Maine 'n me? A-yuh. We go back a ways.

"Maine is beautiful -- but rugged. Just like life."

Our entire family (except for my brother Ed who wasn't born yet) stayed for a week at Dave Haskell's cabin on Northwest Harbor, Deer Isle when I was about 13 or so. Distant memories of wading on the shore, seaweed, rocks, sea stars, fog and a live lobster moving around inside a paper bag while I had my hand inside (I thought it was dead). Let out quite a yell from the rear-facing back seat of the station wagon.

Took a road trip up to Boothbay Harbor, ME while I was in college. Three or 4 of us went up in a classic 1960's-era Volkswagen Beetle and it must have been a spring break in either 1972 or 1973. While exploring the coastal Maine woods, I found a fresh water spring and vividly remember drinking from it. Tasted ever so pure and so cold. Poland Spring and others have made a mint off the phenomena.

Worked as a counselor at the New England Music Camp during the summers of 1971, '72 and '73. I still have the camp song planted in memory: "on the shores of Messalonskee" The camp was/is right outside of Waterville, ME, and I remember occasionally going down to Mt. Desert Island on my days off. My old car barely made it up of Cadillac Mountain (it overheated when we got to the top and I wanted to get a bumper sticker that read, "My Car Blew Up On Cadillac Mountain").

Lived in Fort Kent, ME from 1973 to 1975 -- teaching high school instrumental and vocal music at the town's Community High School (School Administrative District #27). Also taught at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, directing their College Community Chorus. I remember the 14-hour straight drive I'd do on occasion from Westwood, NJ to Fort Kent, the Maine woods along Route 11, St. John Bible Church and the Goupilles, biking into Canada without ID to come back into the U.S. with, etc.

Sometime around 1997 I went camping with Maurice Drew Baynard and David Ellison at Quietside Campground (Site #28). The three of us took a 1/2 hour flight around the eastern half of M.D.I., did a good amount of biking, but never did any boating, even though I had brought along an inflatable dinghy. Here are all 5 parts of a video I took from a 45-minute flight around M.D.I. back in 2002:

Pt. 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEjlOqdJ9ao
Pt. 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O27SY3qNcBM
Pt. 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5amC-SlmSo
Pt. 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y777lh4s19U
Pt. 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbZT_8fkpDA

Stayed at Oak Hill Cottage near Mt. Agamenticus (outside of York, Maine) a few times (3?). D. Kyle Canty (twice? during the summer) and once with my brother Ed (New Year's trip). Basically just hung around southern Maine. Went out on a lobsterboat out of Perkins Cove to see how lobstering is done (lots of photos of that trip). I remember Kyle and I jumping off a rocky ledge into the surf near the Portland Head Lighthouse and clamboring back up (with some difficulty) the barnacled rock face, grateful to get out of the icy cold salt water. Caught 2 fish in Perkins Cove and also had a sea gull grab my line in mid-air -- much to his dismay. Reeled him in after he pancaked onto the water, hoping to pull the hook but was warned by those around me to just cut the line and let him go. Did so and watched him fly away with some unwanted orthodontia in place. ("Watch out for lightning, buddy.")

My brother Ed and I stayed for a couple of days at the Pilgrim Inn on Deer Isle -- a Christmas present from my Dad and Mom. Not sure what year that was -- maybe the early 90's. Found out the inn dates back to 1793. Nice place -- high-end dining.