Why are these innkeepers smiling?
We’ve closed for the season, and will reopen Memorial Day weekend, 2012. We will be traveling a bit throughout the late fall and winter, but we’ll never go far from our email. Should you wish to contact us, just write at innkeeper@CovesideBandB.com. We’ll also be posting recipes and miscellany throughout the winter, so keep in touch!
Post-hurricane breakfast at Coveside
Hurricane Irene was hyped as a “killer storm” for the Northeast, but — fortunately for us — it was pretty much of a non-event on the Maine coast. Here at Coveside, we took the boats out of the water, moved pots and outdoor furniture inside, and spent a half-day battening down the hatches. But the storm turned out to be quite mild, less intense than many of our winter Nor’easters. An inch or so of rain fell Saturday night, with a couple of nasty wind gusts, and then strong but not damaging winds most of Sunday. We lost power for about 7 hours. For the hearty souls who decided to ride out the storm at Coveside, we served “hurricane hamburgers” on Sunday night and by the time folks were ready for bed, the power was back on and the generator off. We managed to get the terrace tables and chairs set up in time for a breakfast of plum crumble coffeecake and western omelets. See above. The weather is spectacular and supposed to remain so all week.
This Saturday, June 11, will be a busy one in Bath and Georgetown. Reid State Park in Georgetown will host its first (annual?) “Reidfest” — with top local bands appealing to a variety of musical tastes, refreshments, and the promise of fine weather at the beach. For more information, click here. The music gets started at 2 pm and runs until the musicians don’t want to play any more. Visitors are suggested to bring blankets, lawn chairs, snacks, and (of course) bug spray — though the mosquitos aren’t too bad so far this year.
In Bath, the 10th annual home and garden tour, sponsored by Sagadahoc Preservation, will be held. Lovely home and beautiful gardens will be on view. Folks who stay at a local B&B (including Coveside) get half-price admission to the tour, as well as coupons for reduced price meals at most local restaurants, and price reductings on lodging (see below). For more information, check with Sagadahoc Preservation. The tour runs from 10:30 to 3:30.
As for Coveside: We still have a three rooms available this weekend. And the weather promises to be fine for either event, or for just lounging on the porch. These last-minute rooms will be available at a 30% discount if you ask for it when making a reservation. New reservations only, please. For availability and room selection, check here.
Five gallons of Maine maple syrup -- just enough for the 2011 season!
A rainy spring day: time to head north to pick up our five-gallon supply of Maine maple syrup for the 2011 season. And, along the way, to enjoy some of the fabulous fresh oysters at the Damariscotta River Grill – about 40 minutes north of Coveside.
The Damariscotta River Grill, home to great local oysters on the half shell
Jim Freyenhagen's sugar shack near Union, Maine
Rhubarb raspberry crisp
The season started a week early at Coveside this year. Just two guests, who enjoyed for breakfast a fresh rhubarb and raspberry crisp, followed by an omelette with goat cheese, bacon, and arugula, with home fried potatoes.
Bacon, goat cheese, and arugula omelette
New Coveside mug from Deneen Pottery
We’ve just received our first order of hand-thrown mugs from Deneen Pottery. We’ll be using them every morning, and will have a limited number available for sale, for those who want to take a bit of Coveside home with them. We think they turned out great!
April Fools!
Just when the piles and drifts of winter snow were almost melted, and the daffodils were tentatively poking through the ground, we got an early spring pounding! This year’s winter has been long and harsh; last year, it was warm and short. Never a dull or predictable moment here on the Maine coast. We’re pretty sure, however, that the snow will be gone in time for our season opening on May 20….
Down the cove
We’ve been confined to quarters all day, as the most recent January Nor’easter has moved up the coast to Maine. We got about a foot of snow and gale-force winds; a great day to say inside and deal with unfinished business (like starting that book you received for the holidays, or baking some bread).
Winter day at Coveside
Gotts Cove Panorama. Justin Stailey, photographer
This picture of our cove was snapped last evening by Justin Stailey, a frequent guest at Coveside and a serious photographer. Yesterday was uncharacteristically sultry while we prepared for Hurricane Earl. When it finally arrived after midnight, it was something of a non-event, at least in Midcoast Maine. We got a bit more than 2 inches of much-needed rain. And the humidity has finally broken after the longest heat spell in Maine history (Portland had four consecutive days of 90+ degree heat, a record). But we got very little wind — due, undoubtedly, to the fact that we spent much of yesterday bringing in the boat, kayaks and canoe, stowing away all the porch furniture, and generally battening down the hatches. The weatherman promises a week of sunshine, moderate temperature, and low humidity. We’re ready for fall!
Big Sam’s Lobster Shack on Gotts Cove
For most of the 13 years we have welcomed guests to Coveside B&B, there has been a lobster wharf across Gott’s Cove from us, serving up seafood, burgers, fried food, and great views. First was Lisa’s, run by a newly minted high school graduate who originated the shack on her father’s wharf and was recognized four year’s later as one of the “10 best” lobster wharfs in Maine by Travel & Leisure magazine. But Lisa graduated from college, got married and moved away. Then came Dena, Mama D, and Sara, all of whom lasted only a year or two. After a year without a lobster shack on the cove, we have a great new addition to the Georgetown scene — Big Sam’s.
The prices are very reasonable. This weekend lobster rolls (“the second best lobster rolls in Maine”) were going for $9.99 — several dollars less than the competition. The prices for boiled lobster are almost cheap! (click on the picture for an enlargement):
Sam’s menu
Here’s the manager — not Sam (Lisa’s father, who owns the wharf), but Justin (Sam’s cousin):
