By all accounts it was a booming summer season in Maine with the state’s restaurants, hotels, waterways, mountains and coastal plains chock-a-block with the lolling tourist brigade. I chose to end the summer’s calendar season over Labor Day weekend in the peaceful hamlets of North Haven Island where this coastal idyll didn’t escape the summer crowds basking in perfect weather.
Clockwise, Brown’s Coal Wharf, Ames point, picking corn at Foggy Meadows Farm, Main Street
Pulpit Harbor was crammed with boaters, both local and summer residents. The little village of North Haven was a bustle, too. Of course all things being relative, you could still hear a pin drop as the typical quiet of island life prevailed beautifully, with pristine weather–a balmy humidity-free 75 degrees.
Nebo Lodge porch steps; pulpit harbor
Continuing the odyssey, Chellie Pingree’s and Donald Sussman’s Turner Farm opened its doors on Saturday for its farm-stand bacchanal where the well-heeled summer folk scooped up pristine farm-fresh vegetables, flowers, cheese and meats all grown organically on the 300 acres of salt water frontage.
Farm day at Turner Farm
Lunch and dinner at the house was from local foods–from Portland area farms and local North Haven provender, including a great grilled 4-inch thick steak to local oven roasted chicken with corn picked fresh from the field at the Cabot farm, Foggy Meadows.
Bisson’s grilled sirloin roast; crab salad; pound cake with Doreen Cabot’s cherry vanilla ice cream and Foggy Meadows fresh-picked corn
The crowning touch was going to Nebo Lodge for weekend dining. We chose to go Friday night without a reservation, which meant an hour’s wait at the bar and on the porch to get a table. But it was a lively crowd and fun to wait amidst the island swells and locals. Even by 10:00 o’clock the place was packed, with avid diners streaming in. The kitchen was in top form without missing a beat. A fine dinner included local oysters, swordfish, pizza, Nebo’s delicious baked bread and more.
Dinner at Nebo Lodge
Finally back in Portland by Sunday a perfect dinner cruise on a friend’s sloop sailed the waters off the Falmouth anchorage for a barbecue on the boat as the sun set over Casco Bay.
Dinner on Casco Bay aboard the Garrand-Pierson boat
