Friday, June 22, 2012

Maine Lobster in July!

We (Mom and Dad) have been looking over the Maine vacation spot and done a bit of thinking and dreaming and planning.  Here is some information, thoughts and questions.

First of all, it is located in Bremen, Maine (328 Medomak Road).  The link for the property on the rental website is:  http://www.vrbo.com/122699

You can see photos of the place there and get the full description.  This is about 1 ½ hours from Portland, north and along the coast.  The satellite view on Google shows some other docking facilities nearby so it may be relatively isolated but perhaps not entirely quiet.  This building apparently is built on the shore with its own pier to enjoy.

As you can see from the site, this is really two buildings.  The main house has three upstairs bedrooms, while the converted building (about 50 feet away it appears in pictures) has one big room with two beds in the corners of a game area (bath with shower also in guest house).  Many amenities are included with the site – TV with a number of videos and CDs, wireless connection, washer and drier, kayaks.  (no air-conditioning, but room fans in bedrooms)

We like your offer to organize food, Carrie.  We want to offer to pay for a meal out for everyone and hope that anyone who loves lobster can for sure eat it then.  We may be able to get lobster from the fishing boats for as little as $5 a pound, so….lobster every night? (gluttons!!)  Also, Eiklers and we plan to arrive by mid-afternoon on Saturday and can plan for supper for any of us who make there before eating their evening meal.  (Might be stuck with leftover pizza if you are later than 7:00!)  Thoughts for other meals?  In our memory, bringing spices for cooking is helpful.

Sleeping…….One of the bedrooms in the main building has a king size bed, one has a queen and one has two singles. The two single bed room is smaller and the beds can be put together or apart.  There are two queens in the out building, both in the one big game room (photo e-mailed).  There is a full bath in the out building.  There are quite a few ways that could be arranged.  It is listed as bed space for 10 people.  We are a total of two beds short for the total number of people/kids.  We would be happy to have your input and decision making for sleeping. As for us….we are not willing to sleep on the floor, but otherwise we are honestly totally happy to stay in any of the rooms.  We do snore, however, so keep that in mind.    We did think of the advantage to having children be able to go to sleep in the house where we would likely be up later together.  If they could be carried after falling asleep to the out building, that provides for more options. One special consideration is a 7-month pregnant belly and where it can best rest! 

Happy Birthday time!....Isaac will turn 8 on July 21, the day we arrive.  Sebastian will turn 6 on August 10, just two weeks after we leave.  We grandparents would like to have a celebration for both birthdays on Sunday if that is okay with everyone.  We have special gifts for them and something for Alistair and Mira to open also that everyone can play with during the week.

The coast of Maine makes it a bit of a challenge to get anywhere from anywhere because of all the peninsulas.  We are on the ocean and Pemaquid peninsula and most activities or places of interest will take 15-60 minutes to get to.  We understand there are at least lobster boats in the near area, and perhaps other fishing.  There are a number of light houses and interesting communities.  We are not too sure about where the best place is to shop if any of you are interested.  There are not many sandy beaches, but friends of ours who live up there (Stan & Peg Eller – son and daughter-in-law of Raymond Eller) know the coast very well and we have gotten some clues from them about small but nice beaches.  Arcadia Island and park (and Bar Harbor) is about 1 ½ hours away.  There are several rather interesting islands around including one that has puffins on it (one place I would love to see – takes about 1 ½ hours in the evening from one ferry/tour boat and is a bit expensive), most of which will require a ferry ride (variable length of course).  We will, of course, have the coast by our front door with tides and a pier to be on and watch or see things from.   We have the kayaks (a single, a double, and a triple) which will likely be fun for many of us. (If you have kid sized life jackets, bring them.)  It is likely there are some things we will want to do together, but there may be multiple and separate interests.  We will have three vehicles and should be able to make some separate plans as it seems good.

Thinking about being together makes us feel eager and excited.  As you get a chance to think about things and look perhaps on line for what is of interest to any of you we would love to hear it.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Feeding Josh.

So, this is what it is really all about. How do we satisfy the gastronomic needs of the middle Eikenberry boy.

Well, I am happy to coordinate the food schedule if no one else would like to. I love food. I love to organize. Ergo, I love to organize food.

One suggestion from the matriarch for meals out was that one day the women go to lunch, while the men tend the children, and another day it flips. She also thought a dinner out with the brothers and significant others while the grandparents stay with grandchildren would be possible.

What are your suggestions? What would you want to be sure we eat (shrimp and newspaper? eating the newspaper optional) Torin made a fabulous bouillabaise that would be even more fabulous on the beach.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Travel to Nagshead-How? When?

Just a note that Joel and I are planning to drive to Richmond on Saturday where we will spend the night and rent a mini van. Sunday we expect to meet up with Josh and Saro in Richmond and drive on to Cove REalty to pick up the key to the cottage and see you all there later that evening. We will return the same route and hope to drop down to visit Austin and Brooke in our own car.

Monday, June 14, 2010

The Eikenberry Family Heads to the Beach?

A starter haiku:

In the heat
the sands creeps
places unmentionable