Day 9 & 10: Rain, Rain Go Away & Reaching Kennedy Country

Travel Tip #7: Audiobooks from your library are a good way to keep the family engaged on a road trip.  Really!

VM:  Yesterday was virtually another washout in Maine.  The overnight weather from Friday to Saturday was like the mini-hurricanes we get in Florida -- windy, rainy and as an added bonus -- COLD!  Luckily, there was no major damage besides broken tree limbs in our neighborhood and broken plans. No Bar Harbor for the McCartys. :-(

Bacon was a motivator to get everyone out of bed Saturday morning even in the rain.  For those of you who know us well, you know that we do our fair share of bacon eating. While in Maine, we had been having continental breakfast at our cottage and by yesterday, the girls were ready for bacon.  We went to a local eatery in Rockland called Home Kitchen Cafe.  Quite close to where we were staying, it is highly recommended by all of us if you're ever in the area.  Delicious fare.

Different lights help differentiate lighthouses.  

Who knew!?!

After breakfast, the family humored me some more by agreeing to visit the Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.  I don't know why, but I have quite the fascination with lighthouses.  My interesting trivia tip of the day -- no two lighthouses are alike. Differing characteristics of each help inform mariners of their location so they can navigate around peril. Differentiating characteristics include: paint color, color of the light, frequency of the light, etc.  Now, of course, this is fully logical, but I had really never put any thought into it.  Explains why the Maine coast is full of picturesque yet DIFFERENT lighthouses up and down the coast.

HM finds a new boyfriend at the Lighthouse Museum.

With cruddy weather persisting, we had another board game afternoon. And, yep, I won at Monopoly again.  HM is plotting another match-up soon.  Don't know where she gets all that competitiveness…

There was finally a break in the weather in the late afternoon, so our host recommended a quick visit to Rockport (not to be confused with RockLAND) which was just a five minute drive away.  It is yet another beautiful picture-perfect Maine harbor (yep, I love these too!) and is home to a monument dedicated to Andre the Seal.  

EM had a big surprise when she saw Andre.

Andre was a harbor seal who was abandoned by his mother and hand raised by a Rockport local.  As he grew older, Andre would spend his winters at the New England Aquarium in Boston or the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.  Every year, they'd release him, and he would go summer in Rockport Harbor (smart seal!), traveling 150 miles one-way to reach the harbor.  He did this for more than 20 years and was the honorary harbor master.  Before he died at age 26, they erected a marble statue in his honor which he apparently unveiled himself.

Andre was a well-traveled seal.

Of course, I love the story.

Rockport Harbor is picture perfect.

Imagine waking up to this view every day!?!

We ended our evening dining at Cappy's, a locals' favorite, which overlooks the Camden harbor.  It was yummy. 

Today we sadly said good-bye to our Maine cottage and to JM.  We had to head out early to drop him at the Portland airport as he had to fly home today for a work trip tomorrow.  We were all very sad to see him go.  

Beautiful Portland Head Light. Photo creds: EM

After dropping him, the girls and I headed to one of Maine's most photographed lighthouses at Fort Williams Park -- the Portland Head Light.  It truly is beautiful and our early visit was perfect as the BUSLOAD of tourists were rolling in as we departed.

Maine's lighthouses save mariners from crashing into the state's rocky coast.

This lighthouse was TALL.

Great Cape Porpoise eatery.

We made our way south as the girls really wanted to visit Kennebunkport again.  We visited a few years back and I think they have fond memories of the trip (as did I).  We first stopped in Cape Porpoise, which is a little more off-the-beaten-path than Kennebunkport, for a great lunch in a local joint -- The Ramp. It is a tiny spot which is a more casual version of its fancier sister, Pier 77.  Again, early bird always pays off, we got there before the noon rush.

Another Maine lighthouse at Cape Porpoise! See it?

 It's in the middle!

Girls braving the harbor "muck." 

EM having a GREAT time with her sister.

Lobster traps awaiting Monday morning.

Cape Porpoise is a working harbor so it was fun to see the lobster boats anchored on this beautiful day.

If you're ever in Kennebunkport, don't miss this shop!

Kennebunkport was loaded with tourists so we made our visit short but purposeful.  We visited a terrific pottery story, The Good Earth, which we had enjoyed on our last visit.  All the items in the store are designed and handmade by a husband and wife team.  No web site. No shipping. If you want a treasure, you're either schlepping it back to your home or finding your own means of shipping it back.  Something in this basic simplicity appeals to me.  And their product is worthy of it.  The last time we were here, I bought a basic whipping bowl to make eggs, dressings, marinades, etc.  I use it almost daily.  Best type of souvenir.

After a quick ice cream break (yep, Ben & Jerry's Milk & Cookies!), we headed down I-95 with every other Bostoner making their way back to their state.  It was definitely some slow going until we hit south of Boston to reach Cape Cod.  

HM did a fine job navigating after being threatened with losing her mobile phone again which she had just gained back.  We listened to our fourth audiobook during our journey, a fun little story selected by EM.  I'm a big believer in audio books as to me, they make a car journey go much faster, and we have fun laughing and talking about the stories. Yep, nerd alert, but it works!

We arrived early evening at our home away from home for the next few nights, the Simmons Homestead Inn in Hyannis.  It is definitely eclectic with an eclectic owner.  Not for everyone but really up our alley as the gentlemen who owns it, Bill, is an interesting soul and a major cat-lover (told you it wasn't for everyone!) And yes, I've heard of cat ladies, but I will say this the first cat-crazy man I've ever met.  He is also car-crazy with an incredible automobile collection which we have yet to check out. He's also a general collector of THINGS.  Interesting fellow to say the least.

Bill prides himself on providing great recommendations in the area.  He started us off with dinner at a local Hyannis Harbor favorite -- Baxter's.  It was super casual, good and perfect for what we needed.  

We'll see where Bill sends us tomorrow as we explore the Cape…

EM:  I thought Andre the seal was a person -- a Navy seal -- but I was wrong.  I thought that my mom was saying that they let a Navy seal go in the summer to practice his swimming.  I was surprised it was an animal. 

Today's lighthouse was really cool and big. I miss Mr. Grumpy [VM note: EM's nickname for her dad].

HM:  My favorite part about yesterday was EM's quote, "Wait, it's an animal?!" [VM note: Exactly what EM said when she saw the Andre statue and realized it was a mammal not a human].

Today, I loved going back to The Good Earth.  I got this amazing hi-tide/lo-tide clock that will go great in my room.  

And VM thinks my picture-taking skill of the 2014 Cape Cod sign is impeccable. [VM note: this a complete fallacy.  HM was too busy taking selfies to capture the sign].

The result when you're too busy taking selfies.  Photo creds: HM