Searching for Norumbega

"a towne half a myle longe" which "hath many streets farr broader than any street in London" the men go naked except for skins about their middle, and wear on their arms and legs "hoopes" of gold and silver . . . "garnished with pearls, divers of them as big as one's thumb." The women wear plates of gold like armor and gold leaves about their middles, and on their limbs bracelets and leg ornaments like the men's. Their houses are round like a dovecote and are upheld by pillars of gold, silver, and crystal.

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I am not expecting a city of gold, I just want to find "That town." I remember it like it was a dream; I was with my dad, we had commissioned to have an adventure; go for a ride on the coast somewhere we hadn't been to. I remember we visited a beautiful little coastal village I hadn't realized was there. Lined with quirky and interesting shops, gallery's, cafe's and restaurants, it was bordered on two sides by water, and it resounded with a preternatural feeling of mystery.

I remember visiting a particular gallery. The owner was full of stories; Andrew Wyeth had recently visited. She pointed to a painting he said he had liked best, one of a view outside a window. He had said he liked it because he was a proponant of painting "where one is". (Or so I was told). I remember we had an ice cream as we wandered around. I circled the village twice so I wouldn't forget it.

I have been wanting to find that town again, but with no luck. At first I was convinced it was Port Clyde, but a visit last summer with my mother blew away that theory. Then I thought, oh yeah, it was Rockport.....nope! In desperation I quized my father... he couldn't remember either.

And so I am left to utilize the modern tools I have at my disposal. I have been looking all over google maps for an unexplored coastal village, an amalgamation of cafes, galleries and restaraunts that I had not yet visited between Camden and Bath. I have yet to come up with anything, going up and down the coast doing searches for cafe's, bookstores, whatever might indicate a rather civilized and interesting seaside town when it hits me; perhaps they don't want to advertise.

I have a theory about the explorer Champlain and the as yet undiscovered "City Of Gold"; Norumbega
It is simply this; Native Americans weren't stupid. They had heard what had become to other "Golden Cities", and quite intelligently refrained from showing him anything worth pillaging.

Native Mainers aren't stupid either; they know what happens when summer people move in and drive home prices through the roof. Perhaps there might be a town or two that quite intelligently refrains from selling itself to our modern day plunderers, "from away".

There are many theories on where "Norumbega" might have been, the main being situated at or near Bangor on the Penobscot. Other theories I have heard bandied about are that it might be on the Damariscotta or St George River somewhere; all around the same area I am looking for my mystery town...hmmmm....

I am going with my mother on Monday to Damariscotta to see my brother and attend a meeting. Perhaps we will go up the "River Road" to Boothbay and see where any of those mysterious looking side roads lead. There is something about that road, it feels so ancient. When I look at the area on google maps (hybrid view) I see some interesting underwater formations between east Edgecomb and East Boothbay....Hmmmm....

Ugh Orchard beach

It is best to approach Old Orchard Beach as a bit of old fashioned americana constantly trying to improve itself. It's still cheesy fun in the summer sun for the whole family, but constriction crews are still there. They finished the great Victorian building, now they are working by the pier. I hope they fix it up some. For someone who grew up in Maine, wanted to go to OOB since I was a child, yet never quite going, then living part time in Santa Monica; the Pier was a bit of an anticlimax.

I had an interesting time, however. I wandered the beaches and took pictures until the restaurants on the Pier opened. I left the Pier to eat in the park due to the noisy teenagers, played a few old time fair games at the arcarde, then perused a book store that was having a sale. (I of course, left with a book that wasn't on sale)

The main drag is also kind of nice, but I still prefer the corners and sides of OOB to the middle. Ocean Park, Pine Point and the campgrounds up the road, all have more of an interesting vibe to them.

If you want a nice, peacefull beach I would suggest Kettle Cove in Cape Elizabeth. (To get there from Portland, go up 77 towards two-lights until you get to where the road splits to go to two-lights beach. Instead of taken the road that goes to two-lights go straight, you will notice a road on your left right before an ice cream place called "Kettle Kove". Take it, you would regret it.

I had a lovely day today

First went to "Target" and the "Christmas Tree Shops" with my mom, got a small 5 dollar grill, some chairs, intriquite green pillows and fancy coffee, then we thought we would head toward Scarborough for something to eat.

We stopped at this "Clam Cake Restaraunt" with picnic tables set up on the side. I had clamcakes, a coke and fries and my mom had a baked potatoe and coslaw. It was fun sitting outside with the wind breezing through my hair, the smell of the sea on the wind and the young family across from us trying to control their cantankerous brood. I miss those "summer feelings" during Maine's long harsh winters.

On the way back we investigated something we had seen on the way. There was some parking and signs like a park, and a path with this bridge that went over a facinating marshland.(Link To Scarborough Marsh website) We parked on the way back and took a stroll up the path, only to find it littered with fishermen and their families. There was one group who seemed to have been brought in through a break in time and space, their visage a perfect Norman Rockwell circa 1950's. We left quietly so as not to disturbe the fish.

I decided in the car that the perfect summer day would include a romp on the beach, a visit to a roadside seafood joint, an ice cream and a drive-in movie.