Rockport Maine, named for the quarries that once supplied lime for kilns that manufactured the lime used in the White House, and in all the tall buildings in the major cities on the eastern seaboard is now home to one of the most famous wooden boat building and restoring shipyards, Rockport Marine (http://www.rockportmarine.com/). Wooden boats come from around the world to be rebuilt here in Rockport Maine.

The Rockport Opera house hosts world class concerts, and is right near a newly restored building that has a great new restaurant overlooking the harbor – Shepherd’s Pie from the creative culinary talent of Camden’s Francine’s Bistro, Brian Hill. No website up yet, but check back because we will certainly lead you to it!

The schooner yacht Heron gives wonderful sunset cruises with hors d’oeurves, BYO beer/wine, out of Rockport harbor,  after your cruise you can enjoy a fantastic dinner at  Shepherd’s Pie (reservations highly recommended).

Rockport village is also home to the Center for Maine Contemporary Art: CMCA. The CMCA hosts very prominent Maine artists and has a famous craft show in the summer. http://www.artsmaine.org/

Schooner yacht Heron  http://www.woodenboatco.com/ :  Bonnie and her wonderful family host a unique sailing trip in Maine. The Heron Schooner trips are a little longer then the Camden Harbor Schooner boat trips. The Heron hosts a wonderful Island Sail with Lunch, Indian Island Light/Eco Tours and a Gourmet Sunset Sail. This is the only day sailer that you can eat a meal on. It is a very relaxing and scenic harbor. The Schooner Heron was used in Johnny Depp’s film “The Rum Diary”.
Itinerary:

Go to CMCA for the art experience,

Go out on a sail on the Schooner Heron,

Dinner at Shepherd’s Pie (link coming!)

Bay Chamber Concert’s Performance Du Jour http://www.baychamberconcerts.org/summermusic.php

Home to the Windward House B&B in Camden for a great night’s sleep!http://rezstream.net/booking_guest/wfStep1_OptionA.aspx?acct=6150&prop=8213

The Telephone Number for the wonderful new Shepherd’s Pie Restaurant in Rockport Maine is 207-236-8500!

The restaurant invites bar patrons with a Bar Snack menu items that include Spicy smoked peanuts, Curried pickled eggs, Seasonal Pickles, Chicken Liver Toast, Grilled bread and homemade butter…. simple, classic but done to perfection.

Plates included when we dined there fresh oysters, wood roast oysters a’la escargot, crispy chicken wings, local cheese (“two good local cheeses”) g rilled bread and accoutrement, fried clam tacos, chicken nooodle soup, rock crab ceviche, lest we forget -, shepherd’s pie…The grill selections included organic cheesburger, tomato confit, eleanor buttercup, purple mustard (if you creeave a good cheesburger, but are tired of asking  “is it grass fed? is if factory stuff?) The cheesburger was great.

Grilled halibut, pepper and cider barbequed chicken. Kristi and my father had the barbequed ribs, which were really delicious. The sauce was subtle, and they were cooked to perfection. Other itesm included skirt steak and pork belly sandwich.

The Sides include, of course, fries, but their organic. I had the steamed beet greens with goat cheese. They also have shoe string onions buttermilk potatoes, and the classic mac and cheese. This is real comfort food – without the omnivores dilemma, just local, organic, and really good!

owls head lighthouse

Active light dating from 1825 marking the south entrance of Rockland Harbor. Accessible by road, spectacular view and photo opportunities. A state park with restrooms and picnic facilities on site. The keeper’s house is still used as quarters by the Coast Guard. Take ME Rt 73 south from Rockland. About 2 miles south of Rockland, turn left on North Shore Drive. go about 2.5 miles to the Owls Head Post office. Turn left onto Main Street and left again after .1 miles onto Lighthouse Road. Follow this road about .6 miles to the end (dirt road) where there is a parking lot.

INNKEEPERS  MIDCOAST MAINE TIP: While at the Owls Head Light House, stop in at the Owls Head General Store, 2 South Shore Drive. This store makes great hamburgers. You can also buy some souvenirs in the store. The hamburger is known as the 7 napkin burger. The store starts serving burgers at 10:30AM!!!!

Bride dancing

So onward toward my goal of getting to Curtis Island….

