A quick trip to Maine.

Brendon has camp this week - in Maine! Normally, Katie would have driven him over. Maybe even Katie and Savanna together. But this is not a normal time. Katie's place is at Savanna's side. So Ellen and I brought him over yesterday. We took Katie's Prius and left Shutesbury Sunday morning a little after nine. We were headed for Pilgrim Lodge, a U.C.C. camp belonging to the Maine Conference, located on Lake Cobbosseecontee, near W. Gardiner, about 50 miles due west of where Jim and Mary live. It was about a 4-hour drive. plus we stopped at Bob's Clam Hut for lunch. We arrived at camp between 2:30 and 3:00 - perfect! Brendon got unloaded and registered while we looked around, took some pictures, met some staff. It's old-fashioned (100 years old), but very well maintained. This week is a special "Pride" camp, and Brendon seemed happy. We hope he has a wonderful week.

The "Welcome Committee" of staff greeting and registering campers.

The main room of the lodge - which gives a feel for the overall ambiance of the camp - sort of a "Teddy Roosevelt" era camp.

Ellen in front of the dining hall.

A boardwalk connects the cabins along the shore of the lake.

Brendon in front of his cabin.

A view of the lake from the boardwalk.

Not sure if this boat is merely decorative or is actually taken out on the lake.

The "Pride" banner greeting campers.************************* After we said goodbye to Brendon, we headed over to Owl's Head - Route 17 much of the way - a route familiar from other trips, especially when Mary lived in Hope, ME. It took about an hour and a half to get there, maybe a bit less than that. We went to "Claws" Lobster Hut, overlooking Rockland Harbor, for supper. I got steamed clams, my usual order there, but this time they were unusually gritty and tough. I couldn't finish them. Then we went home and watched Season 8 of "Grantchester" on PBS Masterpiece. Unusually dark episode. As was Saturday night, when we watched the conclusion of "Titanic," which is one of Brendon's favorite movies. I had never seen it before. We had watched the first part of it earlier in the week. The conclusion was harrowing as the ship tilted upright and sank. Jack does not survive, but Rose does and lives a long life, unmarried. The movie ends with her death-bed vision of being re-united with Jack.