The tourists are here
About this blog:
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Frank Barnako is a seasonal resident of Wiscasset at Clarks Point on the Sheepscot River. His career in journalism included on air and news director positions with CBS and NBC Radio and TV stations. He was a pioneer in the Internet, helping to create and co-found MarketWatch.com where he also developed a 200-station radio network and wrote daily columns focused on the stock market, business news, and technology. Barnako describes himself as “an aspiring photographer,” whose work can be seen at frankbarnako.com<http://frankbarnako.com>. He is a member of the town’s Investment Advisory Committee. Email him at wiscasset@barnako.com.
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Well, THAT was an experience!
There were 11 of them. Six ‘littles, ages 8 to 20. Five adults. Imagine the smile on the Boathouse Bistro’s greeter’s face when we said “13 for lunch”.
It was a very full week. My sister, her children, and grandkids have visited Maine before, but of course the kids were younger. Early experiences may not yield memories. We were determined that these five days in July would not be forgotten.
I was in Cruise Director mode, lining up things to do like a sail with Capt. John on the schooner, Eastwind. http://www.schoonereastwind.com We also took the Lavender garden train ride in Alna. https://sealyonfarm.com The Botanical Garden was a hit, certainly. A lobster feast in the back yard.
It wasn’t all fun and games (Cornhole!!!). Donna was on what seemed like constant KP duty. Two of the boys are into strength and diet so they were eating eggs half a dozen at a time There was the predictable emergency visit to Miles hospital for a minor scratch. There was a very sweet, but a failing, dog to care for.
Lots of people took lots of pictures, which will jog their memories back in Minnesota and Illinois. Nobody missed a flight, although one suitcase was lost for a few days.
Surprisingly, nobody turned on a television. Although everybody’s mobile phone was lit all the time.
My memories? The eight-year-old girl said she’d go kayaking if she didn’t have to paddle. So, she didn’t.
Noah and Sophia made scary faces as they plopped their lobsters into the pot. Noah, a college sophomore, junior said he didn’t know how to make ice. “We have an ice maker at home.” Micah, a teenager who works at Arby’s after school said people ask for dozens of packets of Arby Sauce packets.
Meanwhile, life in this small village rolled on with preparation and planning for this weekend’s Wiscasset Homes on Tour, the inaugural event.
Several hundred people lined Federal Street for the village’s July 4th parade, which wasn’t as big or interesting as in the past. I don’t recall seeing any floats or decorated flatbeds. There were the usual politicians waving from cars.
Donna summed up the five days this way, in a text message: “I just fell asleep in like 15 seconds. Noah just ate another meal. Frank has gone for pizza shells, and Noah is plunging the second toilet of the day.
