Marvelous Maine or So Many Lighthouses, So Little Time

We've really been enjoying this time we're spending on the Maine coast. It turns out that Maine is BIG BIG BIG on pottey, and every place we go there are multiple shops and studios. I, of course, attempt to stop in every single one of them. This one was a huge cooperative gallery in Portland. And then there was Edgecomb where they had the most beautiful glazes. Most were crystalline in a rainbow of colors.

This was Lighthouse Day for us. After a little tour of Portland we went to the Two Sister Lighthouses. Here's Ed sitting on the rocks between them.

This is one...

And this is the other.

It's really neat to turn your head to the right, see a lighthouse, and then turn your head to the left and see another. Look straight ahead and see the breathtaking Maine coast in all it's rocky glory.

This is the harbor in Portland. They have been working to revitalize it and have been somewhat successful. They have a way to go. There are shops and restaurants, and sadly, empty stores that have been hurt by the economy. I still haven't gotten used to the lobsters everywhere!!!

It's hard to stop photographing this coast... I took this of the Portland Headlight at Fort Williams. There's a small museum staffed by volunteers. Lighthousing is automated today. Kinda takes the romance out of it...Lighthouses use lenses to reflect. They are huge! This was in the museum at the Portland Headlight.

We reconnected with Jean and Ken MacLean in Scarborough where we were camped. They invited us to their home for a lovely dinner and a wonderful fun evening together. They also spent a day taking us on a tour of the south coastal communities.

Perkin's Cove. Look up "charming" in the dictionary...definition #2...Perkin's Cove. We visited a pottery shop, of course, and met the potter who also happened to be a former neighbor and friend of the MacLeans. We did a little potter talk and looked at her creative work.

Another view of Perkin's Cove.

Here we are with Jean and Ken. We walked the Marginal Way, a trail along the coastline that's dotted with benches to just sit and enjoy the view.

Just another look in the other direction. Can you tell we were enjoying the day?!?!?

Jean and Ken in Perkin's Cove.

Downtown Kennebunkport. That and it's neighbor Kennebunk are charming communities. The homes all look like we think New England will look.

We went through Wells, Ogunquit, Cape Neddick, and York where we enjoyed a delicious late lunch overlooking the water. It really was a perfect day. One of our favorite stops was the Nubble Lighthouse. Ken told us it is the most photographed lighthouse in Maine. And then we took this photo of it.

And then Ken took this photo of us.

Maine was everything we expected it to be. Some of the places, like Old Orchard Beach and York have a 1950's feel about them, and others like Ogunquit, Kennebunk, and Perkin's Cove are more like Carmel and San Clemente on the West coast.

Now we hope the MacLean's will visit us and allow us to be their tour guides in New Mexico.