A Bit of Exploring…

Back to our August trip to the northeastern USA!  Following our morning visit to the Boothbay Railway Village and our lengthy boat tour along the coast of Maine and up the Kennebec River, it was time for a snack…

This is Kaler’s Restaurant, one view from our tour boat as we docked and a second view from Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor… One telling measurement of a restaurant, especially in a tourist town, is just how long they’ve managed to stay in business.  In 2018, Kaler’s celebrated its twentieth anniversary!

This is part of the inside dining area at Kaler’s Restaurant.  There is also a nice outdoor deck set up for diners that overlooks Boothbay Harbor and all of its activity.  The restaurant is heavy on that warm woody feel…

After being outside in the warm sun on a boat for more than 2 hours, we both felt like having a beer.  I had a smooth Finder IPA brewed by Shipyard Brewing Company in Portland Maine. ($5.00) To learn more about Shipyard Brewing and its Portland Tasting Room, go to https://shipyard.com/beer/.

Laurie went for a more distinctive brew…a pilsner named Engine No. 2 from Boothbay Craft Brewery in Boothbay Maine. ($5.00) To learn more about Boothbay Craft Brewery, its beers, tavern and its related business ventures, just go to https://www.boothbaycraftbrewery.com/beers.  

We weren’t very hungry, it was too late for lunch and too early for dinner…so we decided to just settle down with our beers and a mid-day snack.  One choice was the Maine Crab Dip…cheesy and quite tasty. ($11.00) I added Tabasco to each chip and dip and I was a happy camper.

Laurie loves mussels so this order of Garlic Mussels was right up her alley. ($10.00) They were nice and garlicky too!  We used those rolls to mop up all the good garlicky liquid in the bottom of the dish…

My better half has told me numerous times that I just have slits for eyes and that I would see better, if I just opened them up as much as I could.  So she took this selfie while we were snacking at Kaler’s Restaurant.  I personally just don’t think that this is a great look for me so I’ll continue with my ‘slitty’ eyes.

Kaler’s Restaurant is located at 48 Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor Maine. (Note: Kaler’s is currently closed for the winter) Phone: 207-633-5839.  Website: http://www.kalerslobster.com/.

This is a photo showing part of the center or downtown of Boothbay Harbor.  The town has a year around population of about 2,170 but in season, you’d think that it was a much larger town.

Originally settled in the late 1600s, the town was called Townsend after a British Viscount of the same name.  Despite attacks by Native Americans and predations during the French and Indian Wars…followed by damage by marauding British sailors during the American Revolution, the settlement and town survived.  One big factor was its large, deep and well protected harbor.  In bad weather, the harbor could provide shelter for between 400 and 500 vessels.  The town was renamed Boothbay in 1842 and then in 1889, Boothbay Harbor separated and established a separate entity. 

This is the Pythian Opera House at 86 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor.  At the time of its construction in 1894, it dominated the village’s skyline.  This building has had and is referred to by several names and it’s served a number of functions.  Both the Knights of Pythias and the Freemasons met here.  In addition, it served as a meeting hall, a cultural event center and it also housed the town’s government offices. 

These days, the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor has been refurbished and it now serves as a performance venue and event center for the town.  It has a busy schedule.  You can check out what’s happening at the Opera House on their website at http://boothbayoperahouse.com/. 

Leaving Boothbay Harbor and Boothbay behind, I decided that we’d just drive up and down the peninsula’s that define the rugged Maine coastline. 

As we drove into the town of Newcastle I discovered the old Newcastle Maine Central Railroad combination depot.  This passenger/freight depot was built back in 1871…but it looks a little forlorn at this point.  There was a 2015 MERR schedule and other information posted on one wall of the building but other than that, there wasn’t any sign of activity.

Note:

·         The Maine Eastern Railroad (MERR) operated along coastal Maine between the towns of Brunswick and Rockland.  They connected with Amtrak’s ‘Downeaster’ passenger train and Pan Am Railways at Brunswick.  However, the State of Maine didn’t renew the operating contract with MERR…and service ceased at the end of 2105.

This is a view of the center of Newcastle Maine. (Population about 1,730) The village of Newcastle together with the village of Damariscotta are linked by the Main Street Bridge and they form what is referred to as the Twin Villages.

