Driving to Rockport, Maine

My drive from Boston to Maine proved more complicated than expected. I had reserved a car in Boston from Hertz. The rates in downtown were about half of what they were from the airport facility, so I took the "T" down to Park Plaza to pick up the car. However, the holiday weekend, the improved weather, and lots of people in town meant a very crowded Hertz office, unusually so for a Sunday morning. There were two employees and 24 people in line in front of me … and 22 behind me within 25 minutes. I got to the facility at 11:15 and left with a car at 1:45 pm! I was forced to call my hotel (up in Revere) two times, asking for an extension of check-out time. I worried that they would toss out my clothes and belongings!

Finally, back to the hotel, a quick pack up and I was on the road at 2:15 pm (about 3 hours later than planned).

The walk through Boston Commons from the "T" station to the Hertz office was beautiful. The sky was a gorgeous deep blue with scuttling white clouds. Crews were already setting up for bands and performances later in the day.

The drive up Rt.1 until it intersected with I95 was interesting … all commercial and retail, narrow two lanes each side, fast drivers or wandering over the lane drivers. Once on I95, driving was smooth up through Massachusetts, New Hampshire (I was in the state for about 25 minutes) into Portland. There I took a little side trip to Cape Elizabeth (in liu of lunch … I was grateful I'd eaten breakfast before my car rental adventure). Cape Elizabeth is home to Fort Williams and the Portland Head Light. See photos. For the first time, I could really smell the salt in the air.

The directions to the Maine Media Workshops proved not very clear once I drove north of Cape Elizabeth and got on coastal Route 1. Actually, not much coast was visible, just two lanes of highway between lots of trees for most of the route. The small harbor towns were 8 to 10 miles east of the highway. I had to stop twice to ask for directions. The last time, I was in Rockport but the clerk in the gas station didn't know what the Workshops were. Fortunately, an older woman was familiar with them and offered to lead me to the campus. She really went out of her way to help me find the campus. The roads in the area are very narrow, no shoulders, small street signs and only one sign when you hit the parking lot. I'd have been driving around for quite a while without her help.

I found out I was being housed in the Schooner Bay Motor Inn. I drove there and finally had a chance to read the evening agenda. Only to find out I had 20 minutes to call home and then get back to the Workshops for Orientation. Dinner would have to wait.

There are 17 students in my course. Most are over 35. "Day jobs" for participants include a psychiatrist, three high school/middle school teachers, two painters, two college professors, a lawyer, a music teacher, a professional rock climber and some retirees. They come to the workshop from Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Indiana, Minnesota, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida and New York.

We start tomorrow morning at 9:15 with a "getting to know you session" through our sample photos. Then we are scheduled to shoot in the field at Port Clyde in the afternoon. There is an evening presentation my video students and teachers. Should be a busy day! Allison Shaw wants us to shoot in manual mode … so I need to do some photography refreshers.

Finally, after the class dispersed, I tried to find someplace to eat. The first two restaurants I tried were closed and closing. Even the grocery store was closed. I was directed to Cappy's - a chowder house in Camden where I got some excellent Maine clam chowder and a salad. Nourished, I made my way back down Rt. 1 to the motel and started my blog.

But now I'm signing off. The photography refresher will have to wait to morning.