Boothbay was the first trip I ever took on my own. I was six, and my friend Burt Leach had a family estate overlooking the bay. This was back before there were interstate highways, so it took seven hours to get here in his father’s Corvair.
I have some striking memories of that trip. The biggest thing was that it was the first (and only) time I saw a full-sized candy bar selling for three cents – the kind that you might find for 50 cents or more.
The second thing was the harbor. I’d never seen so many big boats in one place.
My next memory of Boothbay was 1986. Mrs. Horne was very pregnant with our daughter Natalie. We stayed a few days, rented a Boston Whaler, and enjoyed the most incredible Bluefish Pate I’d ever tasted.
The next visit was the first by boat. Peter, Mrs. Horne, and I came here for four days in 2022.
- Maine 2022: Day 3 – Boothbay Maine
- Maine 2022: Day 4 – Touring Boothbay
- Maine 2022: Day 5 – The Picnic Cruise
We were scheduled to visit last year, but our boat arrived late and we canceled. This year we once again arrived on Day Five of our Maine cruise following Kennebunkport.
The ride out from back at Dimillos was the complete opposite of the frightening ride in at low tide. In fact, at high tide, the Kennebunk River looked like a civilized waterway.
Once out in the open ocean, we enjoyed the 60-mile run up the Maine coastline on a perfect morning for boating.
Kim, Charles, and Molly all came out to help us tie up.
We love the Boothbay Harbor Marina. It’s nothing fancy, but it has a great location, and more importantly, it’s run by an incredible woman – Kim Gillies.
2022 Photo
Despite its modest facility, it receives awards year after year.
One of our goals on this trip is to get to know more of the seasonal folks at the marina.
Mine Oyster
In addition to Kim and her deft hand overseeing the marina, the location is excellent. At the top of the ramp, you have McSeagulls to the right and Mine Oyster to the left.
We’ve never tried McSeagulls – the locals tell us it’s a tourist trap with mediocre food, but we’ve been to Mine several times.
Since our last visit, they’ve taken over the restaurant upstairs and become a huge waterfront eatery.
Being an Oyster House, they have an oyster bar on the left as you walk in. They offer a half dozen different oysters in something they call Jumbos.
If you ask, they’ll bring three different Migonettes to the table.
Mrs. Horne had the Taco Salad with no protein.
Romaine, Pico de gallo salsa, house beans, queso fresco cheese, spicy thousand island dressing, guacamole, fried tortilla bowl
Peter had the wings.
Flash-fried and tossed in Mine Oyster’s Sauce of the Day!
These were quite plump, and the flash-frying kept them warm throughout lunch. They served Classic Buffalo and House BBQ sauce on the side.
Somehow, I failed to take a photo of my own lunch, which was really an excellent dish.
I ordered the SMOKE HOUSE SAUSAGE OF THE DAY Homemade flame-grilled sausage for $24.
It was served with potato salad, creamed corn, cornbread, a watermelon slice and BBQ sauce.
The Sausage of the Day was Fennel. It was flavorful, crisp, and very moist inside. The other star was the creamed corn, which tasted an awful lot like the Elote Corn I paid $16 for at ReelHouse on Friday night!
After lunch we gave Amazing Grace her first deep cleaning since she was detailed in late May. We tested our Unger DI System and it did a great job on the flybridge windows.
I originally ordered the standard pole, which can telescope to reach five-story windows. It’s cumbersome, so halfway through cleaning, I went to WebstarauntStore.com and ordered the 12’ Lightweight Carbon Fiber pole.
There is simply no quicker, easier, or more effective way to clean the upper windows and superstructure than the Unger System. It’s unclear whether it’s the best way to do the rest of the boat – stay tuned!
The Thistle Inn
After cleaning, we enjoyed the nearly 80° day on the Skydeck. We’d originally planned to return to Ports of Italy, but Mrs. Horne challenged me to find a place we’d never been. Kim came to the rescue and suggested the Thistle Inn.
It’s really not quite in town but rather a ten-minute walk from the marina.
Peter led the way using his map app, but it was set for car, not walking, so it took us on the one-way route up and down Oak Street Hill.
Unless you’re looking for a Stairmaster Workout, I’d suggest the nearly flat Townsend Ave route both ways.
It’s a beautiful venue that feels like a riverside location.
We had booked inside seating, but the manager (owner?) would have nothing of it; she intercepted the host and led us to a splendid outside table.
Our server, Amy, was very helpful in interpreting the menu and describing the specials.
The bread service is excellent – lightly toasted and warm, accompanied with soft butter.
Peter ordered the Alfredo without the shrimp – chicken only,
Fettuccine | Sun-Dried Tomatoes | Spinach | Chicken | Gulf Shrimp | Cream Sauce | Garlic Bread
Mrs. Horne ordered the Mussels without the tomatoes
White Wine | Garlic Butter | Tomato |
Basil | Red Onion | Cream | Lemon
I’m not a big fan of mussels, but I love it when Mrs. Horne orders them because I can mop up the broth! Between the leftovers from the bread service, we had more bread for mopping than we could use!
I went with the Steak Tips but substituted the mashed potatoes for Potato Croquettes.
Garlic Mashed Potato | Sauteed Spinach | Crispy Carrot | Demi
It was such a beautiful plate. Everything was done perfectly. The tips were tender enough to be tenderloin, the crispy carrot was a sophisticated touch, and croquettes were clearly homemade and wonderful.
They were fried “chicken crisp” on the outside with the texture of seasoned mashed potatoes on the inside.
The still back to the marina was very pleasant. And we sat out on the Skydeck watching the sun slowly set.
Next up – The Boothbay Cocktail Party!