Wife and I going to spend first week in Sept. traveling up the coast of Maine. Can anyone suggest any shops, stores, etc that would be worth stopping and browsing for an old woodworker?
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Can anyone suggest ...
I should not but I am me so I will respond with DO NOT drive at night unless you are on a highway.! And even then be very careful.
I say this because I was driving on a lonely road at hight to go to a customer to repair some printing equipment. I had to drive a long way because there were no rooms available to stay at where the compony was. I wanted to arrive about the time they 'opened shop'.. I think it was early October?.. I was driving a rented Dodge Caravan. As I drove I saw a huge moose in the middle of the road. I drove up to it and it did not move. I drove a bit closer. It did not move. I 'honked' the horn and it attacked!
That amimal tipped over my rented van like it was a toy! I was not hurt and I am sure that the moose just thought I was some Chicago yank after his 'girls'.. (I thought of this only after returning back home).
I sat there for about three nights and two days before anybody came... I was bitten by more insects than I ever thought existed...
By the way.. When the local police showed up they yelled at me for being stupid when I told them I honked my horn at the moose. First time I ever saw a moose that was not on TV or at the local Zoo!
Anyway, Main is beautiful any time of the year and most of the people you will meet along the way are great folks... Even the local cop that yelled at me turned out to be a nice guy....
I cannot say where I was going in Main because of legal reasons. Some papers I had to put my 'Will George' (Or is that John Hancock?) onto before I could enter my 'new place of work for a few days'.. They made security devices for some places out in the hot desert where people, by the millions, throw their money into a bottomless pit.....
Main is beautiful when the leaves turn color. Worth the trip just to see that!
When Moose Attack
Too many moose encounters in Maine and New Hampshire end in death. Not the moose, the drivers who hit them. It's not like hitting a deer, it's more like hitting a brick wall. I would put a visit to the Lie Nielson factory on the top of the list. Take the factory tour and bring lots of money to the showroom. Taking the wife to the Kittery outlet stores can make her feel so guilty one can get away with buying a new LN plane... some guy told me this. My son lives in Maine so we make the treck up from VA to see the grandkids often. Expect a lot of leaf peeping tourists in the fall season.
Thomas Lie-Nielsen's Warren Maine shop is well worth visiting - they have a woodshop where you can 'test drive' all their tools. Located on Rt 1 between Waldoboro and Rockland.
Go up the road to Rockland - on Main St is the Apprenticeship, a boat building school. Also fun to stop in and see what folks are making. And Cafe Miranda - among others - is a great place to eat.
And the next town - Rockport - has the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship - a great place to tour - off Rt. 90 west of Rt. 1.
And don't forget Thos Moser in Auburn (Auburn Industrial Park) off the Maine Turnpike - they do give tours but call ahead to make sure you can get a space. Well worth the time - and catch the heated, boiled linseed oil finishing operation. Many cast dispersions on this finish, but Moser gives it a lifetime guarantee - worth watching how they do it.
While there are big box stores in Maine, there are still a number of locally owned lumber yards and most carry way beyond the normal pine boards - stop in and visit one.
And finally, if you are in the Rockland/Camden area, go west to Searsmont and the Robbins Lumber mill - 59 Ghent Rd, Searsmont. If you haven't been through a mill recently, it's well worth the trip - they produce pine 1x boards in several grades - fascinating 5th generation business.
Enjoy Maine - lots of great places to eat!
Thanks
A giant thank you to all who responded, hope I have enough time to visit all the places that have been suggested. Ray
If you like handtools
Check out Liberty Tool in Liberty, which isn't too far from Camden. And if you make it as far as Acadia, stop in at the Tool Barn, which is in Hull's Bay, just outside the entrance to Acadia. Both are great places.
Matt
Important Woodworing Destination
Forgot the most sought out place - Liberty Tool in Liberty Maine - about 20 miles east of Belfast. It is a mecca of used tools - hand, power, hardware - you name it - their website will give you an inkling: http://www.libertytoolco.com/.
