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Lobsters and wasps
For the last couple of days we’ve been up in Maine again visiting my mother at my sister Francesca’s home. Since the temperatures in Boston were going up into three digits, we thought we’d give the air conditioners a rest and see if the Maine woods were any cooler. (A bit.)
On Wednesday, we drove north to Rockland for the annual Maine Lobster Festival. When we were kids and we vacationed in the Rockland-Camden area every summer, this was a regular stop for us, but I hadn’t been back in years. It’s essentially a county fair/carnival event with a crowning of the Sea Princess and visits by King Neptune as well as lots of rides and silly fishing-themed games (the floating lobster crate race is popular), and of course all that good food.
Sure, there’s fried dough and corn dogs and the usual fare, but above all is the giant white-and-yellow-striped tent where they serve the lobster. Mmmm. It was my first bite of my favorite food this year and boy was it good. I hurried through it though because we had to get in line.
You see, the US Navy had thoughtfully sent one of its warships, the amphibious assault ship, USS Wasp (LHD-1). The Wasp carries a battalion of Marines plus tanks and supporting aircraft and puts them on the beach anywhere in the world the president sends them. It’s a large ship, probably largest next to the aircraft carriers.
Wilting in the sun
Technorati Tags:lobster, Maine, US Navy, USS Wasp, vacation
So the Wasp was anchored out in the bay, beyond the famous mile-long breakwater, and thus a shuttle boat was required to go out for the tour. So we got in line, being told that the next shuttle was coming soon. And so it did, carrying more white-uniformed sailors for some liberty.
But the boat sailed back empty. Okay, we waited for the next one which we saw coming in from way out. But that too disembarked sailors without picking up a tour. By this time we had been standing in the 90 degree heat for an hour and were beginning to wilt. All of our water had been consumed and we were told we couldn’t leave the line and get back in. (Bad idea.) Finally our boat came (thankfully with water for sale on board) and we made our journey out to the ship.
For anyone who’s ever gone on an open-to-the-public tour of an active-duty warship, you know what to expect. Your wanderings are necessarily curtailed. A warship is a dangerous place with a lot of sensitive areas. Thus we were greeted by very nice and helpful sailors who brought us from the massive well deck from which they launch hovercraft that bring the Marines to the beach to the hangar deck where the aircraft are stored and maintained and then up to the flight deck for more demonstrations and expert commentary. The best part, however, was meeting and greeting our men and women in uniform up close and personal. To a sailor, they were polite, welcoming, and professional. Our national defense is in good hands.
By the time we returned to shore, we’d been gone three hours. Now Melanie and Isabella, my mom, and my sister-in-law and their three youngest did not go out to the ship. They took turns walking about the festival and returning to my mom’s little RV for a blast of air conditioning to cool off. (The poor baby was so tired by the end of the day that she slept five straight hours last night before waking briefly to have her belly filled.)
But Melanie was very good about it, indulging her husband’s fascination with ships and the Navy and his deep-seated regrets that have mostly faded about his life that might have been on the path he had started on. And on her birthday to boot!
A birthday kind of observed
Yep, yesterday (Wednesday) was Melanie’s birthday, a fact I neglected to mention to my brother and his wife who scolded me for failing to make a big deal out of it. (Hey, Melanie’s the one who doesn’t make a big deal of birthdays.)
Anyway, I’m glad we went to see the ship, but if I knew then what I know now, I wouldn’t have bothered. I’d much rather have spent the time with Melanie and the baby exploring the festival and all it’s carnie delights. Ah well, live and learn.
As for today, it was much cooler and overcast. We took the opportunity to drive up to Freeport to the L.L. Bean store so Melanie could buy something in particular. Isabella did very well in the store, squawking only on being put in her stroller when I took her out and only for a moment. Other than that she charmed the whole store.
Unfortunately we missed a Boston blogger meet-up planned for this evening by several local bloggers and few coming into town this weekend. I hope you all had a good time. We’ll be there next time.
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COMMENTS
We took the opportunity to drive up to Freeport to the L.L. Bean store so Melanie could buy something in particular.
Do you have to have an excuse to go to “Mecca”???
;^)
I’m an uber-Prep and it’s been 5 (FIVE??? yes) years since I was in Maine, waaaaaay too long.
BTW, you should get Bella one of those teeny-size Boat-n-Tote bags they sell there - my youngest niece got one when they visited there and loved it, and each niece since has also loved using it as a toddler.
Posted by Meg Q on 08/3/06 at 11:55 PM “Wasps”?
I thought y’all were Italian Catholics!
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