October 7, 2007 FYI: If you want a more detailed image on any of the pictures in our blog, click on them and they will be shown in a much larger format.
Kennebunkport is famous for its beautiful shoreline, its historic roots, the mansions, and the Bush compound.
This morning we drove a short distance north looking for St. Ann’s Church, an old Episcopal church frequented by the Bush family. We found it, but it was closed for the season. We drove on a bit further along Ocean Drive and found ourselves looking directly at the Bush compound over about a 100 yards of water. It sits on Walker Point which is the only designation given to this area on the tourist maps. There is no mention of the location of the Bush compound but you can find that on the internet.
We stopped to take some pictures and noticed some people gathering. They were locals. “The boat is at the dock,” they shared. “That means that GHW Bush is taking someone out for a cruise.” Soon a Secret Service boat appeared and we could see them preparing the Bush boat for launching. Within a few minutes GHW appeared and walked with a group to the boat and boarded. GHW took control of the boat and eased it from the dock. Before exiting the harbor, he reved up all three outboards and did a quick 360 for the party on shore. Then, at high speed, they headed out for the open water. We did not find out who was on the boat with the former president. About an hour later, the boat returned and docked in the same fashion, except without the fanfare of the 360.
There were some interesting dynamics on shore. First of all, other than the secret service boat, we saw no security on the shore. Several cars stopped as we did and there must have been forty or so people taking pictures. Many were parked on the road illegally, and there was no polic
e presence evident.
When we first stopped the car, Barb got out to inquire as to what was going on. Meanwhile, I temporarily parked the Jeep in a parking lot labeled “Reserved for Langley B&B Only”. However, it appeared that the B&B was closed so I left it parked there. Barb wanted to walk down further to take pictures but I did not want to leave sight of the Jeep for fear of it being ticketed or towed. I stood about 100 yards from the Jeep watching the compound and the Jeep. Barb was another 100 yards down the road closer to the compound.
I was standing there alone, looking back at the Jeep back down the road then turning my attention on the boat. I continued the surveillance of both the Jeep and the boarding preparations when I saw four adults watching me. The two couples were about 20 yards from me and they would look at me then turn away. One would say something then another one would look at me. I soon figured out what their interest was. So to play the game, I turned toward the compound and brought my watch up to my mouth and spoke a few words into it. Then I went back to watching the Jeep, then the compound. In the next few minutes, while we were waiting for the Bush party to board, I did this several times. I was about ready to break up in laughter and I finally walked over to them and told them that I was not from the Secret Service. They howled. They were tourists from New York and were experiencing this for the first time, just like Barb and I.
About three hours later, I was sitting on a bench in the Kennebunkport town square (which is actually a triangle) talking to a couple from Boston. One of the hundreds of cars that passed by us during that time stopped and rolled down the window. A lady from the two couples back on the road at the Bush compound stuck her head out the window and yelled, “Look out for that guy. He’s from the CIA.” We both laughed and, of course, I had to explain the comment to the Boston couple.
After Kennebunkport Barb visited one of the local light houses.
Tomorrow we head for the area south of Plymouth, MA and west of Cape Cod. It is called East Falmouth. We plan to settle in for a few days there to see Boston, Cape Cod and Plymouth.
Kennebunkport is famous for its beautiful shoreline, its historic roots, the mansions, and the Bush compound.
This morning we drove a short distance north looking for St. Ann’s Church, an old Episcopal church frequented by the Bush family. We found it, but it was closed for the season. We drove on a bit further along Ocean Drive and found ourselves looking directly at the Bush compound over about a 100 yards of water. It sits on Walker Point which is the only designation given to this area on the tourist maps. There is no mention of the location of the Bush compound but you can find that on the internet.
We stopped to take some pictures and noticed some people gathering. They were locals. “The boat is at the dock,” they shared. “That means that GHW Bush is taking someone out for a cruise.” Soon a Secret Service boat appeared and we could see them preparing the Bush boat for launching. Within a few minutes GHW appeared and walked with a group to the boat and boarded. GHW took control of the boat and eased it from the dock. Before exiting the harbor, he reved up all three outboards and did a quick 360 for the party on shore. Then, at high speed, they headed out for the open water. We did not find out who was on the boat with the former president. About an hour later, the boat returned and docked in the same fashion, except without the fanfare of the 360.
There were some interesting dynamics on shore. First of all, other than the secret service boat, we saw no security on the shore. Several cars stopped as we did and there must have been forty or so people taking pictures. Many were parked on the road illegally, and there was no polic
e presence evident.When we first stopped the car, Barb got out to inquire as to what was going on. Meanwhile, I temporarily parked the Jeep in a parking lot labeled “Reserved for Langley B&B Only”. However, it appeared that the B&B was closed so I left it parked there. Barb wanted to walk down further to take pictures but I did not want to leave sight of the Jeep for fear of it being ticketed or towed. I stood about 100 yards from the Jeep watching the compound and the Jeep. Barb was another 100 yards down the road closer to the compound.
I was standing there alone, looking back at the Jeep back down the road then turning my attention on the boat. I continued the surveillance of both the Jeep and the boarding preparations when I saw four adults watching me. The two couples were about 20 yards from me and they would look at me then turn away. One would say something then another one would look at me. I soon figured out what their interest was. So to play the game, I turned toward the compound and brought my watch up to my mouth and spoke a few words into it. Then I went back to watching the Jeep, then the compound. In the next few minutes, while we were waiting for the Bush party to board, I did this several times. I was about ready to break up in laughter and I finally walked over to them and told them that I was not from the Secret Service. They howled. They were tourists from New York and were experiencing this for the first time, just like Barb and I.
About three hours later, I was sitting on a bench in the Kennebunkport town square (which is actually a triangle) talking to a couple from Boston. One of the hundreds of cars that passed by us during that time stopped and rolled down the window. A lady from the two couples back on the road at the Bush compound stuck her head out the window and yelled, “Look out for that guy. He’s from the CIA.” We both laughed and, of course, I had to explain the comment to the Boston couple.
After Kennebunkport Barb visited one of the local light houses.
Tomorrow we head for the area south of Plymouth, MA and west of Cape Cod. It is called East Falmouth. We plan to settle in for a few days there to see Boston, Cape Cod and Plymouth.
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