Do you enjoy dressing for winter year round and eating fresh seafood? Then hit up Maine
Last month, I traveled to Portland, Maine, to visit my brother, Bill.
If you have never been to Maine, I’d recommend a trip there, especially this time of year to see autumn’s crisp colors of orange, gold, green and brown.
My favorite autumn view at home is a car drive along the Great River Road near Alton. The Mississippi River on one side. The gold, green and brown bluffs on the other of the highway.
Maine in October?
Great River Road?
Home and away.
Tied for first.
Maine is your kind of place if you enjoy eating fresh seafood, including chowders so chunky that you can eat with your fingers. And try the homemade Whoopie pies, too. They’re like a Hostess Suzy Q, but better, with more thick, rich whipped cream in the middle.
Ever wondered who wears those clothes in the Land’s End or LL Bean catalogs?
Visit Maine. You dress in layers. Wear shoes that you’d don’t mind getting wet. Flannel and corduroy year around. Sweatshirts and shorts during the day. Better bring a jacket at night, especially for the ferry ride.
Automatically, you feel over-dressed after you shave.
My brother Bill has a home on Peak’s Island, Maine, which is a 15-minute ferry ride from downtown Portland. I could write about the many simple, unique beauties of Peak’s Island. To me, it’s always 1967 there. Simple. Safe. Ice cream shop downtown. Hot dog stand on the corner. Gibson vs. Lonborg in the World Series, in my mind, at least.
It had been almost three years since I had traveled anywhere by plane. I was surprised that airports were unchanged. Same rush and hustle. Nine of every 10 persons totally focused on their phones. Muffled intercom messages no one can hear much less understand.
I was surprised that so few people wore face masks at the airport, or on the plane. I had my mask handy but didn’t wear it. But I wondered the whole time if I should be wearing it.
I had an early Monday morning flight from St. Louis to Washington, D.C, and then on to Maine. Those 6 a.m flights look appealing online weeks ahead of time. You arrive early in the day and maximize your time. But it also means a lost night’s sleep because I’m afraid that I’ll oversleep and miss my flight.
My brother, Bob, who lives near Louisville, joined us in Maine. It had been a long time since Bud and Betty’s three boys from East St. Louis had been together for a few days, minus funerals and weddings. It was long overdue.
We talked about growing up on Terrace Drive in East St. Louis, and moving to the Loisel Hills area. We talked about St. Philip’s Catholic Grade School in East St. Louis. Summer weeks at Camp Ondessonk. Picking peaches at our grandparent’s home in Centreville. Family vacations to Florida and the Lake of the Ozarks. We talked about our parents, grandparents, aunts, children and grandchildren.
I was reminded, as brothers, we are more alike than not.
There are no persons that have known me longer than my brothers.
Looking forward to more travel
During COVID, I could have traveled more. It was my choice. I always found a way to stay grounded. In hindsight, maybe I should have traveled to break up the boredom. Hindsight. It’s always right.
I’m looking forward to more travel now that COVID is behind us, or in front of us, or still with us, or whatever.
I have a trip scheduled next month to visit my daughter and son-in-law in San Diego. I have a 6 a.m flight booked on a Sunday morning. I want to arrive in San Diego early and maximize my vacation time there, of course.