Kennebunkport, ME Vacation - 2011

We had another great vacation week in KPT.  We rented a different house this year as our schedules didn’t line up with the availability of the house we have rented the last few years.  Our rental choices are a bit limited since there are13 of us. 

This years house turned out to be quite nice.  .4 miles to the beach and .8 miles to town.  We were under the impression space might be tight with all of us.  It turns out the place was 3 stories with 7 bedrooms and 4 ½ baths.  3 of the bedrooms on the second floor were 20 feet by 20 feet. 

We did the usual … beach … into town … Cape Porpoise … spouting rock … Walker’s point … kayaking … riding bikes … taking pictures … pizza on the beach … rocks … walking to the cove …

I took Kate and Kevin to the Maine Diner http://mainediner.com/ for breakfast … The Chase Hill Bakery opened again after 10 years. http://www.chasehillbakery.com/ which was a big surprise.  Their Morning Glory muffins are the best.  I took this duck pic from the deck of the clam shack.

We spotted Barbara Bush a couple times during the week.  Once she was by the front security guard house so Kate waived to her and she waived back.  She seemed pretty active riding her bike around the compound.  I did catch her driving a golf cart.  The sign on it says "Property of #41  Hands off!"  I'm sure she has permission ...

I drove to Kittery Trading post and bought a gun sling for my rifle.  Already thinking about hunting season.

I thought about chartering a boat to go fishing but timing didn't work out.  Pam and the kids went kayaking.  I stayed out in front of them on shore to take pictures.  The tide was going out as they headed up the river.  Pam was in the front of a double kayak when swift water flipped them over.  Her legs were completely inside the front of the kayak so she was briefly stuck under water.  She cut her knee and ended up with a large bruise on her leg when struggling to get out.  Her life jacket was on but was still scary with her legs stuck.  She didn't panic which was good.  The front seat of the kayak should have been moved back a bit.   

We had a great week.

2008 with President George W Bush

Each year we vacation for a week in Kennebunkport, ME. This year we rented a different house that was near Ocean Avenue. It was a great location for walking to the rocks. We had some unexpected traffic issues when President Bush arrived for a family wedding. I was able to take some pictures of President Bush when he arrived at his father’s house. The fog was in and I was 450 yards away. I was standing next to the camera man in the yellow shirt in one of my pictures below. I guess I looked like one of them until I sat on the rock and used the fence to try to get more stability from that distance. That lasted about 10 seconds then I was told to move to where everyone else was.

Former First Lady, Barbara, greeting President with open arms.

President Bush getting out of the SUV.

President Bush and First Lady Laura shaking hands with guests.

The Bush fishing boat must be a lot of fun. It has three 300hp motors. I would love to take my kids fishing with the President. One day when we were on the rocks I heard the boat roaring out to sea in the fog. I took this picture of the President going fishing. I was ready to go fishing too but never got the call.

The TV cameras were everywhere this year. The Coast Guard blocked all boat traffic around the compound.