We are all settled in now and oriented here on Bailey Island. This whole Maine coastline is a series of hundreds of small islands, some connected by bridges and some only accessible by boat. Bailey Island is part of the Town of Harpswell. Harpswell encompasses several islands and part of the mainland. To get to Bailey Island we go through the city of Brunswick and along Highway 24 over Seabascodegan Island to Orr's Island and from Orr's Island we go over the unusual Cribstone Bridge, past Morse's Lobster Shack and finally on to Bailey Island and our house on Fathom Lane.
The house is very comfortable with a large kitchen/dining/living room, half bath and a separate tv room on the first floor and 4 bedrooms and a full bath on the second floor. This used to be the Almeida family camp where they would spend their summers. The family owned a very large parcel of land here, but over the years some has been sold off and split up between family members. Our hostess, Jane Almeida, has done a nice job of updating and modernizing the house and now we have nice granite counters in the kitchen, wonderful double paned windows throughout the house, beautiful wood floors. The decor is light and airy and the furniture and arrangement comfortable. I love the big wrap-around deck and the privacy provided by many trees. Jane's house is just down the hill about 100 yards, but we seldom see her
. In the yard we have a nice table with sun umbrella and a bar-be-que. There is also an outdoor shower and an outbuilding where we can keep our bikes. Our yard is often visited by some enormous wild turkeys and we can hear them gobble and watch them open their tails to scare us off when they notice us trying to sneak out on the porch to take a photo.
At this time of year it is pretty quiet down here. About 35% of the houses on the island are for sale and about 50% are advertising summertime rental offers. I am guessing that only about 35% of the homes here are year-round residents. Don and I both really like that everybody flies their American Flags and we see them lining the one road on the island, fluttering beautifully in the sea breeze.
The big issue here on Baily Island is the imminent sale and closure of one of the two decent beaches on the island, Cedar Beach. Most of the shore is rocky and there are very few usable beaches on the island. Cedar Beach is the largest and nicest beach on the island. Our host tells us that there is a very large piece of land around the beach that is currently owned by one man. He has decided to sell the land, but the buyer intends to close off access to the beach and this has caused a community uprising. Private roads and beache seems to be a common occurrence here. ( We are spoiled in California by the Coastal Access Law which gives the public access to beaches and forbids private ownership.) At least 50% of the homes on the island and many homes on Orr's Island display signs-- "Save Cedar Beach" and "Let's Not Lose Another Beach"--and feelings are strong on the subject We have not been to Cedar Beach because of all of the "Private Drive" signs posted all around the access road. We don't want to get in trouble.
We did ride our bikes down to the end of the road--Land's End--to visit the other beach, which is small, but nice. There is a memorial to Lobstermen there, with a statue. Don keeps telling me he is so glad he didn't have to be a fisherman or a lobsterman for his living. It is a hard, cold, wet life and can be dangerous too. Just watch "Deadliest Catch" if you want to sympathize with ocean fishermen. In spite of the numerous summer rentals there are few activities on offer to tourists. There are a few restaurants and one gift shop, a bit of hiking and the small beach with very little parking available. So, even though I think a lot of their economy is related to tourism, they don't seem to be offering much to tourists.
The house is very comfortable with a large kitchen/dining/living room, half bath and a separate tv room on the first floor and 4 bedrooms and a full bath on the second floor. This used to be the Almeida family camp where they would spend their summers. The family owned a very large parcel of land here, but over the years some has been sold off and split up between family members. Our hostess, Jane Almeida, has done a nice job of updating and modernizing the house and now we have nice granite counters in the kitchen, wonderful double paned windows throughout the house, beautiful wood floors. The decor is light and airy and the furniture and arrangement comfortable. I love the big wrap-around deck and the privacy provided by many trees. Jane's house is just down the hill about 100 yards, but we seldom see her
At this time of year it is pretty quiet down here. About 35% of the houses on the island are for sale and about 50% are advertising summertime rental offers. I am guessing that only about 35% of the homes here are year-round residents. Don and I both really like that everybody flies their American Flags and we see them lining the one road on the island, fluttering beautifully in the sea breeze.
The big issue here on Baily Island is the imminent sale and closure of one of the two decent beaches on the island, Cedar Beach. Most of the shore is rocky and there are very few usable beaches on the island. Cedar Beach is the largest and nicest beach on the island. Our host tells us that there is a very large piece of land around the beach that is currently owned by one man. He has decided to sell the land, but the buyer intends to close off access to the beach and this has caused a community uprising. Private roads and beache seems to be a common occurrence here. ( We are spoiled in California by the Coastal Access Law which gives the public access to beaches and forbids private ownership.) At least 50% of the homes on the island and many homes on Orr's Island display signs-- "Save Cedar Beach" and "Let's Not Lose Another Beach"--and feelings are strong on the subject We have not been to Cedar Beach because of all of the "Private Drive" signs posted all around the access road. We don't want to get in trouble.
We did ride our bikes down to the end of the road--Land's End--to visit the other beach, which is small, but nice. There is a memorial to Lobstermen there, with a statue. Don keeps telling me he is so glad he didn't have to be a fisherman or a lobsterman for his living. It is a hard, cold, wet life and can be dangerous too. Just watch "Deadliest Catch" if you want to sympathize with ocean fishermen. In spite of the numerous summer rentals there are few activities on offer to tourists. There are a few restaurants and one gift shop, a bit of hiking and the small beach with very little parking available. So, even though I think a lot of their economy is related to tourism, they don't seem to be offering much to tourists.
You two aren't the normal tourists. You make your own adventures.
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