As I have for the past few years, I spent my birthday on the midcoast of Maine, in Georgetown and Five Islands, specifically. I traveled to one of my “happy places” seeking quiet and a place the practice my photography.
My newest photos are in the Travels > Maine part of the Gallery, along with photos of past visits here. I was mesmerized by the water at Reid State Park this year, as you'll see by the huge number of photos of waves, waves on the rocks ... lots of waves. You'd think every wave looks alike but they're all different -- the movement, texture and color really caught my eye this year.
This year's trip was a seven day solo visit to one of my favorite places: Coveside B&B in Georgetown. There were only two things that I wanted to do and I’ve accomplished both in the first two days of my stay: a visit to the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden (spectacular) and a 90 minute massage at Nine Stones Spa in Portland. Check, and check.
Day 3 was a unique one for me. Normally, I would hop in my car after a gargantuan Coveside breakfast and go to Reid State Park to walk on the beach (check) then head up US1 to some adventure. That day, though, I didn’t feel like doing anything. It’s so rare that I embraced it wholeheartedly.
Part of the beauty of returning to a place you’ve visited in the past is that you’ve already hit the high points and you can return to your favorites … or not. And the beauty of traveling by yourself is you can anything you want or nothing at all. No pressure to visit a museum or restaurant. That’s where I happily found myself that day.
I sat on the patio, looking at Gott’s Cove and out to the Sheepscot River, watching pairs of yellow butterflies dance around the purple lilacs and rhododendron. It was a perfect Maine summer day: brilliant blue sky, a few puffy clouds, the only sounds are the wind in the leaves, an occasional call from a seagull and perhaps a passing boat on the River, the buzz of bees.
No phones, no TV, no traffic in the distance. Just the breeze in the leaves as my own personal white noise.
That’s why I return here every summer. I crave the quiet and peace that is waiting for me here. It’s my happy
place. My very happy place.
