Sunday, August 6, 2017

We've been quietly "de-virginized"!

Our next adventure is underway!  If it was cooler weather we were seeking (it was), we've found it!  I just checked and the current temperature on Anna Maria Island is 90 with a "feels like" temperature of 104.  The current temperature here in Kennebunkport, Maine is 74 with a "feels like" temperature of .............70!  What a pleasant relief!
Our flight yesterday was to Manchester, New Hampshire.  Manchester is a nice, easy airport to navigate.  We made a couple of stops on the hour and a half drive to our destination of Kennebunkport.  First it was lunchtime and thanks to a little research of the "Cheap Eats" on Trip Advisor we ended up at the Red Arrow Diner in downtown Manchester.  This small diner has about 5-6 tables and a counter that seats another 10-12 people.  It has been around since 1922, has been voted one of the top 10 diners in America and has been featured on Diners, Drive In's and Dives.  With so few seats and such popularity there was a little wait but it wasn't bad and it was certainly worth it.  Beth opted for breakfast which is served 24 hours a day while I had a rueben.  Everything was tasty and certainly lived up to our expectations.  The Red Arrow Diner is also where we were "de-virginized".  Every time a new customer eats there the servers ring a bell, announces where the customer is from and the rest of the patrons give a hearty cheer.  The first timer is then considered "de-virginized" and gets a sticker to prove it.  Being the quiet and shy people that we are we opted not to let on to our friendly server that we were Red Arrow Diner virgins.
http://www.redarrowdiner.com
We also stopped for an hour or so in the town of Portsmouth which is located on the New Hampshire side of the New Hampshire/Maine state line.  The downtown was bustling with the numerous stores, restaurants and coffee shops doing a hearty business.  Not being shoppers and still having full bellies we enjoyed some of the quieter areas leading to and along their waterfront.  Very similar to Chicago, these folks endure long, cold winters and they really appreciate their summer days and nights.
http://www.portsmouthnh.com/visitor-info
Here in Kennebunk port we're staying at a four room Bed & Breakfast called The Old Parsonage.  I learned from Chris the owner that it was actually the parsonage for the Baptist church from the 1800's through 1982.  The church sold the house to Chris's parents who ran it for a number of years before selling it to him.  We haven't stayed at a lot of B&B's over the years but when we have we've always had good experiences.  This one has been exceptional.  A comfortable bed and a great breakfast.  We also met a very nice couple and a family at breakfast this morning that we enjoyed visiting with over breakfast.  They didn't know each other, but they were both from the Boston area and were in town for the same wedding.  The family shared with us a really nice place they had discovered called Cape Pier Chowder House.  Nothing fancy at all, just great seafood served outdoors on picnic tables overlooking the water.  We enjoyed the food and the setting so much at lunch that we went back there for supper.  Eating at the same place twice in a day isn't something we'd normally do but why mess with a good thing? 
http://oldparsonageguesthouse.com
https://www.capeporpoiselobster.com/cape-pier-restaurant
If you're a fan of US presidential trivia you've certainly heard of Kennebunkport.  It's where the Bush family compound is located.  The main house is a cozy little nine bedroom home that sits directly on the Atlantic Ocean on a piece of land called "Walkers Point".  There's a nice view of the house from across a small inlet.  It's pretty easy to recognize the house.  It's the only one around that's flying a Texas flag along with the US and Maine state flag.  I'm not sure if either 41 or 43 are there right now.  The house is well guarded by folks who probably don't care for inquiring minds so I didn't bother asking.
Tomorrow we'll be heading a few hours further north to the 47,000 acre Acadia National Park.  Who knows, maybe we'll run back by the Pier Chowder House for a quick bite to eat before heading out!


Great welcome sign!

Where we were quietly "de-virginized"!

Waterfront garden in Portsmouth

Another waterfront garden in Portsmouth

The Pier Chowder House!

Hey Kandice, look we're at another beach.  This is Gooch's Beach in Kennebunk which is across the river from Kennebunkport.

The Old Parsonage Guest House

Taken from The Pier Chowder House at sunset