The second two weeks were as fun as the first.
The kids still had camp in the morning. I was officially on vacation from work and my mornings were spent doing yard work. I allocated about 1 hour per day for weeding, trimming, and pruning. It was equal measures rewarding and exhausting.
A quick before:
Maine Yard Work – Before 1 
Maine Yard Work – Before 2
… and after:
Maine Yard Work – After 1 
Maine Yard Work – After 2
Portland is a favorite day trip. This year was, for me, particularly excellent. I got to reconnect with my friend John Keeley who relocated to Portland a year-or-so ago.
Of course, for the kids, Portland is all about the donuts – The Holy Donut, in particular!
We also love visiting Boothbay Harbor. The kids love the shops – and for the first time in a decade, they could not all simultaneously fit in the dog-house in front of Two Salty Dogs!
A birthday ritual originating from Jocelyn’s childhood: a make-your-own ice-cream-sundae at Downeast Ice Cream. Almost every year we are in Maine for Charlotte’s birthday! Here’s the birthday girl!
And the birthday girl with her sundae!
My favorite haunt in Boothbay – Enchantments. This place is awesome. Fantasy, arcana, off-beat, and the occult have fascinated me since I was a kid. I could spend hours in this place (and do whenever the kids let me!).
This year we also went up to Bangor. A beautiful town, and, as all readers of fine literature know, the home of the King of Horror.
The gallery below capture other fun adventures. And I’m saddened our annual Maine pilgrimage may be coming to an end. Jocelyn’s grandmother has, understandably, decided to sell the house.
Jocelyn is quite upset. She’s gone to Maine every summer since she was Charlotte’s age. While Maine has become a part of my history – it is a part of her DNA.
I am happy all three of our kids will have fond memories of Maine adventures for the rest of their lives. And while I’m sad that we may not be visiting again soon, new opportunities arise.
When I was growing up, my family spent entire summers camping our way across the US, Canada, and Mexico. By the time I got to college I had been to over 40 states. Jocelyn and I have always talked about doing the same with our kids, but limited vacation time doesn’t support both a two-week stay in Maine and a cross-country trip. As the Maine chapter closes, the door to other adventure opens.