The other day I got a phone call around 9:30pm. My friend called and said she had a hankering to swim out to Curtis Island and wanted to know if I wanted to join her. She swims out there a couple times a year and thinks it is a pretty easy swim. I swam competitively in college. In fact my specialty was the mile race. I was not a fast swimmer but I had endurance. I was a lifeguard throughout college also, so I figured the 3/4 mile swim with a seasoned swimmer was probably going to be my only chance to get out to Curtis Island so I jumped at the chance. The next day we met at Laite Beach for the swim. I insisted that we have a paddle boat, just in case.  I had my goggles, my speedo swim suite and was ready to go. I did not care that the water was approximately 60 degrees, that my feet and arms were freezing, I was going to swim to Curtis island and enjoy it. Well, I made it half way. I had a hard time breathing, I don’t know if it was me being out of practice, out of shape or if the cold water was crushing my lungs. I told the paddle boat that I would swim back by myself and that they should go on with my friend, whom was doing a great job. The person in the boat insisted that I get in and take the ride out to Curtis Island. I was disappointed that I was not going to make the full swim, but filled with joy that I was finally getting to Curtis Island. We paddled over there, while my friend swam. We docked the boat and I set foot on the lovely Island. There is a sign- in book on the island to show that you were there. I signed it saying, “early birthday present to me!”. I walked around the nature trail and stopped to look at the lighthouse. The light house keepers were sitting on the porch enjoying there little piece of heaven. I said hello and then continued back to the beach were the boat was docked. My friend got back in the water and swam and I took a ride in the paddle boat. There was no picnic but what a great experience.

The song “Small Island”, by Gordon Bok was playing while I wrote this post. A song about people on the small island not liking new comers on the island, “go back where you come from”. I thought it was ironic that this was playing on my itunes while I wrote about my journey and longing to go out to this small island .

COLORS OF CAMDEN MAINE
Maritime Fall Foliage & Event Calendar make Camden Maine a unique New England Fall Vacation.

The fantastic spectacle that is the maritime fall foliage, the lush mountains and calm ocean set Maine fall foliage apart from other New England foliage experiences. Camden Maine Innkeeper, Kristen Bifulco, stated “guests call us in January and ask when the leaves are going to change, visitors look forward to Camden’s Fall foliage all year round.”
The Colors of Camden, like an antique New England quilt formed by the meeting of Camden Harbor, Beauchamp Point, Penobscot Bay and the Camden Hills whether viewed from the air, aboard a scenic helicopter tour, the peak of Mt. Battie, Maiden’s cliff, aboard a Historic Schooner, or the lawn of the Camden Public Library, are breathtaking. Each aspect of land, mountain, sea and sky form a unique patch in this harmonious whole of the natural beauty of Autumn: deep ocean blue and light sky blue mingle with wispy white clouds, and the deep reds of sugar Maples veined with the vibrant gold and yellow of beeches, birches, elms, and green and black ash, and the rust and amber of oaks. The backdrop of Windjammer sails and American Bald Eagles in addition to leaves and trees, make Camden Maine a unique Fall experience.

In addition to the inherently economical fun of leaf peeping, Camden has lots of local events that are worth taking that scenic Rt1 trip up the coast to enjoy. Fall events are for the sophisticated movie buffs, boat lovers, cutting edge leaders and wine aficionados.
For those that want to see Camden fall foliage from the sky, Spirit Soaring Glider Rides http://www.spiritsoaring.org/   is a great choice.
To see the foliage from the sea: Schooner Olad, Schooner Surprise and Schooner Heron offer great harbor views.

