In an attempt to prolong summer and to ease the unexpected pangs of homesickness I feel from no longer having the family home, I have been treating myself to fun excursions and some delicious food.

Luckily, not every item on my summer list got checked off, so what better time to go places than early fall?

In fact, like a real tourist, I’ve even sent postcards of the places I’ve been to my Aunt Joyce in Mississippi. I laugh to myself, hoping they’re not “postcards from the edge”!

An early excursion involved going to the Old Port. With no cruise ships in port, I was able to walk around Exchange and Commercial streets, basking in the glorious weather and stopping at Bill’s Pizza for a slice of pizza. It was the closest I’d get to Old Orchard Beach, I thought.

But, actually, it wasn’t. Early in October, I drove out to Pine Point for an ice cream at Bayley’s (actually twice) and then headed toward Old Orchard Beach. Although I knew the busy season was over, I was amazed at how deserted the town was.

On a whim one Saturday I went to Arundel to the outdoor flea market. It was so much fun, and I found some cute valentines. Afterward, I drove on to Kennebunkport and walked around. Crowded! It turned out there were several tour buses that day. However, it was definitely fall as one store had an outdoors Halloween display.

Closer to home, my friend Diane came to South Portland one Sunday and we had delicious eggs Benedict on the porch at Joe’s Boathouse.

More recently, we met at the Freeport Café and then headed to see her new condo in Topsham. On my return trip I stopped at the flea market in Brunswick and then Wilbur’s in Freeport, where I bought the most delicious chocolate caramel apple.

For two years I hadn’t gone to either Bath or Cornish, both on my summer list. But now they’ll be on my fall docket.

One Saturday I got up and decided to drive to Bath. I shopped along the main street and had lunch outdoors on the deck of the Kennebec Tavern.

Then my Cornish trip happened. I told my friend Bobby I’d like to meet her there. First we met at Snickerdoodle’s in Limington for a treat, then on to the little shops in Cornish. Later she treated me to a birthday lunch, that I’m still drooling over: a lobster and cheese casserole.

As luck would have it, the last day of the Songo River Queen cruises in Naples was on a warm day with great foliage. I had checked both the weather report and their website to make certain this long-awaited trip was a go, so off I went. The boat ride was two hours around Long Lake, narrated by a knowledgeable and entertaining captain.

Slowly, I am adapting to my new life. And there’s still more time this fall for adventures, destinations to be determined.

 

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