by Peggy DePersia, guest blogger
Yes, it’s pretty much all about the boats and their many uses on the water along the coast of Maine. From lobster boats to sail boats large and small, ‘tenders’, schooners, row boats, kayaks, and, now, ‘cause everyone wants to ‘be there’, cruise ships.
And, let’s not forget the many safe harbors that punctuate the coast from south to north; those ports that offer refuge from a storm or anchor for the night.
Rockland, Rockport, Camden, Bar Harbor: up the coast we go with each harbor and corresponding town linking us to another piece of Maine history or another slice of Maine life.
Rockland
Rockland, home of the Farnsworth Museum and that noted trio of artists Maine lays claim to: NC, Andrew, and Jaime Wyeth. Remember Christina from ‘Christina’s World’ by Andrew Wyeth or the dramatic illustrations in Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Kidnapped’ by N.C. Wyeth? Along with Alex Katz and Louise Nevelson, they are proud practitioners of Maine aesthetic sensibilities.
Rockport
Rockport,a small harbor and favorite of regional ‘locals’ (does that actually make sense?) because it remains ever so slightly undiscovered by tourists, a perfect place to moor a boat for a picnic in Marine Park.
Camden Harbor
And then there’s a personal favorite, Camden Harbor, one of the most picturesque in my experience but I may be romanticizing it a bit. But then again, maybe not. It is where I watched a schooner enter the harbor and then, tethered to its ‘tenders’ and under the skillful maneuvers of its captain, execute an ‘about face’, so to speak, and back into its dock; in the words of an old song, “you know it don’t come easy”.
Bar Harbor
Moving right along! ‘Cruise Ships’ in Bar Harbor? Well now!
The shops are stocked and ready for business. Main Street oozes charm as the business owners await the tourists ready to alight the cruise ship moored in Bar Harbor. At the front end of the season, everyone wonders what it will hold; for the shop keepers and restaurateurs, there is an air of gleeful expectancy saddled with honest dependency.
As shop clerks arrange displays, stock shelves and rattle registers, folks like myself buzz around the goods looking for that ‘just right’ souvenir that speaks of place to take home to family or friend. How about some Maine blueberry jam or a squiggly lobster refrigerator magnet to promote a touch of ‘lunch and learn’ for the grandson. It is all part of the fun of traveling to new places and experiencing the novelty that comes with it. But, my oh my, a large cruise ship nestled in the harbor lends another level of seriousness to the ‘marketplace’.
Acadia National Park
In a which came first, the chicken or the egg kind of relationship, there is an embedded puzzle. As I ponder the commercial aspects of a place like Bar Harbor, it is fun to retreat to the wondrous aspects of the place and its natural ‘draw’. One of our stunning national parks, Acadia, has long drawn people from far and wide to enjoy the water, woods, and wonder of Mother Nature on display for all to bear witness. How grand that individuals with ‘vision’ determined to set aside such a natural treasure for anyone in the world, actually, to relish.
From the loop road around the park to the heights of Mt. Cadillac, the highest point in Maine, to Jordan Pond, a lovely lake surrounded by trees and meadows and a perfect spot to relax and enjoy tea (or wine), popovers, and the view to Thunder Hole, hiking trails and points beyond, Acadia and its many attractions is a significant ‘calling card’.
The commerce of Bar Harbor and the natural treasures of Acadia National Park comprise a hand in glove experience that has deep, deep roots.
Peggy is a retired art instructor who loves to explore the connections between art and life, particularly with her camera toting sidekick, her husband. Here she is enjoying the view at Acadia National Park.
