Ellie's Pond

Ellie and I took a trip up north and down memory lane.

After touring the beautiful coast of Maine yesterday we headed to the lake district in the western part of the state where Ellie went to summer camp as a child. She remembered a few place names and that was enough to set our course for the day.

They were Naples, Denmark and Bridgton. Many years ago Ellie came up to this part of the world during the summers from New York City. She told me about the trains they took from Penn Station to Portland and then the "Dinky" train (I believe) to Bridgton where the camp bus picked them up and took them to camp.

It was a lovely drive through forests and past pristine, still lakes and lovely green mountains that will play host to skiers this winter.

At one moment Ellie had a flash from her past as if we we trying to solve a cold case. She remembered the name of "Peabody Pond" and the dirt roads surrounding it. We asked the young waitresses where we were having lunch in Bridgton if they knew where this was. They didn't, but one called her boyfriend and wrote us directions!

We were off on our quest for a glimpse at the past.

West on 302, down 117 up 107 left on Peabody Road which eventually lost its pavement and, as if going back in time, became a dirt road and there we were: Peabody Pond, 1934.

Ellie had not been here in 75 years. Yes, 75, no typo. She learned to swim in this pond and she had not been back until now. It was amazing for me to watch her and her pond reunited. They had so much to catch up on.

I felt as I watched them that there is so much in life to be grateful for and sometimes it is a good thing to go back and say thanks even though they say you can't.

Maine Event

Ellie and I took off on our road trip from Ogunquit to Kennebunkport up the coast.

It was a lovely day and a beautiful drive. Maine is impressive that way.

We saw the Bush's (George and Barbara's) house. I recognized it from the countless times it was on the news during his presidency. Lovely COMPOUND out on a point with a guard's entry gate, etc. As one would expect. Glad to appreciate seeing it and glad to not have run into (onto, over?) any Bushs.


We continued up north to Prout's Neck which was JUST featured in the New York Times as it was where Winslow Homer had his studio and painted. Though we were forewarned in the NYT that the road to it was private we certainly didn't think that meant us as well. It did.

Ellie has a good friend who summers there, but like any self-respecting summerer, she split by Labor Day and was not there to gain us passage. Sigh.

Gated presidential homes and private roads was just too much rejection for one day. Plus we were famished. We needed a place to welcome us heartily. And we got it at The Good Table Restaurant in Cape Elizabeth. What a great meal. I had a real turkey sandwich and haddock chowder (Surf and Gobble?) and Ellie went with the tuna salad and coleslaw which is a dish named after her somewhere in the world as she eats it all the time! Since it was the last day of Maine blueberry season (or so they told this tourist) I had the Maine blueberry pie. It was fantastic.

I am a terrible food photographer. I get too close to my subjects!

Bellies full, it was off to the Portland Head Light, the oldest lighthouse in Maine. The present one was built in 1791 and was automated in 1989. Jeepers that is old. She is a beauty for any age if you ask me. We were both blown away by this sight and felt it was the highlight of our day. An extra added unexpected pleasure as we thought to go there quite by accident. Wonderful.


(I knew I asked the wrong person to photograph us but she was standing right on the spot I wanted and I thought it would kill two birds, etc. She cut off the top of the light house. Controlling much?)


Good job Ellie!


Good job, Pat!

Maine Attraction

One of the great things about living in New York is that you can pop up and pop out and pop over to places. Today my friend Ellie and I popped up to Maine. Maine!! (In California we never popped up to Maine. It just wasn't done.)

We left this morning on Jet Blue from JFK, probably one of the coolest flying experiences around leaving from that brand new terminal. Sort of Jetsons-like air travel with a modern, retro feel.

(I just KNEW Ellie would be a security risk!)

We flew to Portland and drove down the beautiful tree-lined I-95 to Ogunquit, Maine. Here we met up with Ellie's daughter Mary and her husband Tot. Great couple who, well, more later.


Ellie and I walked the famous Marginal Way.


I have always thought the word "marginal" as solely connoting a dodgy neighborhood, but ironically applies to the edge along a gorgeous coastline with million-dollar homes. A marginal neighborhood of a whole different sort. We ended up at Perkins Cove and took the festive trolley back. The whole place with jagged cliffs and lighthouse and sleepy boats in harbors makes you just want to go, "Arrrrrrrrrrr" and talk silly pirate/sea-shanty talk. Arrrrrrrrrrr.



Tonight we went with Mary and Tot to Barnacle Billy's in Perkins Cove for lobster dinner. It was great fun. Our waitress Chelsea was so wonderful that Mary left a note praising her to Barnacle Billy himself. (He lives! He's real!) But the conversation was so wacky and funny and fun and Mary and Tot and Ellie are just so quick and funny.(I know they are reading this, but it is true.) We had the best time laughing and dripping melted butter. (On ourselves and our respective lobsters - not each other, it wasn't that kind of evening.) The kicker is that Mary asked the most insightful questions - I was blown away. I told her she could be Columbo and have me confessing to murder in short order.


What a great first day on our trip.

Tomorrow..."Singing in the Rain" at the Ogunquit Playhouse starring Ellie and Mary's friend Jon Peterson. (George and Barbara Bush went to see him today.)