wandering wednesday

five islands + damariscotta….it’s possible it just can’t get any better than this – at least on a sunny, dry maine summer day!

on the sheepscot river, down the peninsula is five islands – home to 2 of my favorite places – the five islands farm market and five islands lobster

this is the BEST place to provision for a day on the boat or an evening on the porch with friends – local meats + cheeses, the best of condiments + spreads and grown-right-here berries, fruits + vegetables.  i have put together some wonderful hostess or house gifts at the market – and they have their own bags which make the perfect “wrap”

unfortunately i wander on wednesdays, not fridays

around the bend and down the hill to five islands lobster co. – for a lunch with a view!  a working harbor filled with a local fleet of lobster + fishing boats and a small group of pleasure craft.  i love the dock + pier – shared with the fleet + five island lobster!

quick stop to check the view from the back porch of the grey havens inn – looks like a potential stop for a cocktail in the future

for years i have been enjoying oysters + bubbly in damariscotta – so i have no idea how i missed out on the damariscotta oyster cruise until this year.  it’s our new ‘thing’ – we can not wait to return!  the yacht of choice is the river tripper – just the right size – an incredibly knowledgable + friendly crew – loved everything about it!

the oyster ‘middens’ (piles of oyster shells left by the native population 1000+ years ago – they summered along the shores) are not part of the cruise – they are ‘up river’ – but are quite intriguing.  i have included links to a smithsonian study + the info on the historic site, which includes the access trails!  this will be a definite autumn venture (and if you’ve never been to the damariscotta pumpkin races (xl pumpkins, hollowed out in the harbor with engines!) then you may want to consider making it a weekend!

there are some awesome currents right at the bridge

this is a real geniune oyster farm – right on the river

over 80% of maine oysters come from the river!  perfect conditions.

our hostess purchasing some oysters, ‘fresh from the farm’ for our cruise

oysters + bubbly – being enjoyed with the view

well hello there!

you will learn a lot about oyster seeds, harvesting, ages, why the shells are certain shapes, oyster ancestry….and more – but somehow it just feels like an afternoon of complete relaxation!

in the boat – ready for delivery to the in town restaurants

we didn’t do any fishing – so i can’t vouch for the experience….but i will say this guy had a great boat and appeared to be a real ‘character’!

 

damariscotta river cruises

the smithsonian : mining a midden

whaleback midden historic site

a girl can never have enough oysters + bubbly….traffic was bad so we did a quick stop at row 34, portsmouth – more deliciousness – and this wonderful sparkling rose!