Day 7 - Ready for his closeup

Some morning time on the beach, and then it was off to Kennebunkport, where we had heard that there may be some cameras rolling for an episode of the Travel Channel's Food Wars show - this one was to be a battle of the lobster roll, with Fischer family favorite "The Clam Shack" competing.  We made sure that Ken was camera-ready, and then headed on over. 

Things were a bit slow to get going....with releases to sign, overview footage to be shot, etc.  Finally, Ken was ready for his close-up.  He was indeed interviewed by host Camille Ford on camera....so we're pretty sure at least a clip will make it to air time - which is set for sometime in August.  May the best lobster roll win! (The Clam Shack, of course)  It was interesting to see the episode taping, and it never hurts to be waiting around when there are Clam Shack clams to be eaten.  It was a tasty and fun ending to our week in Maine.

Nothing left to do now but wave to the ice-cream truck man (we became VERY familiar with his siren song.....The Entertainer....serenading us every half hour.  Followed by his competitor ice cream truck man, also playing the same music....every half hour.  One of the annoyances of our trip.  Still, at least he's friendly, as is everyone we met in Maine.)

A final happy hour, with the last of the cashews to fight over.  Tomorrow, our sojourn in vacationland comes to an end.  It's been a great trip to Maine - thanks for reading. 

Day 6-Strawberry Drinks Forever

Storm clouds a-brewing.  We decided to do a bit of Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, and take a stroll on the Marginal Way before the storm kicked in.  With the wild roses blooming and the ocean crashing, it was as dramatic as always.

Dad stayed behind in Rotary Park in Perkins Cove, observing the passersby (and their vehicular modes of transport).

The raindrops were now wafting, putting an end to our walk.  So it was back to home base.


Still, the storms abated for awhile....long enough for Yvonne to get a lesson in kite flying from son-in-law Rich.  After her arm muscles were suitably exercised, it was back for some indoor relaxation.

Everyone got cleaned up, and we headed out to Joshua's, a nice local-food restaurant here in Wells.  Ken finally got to try the lobster pie that Joe Desmond had demanded he sample while in Maine (Rich had that too).  All of us toasted the nice vacation we've had with some strawberry cosmopolitans, made with fresh local berries.

And then, it was time for some Kat-time... a trip to the Ogunquit Playhouse to see the Drowsy Chaperone, starring Carson Kressley and Georgia Engel. On the way, it was storming again, but stopped just before it was time to get to the theatre....and gave us a reward for our patience.

Then, it was indeed, on with the show.  In addition to Carson and Georgia and many other Broadway veterans - and even more exciting for Kat - the show also starred Megan Loomis, who had worked with Kat at Blackfriars Theatre in Rochester on Kiss of the Spiderwoman among other shows.  That's her on the right, below, in that Blackfriars show.  On the left is Nicolette Hart, star of Broadway and former backup singer for Bette Midler.   The Drowsy Chaperone did not disappoint - it was a great night of theatre.

Day 5 - A lobster a day keeps the doctor away

The Woodrings had languished too long without partaking of one of the unique dining options available in southern Maine...lobster for breakfast.  We took them off to the Cafe Amore (repeat visit for us, if you're keeping track) to sample a bit of breakfast love.  Dad ended up with a Maine crab omelet instead, and Yvonne did the decadent bananas foster french toast.  So it was up to the Fischers to begin the day the Maine way...with lobster benedict.  After that, it was the long drive to Freeport.  It was a good day for it, as it was a bit on the rainy side in the morning.  First stop in Freeport...the L.L. Bean outlet, where Yvonne found exactly what she wanted at less than half price in the first 15 minutes.  Yvonne Woodring...super shopper!

With mission accomplished, she was pretty much ready to leave town.  But we convinced both Ken and Yvonne to enter the mother-ship L.L. Bean store to see some of the sites, including the river fish aquarium.  I think they're thinking of adopting this guy....hope he gets along with Lucy.

