If you are just now joining us, please check out the beginning of our four part series on Maine here. It's been quite a journey so far involving bar hopping with a couple of strangers and a trip to the Portland Headlight.
On the third day of our journey, we immediately started heading to Augusta, Maine to meet Michal's uncle for a day of exploring and lobster rolls. Once we arrived in Augusta we toured the family homestead, which Michal's grandparents lived in most of their lives and then packed up and headed out to Popham beach.
Popham beach was stunning; miles and miles of gorgeous sand beaches perfectly reflecting the sunlight off of the crystal clear waters. Absolutely breathtaking. However, Popham has a dark side. It has the hottest sand of any beach I have ever been on. So hot, in fact, I had a blister on the soles of my feet, just from the heat! Michal and her uncle were the smarter ones, stopping to put their shoes back on, but the Jimmy Buffett in me did not falter and sent me running into ocean scorching my feet beyond belief.
The beach was amazing, but it wasn't enjoyed long. We had more places to be and more family to meet! We set back out on the road for a town called Wiscasset, where we were about to be treated to one of the best culinary delights I have ever had in my life, the lobster roll at Red's Eats. You hear the legend of people waiting for hours to eat some local fair… 4 hours at Franklins in Austin, 2 hours at Central Grocery in New Orleans, 3 hours for Balthazar's in New York or making the decision to wait at Pat's or Gino's in Philly… every culinary scene in America has the legend that people line up for to eat. Red's Eats is no doubt, Maine's culinary main-stay requiring that wait in line.
We waited in line for about an hour, chatting with our neighbors in line, and ogling the glorious food going by. We finally get up to the counter and place the order and then sipped on our Diet Moxies (Maine's original soda) while waiting on our meal. Shortly after they brought our order to our table. Holy Crap! There was more lobster meat on that single roll than I have ever eaten before in one sitting in my life. Not only was it huge, but it was perfectly cooked. Not over cooked, served cold, with a side of butter on a bread roll you couldn't even see.
It was glorious and I will be going back. Michal can use Red's Eats as a stick and carrot if she ever wants to go visit her family… I'll go without question.
Also notable are the beer battered scallops! Eat them while they are hot and be amazed by the buttery tender bites of glory. Wow.
Upon arrival, I was skeptical… I even mocked the Red's Eats sign proclaiming 'You can feed anyone once… but feed them twice and you're doing something right!!' Thinking can really be that good? It IS that good and I will be back for my second feeding. It's just a matter of time.
From there, it was time to eat a little bit more… So we drove over to Boothbay Harbor, where we settled in at a gorgeous water front picnic table, taking in the sun and the seagulls, with a cone of 'Downeast Ice Cream Factory's' home churned ice cream.
We also cut up an amazing lemon blueberry cake in celebration of Michal's uncle's Birthday. It was a great day. After eating we cruised the gift shops and slowly made our way back to the car. Boothbay Harbor was a beautiful town and someplace worth exploring.
After Boothbay, we were exhausted after a day of driving and eating. We made it back to Augusta and watched a little TV before settling into bed. We had another big day ahead of us.