While driving through Central Maine to reach our destination on the coast, we passed a convenience store on a small rural road that had a sign which read:

Guns

Wedding Gowns

Cold Beer

We were laughing too hard to stop and take a picture, so you’ll have to trust me on this one.  Depending on the willingness of both sides to get married, these three things comprise almost all the essential ingredients needed for a (shotgun) wedding.  Add a Justice of the Peace (or these days, an internet-approved minister) and you’re all set.

Seriously, we’ve had a wonderful introduction to Maine.  On Saturday we stayed at a B&B in Littleton, Massachusetts, to split the drive in two (the Lyttleton Inn), and in the small world department it turns out that the innkeeper is the aunt of a former colleague at the National Trust.  We savored the delicious breakfast and interesting conversation with Mary (the innkeeper) before hitting the road north.

The second day’s drive was uneventful (just what you want) and we reached our destination – the Pilgrim’s Inn – by mid-afternoon.  The building dates from 1793 and first served as an inn in the early 20th century.  The current configuration as The Pilgrim’s Inn dates from 1977, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

As we were leaving our inn on Deer Isle last evening to head to dinner, we met a classical guitar player and his wife who are on  a “more vacation than tour” tour.  After talking guitars briefly, he said, “I’ll play anything…maybe we can get together.”  Finally, at dinner last evening in Stonington, we stuck up a conversation with a couple while waiting for a table. It turns out he’s a retired Episcopal bishop from Texas and we were able to make all sorts of connections.  As the evening ended he and his wife invited us to join them later in our visit to see E.B. White’s home.   Candice – the former elementary school teacher – was all in.  We already had plans to see other friends who have a home nearby while on Deer Isle, so our connections have tripled in the first night in Maine.

Nice folks here in Maine – even with the guns and wedding gowns.  We’re looking forward to a rewarding and relaxing two weeks.  (With thanks to Andrew and Claire for holding down the fort at the old home place.)

More to come…

DJB

Image: Pilgrim’s Inn at Deer Isle, Maine, in the late afternoon light