Although we ended up in Rockland, Mrs. Horne wanted to visit Camden as well, so Peter and I got up early on Monday and started researching biking there.
Peter discovered a biking app called Ride with GPS.
It allows one to enter a destination and see the best ways to reach it by bike. Once you’ve selected the destination, it can guide you with your smartphone’s turn-by-turn audio and visual instructions.
Peter found the shortest route via Route 1 (10 miles) and backroads through Rockport.
As scary as biking on Route 1 sounds, it was actually fine. We had a breakdown lane that doubled as a bike lane most of the way.
Although there were 40 and 45 MPH stretches, there were so many stoplights that no one was going that fast
About halfway, we took a right and followed splendid country roads through Rockport into Camden.
When I realized that a lot of restaurants in the area closed on Sundays and Mondays, I did some research to find the best eateries that were actually open.
We were on Day 12 of eating at Seaside Eateries, which meant that we’d seen 24 menus that all looked kinda alike. As soon as I spotted a 4.8 Star Mexican restaurant in Camden, that became our lunch destination.
Mosaic – Camden Maine
It’s just up the hill from Main Street, with a modest dining room and bar.
Our server was a wonderful young lady named Lily. She was running the bar and front-of-house single-handedly.
She made me a delicious jalapeno margarita.
We ordered their signature appetizer while we studied the menu.
heesy, spicy, yum! with tortilla chips.
The dip was sublime, but there was more cheese than corn. The in-house-made chips were absolutely perfect. It was so perfect that Mrs. Horne ordered a second for lunch!
Peter went with the “House Favorite” Enchiladas.
house enchilada sauce, chicken things,
jack cheese, rice & beans, salsa roja
Once again, I struggled to decide what to order. I came in thinking of Carne Asada Tacos but ended up ordering a Carnitas Bowl.
Mrs. Horne looked around and said: “When you see a feather, it means someone who died is looking over you.”
There was a feather above the bar.
It didn’t take long to figure out who; my late father painted us a beautiful oil of a cardinal years ago.
Downtown Camden
After lunch, we chained up the bikes and did a little shopping downtown.
Just before we left, I caught these two street buskers.
Peter suggested we try the other route back to Rockland. It backtracked through Rockport, included about a mile of Route 1, and then went up the hill until eventually joining Route 17.
The first part was sweet!
Avoid Route 17 By Bike 🫣
The hill after Route 1 was particularly long and steep. Route 17 was generally terrifying. It, too, is a 45 MPH highway with a breakdown/bike lane, but it has very few lights, and most of the cars were going 50-60 MPH. I got buzzed within a few feet twice by trucks going 60.
Downtown Rockland
Mrs. Horne wanted a smoothie after the ride, so we chained up the bikes and visited The Atlantic Bakery.
This is a totally legit classic French bakery in Rockland!
We also did a little more shopping but found many stores closed on Mondays.
Back on the boat, it was too warm to sit on the Skydeck, but I found a perfect spot to read my Nantucket Murder Mystery.
Despite the heat, we got a lovely sea breeze flowing through the open windows.
Archer’s On The Pier
Chris, the Dockmaster, told us about Lynn Archer’s restaurant located on the grounds of Safe Harbor. Apparently, she beat Bobby Flay with her Lobster Sandwich.
The venue is a well executed seaside eatery.
Let me say at the outset it wasn’t that great. I’m guessing since they were closed Sunday and it was Monday, Lynn (or whoever the head chef is) had the night off, and an underling was running the kitchen.
I did get off on the wrong foot when I asked the bartender for the Hazyest IPA, and she poured me a pilsner. I then switched to a martini but later asked the other bartender for a hazy IPA, and he gave me a Sebago, which was just fine.
Mrs. Horne ordered the steamers, and she was happy with the dish.
I ordered the Seafood Extravaganza appetizer. It was crab cakes, haddock bites, and a lobster dip. The haddock bites were spot-on, but the other two were not quite up to snuff.
The crab cakes were more of a crab croquette; they were mushy and not crisp outside. The lobster dip was an absolute failure. The dip was mostly cream cheese with a few pieces of lobster claw meat. The crostinis were hard and tough to chew.
Peter’s glazed Salmon was well overdone.
He said the risotto was pretty good!
Would I try it again? Maybe on another night, but I’d be more likely to take the Safe Harbor loaner car and drive to Mosaic in Camden!
The plan for Tuesday is to make an 80-mile run to Portland.
As the sun set, the fog rolled in.
I didn’t sleep that well…
Next Up – Portland 2024