Making Lemonade life gives you lemons make lemonade” Hello friends and family this cruising journal/blog is about my travels, the places I go and the friends I meet along the way.

Maine is beautiful and Portland is a friendly fun city. We have spent 3weeks in the Portland area and highlights of our time include; east promenade walks, 4^th of July concert by the Portland symphony with a fantastic firework display, $5 martini night at Gauchos (perhaps a low), Bath Maritime museum, trip to LL Bean at Freeport, weekend onshore at Diane & TL’s, B&B. Bath Maine was the heart of the American shipbuilding industry from 1800 onwards. They built the large 6 masted schooners and ships involved in the slave trade as well a cargo carriers from Europe. Check out the photo of the bow and stern of the Wyoming the largest cargo schooner ever to fly an American flag. It was 429 feet long. Diane & TL have shown us the area and provided excellent hospitality and guidance throughout our stay.  Portland is a quirky little town easily walked with shopping and all kinds of restaurants & coffee shops. The seafront is still home to lobster & fishing fleets although condos are creeping in. See my photos to get a better take on this lovely city.