Lewiston to Boothbay Harbor, Maine

October 22, 2009

The morning was gray and chilly but the fog was supposed to lift later so we changed our plans to start seeing the coast from Acadia National Park on the northern coast.

First we drove through Lewiston where we stopped for coffee at a mom and pop type place with a counter. There were many employees behind the counter so they must have a lot of business. They were all very happy and loudest was the man who appeared to be the owner. He wanted to know where we came from and then we had to sign the guestbook! Some people are very interested in our trip and others don't seem to want to know anything.

Next was Brunswick at the coast. The fog was supposed to clear in that area but it did not. It was cold into your bones. The streets were unusually wide. We walked around a little and ended up in a restaurant for lunch - cottage pie and chicken pot pie. Jalil went to the restroom and came back exited and wanted the camera! He found an arrest mug shot from 1938 on the wall of Frank Sinatra.

We decided that there was no use driving along the coast in this weather so we went to see L.L. Bean's original store in Freeport. There were outlets all around it. I bought two long sleeved tops (it was getting cold) and Jalil bought shoes at Clark's outlet. L.L. Bean was not an outlet which I discovered when I paid.

On the way north, we drove through the historic downtown of Bath. We also visited the Visitor Center near half a bridge - they had built a new bridge next to the old one and then torn down part of it as it was still used for trains. We were hoping for help with finding housing as we had had previously at Vermont and Maine Visitor Centers. But no such luck so we drove in the dark northeast. We reached Boothbay Harbor and started looking for a motel. After almost circling the little town we came up a hill to Midtown Motel - a 50's style motel. We had to ring a bell and soon an elderly man came up the stairs. He rented us a room and told us where we could eat dinner and breakfast and where we could get WiFi. It was a 50's motel without coffee maker, microwave. refrigerator, or WiFi. But is was cute and there was a small old TV so Jalil could watch his important ball game. The owner was Jalil's age. He said his father built the motel. He closes for the winter, which he was going to do next weekend. Jalil asked if he was going to Florida then but he said he had another job. He lived in a nice house just behind the motel.

We walked down to the harbor and found the restaurant he had recommended. I told Jalil that he had to eat lobster as he was in Maine and he cooperate reluctantly. "I chewed it comfortably" was his comment. And we had wine with it. And the most wonderful rhum cake full of nuts and cheese cake.

When we returned to our room, it was at least 90F and we opened all windows. It was a cold night. Jalil went to the office and rang the bell. The man returned up the stairs and turned down the thermostat so we could sleep. He did not know that it was so hot. We were the only guests.