Archive for the ‘seacoast’ Tag
Living in Maine is always an adventure especially concerning the changing weather patterns. Lots of snow, lots of wind, lots of ice, and lots of SNERT (melted snow mixed with dirt). I’ve always been a fan of cold weather and snow but my first three years in Maine gave me an entirely new perspective. My first winter purchase in Maine was a kick-ass snow blower which has become over the years my best winter friend. Other required purchases were skis, snow shoes, and layered clothing. I loved taking winter photos in the forests but that was taken to a whole other level when the snow was more than two feet deep. Todays post will be a list of weather related facts that might interest you. Mother Nature is a real bitch and she visits Maine and New England way too frequently.
- Snow fell for thirty-six hours in New York in 1888. The storm dropped 50 inches of snow and became known as Great Blizzard of 1888.
- Mt. Washington in New Hampshire holds the world-record of 231 mph wind gusts measured on the summit on April 12, 1934.
- The Farmers Almanac lists various information, including information on the best days to castrate animals, to quit smoking, and to can jellies and jams.
- Hurricane-force winds (74+ mph) occur on average every other day on Mt. Washington during the winter months.
- The Blizzard of 1978 paralyzed New England for a week, dropping 27.1 inches of snow in Boston and over 40 inches in parts of Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine. Severe flooding occurred as the storm stalled off Long Island, combining hurricane-force wind gusts (up to 93 mph) with four destructive high-tide cycles. 99 fatalities were recorded across the states, with thousands of stranded motorists left on major highways throughout New England.
- Ice storms are also common in Maine and our last major storm a few years back brought down thousands of trees and left us without electricity, water, and internet, for more than two weeks. Unfortunately that was before we purchased our whole-house generator. We did learn how to sleep with five or six blankets on the bed while wearing parkas, tassel hats, and ear muffs.
All of that being said I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Maine is a beautiful state regardless of Mother Nature’s whims and the seacoast and beaches are second to none. It’s called America’s Vacationland for a reason.
DRIVE CAREFULLY – THE MOOSE IS LOOSE
Yesterday was an odd day. After my forty-five minute workout I completed what few chores I had scheduled, changed clothes, and was off to do some shopping. At 11:30 I received a message from my better-half who’d just left work and was headed home. I no sooner stepped from my car than it was decided we’d be spending the next few hours exploring along the seacoast and looking for a restaurant. We were hoping for a place we’d never before visited. Our travels brought us to Cape Porpoise, Maine located in a small harbor near the Whale Island lighthouse. We’ve been in this area many times before but never had occasion to visit any of the three small restaurants located there.
I saw a sign, "The Ramp", with a walkway extending behind a larger restaurant down towards the water. It was a tiny Bar & Grill tucked behind and under the other restaurant.
It had a sports theme and the walls and ceilings were covered with memorabilia from just about everywhere. Football helmets, autographed pictures, political signs, basketball hoops, and a helleva lot more. It was one of the coolest bars I’ve ever visited and I’ve been in a few.
We had a couple of drinks while we waited for our food and the place was packed with people. Fortunately for us we’d been seated just before the big Friday afternoon crowd arrived. The wait for a seat was close to forty minutes but nobody seemed to mind. You could lounge with a drink along the water waiting for your table.
I ordered a plate of Portuguese mussels that were without a doubt the best I’ve ever had. They were swimming in a broth of red chili’s, hot sausage, and herbs. My better-half had the crab cakes which she raved about for the rest of the day.
The beer was cold, the food delicious, and the help was better than expected considering how busy it was. We found ourselves making plans to return to this little bistro before we’d finished our first beers.
‘The Whale Island lighthouse.’
This little place was one of the nicest surprises we’ve had in some time. We’ll be returning very soon to try a few more local brews and delicious food. The meal was beautifully presented, delicious, and nicely priced. Our check not including the tip was $62.00 and believe me when I say it was money well spent.
‘You can’t get seafood much fresher than this. Right off the boat.’
If you’re ever in the vicinity you should stop by for a nosh. This is one of those hidden little treasures that’s mainly frequented by the locals who know a good thing when they have it.
It’s been a great week but with my nephew leaving soon I decided a short road trip was in order. We rolled out of bed, had breakfast with my better-half, and then hit the road. We drove south on I-95 to the border with New Hampshire and began our day at the Kittery Trading Post. My nephew is quite the gun expert and we spent an hour walking through the endless racks of guns.
If you’ve read this blog in recent weeks you know I have been having serious issues with a skunk who refuses to leave my garden alone. I’ve been wanting to purchase a .22 caliber rifle for more than a year and with the help from my nephew I did just that. I already feel bad for that stupid skunk because his days are numbered.
We left Kittery and began the trip north along the coast. It was a beautiful day and all of the beaches were filled with this years crop of tourists. We stopped to get a few pictures at the Nubble lighthouse which is probably the most photographed lighthouse in Maine.
We then continued north through the towns of York Beach, York, Ogunquit, and Wells. Traffic was much heavier than normal and all of the routes that took us anywhere near the water were jammed with people and cars. Even with the crowds and traffic we had a great time people watching and catching up on each other’s lives.
We stopped for a quick lunch in Kennebunk and continued on through Biddeford and into Saco. We returned home to meet the better-half and to prepare for our last night together.
We traveled to Old Orchard beach for a terrific seafood dinner, a walk along the beach, and then onto the amusement park. I was able to win a couple of $.50 stuffed pigs for my better-half and it only cost me ten bucks.
Carnival games never seem to change. The better-half insisted on spending some time at the arcade where she and the nephew played SkeeBall. With an armload of worthless tickets we made our way towards our car and the return home. You can’t have a night like this without stopping for a little ice cream which was delicious and made the ride home a little more enjoyable.
The nephew’s flight is scheduled to leave early tomorrow morning so it was early to bed and early to rise and the end of a great week.
