Down East

I intended to do something significant to commemorate Allen's fiftieth birthday, but as the occasion occurred just a few weeks into the new administration and things were going badly (though in retrospect, not as badly as they would go...), I wasn't really up for party planning. So I punted. We went out for a lovely dinner and I reached out to the wives of his closest friends to see if they were interested in a joint birthday trip in the summer to celebrate their spouses' 50ths as well (well, except Nabeel, who as the baby of the group would only be celebrating his 48th). They were interested, but after a few months of throwing out dates and locations (Asheville, pre-flood; Iceland, pre-international incidents; Chicago pre-military threat...), I gave up. And then Megan suggested Maine, a long weekend in August, and made a reservation at a lovely bed and breakfast, and we were back in business. Thank you Megan!

So shortly after returning from Iowa, Allen and I left the kids (I mean, Owen is an adult) and flew off to Kennebunkport, Maine to hang with Nabeel & Megan and Joe & Cate for a collective 50th birthday (or honorary 50th for Nabeel).

Joe & Cate had flown out early for some hiking and more rustic accommodations, and so were kind enough to pick us up from the airport, before we all went out for the first of many lobster rolls.  We then headed to the Captains Collection to check in, play a little bridge and wait for Nabeel & Megan, who were driving up from Boston where Megan was visiting a friend while waiting for Nabeel to arrive from a gaming convention in Indianapolis where he and his sons debuted the new deckbuilding game they had created, and Nabeel stocked up on provisions for the weekend.

Once we were checked in, we headed to the shore to explore before dining at Mabel's Lobster Claw followed by the first night of games for the boys (Dorfromantik). Some people opted for an early walk/jog and coffee the next morning, while others of us took a more leisurely morn followed by breakfast at the hotel (breakfast sandwiches, homemade yogurt, fruit, and various pastries) before we embarked on the Marginal Way cliff walk which culminated in an ice cream break (followed by a boys' Innovation session when we got back to the hotel).

After some naps and several hours of gaming for the boys, we headed to Earth for the official belated (or prospective in the case of Nabeel) birthday dinner. As an added birthday present, the ladies joined in for a round of Oh No, We Crashed! before we left the boys to enjoy Joe's contribution to the fun fest, Deep Regrets.

When planning activities for the trip, Joe had suggested a whale watching expedition, but Allen knowing that I get horribly seas sick (though apparently not as badly as Nabeel) thought the 4 hour excursion to see whales would be rough and instead suggested a 2 hour tour closer to shore on the schooner Eleanor, built by its Captain. We agreed and got a lovely tour of the coast including a siting of the Bush Compound before heading back to land for a late lunch.

After some more nap time (and maybe some Campy Creatures?) we had our last dinner at Chez Rosa before an epic evening of sleep for some of us, and Graft for others.

The next morning we had an early breakfast at the hotel while the gamers got in one last birthday round of Innovation before enjoying Food & Wine's top rated lobster roll and heading back to our respective homes with lots of fun memories, and ironically, no Deep Regrets!

(To see all of our Maine pictures, click here.)