17-Sept-24 Lubec, Maine
Well. No police turned up last night to arrest me. So a free man. But even so. Double locked bedroom door just in case. Remember an old boss who came up from London to visit the Nottingham office. He stayed in a hotel on the hottest day of the year. So hot he had to sleep naked on top of the bed clothes.
At 3am a policeman with an Alsatian dog and young girl in tow burst into his room. Somewhat startling as he was lying there naked.
Policeman said to girl. Is that him?
No. She replied.
And with that they left.
How we laughed when he told us.
So, dear reader. Always lock your hotel bedroom door.
Had wondered why all the hotels were fully booked in Bangor last night. And why they are all so flipping expensive. American singer and songwriter Post Malone was having a concert.
Last night was also the first to feature lobster. When in Maine. Eat lobster.
Now have a car. Now have freedom. Now have the ability to go wherever I want. When I want. Nothing is booked. Just need to be in Boston late next week to fly home. Boo.
So.
Where do we start.
How about the easternmost point of the USA?
Famous author Stephen King lives in Bangor and his home is well known. Quick scurry to see what it’s all about. Flying bats adorn the gate posts. Nice large mansion. The sort you see on Scooby Doo.
Scorching hot day. 30C hot.
And an easy drive through lots of forest to Calais. And the Canadian border. Some of the trees are starting to turn to autumnal golds and yellows. Must be an impressive sight when the foliage completely turns.
Driving south from Calais. Pass a large globe with ‘45’ splashed across it. Worthy of investigation. And realise I am now at 45 deg North. Have to back track a few hundred metres to find the exact spot. Which is marked by a stone which is surprisingly not very well signposted. You would think they would make a bigger deal of it.
Now precisely half way between the North Pole and the Equator. The same line of latitude as the wine regions of Bordeaux, the deserts of Mongolia and the northernmost tip of Japan. And Salem in Oregon. As I read with interest.
Turn off Highway 1 to Lubec. The USA’s easternmost town. To stay at the Inn on the Wharf (www.theinnonthewharf.com). Basic but charming. And comfortable. A former sardine factory.
The town was initially renowned for smoking herring with traditional buildings called stands. Canning sardines here arose because during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, a sardine importer had difficulty supplying sardines. The waters of the Lubec region had an abundant supply and so the industry grew from that.
Once again. Lobster for dinner. And crab. And haddock. And scallops. And prawns. And clams. A mixed grill if you like.
All excellent. But refined dining it is not. Lots of everything. And a big pot of melted butter.
Cause of death. Can now add melted butter to blue cheese dressing.
Have yet to tackle a lobster in its shell. Two lobster meals thus far have already been picked. So no messing. Quite amusing to see those who have had lobster in a shell. All have grease marks down their shirts.
Yet another stunning sunset. The hotel is right on the water with balcony overlooking an amazing vista of sea and islands. Just across the water a few hundred metres away is Canada. So close that mobile phone is picking up the Canadian signal.
So sometimes I’m one hour ahead. Which confuses. Thinking should go to bed now. As it’s late. But no. Still only 2300hrs.
