A trip to Monhegan

Monhegan Island lies about 10 miles off the coast of Maine. It has long been a summer destination of artists including Hopper, Rockwell Kent and the Wyeths. I had wanted to go since I saw the Hopper exhibition last August and, after a thwarted attempt in October, we finally got to go! This time, Theresa booked us a night at The Island Inn so we wouldn't have to rush round like mad things. After all the rain last week, we woke to bright sunshine on Saturday and headed to Boothbay to catch the ferry.

The peace and serenity began as soon as the boat left the harbour and we sat on the top deck soaking up the sun. We arrived on the island, left our bags at the inn and set off with a trail map through the village,

into the woods

and emerged on the other side of the island where we were met with the landscapes Hopper and other painters have made so famous. A great spot for a picnic!

 

Then we headed south around the island, clambering up and down the rocky shore and taking in the much painted Monhegan shipwreck and the signs of Maine Island life. 

 

 

Beautiful but exhausting. Time for some nibbles in an adirondack soaking up the last of the day's sunshine before watching the sunset from the restaurant windows. It's a hard life but someone's got to do it!

 

Amazingly, I managed to drag my butt out of bed and over to the other side of the island for another 4:50am sunrise. The effort was rewarded almost instantly by a sighting of a porpoise playing in the sea below the cliffs and not another soul was about.

 

I have to confess I went back to my comfortable bed for a while before enjoying a wonderful breakfast, time exploring the galleries and basking in the sunshine gazing out over the harbour.

 

All too soon it was time to leave but a wonderful weekend in a special place with an amazing friend. 

Thank you Theresa! One day, we'll be back...