For this day trip, we left Portland on a drizzly afternoon and headed to Orr’s and Bailey Island. While we only had a handful of hours before the sun went down, we soaked in (literally) all that we could find left of the late foliage. Follow along with us as we explore the Maine coastline, photographing along the way.

You might know Jackie and Paul from their artfully curated adventures or entrancing stop motion videos, but their latest venture, Seacraft Vintage, is sure to lure you in and one you can even take home with you. What started as a love for timeless New England novelties has grown into a beautiful collection of costal inspired curiosities, for sale! Since opening the doors on 2 Morning Walk Ln., they’ve learned their favorite part is sourcing the treasures and love sharing a little history with finding new homes for their pieces, which allows the cycle to continue.

We recently hiked Blueberry Mountain in Evan’s Notch. This mountain hosts vast barrens of blueberries, sprawling across the summit between patches of spruce and bare granite. We certainly were not the first to head up the mountain and come back home with jars of berries to savor, stopping for a swim along the way, but it was still a treat.

Eager to get back on the river, we woke Sunday morning and swiftly took down camp. Breakfast was a hearty egg scramble, enough to hold is for a day on the water. Our destination for the day, the Rapid River, was half an hour down dirt roads and another half-hour trek in. The lengths it takes to get to these rivers is an adventure in itself, making any fish caught a bonus — in my opinion!

My watch reads 3:12 AM as I crawl out of bed to check the wood stove—the cabin air is brisk, likely around 45-50ºF, and I worry that our fire has died. A quick peek inside reveals a few coals glowing red hot—‘Phew!’ I think to myself, an hour longer and I might be trying to get a cold stove going again. I grab two logs—the last two logs in the cabin—and with a few breaths bring the fire back to life.

It’s the time of year where the days start with a bundle of layers and by noon, even your base layer is too warm. It’s called late summer, and we’ve waited all year for it. While, for many, September means back to school and the end of summer, but for us, this month feels like our little secret. The tourists have made their way home and Maine is ours to enjoy. 

Step 1: Pick a trail.

It’s summertime and it has been hot. When thinking about peaks to summit for an overnight getaway, we wanted a trail with great access to water. We hiked to Speck Pond last summer with friends, which was a blast, but for this trip, we wanted to wake up on a peak we never had before. Although we’ve hiked Tumbledown many times, we’ve never spent the night on top.

There are many great things about being based in Portland, but the access to Maine’s natural beauty is likely our favorite perk. We met the 10AM mail boat at the Casco Bay Lines Ferry terminal and made our way to the front deck of the boat. Many people ride the mail boat for an enjoyable lap around Casco Bay, but, after offloading cargo — everything from postcards to new golf carts — at the islands along the route, we were planning on hopping off on the last stop of the line for our picnic adventure.

We spent 2017 honing in our idea. Deciding what a print publication would look like as we designed alongside Danny Gugger. Seeking out stories and finding contributors to work with. By the time we were ready to send our 1.9 GB Adobe InDesign file to press, we thought our work was done. Shortly after the files uploaded, we got a message from J. S. McCarthy with our press date, asking if we wanted to oversee the operation. We jumped at the opportunity to watch our idea come to life, but little did we know, the craftsmanship of our publication was far from over.

There is something about living in a place with four seasons that offers both perpetual excitement and longing. As we leave winter, I find myself craving one last snowfall, while at the same time itching a summer sail with a warm breeze. It’s easy to dismiss the merits of mud season, but I find that the change of seasons always bring new life and a new way of enjoying this state we love. Enjoy!

More about the creators of Maine the Way. Cam and Christine share their favorites and future with you!

Smelting on the Kennebec River with Big Tree Hospitality and Allagash Brewing Company.

Maine the Way editors, Cam and Christine, take a trek up to Maine Huts and Trails.