Sunday, July 17th - lay day in Portland

It is a hot and humid day in Portland with the temperatures topping out at 90 degrees.  We begin the day with a Starbucks and walk to Congress Street for the 10 AM worship service at the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church.  After the service, one final stop at Whole Foods on our return to the boat insures that the galley will be adequately stocked to keep the crew happy and well-nourished as we head east from Portland.

[caption id="attachment_817" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Cherie visits Cutter Loose in Portland"][/caption]

Cherie returns to Cutter Loose for a Sunday visit.  Between boat chores, we walk the streets of Portland in search of ice cream.  Cherie "scoops" us in the final seconds by sprinting to the cashier to pay for our confections.  We certainly appreciate her generosity of time, transportation and shopping skills in helping us to accomplish our shoreside tasks.  Well done, Cherie.

[caption id="attachment_816" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Condos and marinas in the Old Port neighborhood of Portland"][/caption]

Unlike Portsmouth, NH, Portland's orientation is focused on the harbor.  Commercial Street passes alongside the various wharves, and as such, is the busiest street in Old Port with an abundance of t shirt shops, bars, restaurants and crowds.   The section of Old Port between Fore Street and Congress Street is less crowded and more charming, with funky restored buildings, brick sidewalks, public plazas and scores of restaurants.  In fact, Portland is the culinary capital of Maine.  Its restaurants are featured frequently in national foodie publications.

Tomorrow we head east from Portland en route to Penobscot Bay, Blue Hill Bay and Frenchman Bay.  Our progress will be tempered by the anticipated passage of a cold front on Monday.