The Maine Event

Molly and the twins were visiting her mother inexploiting the fact that I had the rest of the day free.
California. Unfortunately, I couldn't join them due toAs I explored the quaint historic Old Port district along
work and a series of important business meeting thatPortland Harbor, I gave in momentarily to a touch of
would take me up to Portland for three days. Don't getguilt, and stopped in at a jewelry store, where I earned
me wrong, this was not going to be a great hardship. Ifuture credits by purchasing my wife a bracelet made
had heard that October in Southern Maine is awith Maine tourmalines.
beautiful time of year, and my schedule promised toWith my twin infant daughters completely out of
keep some mornings and afternoons free for a touchhearing range, I slept like a dream. The next morning it
of hard-earned R & R. I love my wife and kids dearly,was time to pay a bit of fun tax with three hours of
but that's not to say that the prospect of some solomeetings. But then I was on the go once again. Time
time didn't have a certain gilt-edged appeal.for some recreation with my buddy from the long box,
It was one of those perfect picture-postcard autumnand an afternoon spent kayaking in and around the
afternoons when I pulled out of my driveway with myspectacular islands of Casco Bay. The highlight was,
kayak in the bed of my 2007 Chevy Silverado, andwithout doubt, a close-up view of Portland Head Light
headed out of Boston. I couldn't help whistling alongStation from the ocean. Visited by more than one
with Bob Seger as "Here I am On the Road Again"million people per year, this George
rang out crystal clear from the stereo around theWashington-commissioned lighthouse is said to be the
extended cab. With the open highway before me, Imost photographed lighthouse on the planet. Now, I fully
was thoroughly enveloped by a feeling of unbridledunderstand why.
freedom.The next couple of days were spent making business
The extraordinary spectacle of the changing treesdeals, discovering a thousand unusual things you can
gave way to the unspoiled landscapes and ruggeddo with a lobster and taking self-guided walking tours
beauty of the Casco Bay region of Greater Portland. Iof Portland's fascinating neighborhoods. When my feet
have to say; I was having such a good time in mycould no longer the pace, I spent time in the Silverado
Chevrolet Silverado that I was almost disappointedexploring a little further a field among the breathtaking
that the 110-mile journey was not a little longer. Nestledmountains and picturesque lakes of Southern Maine.
between the forest-covered mountains andAlas, all good things come to an end, and before I
spectacular rugged coast of Southern Maine, Portlandknew it, I was back on the road bound for Boston.
offers a vibrancy and sense of history that's inspiring.Business had been great, leisure had been even better,
This was my first visit, and I immediately got a senseand best of all, Molly and the twins were back at
of what people from the region refer to as "Mainehome, waiting eagerly to hear all about it.
mystique."Author Bio: Eric Donahue is a businessman who loves
Naturally the first order of business after checking intothe outdoors. Eric is fortunate enough to travel a lot for
my hotel was a date with a succulent lobster. Foodbusiness, and likes to write about his meanderings
tastes better with a view, so I picked Demillo's, locatedaround the country. He contributes to travel sites online,
aboard a converted ferry car on the Portlandand is often out there in cyberspace voicing his opinion
waterfront. An hour later, with a belly full of lobster tailon Chevrolet truck forums.
and a huge smile on my face, I was hard at work