At the beginning of August, a friend invited us to an old-time coastal camp his family was renting near Phippsburg, Maine. We hadn’t been to the state in 15 years and I jumped at the chance, especially after spending so much time with my book characters, Coral, Ty, Salm and Luna, in their seaside adventures!
The camp was everything I wanted in a coastal trip: scenic, rustic, peaceful. The buildings were originally constructed for a Quaker work camp for youth to assist local communities. It’s now owned by two cousins, off the beaten path and fairly primitive. The buildings offered a full kitchen, dining hall, gathering rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, cabins and a bunkhouse, but other amenities were spare: Solar power provides limited electricity. Water is pumped into a cistern for flush toilets and hot showers. Gas is used for the stove and water heaters. Limited phone coverage, no internet.
Does this sound familiar? It might if you’ve read my novels. My dear husband and I were right at home. My kids, not so much.
We had the use of a bunk house, but–mosquitos!–I chose to camp in our tent. At night, we heard the tides change, the clang of the channel buoys and the fishing boats trawling past at dawn.
Before breakfast, I loved taking in the mist, the bumblebees in the ‘grass’–natural plantain, clover and golden alexander–and all over the Beach Rose bushes. I could devote an entire post to the bumblebees rolling in the rose pollen!
We poked around in the tide pools below the retaining wall, but I feared killing off too many critters hiding under the seaweed.
We hiked to Morse Mountain and Sewall Beach, the longest sand beach…in the area? In Maine? I never got that straight. The humidity kept the mist trapped in over the fine sand that sparkled with particles of mica.
Lift your foot and the suction pulled up critters that went scurrying. I’ve learned they might be sand fleas, which I’m trying to get a more scientific name for. I’ve posted the movie clip on my Facebook page.
A trip into Boothbay Harbor netted us shops and ice cream and our evening’s lobsters. The highlight was visiting the Maine State Aquarium. The building was small, but bursting with local marine species in displays and touch tanks.
We attended a very through talk on lobstering and after a bit more research on lobstering in the British Isles, I’ve decided to include lobster conservation in my upcoming Keepers of the Sea Cliffs novel.
We went out sailing with our friend, but we’re pretty much beginners so I feared taking my camera or phone, and no one got a photo. To our relief, we did not capsize and even saw seals.
The outdoor activities, changing weather and views, day and evening were beautiful. All in all, I’d love to return!
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