Summer Kayak, Owls Head Maine 8/12-15

[rfarren]

This isn't skiing but it's a bit out-doorsy. I'm getting married in September so my grooms-men arranged a bachelor party/weekend up in Owls Head. The weather was perfect, and the beer was cold, and the women.... eh, the women up there were a bit hairy, but I'm sure my fiancee' is fine with that. The cottage we had was on a great secluded beach and came with a couple kayaks. Maine is great because it has a ton of islands and little secrets in which to find and explore. Sadly, I didn't get any photos from the kayak. I was paranoid about losing the camera. The sea life we saw included crabs, fish, a harbor seal, and a minke whale (the whale we saw on a whale watching excursion). I was pretty amazed by the 12 ft tides which completely change what you saw while swimming and boating, including the sea life.

This is the little island right off our beach at about 1/2 way to low tide.

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The same beach at sunset and pretty much low tide.

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I went clamming on a sandbar about 100 yards out. This was one of the beasts as we shucked it before frying them up as fritters.

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This is our beach during high tide. We would have a bonfire later that night on the rocks in the foreground.

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This is boothbay harbor where we went on a whale watching excursion, which wasn't the best I had ever been on.

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The shots that I didn't take were ones that involved us kayaking (as I said above), and the best lobster I have ever eaten. The lobster shack that gave me that right off route 1 in wicasset. For $21 I got 1lb of steamers, 1 1/2 lb lobster, corn on the cob, a dinner role, a drink, and coleslaw. All excellent and fresh. Not bad if you ask me. I have to say I love Maine and I'm glad I spent my bachelor party/weekend there and not vegas.

[EMSC]

I'm glad I spent my bachelor party/weekend there and not vegas.

Yes but what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Whereas the sheep in Maine talk!

Congrats on the upcoming nuptials. Now you just need to get the bride down a few more black diamonds trails this winter.

[rfarren]

Congrats on the upcoming nuptials. Now you just need to get the bride down a few more black diamonds trails this winter.

Thanks. We're doing our honeymoon in Austria/Switzerland and looking into the possibility of skiing on the kitzsteinhorn glacier at Zell am See. I've been told it has year round skiing, and it was her suggestion. She and I are planning many blacks this winter.

[Admin]

Too bad you're not over there on your honeymoon right now -- Saas-Fee, Zermatt and Cervinia all picked up ~20 in. of snow this week and are open for summer skiing:
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/News/2 ... h-America/

[rfarren]

Too bad you're not over there on your honeymoon right now -- Saas-Fee, Zermatt and Cervinia all picked up ~20 in. of snow this week and are open for summer skiing:
http://www.firsttracksonline.com/News/2 ... h-America/

That's amazing, I just wouldn't want to ski 20 inches in rental boots. Besides, I want to see the mountains on my honeymoon. Nonetheless, maybe we'll get lucky and they'll get hit right before the honeymoon.

[pointpeninsula]

I've never seen a clam that large. I'll have to plan a Maine vacation one of these years.
Thanks for the great pics.
Tom

[rfarren]

I've never seen a clam that large. I'll have to plan a Maine vacation one of these years.
Thanks for the great pics.
Tom

The trick with those clams is to shuck them and cut off the foot. Then cut the foot into small pieces and bread them. Then you fry them up as small fritters. They are very sweet but can be a bit chewy. The rest of the clam other than the foot is not particularly good eating.

[Admin]

The trick with those clams is to shuck them and cut off the foot. Then cut the foot into small pieces and bread them. Then you fry them up as small fritters. They are very sweet but can be a bit chewy. The rest of the clam other than the foot is not particularly good eating.

The story of the Quahog.

[Marc_C]

The rest of the clam other than the foot is not particularly good eating.

The story of the Quahog.

But an excellent ingredient for a base stock for chowders, stews, etc.

[rfarren]

The story of the Quahog.

But an excellent ingredient for a base stock for chowders, stews, etc.

That is certainly true.

Based on this last trip, I think the seafood up there is the best in the country in terms of freshness and price. Do you guys in Utah miss EC seafood, or do you find the stuff shipped in from the Pacific to be of equal quality?

[Admin]

Quality's good but it's just not the same stuff that I'm used to. A manila clam will never equal a littleneck to me.

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[Marc_C]

Quality's good but it's just not the same stuff that I'm used to. A manila clam will never equal a littleneck to me.

That's like saying "the quality of Utah skiing is good, but it's just not the same stuff you're used to. Alta will never equal a Jay Peak to me."

Talk about a middle-aged guy stuck in a rut! Whaaaa!!! But it's different!!!!!!!

Edit: for clarification of the snark!

[rfarren]

Quality's good but it's just not the same stuff that I'm used to. A manila clam will never equal a littleneck to me.

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If it makes you feel better, it's hard to find steamers here in NYC too.

[Admin]

Steameds & littlenecks are two different clams.

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