Rich visited the aquarium too, but for him, the view was a little different:

Then it was off to the Harraseeket Lobster Pound for lunch, an eatery featured on TV shows like Rachael Ray, numerous articles in papers from Massachusetts and New York, Downeast Magazine, New England Magazine, Favorite Lobster shacks, etc. Here's what a typical visitor comes to enjoy at this famed lobster mecca:

Unless you are Woodring, in which case, this looks more like lunch:

We only let it go by because it was fresh homemade blueberry cobbler - and blueberries are right after lobsters in terms of Maine iconography, and strawberry shortcake? Well, when isn't it a good time for strawberry shortcake?

Back to home base, for a little quiet time, napping, reading, and kite-flying.  Then it was off for a nice Italian dinner - and for Rich, his third lobster meal of the day, with a lobster fettuccine alfredo.  After the delicious dinner, it was back home, so Rich could check in with his Mom.  Nothing like a nice sunset call to your mom.

Goodnight, Mom in Gloversville (and Mom in Maine) - we love our Moms.

Day 4 - This little light of mine

 

Another  morning in southern Maine....and it's a doughnut morning.  Mmmmm, doughnuts.  So a quick trip to Congdons, and we returned with....one doughnut.  One giant foot wide doughnut to be precise.  After a brief tussle, it was determined that this doughnut could indeed feed our family of four, with some leftover.  (Of course the whoopie pie sample also came back from the doughnut shop...so there is some sustenance for later.....)

We then decided that the sugar rush demanded some nice walks on the beach.  And Rich and Katharine pushed Yvonne to walk the full distance along the ocean, all the way to the free parking area of the beach, at least a mile round trip.  The ocean breeze kept things relatively cool for a warm summer day, making for some pleasant exercise.  We did have some sea birds swimming nearby who acted kind of like a pace-car to keep us motivated.  Still, resting is nice.

Then it was off for lunch at the Stolen Menu Cafe, a fun sandwich shop in York with a pretty extensive menu.  The town of York Beach offered us a traditional candy shop with taffy-pulling machine, and some successful souvenir purchasing in York Beach, while Rich caught some quiet time at the beach.  Then we journeyed forth to the Nubble Light  in Cape Neddick.   In 1977, when NASA sent Voyager II into space to photograph the outer solar system, it was also loaded with artifacts designed to teach possible extraterrestrial civilizations about our planet. One of the images it carried was a picture of the Nubble Light.  But not this picture (no extra-terrestrials will be dropping in to visit Ken and Yvonne):

A dinner at Billy's and some computer troubleshooting, and then we'll turn in.  Tomorrow we're expecting some rain, and thought it might be a good day to visit the shopping mecca of Maine....L.L. Bean.

Day 3 - The Maine event and foot-notes

A spectacularly beautiful Maine morning - the sun is shining, the ocean breeze is blowing, Kat and Rich are oversleeping....all is well with the world. After awakening with Yvonne's strong coffee we  learned that Ken's feet were acting up...and the level of discomfort meant he wasn't up to a day of adventure.  So today, the first day of summer, Ken stayed home to work on this computer tickets, Rich headed to the beach, and Kat and Yvonne had a "Ladies Who Lunch" day.  This took place at the Kittery outlets, perfect venue for a little shop therapy (which is a bit like shock therapy - same whirling in your head, only this time it's when you see the prices)  Actually, shopping was successful...Yvonne found things she needed, Kat found things she didn't.....and then they headed on to Stonewall Kitchen.  While there, they sampled literally every product available, spending some extra time carefully evaluating the hot fudge and various jams - sometimes 2, 3 times even - to ensure they met the established quality guidelines.  They had lunch there - with Yvonne experiencing sweet potato fries for the first time, and then decided to return to the menfolk. Dad had a typical frustrating day with the computer, Rich had a lazy day watching lifeguard training and reading on the beach.  They did enjoy lobster rolls and clam chowder at home.  At this point, Rich was ready for a little action - and thought swimming in the cold northern Atlantic would do the trick.  It looked (a) crazy (b) brave (c) invigorating or (d) fun - take your pick.

We had another fine 5 o'clock snack with Rich and Yvonne sparring over the cashew nuts, and then it was time to think about dinner.

