A rest haven in Maine

We met Jane and Gene in the State Park in New Orleans and they invited us to visit them in Maine.  That was in early February and it has taken us this long to get here, but it was worth it.  They live on a lakeside in a house they built themselves in Augusta, the capital of Maine.  The house is located in a beautifully tranquil setting.  They are being very kind to us and showing us the locale.

A shot of the house from the lake.

Andrew, Gene and Jane at the picnic table down by the lake.

An unobscured view of the house with our hosts and Andrew on the stairs.

Andrew kayaking on the lake.  Jane just hops in one when the fancy takes her.  The lake is about three miles long and there is an eagle's nest in the tree on one of the many islands in the lake.  It freezes over in winter, and the ice is hard enough to drive on.  They have snow mobile drag races across.

Here is the two of them going off into the distance.

A woodpecker looking for ants in the woodchip pile.

Jane and Gene's house in winter.  Jane sent me this photo so I can add it to the blog even though we are not there to actually see it.

Jane served us an unusual vegetable - fiddleheads. We have never heard of them as they are a local vegetable which grows wild. They are the top of a fern before they uncurl. You just boil them and butter and a little vinegar is nice on them.  Not unlike spinach.

Jane promised me clam chowder and she was as good as her word.  I love clam chowder and I plan to sample a few more between here and Canada. Her chowder was made with fresh clams not with canned ones which is the more usual way.

Augusta river front on the Kennebeck River.  It is a small city, only 18,560 population.

A nice looking church.