Blueberry Pond is Calling.....

9/21/11

Woke up to sun, sun, sun and about 72 degrees…..pure heaven.  Headed straight for Ogunquit, ME’s post office to pick up the USB to upgrade Gertie, and her new little case that she’ll call home.  Unfortunately didn’t get a promised package from daughter-mine (“No, we didn’t finish the project Mom.”) or my compounding pharmacy’s meds.  Will have to stop in there on our way back to the Cape.

Meanwhile, since we hadn’t explored this part of the coast, we took the time – with me behind the wheel – to cruise the beaches and neighborhoods of Ogunquit, Wells Beach, Wells, Moody and Cape Porpoise.  I told Tony afterward, that it was my best sightseeing day yet.  The crowds are pretty much gone, so the quaintness of the towns is apparent; the beaches are unbelievably sandy, rocky and beautiful too.   We just meandered all over the coast, surprisingly ended up in Kennebunkport which is a very rich, very busy, very cute little town.  We just kept following our noses to the sea and huge mansions, until we were looking at the Bush compound.  Pretty impressive sitting on its own point, secret service folks have their own little gate house.  

We moved on to the impressive rock built St. Ann’s Episcopal Church and some kind of center.  Beautiful piece of shoreline property, that even has an outdoor seating area for…services?....weddings?  They’ve got lots of money just riding on the view.

 

Tony then led us on to our current favorite, Cape Porpoise.   You take a right instead of a left, and the world opens up into a hidden beauty mark on mothernature’s face.  God it’s gorgeous!  We were so captivated by the lobster boats all lined up, bow toward the sea; the pier, where the lobster pots were piled and a lobsterman was unloading his catch; the little Chowder House, where we sat outside and ate our clam chowder and lobster stew  - both awful, unfortunately.  Lobster stew had me salivating for a rich, thick soup of heavy cream and lots of lobster – he’s unloading it at the fuckin’ dock, for criminy’s sake!  Instead, it was warm milk with old, rubbery lobster in it.  TC said his was just OK.  We haven’t finished our search for great seafood, and will continuously venture into unknown territory for that perfect chowder and lobster, and scallop, and crab.  It’s fun!!!

We then journeyed back to Shithirst, where TC bravely did our laundry and I did nuttin’.  Roku came in and out: outside to track squirrels (they’re like rats at this park, but smart enough to get in a tree when they see the mighty black hunter without a tail come their way); run inside to take a poo; run outside to track squirrels; run inside to eat; run outside to track squirrels; run inside to poo.  He’s got it all figured out.

9/22/11

Woke up in a funk again today, after a pretty solid sleep.  Kind of achy and have a slight cold, but the sun did wonders for me yesterday.  Couldn’t get us out of old Shithirst fast enough, so we were on the road before check out time at 11:00 AM.  After our Pine Sol showers, of course.

And then, it all turned to poo again.  We didn’t put the car on the dolly as we had less than an hour to Blueberry Pond RV Park in Pownal, ME.  I loaded Gertie up for Tony, and my Galaxy pad up for me…..and we were so lost and screwed up again.  On streets we’d been driving on for days!  Argggh.  Finally got headed the right way and hit two toll roads, for which I didn’t have enough money.  Eventually we stopped to regroup and eat breakfast and got back on track; made camp, let Roku out to ‘splore the woods.

Since we’re 4.5 miles from Freeport, ME, we zipped into town.  I had talked with Tony’s other girlfriend, sweet Tara Mullan, who hails from Maine and was recently married in Freeport, about what to see and do, so we had a pretty good idea of what the town consists of: L.L. Bean hometown; downtown is all outlet stores.  Interestingly, every building is Colonial, even the McDonalds.   Very cool when a town has standards. And here's a pic:

I hit up both the senior’s thrift and the great Freeport Consignment stores, as well as, all right!  you know I did!.....as well as J. Crew, L.L. Bean, Coach, Nine West, and many other lovelies.  Now, we are not fans of outlet stores, as we think the prices reflect still not enough of a markdown on overpriced clothes, etc.  But, I am a helluva’ shopper, and can track down the sales racks within the outlet stores like a skunk on stink.  And I succeeded again - it just takes tenacity and the love of a bargain, and I’ve got both in spades.  I did lose TC along the way, but not to worry, he was happily on the phone with his Masonic friend, Ken Van Cooten (who plays steel drums like nobodies bidness!). exchanging tales of secret Masonic handshakes and long ago memorized  lectures.  So I shopped some more.  Alex B. made out very well, as did her roommate Cin-City (mailing it Monday kids!). 

Back at the Blueberry, quiet prevails, trees are turning, Roku hunts and poops.  I am achy today with the crappy rain, although the temperature is in the high 60’s, so it is humid.  Sweaty time again for me.  They don’t MAKE a deodorant strong enough when Jackie’s exposed to humidity.  Three or four times a day, I wet down a washcloth with cold water and sluice myself off, head to….well, lady parts.  It just gets the top layer of sweat and oil off, and then a few hours later, you start again.  One upside though, you can’t tell when you’re having a hot flash, ‘cause it all feels like a big old hot flash!

