does it get much better than this?

Lakes are amazing. Mountains are amazing. Oceans are amazing. Put all of them together, and you get Maine. Seeing the water with mountains as a backdrop is absolutely spectacular, and, once you truly stop and think about it, is a fairly rare combination throughout much of our world. I have been so fortunate to spend the last 3 weeks here.

[daytime]

[nighttime]

[kayak = LOVE of my life]

[Portland]

[spectacular rocky ocean coastline]

[Camden]

[helping raise the sails on Schooner Appledore on the Penobscot Bay]

The transition back to "normal" life is always slightly difficult after all of this. For example, I must finally come to terms with the fact that a diet consisting primarily of blueberry pie, granola bars, roasted marshmallows, and frozen Twix is not going to truly sustain me. Also, I have to start wearing real clothes instead of nothing but my bathing suit all day every day. I have to swap my bare feet for real shoes and take an actual shower instead of just a dip in the lake...

I could stay here forever, but I am ready for my next big adventures - a wedding in Mississippi and a week in Sumpango, Guatemala with my favorite kids in the world. Wish me luck; the rest of my summer schedule is absolute madness, especially after a relaxing escape to Maine. But I know it's going to be greater than I can even imagine.

Until next time.