Pausing at Camden

Natural Date: 567

I’m pausing at Camden. Why? Because heading south, this is where it all changes. It’s almost like a portal to another part of Maine...the more ‘citified’ Maine. People are still friendly, but much less apt to stop and chat. They’re used to tourists crowding the streets. And someone tromping through with a backpack is no unusual thing, because Route 1 passes the State Park then winds straight through down town. 

It’s an awesome little town with 19th-century architecture and a harbor full of historic as well as modern sailing vessels. If you don’t mind crowds and have a few bucks to spend, I suppose it’s the place to be. But the shift is obvious — people looking down at the sidewalk, talking on cells phones, hurrying to wherever it is they want to be next. It’s good and fine if that’s your thing. For me though, well, it makes me want to pause and appreciate the Maine I just walked through.