A Maine Adventure

My something good today? A last-minute adventure! Today felt like a throwback to the good old days—except with a lot more sleep and a lot less coffee-fueled panic. With no shop to open at the crack of dawn (or, as Chris thinks, “the hour that should not exist”), We decided to make the most of our last week in Maine. Adventure was calling, and for once, we could actually answer!

I told Chris about this little spot in Machias, Maine, that I’d been dying to visit. The catch? They closed at 2pm, and it was already 9am. Two hours away. Chris asked, “Do we have anything else to do?” I thought for a millisecond and said, “Actually, no we don’t.” And just like that, we were off! (Honestly, the spontaneity felt so luxurious.)

Our trusty sidekick Harvey was still on bed rest, so we made him a cozy nest in the backseat of the truck.

We’d only been to Machias once before, and it was a blur of “hurry up,!” This time, we slowed down. We took in the scenery, the winding roads, the trees that looked like they’d been painted by Bob Ross himself. When you treat something like it might be the last time, you notice everything—the way the light hits the water, the smell of the pines and the ocean breeze, the charming squeak of the screen door at the quaint little farm cafe.

It’s funny how many “last times” slip by without us knowing. The last time you pick up your child before they’re too big. The last time you visit a favorite spot. The last time you see someone you love. It’s a privilege to know when it’s the last time, and today, we made the most of it.

Our destination: The Milkhouse Cafe, a charming little spot at Schoppee Farm by the Sea. Family-owned since 1823, with organic coffee, local veggies, and pastries that apparently sell out faster than you can say “I’ll have two, please.” We missed the pastries (rookie mistake), but we did snag coffee and something called a “ploye.” Never heard of it? Neither had I. According to visitmaine.com, it’s not quite bread, not exactly a pancake, and not completely a crepe. Basically, it’s Maine’s answer to “what should we do with this buckwheat?”

We tried the savory ploye with gouda and scallions—delicious! I did have a moment of regret not going for the sweet version with butter and maple syrup (because, let’s be honest, I’m a sucker for anything that involves syrup), but there’s always next time. Or, at least, there’s always my kitchen and a wild experiment coming soon!

The drive back was mostly peaceful, except for the Florida driver who decided to test Chris’s patience and our brakes. For a moment, it was less “leisurely coastal drive” and more “NASCAR warm-up lap”. After I reminded Chris that we were supposed to be enjoying our day, we settled back into our relaxed pace.

We wrapped up our adventure with our favorite Mexican food in Maine Vazquez Mexican Takeout. Yes, you read that right—authentic Mexican food in Maine! As a California native, my standards are high, but this little takeout spot delivered. The refried beans alone were worth the trip. I’m convinced they were made by someone’s abuela who snuck into the kitchen just for us!

All in all, it was a day of slowing down, savoring the moment, and eating our way through Maine. Harvey got his beauty rest, Chris got his adventure, and I got my ploye (and maybe a new recipe to try).

Here’s to more days like this—where the only thing on the to-do list is “enjoy.”