Camden Maine Lodging Fall Packages:
Camden Windward House Fall Foliage Pancake Pan-tacular:
Come to Camden Windward House in October for the Fall Foliage Pancake Pan-tacular. Commencing October 17 until October 29th, The Fall Foliage Pancake Pan-tacular includes a gourmet menu breakfast featuring several of your favorite pancake recipes and afternoon tea will feature a sampling of local apples. For breakfast try the locally picked apple pancakes with saut~ed apples on top or the pumpkin pancakes with warm Maine Maple syrup. In the afternoon sample local apples and decide if you like the Macintosh or the Cortland’s. The Innkeepers will also provide maps of some of their favorite fall foliage walking and driving tours through the Camden area. The dates of this package might change if leaves change earlier in the season.
Offer start at $130.00 based on double occupancy. Tax is additional
Camden Windward House Lovely Leaves and Lodging:
See Camden Fall Foliage from the sea or air, stay 3 nights at Camden Windward House and receive a 10% discount on your sailings, or glider ride. Ask your innkeeper for more details.
Camden Calendar of Events:
Camden Windjammer Festival: Sept 3,4,&5 2010
The Camden Windjammer Festival is a community-led celebration of Camden’s maritime heritage and living traditions.
Camden International Film Festival
Sept 30 , 2010 to October 3, 2010
The 6th Annual Camden International Film Festival will take place from September 30th – October 3rd 2010, screening the best international documentary film to audiences in venues throughout Midcoast Maine. Fun exciting event that attracts hip young folk from the north coast to see innovative new films. Come and meet film makers, film producers, film enthusiasts.
Vin Fest
October 1 &2, 2010
Cellardoor Winery’s 4th Annual Vin Fest.  Come fall, it is grape stomping time. This magical weekend begins Friday night with a 4 course dinner-dance under the stars in the vineyard. Each course will be paired with Cellardoor wines, and the evening’s menu will be prepared by local star chefs Lawrence Klang (Natalie’s Camden Harbour Inn), Chris Bassett (Azure Cafe), and Michael Salmon (Hartstone Inn). Dinner will be followed by desserts and dancing, with dance music provided by the Chris Humphrey Big Band.

Tickets to Fridays dinner-dance will also gain you access to the Saturday, October 2 Vinfest festivities Advanced ticket purchase required, call 207-763-4478. Tickets are $100 and are now available for purchase on www.brownpapertickets.com
Pop Tech
October 20 – 23rd 2010
Pop Tech is a 4 day seminar about the effects of technology on People. It is an exciting seminar bringing amazing minds to Camden Maine. If you are not coming for the seminar, be sure you have a reservation for your room and your restaurant before you get here. Rooms are hard to come by during this week in October. 2010 theme: Brilliant Accidents, Necessary Failures, and Improbable Breakthroughs. For more information on Pop Tech go to: http://www.poptech.org/

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Camden Windward House is a Bed and Breakfast in the historic district of Camden Maine, one block from the downtown and harbor, walking distance to all Camden activities. The Camden Windward House Bed and breakfast website is dedicated to posting area events and activities, as well as selling comfortable lodging in Camden Maine. The Camden Windward House web site, www.windwardhouse.com, is a great resource for travelers coming to the Mid Coast of Maine.

This is my post from last year 2009: I will write about the wonderful Camden Yacht Club dingy parade and add some pictures, but first i want to share some fourth of July history that I learned this evening. I was googling about Elijah Glover, the ship builder that built this Inn and I found out that he was not only a ship builder but a sea captain. More interesting than that, there is documentation that there was a family wedding here on the 4th of July 1854, the same year he finished building the house. I find great joy in this news, because it further proves to me that this house was always great for hosting groups of people and sharing wonderful moments.

The children dressed in red, white and blue and set out on their dingys, turn abouts and optys. They waved their flags, blew their wistles and yelled happy 4th of July. All of this took place in Camden Harbour. The rain stopped for their wonderul parade. It probally is the cutest thing you can witness.

Aldermere Farm Visitor’s Center Open for Season; Farm Tours Offered Fridays

Summer is here, and the black-and-white Belted Galloways are grazing the pastures at Aldermere Farm in Rockport.  For those passersby who would like to learn about the Farm, the Aldermere visitor’s center at 20 Russell Avenue will be open during the summer months.

The visitor’s center is staffed by knowledgeable and friendly volunteers who can answer questions about the Farm, and orient visitors to its trails and cattle viewing sites.  There are also “Beltie” retail items for sale.  Sales of these items support Aldermere Farm and its mission to protect a working landscape in Rockport and conduct farm-based educational programming.

Because it is volunteer-staffed, open hours may vary at the visitor’s center.  Currently, it is open Mondays from 2-4, Tuesdays from 2-4 starting July 12^th, Wednesdays from 10-4, Thursdays from 10-5, Fridays from 10-2, and Saturdays from 10-2.  If you are traveling a long distance, please call the Aldermere office at 236-2739 to confirm the center will be open.

For those that would like an even more in-depth experience at Aldermere Farm, there will be guided farm tours happening every Friday starting at 10 AM.  These tours will meet at the visitor’s center.

Aldermere Farm is a program of Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a statewide land trust.

I made dinner reservation for this lovely couple at Atlantica Seafood Bistro and Francines.