However, this doesn't prevent me from preserving it all in memory form...something people have been doing long before digital cameras...with batteries that are actually charged. I discovered my downed camera early on so in a way it sort of freed me up to just enjoy our time on Old Orchard Beach...without having to incessantly stop, interrupt, and pose for those perfect 'kodak' moments....as they used to say. And believe me, there were lots of them!
So that was great news. Meanwhile I was on the beach with the kiddos. The weather was spectacular...some of the warmest, sunniest days we've had in ME in a LONG time! I was to go back and pick up my husband...but guess what...unbeknownst to me the cell phone was dead. So he had proceeded to walk from Biddeford Town Hall to Old Orchard Beach...not that far but it is a bit of a trek. After I hadn't heard anything from him in some time, I decided to check the phone to see if somehow I'd missed a call. That's when I realized it was dead. Long story short, we finally connected and we picked him up at a convenience store and treated ourselves to a big slurpee!
We went back to the beach, and later that evening took the children down to the Midway which is right on the beach. We hardly ever do anything like this...especially here in Maine where we have so many more 'natural' and 'scenic' things to do...that also don't cost much or are free for the looking and enjoying. But I have to say, this particular Midway is like stepping back into time. It reminds me of what perhaps a very old nostalgic Cape Cod might have been like in the 1940's....back before it got 'discovered' and over run with thousands of tourists.
There's a beautifully restored carousel and a wonderful ferriswheel...not huge by any means...but it's right next to the ocean and is all lit up...of course! The midway isn't huge either but there was a roller coaster...again nothing monster...but perfect for our kiddos...who have never even ridden on a roller coaster before! So they finally got their first ride...except for Asheley...she wasn't ready for all of that racey stuff yet. She rode on the airplane ride instead. But the other 3 were wild with excitement!
It was beginning to get darker and finally the lights on the ferriswheel came on. So we all went up on it...including Asheley...who says she was only a "little, tiny bit scared"....and took in the view of the sunset over the seashore. Gorgeous!
We wandered back up the sidewalks of shops and restaurants and picked up a pizza right next to the railroad tracks. Sure enough a couple of trains came by as we were sitting on some benches eating pizza and the best french fries I think I've ever had. There was a dad and his older boys putting pennies on the track for the train wheels to smash over. Our kiddos were enthralled with all that heavy train stuff, too!
One thing that really struck me while we were visiting this Old Orchard Beach was that there were so many families....young children, babies, toddlers, and the teens as well. It was so refreshing to see so many families of all ages just enjoying and spending time together. And the kiddos...even the older ones....were holding their mom's hand or a dad would have his arm draped over his son's shoulders. Those kind of scenes totally warm my heart these days!
There were people down on the beach after dark...playing ball, some girls were practicing gymnastics and doing cartwheels, and little ones were still chasing the waves. We took another stroll along the water...the children thought it was a thrill to be down there at night. As it got later and later, we just decided to go back into Scarborough and find a cute little place to spend the night...
We went to a park and had a picnic lunch. The children were begging for more beach time so we went back to the part of the beach with the rocks. We got there about the time that the tide was going WAY out. Kayakers were having a blast in the back current. As it got more and more shallow, people started wading across to a sandbar...that just kept getting wider and wider...and opening up to more sandbars. We waded across and discovered all sorts of hermit crabs and clam shells. Pools of water collected in tiny sand pits that flowed into other sand pits. Asheley spent the entire time following those multitudes of puddles around while the others chased the hermit crabs!
Today we're all pretty sunburnt and tired...but oh what a wonderful tiny vaca we had! There are always so many things that we should be or oughta be doin'...but memories and experiences like these are treasures that last a lifetime! : D