  As a respite from all the seafood, we decided to try a new brew pub that opened here in Wells called Boon Island Ales.  Another first for Yvonne...a taste of Kat's (beautifully presented) seaweed salad. It's been a series of food firsts for her...lobster rolls, whole belly clams, sweet potato fries, and now seaweed.  Who knows what strange new delicacies tomorrow might bring?  (There's been talk of steel cut oatmeal.....)

But there's no rest for a nurse, even on vacation, with a patient like Ken around.  So it was home to "treat" his foot injury with a bit of evening soaking.  We've heard that a little churning in the water improves, but short of dropping a lobster in there, we don't have many options, so for tonight, a simple soak will have to do.  Here's hoping he's feeling better tomorrow.

Day 2-Father's Day in Kennebunkport

A nice leisurely morning - breakfast at home.  Ken started working on his computer "tickets" - he's helping Rich and Katharine with software for 2 computers.  Meanwhile the rest of us took a nice walk on the beach.  Yvonne even adventurously climbed on the rocks to get a better harbor view.

And put her feet in the fairly frigid waters of Maine:

Then it was off to:

for a bit of shopping, clam-eating and Bush-peeping.  First the clam-eating - we went to Kennebunkport's "Clam Shack" - world famous for the excellent fresh full-belly clams.  We ate them while watching some crazy kids trying to catch stripers in the River with french-fries (pretty successfully).  Then shopping....Yvonne's first purchase - a Kennebunkport t-shirt.  Other artistic and interesting browsing, and then it was the first ice-cream of the day.  Some Maine-made Gifford brand.  We did our digestion while gazing at Walker Point, the Bush Family compound in Kennebunkport.  While it looked like someone may be in residence, we didn't have any brushes with the Bushes.

We walked off the ice cream at St. Ann's church, an Episcopal church on the water's edge, right down the road from Walker Point.


Rich then did some kite flying on the beach, but with rain threatening, we returned to the Fischer-Woodring compound and served up a nice Father's Day Happy Hour on the deck overlooking the ocean.We capped off our full day with dinner at Lord's Seafood.  It looks like he was surprised by the lobster in his macaroni and cheese.  It was a nice meal, and nice for us all to be together.  Happy Father's Day!

Day 1-Woodrings and Fischer unite

The Fischers arrived in Ogunquit at around 6 a.m. - after an all-night drive from Schenectady.  We were supposed to have a passenger in tow...but Audrey Fischer seemed to think a week at Ellis Hospital would be more fun than a Maine vacation?  We can't wait to read her blog!  We were sorry to leave her behind, but lobster was waiting.  So, it was an all-night drive to our destination.

We arrived early (3:15 a.m.), and took a little rest-stop nap.  We weren't the only ones - it was almost like a little campground.  But though roomy the Honda Pilot has no "heavenly bed" so we were awake early, and eager for breakfast.

We waited patiently for the 7 am opening of Cafe Amore so Rich could have his ceremonial first lobster meal -  Lobster Benedict.  (Kat was waiting ....not so patiently....for some non-ceremonial coffee to help recuperate from the long drive)  It was as delicious as ever...well worth waiting for.  Then, it was off to the beach.  We snagged one of the free Wells Beach parking spaces, and sat down to enjoy one of the warmest beach days in Maine we've ever had.  After reading, relaxing and wading, we quit the beach to go stock up for happy hours to come, and while shopping, got news of the arrival of the Woodrings.

The Woodrings didn't pull an all-nighter, and arrived in a much greater state of alertness after their trip in from Hartford, Connecticut.  It was a combined family lunch at Billy's Chowder House.  This is Rich's traditional first meal in Maine - lobster stew.  Everyone had some, with Yvonne also getting her first taste of a lobster roll.

Post lunch, we were able to check in to our condo.  It's a nice new-build house with views of both the oceans and the marsh.  The sea breeze keeps everything cool - it should be a pleasant week.  After some relaxation we had a nice happy hour - fresh cherries, strawberries and a bit of white wine.   We then headed out to dinner - which turned out to be a great deal, since we also got free tickets for a theatre show later in the week.

By this time, Rich and Katharine were pretty tired, so it was home and straight to bed.  (The author is not sure what trouble the Woodrings got up to after that.....you know what rascals they can be.....)

Tomorrow is another seafood filled day in Maine.