The Maine Attraction

Is that Elton John in Bath? 

To celebrate the last days of summer, Main Street Bath invited Gerald Brann, a local resident, and his band, Yellow Brick Road—A Tribute to Elton John, to play at their outdoor gala. At twilight, the main event started with a fly over by the Blue Angels, who were performing at the Landing, the former home of the Brunswick Naval Air Station. Moments later, just before ducking into his tent and putting on his first costume, the leader of the band chatted with me and my husband—yes, he’s that down to Earth—and he smiled when he mentioned the Blue Angels. As fate and Bath would have it, their fly over was a blessing. Benny and the Jets rocked the stage! With every song they played, the band moved the audience to sing, sway, and sometimes dance. For the close to 500 people in attendance, it was a magical night, and it wasn’t the first time Gerald and his band had brought their tribute to Elton John to Bath. In 2019, Vickie Sprague and Main Street Bath's Organization Committee convinced Gerald to bring his touring band to his hometown. After that amazing performance, Bath invited the band back in 2020. Of course, the pandemic postponed that plan, but the music of Yellow Brick Road returned on September 5, 2021 with roaring jets, a baby grand piano, some flashy, Elton-John costumes, and a group of amazing musicians that left an indelible impression on Bath's Waterfront Park.

The Cliffs of Mt. Dessert

In July and August, the Maine Maritime Museum welcomed a record number of guests. I’m a docent at the museum’s Donnell House, and I greeted people from all over the state, all over New England, and all over the country, including Texas, South Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Idaho, and California. Even when our visitors’ smiles were covered by masks, I felt the warmth of their eyes; and more often than not, they complimented Maine’s history, art, and natural beauty. On May 29, 2021, the museum opened Broadside: the Power of Print in the Maritime World. When I saw the exhibit in June, I was dazzled by the fact that Harry Fenn published the first of a two-volume work called Picturesque America in 1872, and the first chapter, “On the Coast of Maine," has an exquisite illustration of the cliffs of Mt. Dessert, proving that Maine has been mesmerizing visitors for centuries! 

Since I was a visitor who decided to stay, I'm fully aware of Maine's allure. In the Pine Tree State,

Soren and I

you don’t have to buy a ticket to relish views of the ocean and the mountains. But since time is always a factor, you may want to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay and see a lot in a few hours. Months ago, pieces of five giant trolls arrived in large crates from Denmark, and Danish artist Thomas Dambo, his team, CMBG staff, and over 150 volunteers built the trolls on-site at five hidden locations along the trails of the coastal gardens. If you haven’t seen Guardians of the Seeds, reserve a ticket today! In August, my family and I went on the GIANT treasure hunt; and we found the trolls: Soren, Lilja, Gro, Roskva, and Birk. Each one bears a unique expression that evokes a different feeling, and it’s hard to choose a favorite, but I was smitten by the dancer, Soren, and my five-year-old granddaughter favored the baby, Lilja, though she hugged them all. Not a single child I saw that day shied away from the tree-like creatures. On the contrary, the smallest visitors were the first to embrace the mammoth trolls. Then they laughed, jumped, and smiled for pictures. Without a doubt, the GIANT treasure hunt is a happy romp. 

Cormorants sitting on the traps on the bay

 Before the winds turn cold, I hope you seize the day and enjoy the wonders of Maine from the water. Whether you’re on a sailboat, kayak, or motorboat, you’ll have a Disney-view of soaring eagles, harbor seals, and ospreys in flight. And if you're lucky, you'll spy some cormorants, resting on a stack of lobster traps on a wooden float in the middle of Mere Point Bay. And at the end of the ride, you’ll probably want a lobster roll. I recommend Five Islands Lobster Company in Georgetown, Holbrook’s in Cundy’s Harbor, Cook’s Lobster and Ale House on Bailey Island, or Judy’s General Store at Mere Point. But don’t forget, I live in Bath, so I’ve only mentioned the lobster shacks near and dear to me. Truth be told, the best lobster imaginable is available in Maine all year round. Regardless of the season, Maine’s beauty is bountiful.

The Joanie Irene lobstering off Harpswell