The skeeters are not quite as bad as Alaska, as they don’t hover around  your Deet-covered face waiting for the shit to wear off; but man, they are big and they bite.  I feel like I have chicken pox today because of the bites and sweaty pimples.  My skin is a mess! 

9/23/11

Rained all night.  Hotter outside than in.  Drippy with sweat as soon as you’re out of the shower.  Welcome to Maine in September!

Aside from the weather and sweating and stuff, it’s been a non-funky morning, emotionally for me, and we had a good discussion on where we’re going next; even got ahead of the game and made reservations for Naples (I’m calling it Nipples ‘cause I think it’s funny – TC isn’t amused).  We’ll head 30 miles west to Nipples tomorrow through Thursday, then back to Freeport and our beloved Blueberry Pond Camp.  Three more days here, then we head for Salisbury, MASS October 1^st.   Sometime during our second stop at Blueberry, we’ll be taking a two hour train ride on the Maine Eastern, check it out: http://www.maineeasternrailroad.com/  I also hope our stay in Nipples ends up with a maple farm visitation so that I can finally get some real Maine syrup.  Mara and Spencer insist that the “B” grade is all you need for happiness, so I’ll try and find a gallon to bring along…just kidding – or NOT.

Went back to Freeport today so that we could sample the chowder at the Harraseeket Inn.  This advice was passed on by local girl Tara Mullan, who not only has first hand information about said chowder, but was recently married at the Harraseeket Inn.  ‘Nough said for me, so off we went to the Broad Arrow Tavern at the Inn, its oldest part.  I ordered a cup of Haddock Chowder and Tony had a bowl of Clam Chowder, with a basket of homemade bread.  Heaven sang, the golden light appeared.  We were happy.  I feel like the haddock had it hands down over the clam, but TC felt they both had their own high merits.  Whatever!  The meal was delicioso.

I then veered uncontrollably toward Main Street like a zombie in a Stephen King novel, and “just a few more” outlet stores – well, I hadn’t been to Yankee Candle yet!  Geez, lighten up, will ya’?  Or Banana Republic or Maidenform.   Yankee Candle surprised me with a btgof sale, and with the degree of help they offered.  I hate getting help, but I succumbed to the sales woman because there was no one for her to help, and really couldn’t fight her infectious enthusiasm.  I explained that we have an RV with a cat, and between his box and cooking and our funk, if someone other than we were to come into the RV, it might have a slight odor.  It would stink, really, to anyone but us.  She raced across the floor and had their new product in her hands, assuring me it would not “cover” an odor, but “absorb” the odors.  I’m game, got three for the price of two, and walked away feeling really served in a store, for once.  Nothing at the others interested me, so I’m done.  It’s got to be a hell of a bargain to light my fire.


We zoomed back to the RV to begin preparations for our first…..Blueberry Pond Camp New England boiled dinner!  We were so excited to be invited!  Our contribution is my famous cornbread, of course, in our Silpat forms that make the little “butterhole” at the top (Joey!).  Counted up the folks here, doubled the batch and spent a few hours baking and baking in our great little propane oven.  We hear Bill shout SUPPER!!!, gathered up our grub and headed for the picnic tables.

What a lovely group of campers, relatives and friends.  I had an idea that the boiled dinner would be bland, but I’m here to tell you, it was divine inspiration direct from our ancestors.  A big old ham (bone in), taters, turnips, carrots and cabbage all boiled together and  tender and juicy.  Someone had also made a brisket and it too was falling apart delicious.  Then came the desserts.  My personal favorite happened to belong to the couple from Louisiana/Mississippi we were seated next to, and it’s called “Chocolate Cobbler.”  Yes, picture it, cobbler goodness on top, gooey-buttery-lava-cake-like chocolate under it.  Served warm.

We had a great time talking and laughing and sharing lives.  Light hearted and just what this woman needs!  I think part of my funk the last week or so is because I don’t have face-to-face contact with my friends anymore.  The only people I talk to are Ton-Ton, and those folks we’re paying for food or gas.  I miss it the talk.  I know, I know, I ‘m such a shy little flower, it’s difficult for me to share conversations with others – ha, ha.  I MISS blabbing.  Tony isn’t as interested in my intelligence, or off the wall conversational constructions as my friends are – I need their input, damn it!  Got a great but brief chat with Diane  (“Dirty Legs”) which bolstered my friend need for the moment.  So it was nice to talk to folks over a meal, even if they seem conservative and you avoid subjects like politics. 

Back home again – hey, I called Blue home, wow – snuggling with Roku, doing our computer stuff.  Nice and full, quiet ahead.  Kid Rock on Pandora….”Cowboy” live.  Lovin’ it.  And one more picture of Kitty-Boy: