Summer's End

I have one hour and 56 minutes before the "unofficial" end of summer -- I better get these snaps from our Maine sojourn posted before the statute of limitations on summer sharing runs out!

My dear friend, The Runner, invited we Weekses to join her family on the Main coast, in a wonderful, quaint, slow-paced spot just outside Portland. Her family has been spending the summer in this particular little beach village for decades, and after our visit I understand why they keep going back, year after year after year.

All these vistas were mere steps from the beach house stairs down to the beach - quintessential, idyllic Maine.

It was this CA girl's first trip to the ME coast -- I knew they had beaches (and blueberries and lobster), but other people's pictures just didn't do the place justice.

Rocky shorelines, expansive beaches, slow-pace, and totally lacking affectation -- I felt right at home. Not even the chilly Atlantic waves cooled my crush -- heck, California's Pacific ain't no hot tub.

And it was beach nirvana for the Baron of Boredom, Master of Mayhem and their two best pals!

There was plenty of space to run & play, gentle waves to frolic in, open skies & steady breezes for hours of kite flying fun, shells to collect and tidal streams & pools full of  critter hunting.

Heck, the beach even had the remains of a real 19th century shipwreck just waiting to be explored!

 

There was, of course, dinner at the perfect lobster shack...

with an adjacent rock climbing gym only Mother Nature could build.

And a supremely photogenic lighthouse.

 Some goofed off...

while others took a semi-deserved moment to loaf.

Ah Maine, how I enjoyed our brief encounter!

I'll be looking forward to exploring more of your treasures & pleasures next summer.

Did you have a personal Christopher Columbus moment this summer? Where or what did you discover?

Phew! Barely got this one done before the end-of-summer alarm went off!