A Little Bit

Maine

Day 1

• Flight to Boston - beautiful views of coast
• Searched for "Soup Man" - missing, ate at food mall in hospital complex

• Drive to Port Clyde - 4 hours
• Found house - very nice, newly renovated, roomy

• Walked to General Store - sandwich fixings, first views of harbor

Day 2

• Walked to pier for photos - beautiful
• Drove to Owl's Head lighthouse state park
• Trip to Rockland lighthouse - long scary 1 mile walk, climbed with Nolen - awesome
• Lunch at Amalfi's on the Water - crab cake BLT
• Dinner at Dip Net - lobster mac & cheese, Nolen not a fan of Lobster Rolls
• Photos of sunset from pier

Day 3

• 3 hour drive to Kittery outlets
• Nubble Lighthouse
• Lighthouse Depot in Wells
• LL Bean stores in Freeport

Day 4

• Marshall Lighthouse - foggy
• Drift In beach
• Trip to Bangor - Hollywood Casino
• Drove though Augusta - No moose, beautiful fall colors
• Walked to pier for sunset
• Shopped General Store gift shop

Day 5

• Sunrise Marshall Lighthhouse and Drift In beach
• Trip to Pemaquin Lighthouse - beautiful and rocky
• Fort William Henry
• Drove to Boothbay - Hendricks Head Lighthouse
• Shopping at Freeport
• Dinner at Moody's Dinner in Waldoboro - Corn chowder and pork chops with sauerkraut

Day 6

• Trip to Boothbay
• Whale watch 3 hour tour - no whales
• Dinner at Fisherman's Wharf - beautiful bay views
• Packed to leave Port Clyde house

Day 7

• Left Port Clyde and Maine behind
• University of MA at Lowell - Nolen got student ID
• Trip to Deerfield, MA - Yankee Candle store
• Arrived Braintree, MA - Lego store, stayed at Holiday Inn Express

  

Day 8

• Boston - returned rental car
• 1417 photos later flight home through Memphis

 

The Bridge to Nowhere

Two or three weeks ago I read an article in a British photography magazine that said most people wait until they go on vacation to take photographs.  Because of this they don't take enough photos to improve their skills. That you should take lots of photos and realize that there are lots of interesting things in your hometown, backyard, etc. worthy of capturing. This made an impression and I've spent the last 4 weekends getting up early and find things to photograph.  I've taken around 1,500 photos this month and I think I am improving all because of this article.  But the moral of this story is in this photo.
This bridge is on Boone Road in our town of Bryant.  Many years ago the bridge was set to the side off the road and a new bridge was built.  Progress you know.  We've lived here since 1978 and that's where the "bridge to nowhere" has always been; tossed away on the side of the road.  After reading the article I started thinking about the town where we've raised our family, so camera in hand I headed out and about to photography a few of my favorite things.  Things that I would forever miss should they disappear and this bridge was one.  It was a beautiful summer morning, with a slight breeze in the air, bumble bees collecting pollen, the grass, weeds and vines were a brilliant green and the wild flowers blooming!  I took photos from every angle hoping that I would get at least one that would show it in all it's glory.  You tell me, but I think I captured it.

I drove by the bridge tonight and saw some cones blocking the "pull off" by the bridge and knew it couldn't be good.  For 31 years there has been no change, no cones, nothing blocking it before and my heart sunk.  The bridge was moved several feet probably waiting for the scrap metal heap, a road has been graded and all the flowers and grass are gone. A sign of progress that leaves a hole in my soul.  No one may miss this landmark but me, but how glad I am that I read that article and saved a memory of "the bridge to nowhere" in the nick of time.

The moral of my story...don't wait!  Grab your camera and photograph what you love today for tomorrow it may be gone.  Preserve that little memory that may bring a smile to your face or warm your heart in the winter of your life.

Summer continues...

The Past Meets Present

Summertime