  

Note:

·         Newcastle was originally referred to as Sheepscot Plantation.  It was initially settled in the 1630’s by fishermen and about 50 families.  In 1665 the town was claimed by the Duke of York and it was renamed New Dartmouth.  It was destroyed by Native Americans in 1676 during King Philip’s War and then again in 1689 during King William’s War.  After that, it was not reoccupied for ca. 40 years.

This is the Lincoln Theater in Damariscotta Maine.  The theater was built in 1875.   Its mission was to serve as a public building for Lincoln County.  It was used for fire company drills, balls, graduations, dances, charitable benefits, temperance meetings, town meetings and conventions.  At one time the circular wooden floor was used for roller skating.  Plays were presented too.  In the 1920s, the building was refurbished to show motion pictures.

 

Today the Lincoln Theater is owned by its resident theater troupe, Lincoln County Community Theater and Orchestra.  The theater offers plays, movies, music and special events.  You can see what’s happening at the theater by going to http://www.lcct.org/playing-now.aspx.

From Newcastle/Damariscotta we wandered along, following side roads down ME Hwy 130 to Hog Island and the town of New Harbor, then back up ME Hwy 32 to Waldoboro.  Essentially, the area we covered is a peninsula between the Damariscotta River to the west and Muscongus Bay to the east.  Somewhere along the line I took the photos of a busy harbor/working waterfront and fishing boats hauled up on the shore.

The daylight was fading somewhat when we rejoined US Hwy 1 at Waldoboro Maine.  I couldn’t have taken a better route!  We joined the highway close to Moody’s Diner and it was time for dinner. 

Moody’s began with 3 cabins and no diner in 1928.  Today, 90 years later, this enterprise features 18 cabins and rooms as well as the iconic 104 seat diner.  This operation has some serious longevity! 

The dining room at Moody’s looks just like any other diner, with lots of wood, booths and linoleum floors, etc., except it’s much larger.  You will note that it was very busy.  There was a wait for a table… 

How many youngsters have seen one of these?  It’s an actual ‘antique’ pay phone booth!  The sign tacked up inside reads “Pay phone is no longer in service.  Phone booth is now solely nostalgic.”

Moody’s founders were Percy and Bertha Moody.  After those first 3 cabins, they opened a small tea room and shortly after that they opened a lunch wagon.  That lunch wagon has been greatly expanded, becoming the diner that is in operation now.  Moody’s is still owned and operated by the Moody family, with around 2 dozen of them still involved in the business today.

I was very tempted to pick up a couple of these prepackaged desserts to go!  As you can see, the counter was loaded with them… Whoopie pies (2 varieties), homemade donuts, cinnamon rolls, cake, cookies, cheesecake and more… My knees went weak, but with Laurie’s support I managed to leave Moody’s without any of these goodies!

The menu at Moody’s is long and ranges from seafood platters to liver and onions, fried tripe and chicken croquettes.  There are sandwiches of all types, burgers, pasta and there are daily specials too!  When’s the last time that you saw American Chop Suey on a menu?

Then we saw that they serve most breakfast from open to close.  Laurie ordered the 2 Egg Breakfast with Toast and Bacon with a side of Home Fries. ($6.98) The price was right and the breakfast was just fine.  However, we just aren’t big on home fries…anywhere. 

I almost never order pancakes but what the heck!  Nothing like a good carb load to put one to sleep after a busy day… It was blueberry season with roadside stands selling them everywhere, so I ordered a stack of Blueberry Pancakes ($5.29) and I couldn’t resist a side order, which was a Cheddarworst Sausage. ($2.99) The pancakes were very tasty and the sausage was OK.  I just had to try the latter but it would have worked better with eggs and potatoes. 

By the time we left it was dark out but Moody’s Diner was still very busy.  They only stay open until 9 PM and it had to be after 8 PM when we left.  The restaurant really stands out at night!

Moody’s is an experience in itself…with above average diner food.  If you’re in the area you need to check it out!  Moody’s Diner and Motel is located at 1885 Atlantic Highway (US Hwy 1) in Waldoboro Maine.  Phone: 207-832-7785.  Their website and expansive menu can be found at https://moodysdiner.com/.

That’s all for now… Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave