In September 2026 I traveled up the coast of Maine for 2 weeks and enjoyed some fun photography - different from the West where I have been several times. I drove and packed my film cameras along. No particular goal in mind - shoot some lighthouses, have a few lobster rolls, and get a sense of the coastal vibe. I weaved my way from Portland to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park on Mt Desert Island. As is typical when you finish a trip you realize it was just a primer - and now armed with more knowledge I would be more focused on a future trip.

I learned much about lobster fishing thanks to people in the business who welcomed me to their docks during peak activity. It is hard work. In all kinds of weather. One encouraging item was that the industry over many years has figured out sustainability and set rules to assure the future.

The distance from Portland to Acadia NP is about 156 miles. But looking at the diagram you can see all the nooks and crannies and I drove into many of them. That makes the trip much more enjoyable and surely a better understanding of the Maine coast and its people and businesses.