at the fog bank at the cottage in Spruce Head all bundled up in long pants and long sleeves. I even had to put the heat on some mornings. This summer I only got to spend a couple weeks in August with you. It was a hot summer and I even had to go round up some sleeveless tops to wear. I only used my LL Bean light jacket once when it rained and I never wore anything long while I was there. It wasn’t really as hot as it gets here in Georgia in the summer, but you don’t have a lot of AC up there, hence it was uncomfortable at times. There were some breezes from the ocean, however, which I really appreciated.


Sister-in-law, Kay Sylvester, was my gracious hostess this year as I stayed with her in Thomaston. I was on the go a lot and enjoyed every minute of it. It was a lot to pack in to two weeks, but I did my best. Here are some highlights.

To start off with, Kay and I volunteered at the Information Booth at the Festival on Thursday. It was fun to see all the happy visitors having a good time. A lot of them asked for directions to get to the free trip out to see the Navy ship, USS Gunston Hall, an amphibious transport dock ship, in the harbor. Sea Goddess, Emily Miles Benner, stopped by to spend some time with us in the booth. The rest of King Neptune’s court also made an appearance. After my stint in the booth, I stopped by the Marine Tent to visit a minute with my friend, Eleanor Richardson, who was signing her book, Mechanic Street. She very graciously replaced and resigned her book for me which I lost in last fall’s flood.

The next event I was involved in was my own book signing at the Festival in the Marine Tent. I must thank Celia, of Knight Marine, for all her help in setting me up for that day. A lot of people stopped by to say hello. I enjoyed seeing Jackie Harjula and Alice Knight. I appreciate all your kind comments about my book, The South End. I also got the latest dirt on the South End from fellow southenders who stopped by. Stand by for that later.

The most exciting thing about that day, however, was being interviewed by Ron Huber of WRFR 93.3 about my book. The interview subsequently ran on the radio station and is now a permanent podcast on the internet at http://penbay2010.podomatic.com/entry/2010-08-09T12_22_01-07_00. I invite you to listen to it. Thank you, Ron.

The Tuesday after the Festival, some of my blogger friends met up and picnicked with me at Sandy Beach Park in the South End. It was a beautiful day, with a nice breeze coming in off the ocean. Thanks to Mildred Lewis and Janie Ames for helping me in setting up the canopy. The picture above is of the new friends I met that day, Wanda and Harold Axtell. Others attending were Violet Karl and her son, Jeff; and Vera Mathieson and her friend. Everyone enjoyed looking through my notebook of last year’s blogs which I revamped with many added pictures and comments. I still have those CDs available for those interested. Just email me for information.

The last weekend I spent in Maine I signed books at the Maine Boats, Homes, and Harbors show at the Landing. I enjoyed meeting John Hanson at last, having been in contact via email with him this past winter. I was sorry I didn’t run into fellow Southender, Maynard Bray, a wooden boat expert and writer for Wooden Boats. Kay helped me out at both book signings and we both enjoyed the live music playing around the corner from us that day. Again, people stopped by to talk about the book and to reminisce about the South End. I enjoyed talking to them all. After that book signing, Kay and I took in a reception for Emily Schiffer at the Farnsworth Museum. Emily is the 2010 winner of the Arnold Newman Prize and her work, "Cheyenne River," is now on exhibition at the museum. Go check it out.

With all the activities I was involved in, I didn’t have much time to meet up with friends. I did, however, enjoy having dinner over at Moody’s with Violet Karl, son Jeff, and Alice, and old friend from my summers in Spruce Head. I also got to spend a day with cousin, Diane Hilton O’Connor. We enjoyed lunch at the Brass Compass, where I got to sample one of those delicious lobster club sandwiches of Lynn’s. I watched that Bobby Flay show twice and even tried to duplicate the sandwich here in Georgia. I didn’t come close. It was wicked good. I also went over to the farm in Bremen where Diane lives with her husband, Lee, on the Hilton homestead. We had dinner and Diane let me bring home a keepsake from the old barn, a small fruit picking basket, which I now have on my desk here in Georgia.

I also got to enjoy two helpings of Wasses Wagon hot dogs, my cousin, Keith’s place. Once I took my old South End friend, Rose Ann Small Chaisson, with me.

I did get to visit with my friend, Sandra Zimmerman, down at her summer home in the Keag. I appreciate also the time I got to spend with my family. We all enjoyed playing with the newest member of the Sylvester family, Alison Sylvester, at my brother’s home in Owls Head. He graciously supplied us with all the steamed lobster we could eat that day. It was great to see everyone.

The last great day I had was visiting with my sister, Sally, my niece, Kim, and her son, Nicholas Harlan, whom I had never met. They stayed a few days down at the cottage in Spruce Head where I spent last summer. Surprisingly enough, when we waded in the incoming tide, the water was actually warm. I attribute that to all the hot weather you had up there this year. The temperature of the water allowed us to play at length with Nicholas in the water. Such a thing was unheard of when we were kids running around those rocks. Sally and I and one of Sally’s friends also got to go through the two cottages our folks used to own next door. The new owners did extensive renovations, adding on several rooms. It was beautiful to behold.

My activity level was so full there were things I missed this year like the Festival parade; the lobster crate races and the boatyard dog contest, both down at the Landing. Maybe next year. Thanks to all of you who I met or ran into while I was there. A special shout out to the folks at the Reading Corner and to Marty over at the Personal Book Store in Thomaston. They both have signed copies of my book if you would like to purchase one. See you next year.

Thanks for listening.