A couple days ago Jason Gendron and I decided to go on a cruise in Casco Bay. We quickly sketched out some plans and Jason invited the rest of the Maine Flickr Meetup Group.

This morning the girls and I met Jason for breakfast at the Palace Diner in Biddeford. It was excellent, as usual! After Jason left I met a couple guys my age and enjoyed a conversation about iPhones and education (they both had iPhones and one was a local elementary school principal).

Breakfast at the Palace Diner in Biddeford

After breakfast we washed the car before driving to the ferry terminal in Portland. The girls always enjoy the automated car wash so I procrastinated until they could be with me. They were not disappointed and giggled the entire time.

The girls LOVE to go through the automatic carwash

We met Jason, David and Bob at the ferry terminal. Because the sky was overcast and the weather colder than forecast we decided to go only as far as Long Island. We bought our tickets and embarked Aucocisco III at Gate 3.

The girls got a table inside and read books while the rest of us braved the frigid windy cold to capture photographs. The ferry made several stops before we disembarked.

Photo: David Chu

Photo: Bob Delaney

Skye braves the cold on the deck of Aucocisco III

Photo: David Chu

Portland Head Light and Spring Point Ledge Light

Hayley inside the Casco Bay Ferry Aucocisco III

Jenna braves the cold as we pass island in Casco Bay

Photo: David Chu

Photo: David Chu

At Long Island we found a small store. The shopkeeper was a very nice lady who gave us fresh coffee and allowed us to photograph everything. Bob wanted decaf but there wasn’t any brewed since their only decaf drinker was not on the island. She made a pot especially for Bob. From the store we walked up a hill a short distance until we found an old fire truck parked in the snow. It was weathered and rusty and perfect as a photography subject. We explored and photographed every detail. Before long it was time to head back to the dock so we wouldn’t miss the ferry back to Portland.

Our ferry, the Aucocisco III

Snickers and David Chu

Photo: David Chu

The girls and old lobster pots at Long Island, Maine

David (and Bob) tried his first Moxie on Long Island today

Share the road, with everything

And old firetruck at Long Island, Maine

Jason shoots David through the tube

The girls at Long Island, Maine in Casco Bay

Bob, Jason and David are dedicated to the craft

Photo: David Chu

It was great to hang out with the guys, smell the salty sea air and take over 300 photographs. On the way to Portland Skye said, “I like Maine better than Kansas. In Kansas you can’t ride a ferry.” I like Maine better, too.