Thier 'flagship' operation is in Hulls Cove on the way to Acadia Park and they have a smaller shop in Searsport on Rt 1 but the Liberty store is well worth the trip. I found a Porter Cable worm drive bayonet saw (model 548, selling on ebay for $200 to $300) for $20! It's hit or miss but if you need hand tools, he doesn't have one Stanley #5 Jack Plane - he has a dozen - some old, some fairly new. New a Stanley North Bros. spiral ratchet screwdriver - last time I was there , he had a bin full!
A definite woodworkers destination in Maine!
Liberty Tool is worth a trip from Anywhere.
Visiting Maine
Visit Wooden Boat School Brooklin Me.
If this is your first visit to Maine, a week isn't a lot of time but you should be able to travel up the coast and see the major tourist attractions.
I would by pass Kittery and the outlet stores to save time. There are plenty of outlets in Freeport, the home of L.L. Bean.
Stop in Kennebunkport, take a drive by Walkers Point and wave to George H. see how the other half lives in the summer, take a walk on the beach, continue up to Portland. Portland is an interesting city. Spend a night in a small quaint hotel like The Pommegranite Inn, West End Inn. Visit the art gallery with an attached historic house, shop unusual shops in the Old Port area, take a mail boat or ferry ride out to one of Casco bay islands, spend a few hours seeing the island, rent a bike or just walk. Have a dinner at a nice restaurant like Fore Street or hit a busy pub like Re'Ra or a popular place like Dimillo's floating restaurant.
Head up Route 1 early the next day making a stop in Freeport, see Bean's and a few outlet stores of your choice. Take a coffee and desert break at The Harraseeket Inn but don't eat too much. The area from Freeport to Camden has many places you will want to visit, Maritime museum in Bath, Shelter Institute and Woodbutcher tools, the flea market at Montsweag, then to Wiscasset, a lobster roll at Red's Eats is a must, the Musical Wonder House is worth a stop. Several antique shops in town some behind Red's and a great clock shop across the street.
Stay in Camden, many motels and B&Bs. Let the Mrs. have breakfast and visit the shops while you go to Lie Neilsens, a must stop for woodworkers but you have to back track a few miles(14). Mom will be bored but you will be in heaven.Take an afternoon sail on one of the windjammers out of Camden harbor, dinner at Peter Ott's or go back to Rockland and try to get into Conte's for an excellent, eclectic meal.
Back up Rte. 1, drive up Mt. Batte, just past Lincolnville beach is The Windsor Chair makers. You will want to move along because Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park should be a priority and you will want a whole day to explore the park, minimum, drive up Cadillac Mountain, rent some bikes and do the carriage trails, enjoy the shops and restaurants in Bar Harbor. Acadia is spectacular.
I don't know if I would reccomend Liberty tool. It will get you off the beaten tourist track and on to some of Maines back roads but the good tools are picked over long before they get to the shop. There must be 100 tons of iron in the old building, piles of junk to paw through for days, surprised it hasn't collapsed, but you won't find a nice chisel. Its 99.9% junk in my opinion but still fun. There is nothing in Liberty besides the tool shop and a general store, the way us Mainers like it.
You will pass many antique shops, yard sales and flea markets along the way which will probably have a few interesting tools. I wouldn't waste a lot of time on side trips, there are tons of things to see along the rte. historic homes, old forts, museums, the Ellsworth bridge but Acadia should be your goal and your time is limited.
thank you
Not sure I have enough time to do all you suggest but you certainly have increased my enthusiasm for the trip. You sure you don't work for the travel bureau?? Thanks for taking the time to pass on the information -it is much appreciated.
I know the area pretty well, Chalky. From Kittery to Bar Harbor is just over 200 miles, about a 4.5hr. straight drive, so its not a long distance but there is a lot to see on the way. Acadia is one of those places that can renew your spirit, not that the rest of Maine doesn't. Bring some warm clothes, nights can get down in the 40s. I'm sure you will want to return. You won't have time to see the interior of the state, rivers, lakes and vast forest lands. Even though most of us natives haven't seen it all, we keep working on it. Drop me a note when you get back, slow down and enjoy. You will find your attitude change soon after entering the state, must be the pine trees.
Such a very amazing link!
Thanks for sharing.
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