The Maine Event
by ERIC DONAHUE
Molly and the twins were visiting her mother in California. Unfortunately, I couldn��t join them due to work and a series of important business meeting that would take me up to Portland for three days. Don��t get me wrong, this was not going to be a great hardship. I had heard that October in Southern Maine is a beautiful time of year, and my schedule promised to keep some mornings and afternoons free for a touch of hard-earned R & R. I love my wife and kids dearly, but that��s not to say that the prospect of some solo time didn��t have a certain gilt-edged appeal.
It was one of those perfect picture-postcard autumn afternoons when I pulled out of my driveway with my kayak in the bed of my 2007 Chevy Silverado, and headed out of Boston. I couldn��t help whistling along with Bob Seger as ��Here I am On the Road Again�� rang out crystal clear from the stereo around the extended cab. With the open highway before me, I was thoroughly enveloped by a feeling of unbridled freedom.
The extraordinary spectacle of the changing trees gave way to the unspoiled landscapes and rugged beauty of the Casco Bay region of Greater Portland. I have to say; I was having such a good time in my Chevrolet Silverado that I was almost disappointed that the 110-mile journey was not a little longer. Nestled between the forest-covered mountains and spectacular rugged coast of Southern Maine, Portland offers a vibrancy and sense of history that��s inspiring. This was my first visit, and I immediately got a sense of what people from the region refer to as ��Maine mystique.��
Naturally the first order of business after checking into my hotel was a date with a succulent lobster. Food tastes better with a view, so I picked Demillo��s, located aboard a converted ferry car on the Portland waterfront. An hour later, with a belly full of lobster tail and a huge smile on my face, I was hard at work exploiting the fact that I had the rest of the day free. As I explored the quaint historic Old Port district along Portland Harbor, I gave in momentarily to a touch of guilt, and stopped in at a jewelry store, where I earned future credits by purchasing my wife a bracelet made with Maine tourmalines.
With my twin infant daughters completely out of hearing range, I slept like a dream. The next morning it was time to pay a bit of fun tax with three hours of meetings. But then I was on the go once again. Time for some recreation with my buddy from the long box, and an afternoon spent kayaking in and around the spectacular islands of Casco Bay. The highlight was, without doubt, a close-up view of Portland Head Light Station from the ocean. Visited by more than one million people per year, this George Washington-commissioned lighthouse is said to be the most photographed lighthouse on the planet. Now, I fully understand why.
The next couple of days were spent making business deals, discovering a thousand unusual things you can do with a lobster and taking self-guided walking tours of Portland��s fascinating neighborhoods. When my feet could no longer the pace, I spent time in the Silverado exploring a little further a field among the breathtaking mountains and picturesque lakes of Southern Maine.
Alas, all good things come to an end, and before I knew it, I was back on the road bound for Boston. Business had been great, leisure had been even better, and best of all, Molly and the twins were back at home, waiting eagerly to hear all about it.
Author Bio: Eric Donahue is a businessman who loves the outdoors. Eric is fortunate enough to travel a lot for business, and likes to write about his meanderings around the country. He contributes to travel sites online, and is often out there in cyberspace voicing his opinion on Chevrolet truck forums. For more information on the Chevy Tahoe visit mainedriveschevyportland.com.
