Part Forty

(Continued from Part Thirty-Nine)

"Could someone please explain what a crab roll is?" said Taylor.

They were driving north on U.S. 1 in Maine, along Penobscot Bay.

"It's kind of like a crab salad on a hot dog bun," said Deidre.

"What a perfect day," said Peggy. "Look how blue the water is."

"It's perfect all right, we're getting a tour of all the scenic traffic jams between Brunswick and Bar Harbor," grumbled Raoul.

"Actually, I think we missed one when we got lost in Camden," said Taylor.

"But at least we found the refrigerator magnet that Dale's wife wanted," said Peggy.

"She only has two hundred of them, poor thing," said Raoul.

"That crab roll sounds pretty good," said Taylor.

"I wonder if we can get it on toasted whole wheat," said Peggy.

"I think it's a against the law," said Deidre.

When they crossed the bridge at Belfast Peggy snapped a picture of the harbor.



"How charming," said Peggy. "I wonder what people do here."

"I think they all work in a credit card processing center," said Taylor. "I read that some company put one here because there was an abundance of cheap labor, and the people sound friendly on the phone."

When they got to Searsport Raoul stopped at a small restaurant. "Lunch, folks."

They found seats with a view of the water. Peggy noticed a large old house nearby that had been converted into an attractive bed-and-breakfast and was about to comment on it when Deidre said in a low voice, "What a small world."

"What do you mean?" asked Peggy.

"There's a man sitting at a table over there who was also in the souvenir shop where we bought the refrigerator magnet," Deidre said.

Peggy pretended to reach for her purse and glanced over her shoulder at a man wearing a Yankees baseball cap. "Of course," Peggy whispered. "He knocked over a display of plastic lobsters that sang an Elvis tune when you squeezed their claws."

"I thought I was being tortured," said Raoul.

Deidre grinned. "Then the lady fussed at him for taking too many free samples of maple candy."

"My, you two are certainly observant," said Raoul.

"I love watching people," said Deidre.

"I like drawing pictures of them," said Taylor.

Deidre looked at Taylor. "Do you think you draw a picture of my Dad while we're in Maine?"

"Um, sure. I brought my supplies with me."

Raoul frowned, "I've noticed how some portrait artists specialize in bringing out a person's least flattering qualities."

Peggy patted him on the arm. "Fortunately, you don't have any unflattering qualities."

"At least not the kind you can draw," said Raoul.

After lunch they continued their journey around Penobscot Bay. They crossed another high bridge at Bucksport and then drove south to the town of Blue Hill.

"I've always wanted to come to Blue Hill," said Raoul.

"Oh. What's here?" asked Peggy.

"A very famous chamber music festival."

"You must mean Kneisel Hall. Dirksy has been to it," said Deidre. "She says we should go to a concert if we have time."

"Let's see what's on the radio," said Raoul, reaching for the dial. "Speaking of chamber music...aah, nothing like a little Haydn with my Maine coastal landscape."

Click here to listen.

They passed through the picturesque town of Blue Hill and then over rolling hills with slopes of granite boulders and spruce forests that stretched south toward Stonington. Peggy saw signs for art galleries, blueberries, pottery shops, stone yards, jams and jellies, and homemade pies. She began a mental list of things that she wanted to do while in Maine.

"I hope we have time to pick blueberries," said Peggy.

"I'm going to need some directions," said Raoul. "Are we almost to Oyster Island?"

"It's called Osprey Island," said Peggy.

She took out a page of scribbled directions that they had received from Raoul's brother, Dale. Dale was part owner of a vacation house that happened to be vacant because the family that was scheduled to use it had to cancel. 'You'll love the view,' Dale had said.

Peggy gave directions while Raoul negotiated a series of winding roads, each one narrower and more rural than the one before it.

"When's this going to end?" asked Raoul.

Finally they approached a one-lane bridge with a stop sign. Raoul waited while an old Volvo station wagon came across from the opposite direction. The occupants waved as they passed.

"I wonder if that's the Crannies," said Peggy.

"Who?" said Taylor.

"The Crannies have the house next to Uncle Dale's house," said Deidre.

"I heard they have about thirty children," said Raoul.

"It's several different families, all related, I believe," said Peggy.

Raoul crossed the bridge and then drove onto a narrow black-top road. "We're officially on Oyster Island."

"It's Osprey Island," Peggy said. "Don't start making fun of things." After half a mile, Peggy held up her hand. "Okay turn right onto this driveway."

"What driveway?"

"Right there. See the little dirt road."

"I think that's a footpath."

"It's a driveway."

Raoul sighed as he eased the car onto the dirt-and-gravel surface and then drove slowly down a long one-lane driveway. Rocks crunched under the wheels as they glided beneath a dark canopy of spruce trees broken up occasionally by brilliant shafts of sunlight.

"It's like an enchanted forest," said Deidre.

The driveway split in several directions, and Peggy directed Raoul down the middle road. They drove passed moss-covered boulders, tall green ferns and fallen logs. After several more turns, they came upon a house perched on a bluff overlooking a body of blue water.

"That must be Indian Cove," said Peggy.

"Wow. We're actually staying here?" said Taylor.

"Awesome," said Deidre.

They got out of the car and walked across a grassy yard toward the house and the water.

"The only sound I hear is the lapping of the water against the rocks," said Peggy dreamily. She breathed deeply and closed her eyes.

"And a slight breeze through the trees," said Taylor.

Raoul shook his head. "I can't believe my brother would even consider a place like this. It has no tee-shirt shops and bad restaurants."

"Actually," said Deidre. "I heard Uncle Dale got it for dirt cheap."

"That figures," said Raoul. "Wouldn't it be funny if it didn't have electricity or running water?"

"He would've told us that," said Deidre.

"Look," said Peggy, "a lobster boat."



"Perfect timing," said Raoul. "I'm ready for dinner. Let's go investigate the house."

TO BE CONTINUED