JUNE 20, 2015
Signpost in Kennebunkport, Maine.
ABOUT THE KENNEBUNKS. We’ve all heard about President Bush 41’s summer home at Kennebunkport in Maine. So what’s with the title to this post, “The Kennebunks?” Here’s the deal. First a thriving port and busy shipbuilding center, and then a summer retreat for the wealthy, the Kennybunks are made up of two villages, Kennebunkport and Kennebunk. Are you tongue-tied, yet? I thought so.
GETTING THERE. We took a day trip from the RV park where we stayed in New Hampshire. The park is located at a geographic apex which puts New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts all within a stone’s throw of one another. So while camping at one place, we were able to see the sights in three separate states. And without much driving, either.
THE JOKE’S ON US. When we left this morning, the sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It looked as if the temps would probably be in the 80’s by mid-day, so we didn’t even bother to take jackets. Within a half hour, we were in a driving rainstorm, vowing never to leave “home” again without being more prepared. Yet within another 15 minutes the sun was shining again, and the sky was robin-egg blue. There’s a joke about the weather in Maine: “If you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute.” How true.
South Congregational Church in Kennebunkport.
DRIVING TAKES ITS TOLL. And then there are the toll roads. The turnpikes in New England are perfectly engineered and well maintained. Smooth surfaces, clearly defined lanes, generously sized on-ramps and manicured landscaping are the norm. But all of this driving convenience comes with a price. Every 5 or 10 miles there are toll booths, and fares for the Jeep range between $1 and $4. Driving to and from Kennebunkport cost us $22 in tolls. The motorhome gets whacked for about $13 a clip. If we’d been driving it, I’d have needed to stop at an ATM! Driving in New England gets a bit pricy!
THE VILLAGES. In Kennebunkport, the profusion of magnificent homes is evidence of the fortunes made in shipbuilding here in the 1800’s. It’s an affluent community, with upscale restaurants, art galleries and boutique shops loaded with tempting wares and gifts. And as always, the town has one stand-out church. Here it’s the First Congregational Church, a photographer’s dream with its 100-foot-tall steeple and belfry. And next door in Kennebunk there’s more prime real estate. One example is “the wedding cake house,” supposedly the most photographed house in the state of Maine. The “wedding cake” name was applied to the house because according to legend, a busy sea captain did the carpentry in the shape of a cake to atone for not taking his bride on a proper honeymoon.
The Wedding Cake House in Kennebunk.
CAPE PORPOISE AND THE GOAT ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE.
Cape Porpoise, close to Goat Island where the lighthouse is located, is a small, quiet fishing and artist community where you can get fresh lobster right off the boats. The lighthouse is one of 63 lights that dot Maine’s coastline. Some are accessible from the mainland and others are perched on islands, offshore. During the presidency of Bush ’41, federal secret service agents lived at Goat Island to keep a watchful eye on the area when the President would visit his summer home in Kennebunkport. Click through this gallery to see the lighthouse, the bay and the little fishing community.
CLICK THROUGH THE IMAGES TO SEE THE LIGHTHOUSE AND THE LITTLE CAPE PORPOISE FISHING COMMUNITY.
THE BUSH COMPOUND. When we left Cape Porpoise, we took a leisurely drive along Ocean Avenue and stopped for a surprisingly good view of the Bush compound at Walker’s Point. The property has been owned by the Bush family for generations and most recently has been the summer retreat for President Bush ’41. The home is located on a strikingly beautiful, rugged spit of land jutting into the Atlantic Ocean. Barbara Bush’s 90th birthday is Monday and she’s obviously adored by her neighbors…we saw several hand-painted “Happy Birthday, Barbara” signs in front of multi-million dollar oceanfront homes in the neighborhood. We have powerful long-lenses for our cameras, and could see some of the Bush family members in the yard, presumably assembled for Mrs. Bush’s birthday celebration.
CLICK THROUGH THE IMAGES TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE BUSH COMPOUND.
BARBARA BUSH CELEBRATED HER 90TH BIRTHDAY AT KENNEBUNKPORT.
Our visit to Kennebunkport coincided with Barbara Bush’s 90th birthday. According to the local press, the entire Bush clan assembled at the Compound for a celebration. Even though the landscape and security is set up so tourists like us can’t get very close to the Compound on the point, our long camera lenses are powerful enough that we were able to not only see the home very clearly from across the bay, but even so powerful that we saw some of the family walking around the grounds enjoying the view. I can understand that. No matter how often one had a chance to experience this beautiful place, the view would never become routine…it’s really a breathtakingly beautiful spot.
Barbara Bush has a lot of friends in Kennebunkport, as she does everywhere. She turns 90 on Monday and some of her neighbors posted this sign where they were sure she’d see it.
ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN KENNEBUNKPORT
St. Anne’s is an historic seaside chapel located in Kennebunkport., near the Bush compound on Walker’s Point. The family has been involved with this church for many years. Built in 1886 – 1887 using large, local sea-washed stones, it’s a sought-after placement for Episcopal Priests and Bishops.
The Bush family attends services at this beautiful church near the compound at Walker’s Point.
IF I WERE PRESIDENT. If I were President of the United States and was looking for a place to chill during the summer, I’d definitely pick an oceanfront place in Kennebunkport. The area is as picture-perfect as any I’ve ever seen. And by now on our Journey, I’ve seen some pretty special places!
WHAT’S NEXT ?
We’ve arrived at Minuteman RV Resort just outside Boston and our motorhome is nestled under dozens of tall pine trees on a site “at the intersection of Flintlock Road and Revolution Ridge.” Very appropriate, considering our location. We’re encamped on some very hallowed ground! From here we’ll visit Salem, Concord and of course Boston…three of the most historically important cities in America. This should be fun!
JOIN US AGAIN SOON. OUR ADVENTURE CONTINUES.
