With the Labor Day Weekend and the opening of football season, many were engaged in family celebrations, last minute vacations and friendly football contests!
Before jumping head first into football and tailgating I wanted to continue my Dog Days of Summer story with our trip to Maine and a special visit to Monhegan Island.
Dave’s surprise birthday gift was a couple of ferry tickets and a night on Monhegan Island, 10 miles off the coast of Maine, accessible only by ferry.
After reading my American Art Review Magazine, I was thrilled to discover our visit would coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 1914 Art Exhibition. “The Famous and the Forgotten: Revisiting Monhegan’s Celebrated 1914 Art Exhibition” is on view through September 30, 2014.
The 1914 Art Exhibit was part of the 300th Anniversary of John Smith’s landing on the island. The island residents and artist community celebrated the 400th year, the Quadricentennial in style.
Dave and I boarded the ferry at Port Clyde to journey to Monhegan Island.
The hour ferry ride brings visitors, art enthusiasts, and locals,
to the charming, rustic, fishing village and artist colony.
As the ferry approaches the island loved ones gather on the pier to greet their family or guests.
Some even wave from the rocks to welcome new visitors.
From the ferry landing we caught a glimpse of The Island Inn, our home for the night.
Luggage is loaded on rare pickup trucks to be transported to the island hotels.
There are no paved roads and very few vehicles.
The Barnacle is a general store and a must stop to purchase wine for dinner. The Island Inn will chill your wine, but doesn’t include it on the menu.
The view of the swimming beach from the dock. I love the red house and notice the lobster traps stacked on the left.
Dave and I explored the village, passing the Monhegan Library,
the Monhegan School (one room K-8 grade),
the Monhegan Lighthouse
Many artists have painted from this vantage point, looking back over the village, the harbor, Manana Island, the cemetery and meadows.
An outbuilding behind the lighthouse showcases old ice cutting equipment with this painting of cutting the ice from the Ice Pond. For those of you who know, Dave and I have been in the ice business. We are always fascinated by how communities preserved food before refrigeration.
The old Monhegan Store sign.
From the Lighthouse Dave and I hiked to White Head on the east side. Looking north we were awed by the dramatic view of Black Head.
Yes we were really there. The above photo looks like a picture from a magazine.
View south to Burnt Head.
Returning to the village we enjoyed wandering among the cottages.
An artist’s cottage with the loveliest hollyhocks. Dave and I met and chatted with her the next morning about her beautiful flowers and she shared the story of putting together the art exhibit currently being held.
Two paintings in the exhibit were original to the 1914 Art Exhibit. Most of the other paintings are by artists who exhibited during that time and many had paintings in the actual exhibit.
On Monhegan, some artists have viewing hours to showcase their work…in their studios or cottages.
Many paintings are drawn from the everyday life of lobster and fishermen.
View of Monhegan Harbor, the wharf and the village from Fish Beach.
Sunset from the Island Inn taken by my new found friend Wendy Meredith.
Dave and I met Wendy and her husband, Cleve, on the ferry trip. It was one of those, “I just met the most fabulous people and it was as if we had known each other for years” moment.
On my return home I discovered that all my photos from Monhegan had disappeared into cyber space. I panicked and asked Wendy, my new friend, to email me photos. She did immediately. Thank you Wendy! Fortunately with the help of Max Your Macs, I was able to recover my photos.
The morning view from the Island Inn, overlooking the wharf, across the harbor to Manana Island.
Together, Manana Island and Monhegan Island form the natural harbor.
Dave and I chose to hike through Cathedral Woods, with its tall slender trees and interlacing foliage giving a feeling of arches in a cathedral, to Little White Head overlooking Squeaker Cove with towering Black Head in the distance.
Spectacular!
My photograph below.
The painting below is in the current exhibit: White Surf, Monhegan Island, by Wilson Irvine.
Now I know where artists get their inspiration. Think I need to get busy painting.
Wilson Irvine (1869-1936) White Surf, Monhegan Island
Now its time to jump headfirst into tailgating and football.
Watch for upcoming stories from my tailgating travels. I welcome your comments, recipes and any inside information on your favorite tailgating spots.
Come celebrate with me. I’ll save you a seat at the table.
19 Comments
Thanks for a very inspiring post! Love the photos and your comments, Monhegan Island is now on my bucket list! And now, let the games begin.
Thank you Gina for your comment. Monhegan was an inspiring experience and one yu, with your talent and artist’s ege would love!
Kathy,
What a fabulous blog about Monhegan! I want to go back!
Feeling a bit like a celebrity at the moment …..I promise I won’t let it go to my head!
It was a magical visit to a magical island and most especially connecting with you and Dave………..very precious memories!
You are a star Wendy! So thrilled you like the post. All that beauty is difficult to describe. Thank you for sharing it with us.
So glad to see these great photos as the last and only time we were there it was so foggy that we could appreciate nothing but still loving Maine. Safe travels.
Wow , what beautiful pictures. I would have loved that trip and all the art work.
We visited an island off Portland, Mosier Is. with friends that own a house there
which was such a delight this summer. Your pictures were so meaningful after
being on the Maine Coast.
Keep up the great work!!!!!
Your island sounds beautiful too. We still need to visit your compound in Vermont. Maybe next summer? That would make for a great story too.
Kathy,
Loved this post. I felt like I was there with you and Dave.
On to football…looking forward to your tailgating posts. Go Vols!
Wish you had been with us Kay. Such a lovely place. Can’t wait to see you for the Tennessee Florida matchup in Knoxville. Love you and Go Vols!
These pictures are beautiful! It looks like a fabulous vacation! This brings back memories of being in New England with my mom when we’d go back in the summers to visit her family. No wonder even though she was a transplanted Californian her heart never left New England – it really is beautiful there. This makes me want to get back there again. Glad your birthday trip was so special, like YOU!!! xoxo
Thanks Heads Carolina Tails California friend! I understand about your mom’s feelings for New England and its beauty. Wish you could have been with us. Your Mom was a special person and I am glad the post triggered good memories of her. Thanks for your comment and always making sure I have my apostrophes in the right places.
Love the photos of Monhegan Island!
Thanks Gloria. Such a beautiful landscape. So different from the mountains in Vermont, but both states held great beauty and good times for us. Watch for an upcoming post on Vermont. May even include a couple of holes on the MacDonald golf course!
Oh Kathy the photos are fabulous. Looks like you had a great trip.
You have inspired us to go back to Maine.
I think the Maine tourism department should look forward to a big surge next year! The ferry ride didn’t help with the hair but that is part of the fun of it! Thanks Merle.
breath taking pics of a beautiful part of the world….I always tell me people when I go to Maine is that it is one of those places that exceeds expectations!
beautiful pics….
I agree with you Dickie! There is so much coastline with all the little fingers. I also love the lobstering and fishing backdrop. I always appreciate your comments.
Keep up your good work too. I love reading your stories From The Porch!
So glad that you and Dave got to Monhegan during your Maine trip. It’s such a special place and,being the artist that you are, I’m sure it means even more to you to have been there during that special exhibit.
It was the highlight of our trip although we loved Kennebunkport and Mt. Desert Island. Vermont was so special too!