The three hour drive to Kennebunkport took us through more stunning countryside interspersed with quaint American towns. We passed signs to many familiar places: Lincoln, Chester, close to Manchester, York and Nottingham, to name a few. It was so strange being on holiday somewhere in which from the place names could well have been England, but was most definitely not. Painted wooden houses with shutters either side of the windows, and porches with rocking chairs in the corner lined the streets as we drove through the country towns, many dwellings with garages almost as big as the main houses. Huge expanses of countryside stretched as far as the eye could see; nothing but fields or forests, without a house in sight.
If these differences were not clue enough that we were in America, the trend of most houses being adorned with flags, as well as many streets, would put paid to any doubt what country we were in - I have never seen a country so patriotic! We also passed a house with two chairs and a table on the front lawn: one chair was red, the other was blue, and the table was white...
If these differences were not clue enough that we were in America, the trend of most houses being adorned with flags, as well as many streets, would put paid to any doubt what country we were in - I have never seen a country so patriotic! We also passed a house with two chairs and a table on the front lawn: one chair was red, the other was blue, and the table was white...
Our next hotel, The Inn at English Meadows, was sat on the edge of Kennebunkport; perfect walking distance to the centre of town. We arrived earlier than expected (not a common occurrence for us!) but we were able to check-in so unloaded the car (or partly unloaded the car - the bikes and surfboard stayed in/on it); and then set out on foot to stretch our legs and see the sights of Kennebunkport whilst the sun shone. The small town was very picturesque, and had a pleasant relaxed feel to it as tourists meandered between shops and restaurants, eating ice cream and stopping to look out over the water and take in the stunning views.
After a bite to eat we strolled down to the beach, a 20 minute walk away, as T was itching to see the state of the surf. The waves weren't the best and were pretty small, but after four months of no surf it was bookmarked for the following day.
Arriving back at our hotel we were greeted with fresh chocolate chip cookies still warm from the oven, served alongside iced tea. Iced tea is everywhere, and I see so many people drinking it, but I just don’t see the attraction to be honest. To me tea should be hot - even warm tea is a no go. Iced tea, sweetened as well as cold - well, I think that’s just plane wrong!
We changed into our cycling stuff and, armed with a local map that claimed not to be to scale – and boy was it not to scale!– we set out for a exploratory bike ride. We cycled for an hour and a half along the pretty, quiet roads, which were pretty hilly in places too. We're not too used to hills – the cycling in and around Munich was pretty flat, and the routes we have done here have been flat too. It was a good job we were powered by those cookies!
We changed into our cycling stuff and, armed with a local map that claimed not to be to scale – and boy was it not to scale!– we set out for a exploratory bike ride. We cycled for an hour and a half along the pretty, quiet roads, which were pretty hilly in places too. We're not too used to hills – the cycling in and around Munich was pretty flat, and the routes we have done here have been flat too. It was a good job we were powered by those cookies!
We diverted off the circular route to Cape Porpoise, a quaint fishing village, and were greeted with beautiful views over the ocean, with fishing boats bobbing about on the water, and empty lobster pots stacked up waiting to be used the following day.
The road back to Kennebunkport ran alongside the sea, and was stunning; rocky out cliffs, the dark blue sea disappearing into the lighter blue sky on one side of the road, and then on the other side of the road were the enormous stunning houses, one of which was George W Bush's summer residence.
Arriving back in the town we passed a restaurant recommended to us. Screeching to a halt, we got of the bikes and hobbled in (I cannot walk gracefully in cycling shoes) to have a look at the menus to see if we wanted to eat there that evening. The menu contained lots of lobster = decision made! We asked to book a table, but they only had reservations at 6.30pm or 8.15pm available. Hungry and tired we opted for the earlier one, but it was 5pm by that time, so we machined our way the fifteen minutes back to the hotel (our speed helped also by the ominous dark cloud which was taking over control of the sky at a considerable rate), had a quick shower and booked a taxi for 6.15pm as it was quite a walk to the restaurant, and the dark cloud was by this time dropping it's load of water. The taxi driver was very chatty (well he should have been for the standard fare of $25 for a ten minute journey...), recommending places to go, as well as warning us the tourist map is not to scale...
Walking into the restaurant in our finery we looked pretty different to the sweaty, cycling-clothed duo with damp, helmet-squashed hair who had walked in just over an hour before - eat your heart out superman!
The road back to Kennebunkport ran alongside the sea, and was stunning; rocky out cliffs, the dark blue sea disappearing into the lighter blue sky on one side of the road, and then on the other side of the road were the enormous stunning houses, one of which was George W Bush's summer residence.
Arriving back in the town we passed a restaurant recommended to us. Screeching to a halt, we got of the bikes and hobbled in (I cannot walk gracefully in cycling shoes) to have a look at the menus to see if we wanted to eat there that evening. The menu contained lots of lobster = decision made! We asked to book a table, but they only had reservations at 6.30pm or 8.15pm available. Hungry and tired we opted for the earlier one, but it was 5pm by that time, so we machined our way the fifteen minutes back to the hotel (our speed helped also by the ominous dark cloud which was taking over control of the sky at a considerable rate), had a quick shower and booked a taxi for 6.15pm as it was quite a walk to the restaurant, and the dark cloud was by this time dropping it's load of water. The taxi driver was very chatty (well he should have been for the standard fare of $25 for a ten minute journey...), recommending places to go, as well as warning us the tourist map is not to scale...
Walking into the restaurant in our finery we looked pretty different to the sweaty, cycling-clothed duo with damp, helmet-squashed hair who had walked in just over an hour before - eat your heart out superman!
We had our taste of lobster - when in Maine, lobster has to be eaten - sat at a table overlooking the bay, and then wondered back through the town stopping in at a wine bar near the hotel. Ordering my drink, I was asked for I.D. My I.D. was in my wallet. In my handbag. In the hotel. We just hadn't thought - when we were in Boston last year we were told to take I.D. with us as you are always asked for it, but that piece of advice had long flown out of our heads. Until now. Luckily the hotel was a couple of minute walk away, so T ran back to get my wallet. The waitress was so apologetic, explaining the police are pretty zealous when it comes to underage drinking and she couldn't risk the personal $3,000 fine. We were not in the least put out; it was a boost to our egos to be asked - that there was the slightest possibility we may be under 21 does not happen often these days!
Returning to a darker hotel room, with a normal height bed; no emergency eye mask was needed, nor did I fall out of bed. I did regret the blueberry cheesecake we had for dessert: rich, sugary, creamy - all the things ME doesn't like me eating, so therefore punished me with stomach ache and nausea until the early hours. But it had tasted so good at the time...
Eventually getting to sleep, we awoke in the morning to the sound of rain...
Eventually getting to sleep, we awoke in the morning to the sound of rain...