I would say for at least ten years now I have talked about one day having the time and money to travel through every corner of Maine taking photographs and meeting and talking with real Maine people in order to compile a photographic essay about life in Maine. I had figured out the title shortly after the state of Maine tourism people coined the slogan, “Maine, The Way Life’s Supposed to Be”. My title was going to be “Maine, The Way Life Is”.

Well, to date I don’t have the time yet nor the money to back me. I actually think I might be a bit late as well because I recall my wife saying something to me about someone else using that same title for a similar project. Such is life…….in Maine!

Yesterday, I was traveling south from Bethel. My wife wanted to visit southern Maine and maybe take a small detour down memory lane for her. She said she wanted to revisit Higgins Beach, a place where she hung out with family and friends during her high school years.

We ended up taking a few side trips visiting other places that were part of her past – Deering High School and her old home nearby.

On the ride down I got to thinking and decided that it may be years before I ever get to do my photo journal journey, so why not take pictures of some of the trips we take while summering in our home state.

Below is a small sampling of photos I took yesterday that I thought would show only one tiny side of Maine, the way life is.

I hope you enjoy them and I will make every effort to continue this series of my meanderings this summer.

A young entrepreneur sells his wares on a street leading toward the beach. I particularly was attracted to the architecture of the lemonade stand. After studying it for a while, my wife and I determined that it was purpose built.

For those who haven’t been to Higgins Beach, it is a remarkable small Maine coastal community and unique in several ways. What makes Higgins Beach unusual these days is that it has remained much like it always was – small cottages with little or no commercialism.

Unfortunately for us tourists and thrilling for the residents, it’s not very “tourist” friendly. What I mean by that is there is no place to park to get to the beach. So if you’re going, plan to walk quite a distance to get there.

As we walked down the street to get to the beach, we came across this very friendly woman who was out manicuring an absolutely gorgeous flower bed, complete with stunning poppies.

Once onto the beach, we walked the length of it coming across this architectural design by two women enjoying the day at the beach. I was most intrigued by the keeper of the gate into the castle.

From the far end of the beach sat this quaint looking little shack. To be real honest, I couldn’t tell if anyone was living there or not. There were a few boats tied up to the dock in front of it though.

We left Higgins Beach and headed down east toward Cape Elizabeth. We took a slight detour and ended up at Fort Williams, location of the Portland Head Light.

As are most New England lighthouses, the Portland Head Light if photographed my thousands of people each year.

A bronzed plaque that is mounted on a large stone on the south side of the lighthouse reads as follows:
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow often walked from Portland to visit this Lighthouse. The Keepers were his friends and it is believed he sat here for inspiration for his poem, “The Lighthouse”.
“Sail on sail on ye stately ships.
And with your floating bridge
the ocean span.
Be mine to guard this light
from all eclipse.
Be yours to bring man near
unto man.”

Navigating the rugged rocks of Fort Williams Park, these two eager fishermen hope for some unsuspecting fish while standing in the shadow of the the Portland Head Light.

Make sure to check out Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI.

Tom Remington