July 15-17 - Maine & Boothbay Harbor, Part 1

Ladies and gentlemen, once more a treat! Lots of photos from my trip to Maine, plus 2 long posts about my weekend.

It was fantastic, even though the weather was brutally hot and humid. I suffer in this weather, but fortunately my sister and her fiance's place is 2 blocks from the ocean. The benefit of sea breezes cannot be overstated! My niece and her boyfriend were up there this weekend as well, and it was really good to be able to spend time with them.

Arrived fairly on schedule Friday. Construction on 495 held me up for quite some time, but from there it was smooth sailing. Plus I was able to make up a little time on I95... ten over (or so) on the speed limit is not really not a lot... :)

Both my sister and my niece are very good cooks, so we had some outstanding food this past weekend! Friday afternoon was terribly hot and humid, so sister opted for a lighter app (originally she was planning kielbasa). My niece made a really good dip with spinach, cheese, and Rotel, and that hit the spot. Dinner was Caribbean marinated grilled chicken, potato salad, and a pasta with pesto salad. Everything was excellent, and it was the perfect meal for a hot July night :)

Saturday morning my sister and I headed up to Boothbay in her GT, about a 1-1/2 hour trip. Destination: Fisherman's Wharf in Boothbay Harbor for Bloody Marys. I had not been to Boothbay in years. It is the quintessential New England town, picture postcard perfect! We could not have ordered a better day!!

Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor proper is not that large, and basically goes in a big one-way circle. Tons of shops and restaurants line the street. We were not there for the shopping :)

You may think that was one long drive just for a (very excellent) Bloody Mary. There was reasoning behind our outing, besides spending a "sister day". Our parents (my Dad especially) loved Boothbay Harbor, and every year the 2 of them went there on vacation. They always stayed at Fisherman's Wharf.

Entrance to Fisherman's Wharf

We sat outside on the deck, and had Bloody Marys in honor of them and their trips there (my sister's awesome idea!). Perfect!

Two perfect Bloody Marys

Neither of us were really into the shopping thing; we had come for the scenery and the trip (and the sister time!). We sat and contemplated our next move - lunch. Both of us thought lunch at Fisherman's Wharf would be fairly pricey (it is Boothbay Harbor's largest hotel), but sister snagged a menu to take a look. The prices actually were not bad at all!

Looking at the lines already forming for some of the sandwich and take-out shops, we decided to have lunch right where we were. And what a great lunch it was! Finished with our Bloody Marys, we each ordered a frozen drink (she a strawberry daiquiri, I a mudslide). A cup of lobster bisque each, and split a grilled cheese sandwich.

Frozen daiquiri & bisque

Frozen mudslide & bisque

The bisque was chock-full of lobster, and so filling! The grilled cheese was no ordinary grilled cheese! It more resembled Bruschetta if it were made into a sandwich. Melted mozarella, with fresh tomatoes and basil on thick pieces of bread. Yum!! So filling! Neither of us could finish even half a sandwich after the bisque, so we boxed up the remainder to go.

Took a TON of pix that day! I will post some here, and some in "Part 2" of our Excellent GT Adventure! (Plus it will split up the reading as well :) )

Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor

Whale watching ship