Back To Quilting – In Maine

Travel Day: Poor Kevin was soaked! The humidity was so thick and everything was dripping. This made getting hooked up and ready to go to another campground very wet. As soon as we got in the truck, he reached back and got the blanket and handed it to me saying, “You are going to need this” because he was going to have the A/C on full blast cold. 🤪

The drive from our campground in Rochester, Massachusetts to the next one in Wells, Maine, was very nice and was only 138 miles. All Apple devices & our Garmin RV 1090 directed us around Boston, as there are some too-low bridges and tunnels otherwise. 

We didn’t know that New Hampshire has a small part of the coast between Massachusetts and Maine! As we got into that state we saw several interesting signs. One is that it is a state law for seatbelts…for those under 18! I was curious and looked it up. Google says New Hampshire is the only state that doesn’t require adults to wear seatbelts. The other sign said the lottery and liquor stores are open on Sunday. HA I think it is only about 15 minutes and then we were in Maine. 

This is a first time for both of us to be in Maine. The area we were in had a few hills and trees everywhere. Moody Beach Campground is 5 miles from the beach. As we drove through Ogunquit the 2 lane road was more stop than go with all the vehicles and people using crosswalks.

Beach Houses Close To Narrow Road, Wells, ME 07/24

In the late afternoon we took off for a drive around. We went to the coast and went north. Like other places, there is the ocean, a row of houses, a narrow street, a row of houses, and then marsh/river. Here the road is narrow with the houses really close to the road. 

Kennebunkport, ME 07/24

We didn’t see a lot of sandy beaches around here. The ocean beautifully sprays along rocks. The rocks are big and thick along the edge and we wouldn’t want to walk on them. We see no one on them. We turned around and headed south for a ways. The roads south of Ogunquit don’t go along the beach, they just wander around through thick woods.

Quilt Blocks Laid Out On Table, Wells, ME 07/24

I started sewing again. It felt wonderful! I don’t think I have quilted since before Virginia, at least! We had so many things to see and do, plus planning, and keeping up with photos and journals and more.  Here are a few of the blocks I had made so far. The design is called “flying geese” and it will be fun to see the blocks put together once I get them (about 20) made. 

Ocean On Both Sides of Those Houses, Kennebunkport, ME 07/24

Kennebunkport has a town center where there are tons of shopping, bars, and a few restaurants. The traffic literally sits still. 5 roads converging, no stop light, no one can move because they need the car in front of them to move. It is the craziest thing! Reminds me of pictures I have seen of London. Well, just take you time and you get through, eventually. We always say “Stopped traffic gives the driver time to look around.” 😜 We hugged the coast as we drove and were able to see houses on one side of the road and the ocean on the other. The coast here is very rocky but doesn’t have the tall rocks like California and Oregon coasts. To me, the rocks almost look like petrified trees or lava. Some pretty huge houses along here sure have a nice view of the rocks and ocean.

Chase Farms: this farm has been in the family since the first settlers in the Wells area, in the 1600s. https://www.chasefarmswells.com/our-story We went to the farm store, not the farm stand, and wow this is nice. They have things laid out neatly and signs that say if the item is from this farm. I like that. Oh boy, we got kale, the most beautiful looking zucchini and summer squash, red and green peppers, sweet corn, and a blueberry hand pie for me and a chocolate cake with cream for Kevin. Delicious! 

A little after midnight, we were woken up by flashing lights. In through the campground gate came a fire truck and an ambulance. They stopped over by the bathhouse. I am guessing that someone must have fallen in the shower. Hope they are okay. 

Historical Society of Wells and Ogunquit is in an old meetinghouse, the 4th one built on this site. This building was built in 1862. The meeting area, set up like a church, was bigger inside than it looks from the outside. Lots of pews, a pipe organ in the back, with an organ, piano, and electric piano in the front corner. 🙂 We saw several groups of 3-4 people in different rooms, sitting around small tables. Kevin said one person at each place was reading out of old diaries. That is neat; it left us with questions as to why? History tidbits, keeping memories alive, or what? They seemed pretty intent so we didn’t bother them to ask our questions.

Arrested Here at Wells, ME, Meetinghouse, Hung In Salem Witch Trials, Wells, ME 07/24

Reverend George Burroughs (1652-1692) was arrested at this site accused of being a wizard during the Salem Witch Trials. He always claimed his innocence but was hanged in Salem. Wow! There isn’t a lot of “big” history here but it is the history of the town and area and we were very glad to read about it.

Handmade Quilt, Historical Society Of Wells & Ogunquit, Wells, ME 07/24