Second Day in Stonington, Maine (Day 19) September 10, 2019

Second day in Stonington. Our down east Maine experience.

Coffee and a “dirt bomb” (donut/muffin coated with sugar and cinnamon) for breakfast at 44 North. Sitting by the harbor in the early morning. 52 degrees but sunny. Water very calm.  High tide. Locals coming and going in their little skiffs. I imagine their small island cottages; and, what that life would be like.

The lobster boats are all out. We did not get up to see them off. Cold lobster in the hotel room for brunch.

To Isle Au Haut (I’ll a hoe) by ferry. Beth took the ferry ride but did not go on the island.

I rented a bike and rode all the way around the island, about 14 miles.  I started out following a couple from New Hampshire. He was a cardiologist. They were stuffy and unfriendly. After five miles I ditched them and continued alone.

I saw an inviting trail for lunch - the Goat Trail to Merchant’s cove. I stashed my bike and walked thru a bog, over wooden planks to a rocky beach.

There was a single lobster boat out in the small bay putting out traps. I found a lot of flotsam/jetsam on the beach, including a bunch of lobster floats, probably lost in a storm.

I picked one for a souvenir.

I saw what looked like wild blueberries. It reminded me of, Blueberries for Sal, another Robert McClosky book I read to my kids.

I did not try them because I was not sure they were blueberries.

I finished the 14 or so miles around the island and took the ferry back to Stonington. Beth met me at the ferry. 

We moved across the street to a new hotel the Inn on the Harbor. Better place. Views of the harbor. Great deck.

Brother, May I borrow a spoon?

Off to dinner at Acadia Provisions. One of the nicest dinners we have had. Mostly because we sat next to JB and Janie from Manhattan (95th Street - NOT Harlem!). They were celebrating Janie's 29th birthday. Title refers to our comical difficulty obtaining cutlery at Acadia

They were smart, interesting  and funny. I felt a connection with them, that if we lived closer, under different circumstances, we would become friends. Life is like that. We are always looking for connection to people. Sometimes on a  journey, you meet people just for one night, that you know you’ll never see again. You had fun, you laughed - but it was just for the now; not for the future. I hope they read this and feel the same way. 

Tomorrow we are going to Lake Placid for Beth’s family reunion. I’ll try to keep up the blog. We’ll see. 

Love,

bear and Beth