Scarborough has an “upscale” Walmart. No big blue sign made it a little harder to recognize. Fancy neighborhood even with big box stores. Two other RV’s already there. We drop off the coach and head to Portland about 10 minutes away. Visit the Victoria Mansion, a single family house built in 1858 to 1860 by hotel magnate Ruggles Sylvester Morse who built to impress others as to his wealth. It contains 90% of the original furnishings which is very rare to have the original furnishings. We were impressed. Indoor plumbing, gas lighting and heat and a series of bells in each room to alert the servants (a la Downton Abbey) but all of this was unique for the time period. Rosemary fearing an overdose of lobster before we hit Bar Harbor wants Asian for lunch. Pom’s Thai Restaurant and Noodle House was an excellent choice. A big bowl of soup with five spice broth and wide rice noodles went perfectly with choo chee curry. We are tempted to go back for dinner it was so outstanding. Next we head to Fort Williams Park which is in South Portland. There from the fort remnants are three lighthouses and believe it or not we can actually see them all. Nice walk along the coast and a little rock climbing to Rosemary’s disdain. Back to Portland for a tour of the Shipyard Brewery. Short tour followed by a tasting of 6 different beers, with refills, and all for free. Best tour to date! Bought some beer, in cans of course, to add to my collection. What a great hobby. Then walked the city, bought more edibles and tee shirts. Exhausted from the 11 hour day, we head back to the coach for a light, late dinner. Would like to get to bed early but I don’t want Elliot to worry.
Day 35, Biddeford, ME (Kennebunkport)
Hotel Walmart here is nice quiet spot. Head to Kennebunkport and stop at visitor info about 10:10 am. A lobstering boat (the Rugosa) has a tour leaving at 10:30. We call and there is space for only 2 more. We drive over to the boat and arrive at 10:29. As we leave the harbor, the 2 man crew tells the history of the lobster industry and the area to about 15 of us “tourist lobstermen”. The crew also educates us as to lobsters’ gender (we now can tell males from females - Rosemary likes males with the bigger claws not to mention the two appendages to fertilize the females, I like the females with the bigger tails - go figure), molting, reproduction and claw strength - about 100 psi. Enough to take off a finger. About 7 miles out the first lobster trap is brought on board. About 7-8 lobsters are flopping about. I volunteer first to band the claws and do so without loss of any digits. Several more traps are brought aboard each with many lobsters. This boat was a catch and release only so alas we did not get to take home our catch. We were lucky to go on this trip as the captain said they had not been out in 5 days due to the weather. The weather was good and sea calm in the morning. About mid-afternoon the rain began and continued throughout the night as the storm Arthur passed by. After the lobstering, the boat made a pass by Walker’s Point and a view of the George HW Bush estate (see photo). Lunch in Kennebunk a walk across the Kennebunk River from Kennebunkport at Bartley’s. Rosemary had a lobster roll and I went for the Haddock sandwich. After lunch we walked Kennebunkport shops and bought some Wild Maine Blueberry products and other edibles. No way will my baby bump go away on this trip even with all the walking around. Head to Cape Porpoise and the Goat Island Lighthouse but first stop at blowing rock which is a formation carved into the rocks that when the waves hit it sounds like a whale spouting. By the time we got to the lighthouse, it was barely visible due to the weather. Foiled again. We drive back to the coach with the intention of heading north about 14 miles to the next Walmart but since it is raining and since the Biddeford Walmart is so quiet we decide to stay a second night. Also, this area of the lot looks like an RV Campground as 4 other RV’s reside here this night.
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