Maine 7/7

Joel: Since arriving in Maine, the weather has been extremely hot! In fact, Mainers have been saying this is one of the hottest weeks they've had in years. It's been in the 90s with somewhat high humidity. I still don't think it's been as bad as South Carolina. As I write this blog entry, I'm sitting outside on our porch and it's about 68 degrees. The hot weather, it appears, is behind us. Luckily, we have been able to go to our friends Mark and Rob's house to swim. It's rare that someone in Maine has a swimming pool, but we were very grateful for the cool waters to swim in this past week. 
Wendy: In addition to Mark's pool, we also managed to get to Mel's lake! We've been talking about seeing Mel (from our own choir at Valley Presbyterian in AZ) in his Maine home for a few years, and this year we finally made it happen. He (and his nearby adopted family members) not only took us out on his boat, but he fed us lobster rolls while we were out there! 

We visited Mel at his house in Maine! He took us out on the lake he lives on.

I even got to drive the boat for a while!

Joel: We've been doing our normal day to day stuff here in Maine. Visiting our favorite places and restaurants, enjoying the views of the farm we're staying at, seeing friends, and discovering new places. I'm in love with the green here (even if it brings the bugs!) and I never get tired of looking across the field here at the trees. I know the farm where we are staying is beautiful in the fall! 
Wendy: We didn't do as much sight-seeing this week because of the hot weather, but we did make it out to Fort Edgecomb. We like visiting the various forts in Maine and this one was on our list for this visit. Unfortunately, you can't go inside this one. Still, it pretty cool to stand on a piece of history and imagine what it must have been like in days gone by.

This is looking over the river at Fort Edgecomb

Fort Edgecomb

Wendy:  On the way to the fort we drive by the Taste of Maine restaurant. They have added an accessory in the past couple of years (the big lobster on the roof) and it's quite shocking to see. Compare it to the size of the cars in the parking lot to get a sense of just how large it is.

Joel: There have been 5 cases of rabid animal attacks on humans since we arrived in Brunswick. The locals say this is normal, but it usually happens toward the end of summer, and the incidents are isolated and disappear as fall sets in. Because it's happened so soon in the summer, there has been a warning issued. The problem will only get worse over the summer, and people should take extra care when walking dogs, or being outside in general. It's put a damper on my running schedule... but I plan to go running in the morning! I figure I can hop into a tree if a rabid fox attacks... just kidding, I'll be fine! 
Wendy: We had a few options for the 4th and decided to stay close to "home" and go to the Bath Heritage Day fireworks. We sat on the shore of the river right beside the bridge, and watched them being shot off from a wharf on the other side with two of our closest friends here. 

Waiting for fireworks in Bath, Maine!

They were loud and spectaular

Wendy:  My involvement in dog rescue over the years led me to look into the situation here in Maine, and I had planned to visit the local Humane Society. However, when I began to look them up I found they had very few animals and I wondered why. Turns out Maine has basically cured their pet overpopulation! So much so, that demand exceeds supply here and they import dogs from out of state (helping states that haven't solved the problem) just to try to keep up with the people here who want to adopt. Dogs are HUGE in this area, you see them everywhere (walking with owners, in stores and in restaurants, etc.) so it's not really surprising, but still, WOW!

It was 73 degrees and sunny at one of our favorite lobster houses in Harpswell

They had one of the BEST mules there! This is there blueberry mule with REAL Maine blueberries.

​Joel: We still have lots to do before we leave, but we are enjoying ourselves immensely while we are here. I think often of those back in Green Valley and Tucson, especially on Sunday mornings. Can't wait to be back in the saddle!