July 29-30                      Kennebunkport, Maine

Our departure from Boothbay Harbor Marina was easily accomplished with the help of fellow boaters who untied our lines and waved good-bye as we cleared the turn into the harbor.  The weather was clear and cool with little wind.  Since the Kennebec River, which leads from the bay to the town of Kennebunkport, is narrow and subject to tides in July of more than nine feet, we cruised at a slower speed to be certain we would arrive on a rising tide.

Marina choices in Kennebunkport for boats more than 50 feet in length are scarce.  We finally booked at The Yachtsman Marina at a rate considerably more than the price we had paid for dockage in New York Harbor.   We were located near downtown and easily could walk to the many local shops and restaurants. 

Kennebunkport was settled in the 1600’s and has a long history of shipbuilding and fishing.  It was a major port for more than a century.  Today, its historical downtown is devoted to tourism with many upscale galleries, shops, and restaurants.  Every building has been lovingly restored and flowers and lush shrubbery are everywhere.  There are no major chain stores and the shops reflected the individual tastes of their owners.  We enjoyed browsing but did little buying.  We have enough stuff!

On the next day, we took the little trolley for an hour tour of Kennebunkport.  We had an excellent local guide.  Several “grand hotels,” built in the early 1900’s as resorts where people would come with maids and trunk loads of clothes, remain and were displaying No Vacancy signs.  These hotels retain the elegance and graciousness of yesteryear but have made accommodations for a more casual clientele. One of these  The Colony is a large white wooden structure situated on a hill overlooking the ocean.  It has both saltwater and freshwater pools.  The grounds resemble a small botanical garden.  The Colony is pet-friendly and is popular with dog and cat owners.  The hotel hosts a pet Halloween party in October and guests are encouraged to bring their precious pooches and kitties in costume. 

The gorgeous “summer cottages,” most built in the early part of the past century, line the streets along the coast line.  On a prominent peninsula only a short distance from downtown is the large brown shingled home of the former President of the United States, George Bush.  Behind it are smaller structures that are guesthouses and/or residences for the Secret Service personnel.  George and Barbara come in May and remain until October.  The townspeople seem to be very fond of them and are grateful for the huge tourism boost they give to Kennebunkport.

St. Ann’s Episcopal Church and First Baptist Church are small stone structures of simple but beautiful design.  Both are popular wedding venues and demand greatly exceeds availability.  The Franciscan Monastery is housed in a large Tudor Mansion, a gift from its American owner to a group of Lithuanian monks fleeing Communism.  Several shrines and large crosses are displayed on the grounds.  The fifty-eight acres of the monastery are open to the public and remain an unspoiled, pristine forest bordering the Kennebec River.

We were surprised to see the large sandy beach on the lower coast line.  The day was sunny and warm so the beach was crowded with sunbathers and swimmers.  Bordering the beach were more beautiful “summer cottages,” more recent and smaller than the ones on the opposite side but still very impressive.  We were told the water temperature of the ocean was approximately 60 degrees but the hardy ones in the surf did not seem to mind.

We had a light lunch at a local restaurant and then returned to the boat for a little work and rest.  I enjoyed our morning tour so much that I returned for another one in the afternoon.  The route was the same but the driver was different and had his own perspective.  I enjoyed seeing Kennebunkport again and learning more of its history.

Returning to The Yachtsman, I joined David and a delightful couple from Nashville enjoying port and cheese on the terrace.  Pat and Cindy were touring Maine and they, like us, had often been teased about their Southern accents.    They were awed by our abilities to pilot and navigate a large boat such great distances.  We had to admit sometimes we surprise ourselves!