In Honor Of . . .

Fiery sky at Mother’s Beach in Kennebunk

In honor of Mother’s Day, I thought it would be appropriate to pay a visit to Mother’s Beach in Kennebunk.  It turned out to be a good choice as I was rewarded with some gorgeous early morning light this past Saturday.

Officially called Kennebunk Beach, I don’t know how the name “Mother’s” came about.  Maybe the nearby playground has something to do with it.  I can envision kids playing on the swings while mom relaxes on the beach with a Dunkin Coffee-Cool-A-Da in one hand and a good book in the other – the scent of coconut sunscreen gently carried by the sea breeze.   That scene is hopefully only a few weeks away but beach weather seemed very distant on this 37^o mid-May morning.  As I got my bike out of the car upon arrival I was happy that I threw in that extra “just in case” fleece layer.  I immediately donned it.

Nearby Gooch’s Beach where George and Barbara Bush often walked their dogs

Kennebunkport is a very busy town in the summertime.  Tourists flock here for the stately inns, charming boutiques, fine restaurants and the chance to spot a former president, or two.  I didn’t see either of the Bushes – in fact, at 5:30 am this popular destination was more of a ghost town than a bustling seacoast resort.

Built in 1905, The Narragansett Condominiums was once a hotel of the same name 

Nevertheless, I felt compelled to take a ride up Ocean Avenue to Walker’s Point in honor of the late Barbara Bush who so loved this area and its residents.  I can only imagine the stories the home holds in its memory of this amiable first lady.  Fortunately, her legacy will live on through the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland.

The Bush compound at Walkers Point

On the route to the Bush compound I spotted some sure signs of spring.  Tulips were in full bloom, tree leaves were blossoming and “open for the season” proclamations were clearly visible.

 

Much to my surprise, many of the inns and hotels in town were already well occupied as evidenced by the assortment of license plates from Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey in the parking lots.   No matter the temperature, Kennebunk and Kennebunkport have a lot to offer in terms of comfort and relaxation.

Let the tourist season begin!

Surfer at Gooch’s Beach

P.S. I am happy to report that Bicycle With a View now has a new set of wheels.  With the twenty year old Mongoose mountain bike showing signs of wear and corrosion due to winter riding, this lighter and sleeker bicycle will hopefully provide years of travel to photo destinations near and far.  Stay tuned.