Acadian Winter

A Winter New England Ramble

Kristen has been working at Acadia Hospital in Bangor for the past month, and after dropping her off at the peak of Autumn (see previous entry), Richard finally came back for a proper visit.


The Cape Neddick "Nubble" Lighthouse

We have many old friends in New England, and a spell of mild weather beckoned us to visit. We arrived Friday afternoon in Ogunquit, a scenic coastal town just south of better-known Kennebunk. After settling in at the Village 2 B&B, an old Victorian perched on a hill overlooking the town and ocean, we explored the Marginal Walk down to Perkins Cove, spotting eider, harlequins and great northern divers along the rocky coast as the day faded into evening.



Footbridge Beach, Ogunquit

 The next morning, after watching the sunrise and strolling the Ogunquit beach (a rarity in Maine), we headed down the coast toward Rye NH, just outside Portsmouth, where we caught up with Laura Hancock, our fellow chief from residency training (10 years ago, already!?).

 On the way, we stopped by Cape Neddick hoping to see one of the snowy owls that had irrupted down from Canada, but without any luck (unless one was hiding against the white lighthouse). We consoled ourselves with a couples massage and dinner at the Clay Hill Farm. Addendum: We found him! See the next post.


Perkins Cove, Ogunquit

The following morning it was off to visit a friend we had made back in New Zealand, Marshall Hatch, who was a gracious host. We not only climbed his maunga, but also met his future and past in-laws, the latter of whom, Barb and Don, shared tales from their West African travels over tea at dusk. I think this makes Marshall whanau now.


Mt. Piper summit

We arrived home, exhausted and happy, at 10 o'clock Sunday evening.


view of Lake Winnipesaukee from the fire tower atop Belknap Mountain

2013 Christmas Tanka

A thread, unspooling,

Then picking up stray stitches

Across place and time.

Together again!

A Down East Christmas carol.