Monday, July 30, 2012

Portland


Portland is a great city to explore. It's also where Stephanie lived for fourteen years, and lived in Maine for eighteen years. What a great tour guide she was! "That's where I use to go, that's where I worked, I hung out there, that's where I lived for four years, that's the house I built, OMG, I can't believe how much that has changed, TURN LEFT, TURN LEFT, I never want to see snow again!" While we were there, we also got a chance to catch up with family and friends, and eat tons of fabulous Maine seafood. What fun we had exploring Portland together. (We always have fun together, wherever we are)
Lots of pictures, so you may need to click on older posts to see them all
We put the pointy end North again, and are moored in Boothbay Harbor. As we continue North, it just keeps getting more and more beautiful. Time to end this blog, put the tender in the water, and go exploring. See you in Boothbay!

September Song (loved Portland) out
Bob



Beautiful sailboats up here. They actually sail, rather than motor everywhere.

Fun with Henri, Amy, Monica, and Nick, at their favorite seafood place, J's Oyster in Portland. A little bit of past, present and future-love you guys!

Oysters on the half shell, steamers, mussels, and lobster. YUUMM!
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This is the house Stephanie built.

This is a house Stephanie lived in.

There are so many lobsters this year, that they are cheaper than lunch meat. Henri bought them for 2.99 a pound for the lobster roast they had for us. He said he felt like a robber.

It's a long, cold, snowy winter up here. We saw lots of stockpiled firewood.
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We went back to one of our favorite places we were at twelve years ago by car, The Lobster Shack, at Two Lights on Cape Elizabeth.
Click on the video to see our view from the picnic table, while we enjoyed our lobster rolls, and our first piece (first of many) of Maine wild blueberry pie.

We could take the girls most places we explored.
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The lighthouse at Two Lights on Cape Elizabeth.

Not real comfortable, but cool seats.

What a beautiful place....And what a beautiful family!
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Stephanie's cousin, Jill, and her husband, Sandy, invited us to their home, and then to their yacht club for dinner. We also had a chance to get together on September Song one afternoon for cocktails. It was great to see them again. 

Hey, you gotta eat.

Lobster boat in port. These are the guys who make it all possible.
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Took a road trip to Freeport, ME. We went to the L.L. Bean. (after a waterside seafood lunch) OMG! We were here twelve years ago, and man, how it has changed. It's huge. It's so big, it has its own zip code. Left with a bag in each hand. Love L.L. Bean!

This is just one of four retail buildings.

The U.S. Coast Guard Tall Ship "Eagle" came into Portland Harbor, and past our marina. She was escorted by tugs and fire boats, with their water cannons going. She is 295 feet long and is a Barque. She was built by Nazi Germany as a training ship in 1936. She was taken as reparations after WWII, and commissioned into the Coast Guard in 1946 as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle.

She is beautiful!
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I love this no parking sign.

Best Maine wild blueberry pies in Portland.

While in Maine, one of the things Stephanie loves is wild Maine blueberry pie. Another favorite is to eat it for breakfast. Those of you who know me, know that gets a BIG OK with me. YUUMM! Reminds me of when I was a child. My Grandfather would let me have a piece of Grandma's pie before dinner.....And another after. He said it was because you always want to make sure there was room for it. Now, all who know me, know where I get my sweet tooth from.

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Henri and Amy had us to their home for a lobster feast, and what a feast it was.
We started out with steamers.

Good job Henri! Notice my new lobster eating t-shirt. Hows the water Bob....Bob.....BOB!

Did I eat all those?

Henri bought enough lobster for 12.....Even though there were only six of us. He wanted to make sure we had our fill. Can you believe only 2.99 a pound.
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Henri, showing me how to remove the rubber bands off the claws, without getting pinched.

Don't you pinch me!

Time for a bath!
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That's a lot of lobster, and that's just the first batch!

Chef Henri.

Here's to you Henri and Amy!
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Their beautiful garden. Tomatoes with flavor.

Henri's chickens for fresh eggs. Cassie thought they were ..... Well, we won't say.

After apps, steamers, lobster, lots of catch up and laughs, it was time for another Maine wild blueberry pie....with vanilla ice cream. Burp! I won't tell you how many lobsters I ate, but lets just say, I am now known as the "lobster pig"
Thanks so very much Henri and Amy. It was so great to spend time with you and your family, and what a fun time. Love you guys! See you when we put the pointy end South.
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