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Remember the little baby woodchuck who loved our house so much he hugged the kitchen porch?
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Well now he’s moved out back to the deck.
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He happily hangs out in the sun and surveys the back lawn.
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And to show his appreciation?
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Another hug.
❤️
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The whole time we were exploring this area we met two other people on the trail.
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Talk about a hidden gem.
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Shame the wild raspberries weren’t quite ready.
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Now that’s my kind of conference room.
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It always surprises me how many beautiful little places there are like this along our coast. I’ve lived in Maine since I was 15 and never knew this existed.
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Another trail lead to a sweet little private beach.
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Hey, it’s Maine. If there’s 3 feet of sand? We call it a beach.
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Ending the hike, we took the final trail back to the parking lot.
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Where there was a wonderful old cemetery. I love exploring those and had just found a headstone from 1837 when I noticed the webs.
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Webs full of squirming worms that could have been the dreaded brown tail moth. No way I was rubbing up against those bad boys again.
Back in the car, there was only one thing left to do to make the day complete. A meal at our favorite Boothbay Harbor restaurant, the Boathouse Bistro.
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It’s not on the water, and the decor might leave a little to be desired but it has the best food around hands down. Spicy Cajun grilled shrimp and veggies on cheesy grits for me.
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And a perfectly cooked filet mignon with herbed truffle butter for the husband.
Life is good.
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Another beautiful summer day in Maine meant another walk along the coast.
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This time we headed to the Boothbay region to a little speck on Barters Island called Porters Preserve.
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23 acres of prime property generously donated to the land trust by the Porter family. It’s a little known, out of the way, peaceful haven of wooded trails and rocky coastline.
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The minute we hit the trail? I knew I should have doused myself in bug spray before entering. The black flies were swarming and before long I was scratching like a flea bitten dog.
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We meandered through a few wooded paths…
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And then found the shore.
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So pretty. So quiet. Give me a good book and a glass of iced tea? I’d be happy all day.
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We walked out onto a pier and a float that clearly belonged to someone …
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As it was stacked with new lobster traps.
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But there wasn’t a soul in sight…. which is just the way I like it.
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To be continued…
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As much as I hated the coastal stroll to end, we neared the end of our cliff walk loop.
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That’s Wells beach, one of the longest sandy stretches in Maine.
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I grabbed a few more photos….
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And gloried in the final few feet.
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If you’re ever up this way, please visit. It really is spectacular.
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The turn towards town.
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One more hotel and you’re there.
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Where you’ll probably have to walk another half a mile to find your car.
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🤣
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It’s amazing how many different things you see when you turn around and head back the same path.
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Beautiful coastline walking south, beautiful coastline walking north. It never gets old.
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Wish I could say the same for my hairdo which was looking a bit worse for wear after battling the constant wind.
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Sparse lone trees.
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Craggy, rock filled shores.
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Oceanfront backyards.
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One desecration of nature, because humans can’t help being destructive.
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The Atlantic Ocean.
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Strategically placed benches.
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The Cliff Walk has it all.
To be continued….
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And we’re walking….
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Along one of the prettiest stretches of Maine coast.
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Many private homes line the Cliff Walk and while they all have stunning views, I can’t say I’d want a constant throng of tourists marching past my back door every day.
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A quick video to give you a feel for the place.
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When you near the end of the 1.25 mile stroll you enter Perkins Cove.
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Once a thriving artists colony…
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It now houses two waterfront restaurants and a large parking lot.
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We took advantage of the former, Jackie’s Too.
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Our table was perfect.
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The basil lemonade? To die for.
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Unfortunately the chowder was sub par. Creamy and clam filled, but completely bland and flavorless.
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Husband had tiny and completely over cooked soggy mussels while I fought my way through a husk filled Caesar salad with dried out grilled chicken. $112 later we vowed never to return… to eat. The bar had a great view and the cocktail was fabulous.
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Fueled up, we turned around and headed back to the Cliff Walk.
To be continued….
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This is the quintessential Maine coastline for scenic photography….
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And selfies.
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It is also one seriously beautiful stroll.
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With lots of access points to the beach below.
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If you’re willing to take the risk.
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Did I mention there were rocks? Over a mile of glorious rock filled shore.
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And a few weirdos up on the trail.
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This is a wild beach rose, they’re everywhere along the Maine coast and the cliff walk is lined with them. It must be wonderful when they’re in full bloom, but we were a tad early and only saw a few here and there.
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I could have easily plopped myself down on one these benches and spent the entire day.
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The mini lighthouse pops up out of nowhere…
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And the rocks?
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They soothe my soul.
👍
To be continued…
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Hidden in the lilac bush, an annual spring visitor.
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The brightly colored Baltimore Oriole.
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I make sure to put out the special feeder containing orange halves and grape jelly when I spot my first flash of orange. Keep them happy and they’ll stay about a month before heading farther north.
😊
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Make sure it’s the Ogunquit Cliff Walk. There’s no better way to leisurely experience the Maine coast and you’ll get some exercise to boot. A definite win win.
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The 1.25 mile walk starts alongside a waterfront hotel with pristine fencing and gardens.
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Turn the corner, and the Atlantic Ocean beckons.
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Maine isn’t known for large resorts, we’re more of a bed and breakfast state, but the Anchorage By the Sea is well named.
You can’t get much closer to the ocean than that.
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Most of Maine’s beaches are rocky, but Wells… the neighboring town… has plenty of sand.
The Cliff Walk is fully paved and easy to traverse…. and did I mention there are rocks?
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When you marry a billy goat like my husband, rocks are never left unexplored.
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I can’t say enough good things about the beauty of this place and it’s hardly a surprise Ogunquit was an artist colony at the turn of the 20th century.
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Nature is a wonderous thing…. but sometimes she struggles to survive.
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Shame we need to be reminded of that…
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There are numerous memorial benches scattered here and there along the path…
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Perfect spots for quiet reflection and contemplation.
To be continued…
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When your husband is newly retired and it’s a beautiful spring day? You take a drive along the Maine coast just because you can.
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Cape Porpoise is a small village in the town of Kennebunkport on the southern coast.
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It’s quintessentially Maine and therefore ruggedly beautiful.
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No words necessary, just enjoy the ride.
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Is it any wonder we live in this state?
❤️
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River's world..... 