Luxury Experience Created by: Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta Prouts Neck, Maine - When a Walk Becomes an Adventure

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1 Prouts Neck, Maine - When a Walk Becomes an Adventure While we were staying at the Black Point Inn in Prouts Neck, Scarborough, Maine The Adventure Kids Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta explored the famous Cliff Walk where the Atlantic Ocean kisses the breathtakingly beautiful rocky coast. So, when does a 1.75-mile walk become an interesting adventure? When the walk in question is in New England where as the Connecticut author, Mark Twain so aptly stated, "If you don't like the weather in New England, just wait a few minutes." The exclusive community of Prouts Neck is located at the end of the Scarborough Maine peninsula where the Atlantic Ocean wraps around the rocky coastline. On a warm, but slightly overcast and foggy morning in late June 2013, with map in hand, we set off down a luxuriant green grass path leading to the 1.75-mile Cliff Walk. Along the way, we stopped to admire the colorful flowers in full bloom, their fragrance lightly perfuming the air. Path to Prouts Neck Coastline Walk Page 1 of 7 - Print date: 17 March 2019

2 Beauty Along the Walk A short stroll later, we reached the quaint Black Point Inn Ocean Pump House circa 1919, where the aptly named Cliff Walk began. The walk hugged the Prouts Neck coastline and provided us with a unique perspective of the land and the sea, as the paths lead us over grassy areas, small rocks, large boulders, and up steps made of rock. Black Point Inn Pump House The "Official" Starting Point of the Walk Prouts Neck is shaped like a closed fist at the end of an arm, and as we rounded each bend, we enjoyed discovering its many secrets and its rich diversity. Some parts of the coastline are rough and rocky with waves wild and unyielding as they break over the rocks. Other areas are low lying where the gentler breaking waves create interesting tidal pools, and still other areas lead to secluded sandy beaches perfect for exploring or relaxing. Page 2 of 7 - Print date: 17 March 2019

3 Maine Coastline Shapes the Walk We also passed magnificent summer residences, a heady mix of vintage and newer homes, as well as the Winslow Homer Studio the summer home of the American artist who called Prouts Neck home from 1883 until his death in Winslow Homer Studio in the Fog Although one could stick strictly to the path, adventure is where you find it, and as we had worn sturdy footwear, we opted to take the more interesting route by climbing over the rocks, inspecting the tidal pools, and walking along the beach looking for shells and other forgotten treasures. Page 3 of 7 - Print date: 17 March 2019

4 Adventure Kids Navigating the Maine Coastline What we discovered during our walk was that the topography of Prouts Neck is as diverse as the New England weather, rough-hewn stones gave way to ocean tumbled smooth stones and then yielded into an enchanting mélange of stones and shells. Nature's way of Organizing Shells and Smooth Stones In keeping with the changing weather, over the course of our adventure, fog and mist turned to a light to moderate rain, our cameras hidden under our shirts to keep them safe from the elements, dirt paths suddenly became muddy ones, and deep puddles developed. Straddling the edges of the path over the pooling water or walking over planks set over the puddles, we continued along, albeit at a much slower pace to keep from sliding on the wet grass or in the mud. Page 4 of 7 - Print date: 17 March 2019

5 Pathways Encountered Along the Way Sometimes a little rain though is a good thing in that it does force you to slow you down. Bending low to escape wet low hanging brush, we happened to see nature's work in progress, a spider weaving its intricate web, glistening with raindrops as the sun started to break through the clouds, and Forget-Me-Nots interspersed with Buttercups, and Morning Glories edged the path like nature's precious exclamation points. The Beauty of a Spider's Web By the time we reached the end of the Cliff Walk, true to New England weather, the fog had lifted, the sun was out, and although we would have loved to have started the walk over again to experience the Cliff Walk in the bright sunshine, sometimes you can overdue a good thing. Besides, it was almost lunchtime, and fresh seafood was calling our names. Page 5 of 7 - Print date: 17 March 2019

6 Forget-me-Nots and Morning Glory dot the Coastline Read more about Maine in the Destinations, Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants: The Point Restaurant, Restaurants: The Chart Room on Prouts Neck, and Chefs' Recipessection for the interview and recipes from Chef William Benner who graciously provides a delicious taste of The Point Restaurant. Inviting Beaches Await You Follow Luxury Experience on Facebook at Page 6 of 7 - Print date: 17 March 2019

7 Gnarled Tree - The Surprises Along the Way July 2013 Luxury Experience. All rights reserved. Page 7 of 7 - Print date: 17 March 2019