09/17 to 09/24 Searsport Shores Ocean Campground-Part Two

09/17 to 09/24

Searsport Shores Ocean Campground

Searsport, Maine 

The days are getting shorter, the air crispy, the ocean breeze stirs with a chill, the leaves hint they're ready to shed their greenery and accept the ambers, crimsons and gold of Fall, the nights are chilly and my heat pump is working to keep me comfy at 71º. Yes, all the signs are there and as much as we hesitate to accept them, life goes on. The acorns from the tree above continue to remind me with resounding bangs on my roof, they too must drop in hopes of continuing their survival. Yet, there’s a quiet magic to this season—a time of harvest and gathering, of warmth sought in cozy corners and the promise of longer nights. Here on the coast of Maine, it is becoming noticeable. Autumn beckons us to pause, to breathe in the earth’s slow exhale which carries the scent of woodsmoke and fallen leaves.

Thursday evening, the table was set, the sirloin tips were marinated and along with the baked potatoes and corn on the cob picked up at a farm stand, all was ready for John and Barb's arrival. Barbara brought the veggies and a homemade blueberry coffee cake (outstanding) for dessert.  

The grill heated and ready to go. The timing for our BBQ dinner was perfect as the wind died down and the evening was ideal topped off by relaxing by the campfire.

Oh, did I mention gin and tonics before dinner?

With temperatures continuing to hover in the low 60's, Saturday night was Barbara's turn to provide another delicious dinner. And, most disappointing for me, not enough photos (of food) for my future reminisces.

John and Barb's cozy cottage overlooking Islesboro Island and Penobscop Bay

This photo taken prior to this year's January storms is across the road with stairs for John and Barb to access the rocky beach.

Devastating as it was, the storms were a benefit of sorts for their now unimpeded view.

Neighbors Barry and Ginny joined us for dinner.

Her delicious salad featured watermelon radishes followed by eggplant parmesan, pesto linguine, sausage and toasted garlic artisan sourdough bread. Enjoy the tasters notes on the wonderful wines enjoyed as well.

From Oregon's Willamette Valley this Pinot Noir has aromas of dark dried cherries, pink peppercorn, and saddle leather on the nose. On the palate, layers of composed tannins and savory characters of cherrywood, ground sage and dried shiitake mushrooms reveal themselves, leading to an acidic finish that lingers with soft and silky tannins. (Are you kidding me?)

This Pinot Noir is a quintessential expression of Santa Barbara County’s cool-climate vines, with its elegant, light-bodied style. Delicate aromas hint at the bright red cherry and strawberry flavors on the palate.

 

Sunday evening we traveled south to Lincolnville, ME, voted among the top 20 most picturesque towns in the United States according to Outdoor Magazine. Friend, Joe, joined us for dinner at the Whales Tooth Pub situated on 400' of oceanfront coastline and features a "unique culinary twist of fresh farm and sea ingredients served inside a 1777 classic English pub with a priceless view, and a huge roaring fire during the winter!"

I opted for their "famous" fish and chips which, on the website looks like this.

In reality it looked like this. Delicious. It was lightly battered, not soggy and the haddock was fresh, tender and juicy. The "chips" were a surprisingly satisfying variation of the usual soggy French fries. These were more of a thick curly potato chip also not soggy or oily. Thank you Barb and John.

Long time friend of B&J, Joe (2015)

Back to Northport to the cottage for dessert and a fire. The chilled evening called for such a treat.

This photo also taken from a few years back.

The following passage was created with help from OpenAI's GPT-4. It so aptly describes the many wonderful memories I have of the campfires I've enjoyed over the years. I'm sure a good number of my readers have, in their distant past, enjoyed such pleasures, but in case you've lost the magic, I'm sharing to recapture what has been forgotten; the best fires, of course, have been in the company of others. "Sitting by the crackling campfire on a chilly fall evening, the warmth wraps around like an old, familiar blanket. The air is crisp, carrying the scent of burning wood mixed with the earthy aroma of fallen leaves. Flickering flames cast dancing shadows on the trees, their leaves tinged with the last golden hues of autumn. The soft crackle and occasional pop of the fire are soothing, a gentle reminder of nature’s simple beauty. As the evening deepens, the fire becomes a gathering point for stories, laughter, and quiet reflection, offering warmth not only to the body but also to the soul."

It is fitting that I conclude this blog and this leg of my trip to Maine with these thoughts and vivid imagery. I'll leave on Tuesday for Fishermans Memorial State Park in Narragansett, Rhode Island. First I'll stop by John and Barb's cottage for brunch. With an overnight at Sun Outdoors Wells Beach in Wells, Maine, my week in Rhode Island will be my last week of RVing for the 2024 Summer Season.  And what a momentous season it has been. I hope my blogs have informed and kept you up to date on what's out there in these wonderful and beautiful United States. My last blog will be about my stay in Rhode Island. See you there. Stay warm.

It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." — Ernest Hemingway