Cutsey-Wootsey

  Maine roads feature a sign announcing a potter or a photographer every 300 yards.  Odd notice:  Hypnotists abound.  What or who they are hypnotizing is not indicated.  Maybe everyone has quit smoking.

  Driveways are simply marked "ART" along the roadway.  It's a creative bunch.

  The Redhead says "cutsey-wootsey" every time a new vista opens or a town hall, (established 1782) looms up.  It is cute, but must have taken some tough old hides to settle this rocky winter-blistered landscape.  Zero pilgrims.  Bring your inner Viking.  Whoever freezes first loses.

  Forest in terrible shape.  Even accounting for slow growth, its a twiggy, impassable maze inside the woodline.  One tree per yard, youngish, lots of deadfall.  probably not a 40 year tree in the bunch.  In the winter, it won't burn.  In the summer it's leafy/wet.  Good thing.  Any ignition is going to be very serious.  They cut the old stuff long ago.  The roads tunnel through it without much margin for error.  One swerve and you are in the spruce.  Haven't seen a deer though they say there are plenty.  Kind of a funny thing- usually anywhere in the country I see a spot I think I could rattle out a good buck during the rut.  Haven't seen that place here which means I don't have a real eye for the landscape yet.

  Drove to Stonington today.  Best part, besides the cutesey-wootseyness of it all was getting my hands on an actual lobster trap and then watching a couple of guys unload the catch cooler on a lobster boat.  Working people.

  Damn fine country.