... and we don't have a boat.
 
So we drove over to Eastport Maine and found the pizza place. The sign said going out of business Oct 04. We had a pizza pie made with their last batch of dough and it seemed like it was going to close early.
 
It was good. We were sad. The proprietor was %100 service oriented and a real pro. A class act.
 
It's hard to encounter a town that has grown so small it can't even keep a pizza parlor in business.
 
It seem like it happened to the even smaller town we are staying in a few years earlier. There are a lot of boarded up buildings.
 
The sight seeing and the hiking trails we have found are some of, if not the finest I have ever experienced but it seems like it must be a tough place to be a year round resident.
 
Both towns had fishery booms in their past but it has all dwindled away.
 
best regards,
mike
 

Sounds like you are having a great time up there! I have never been but would like to go. The furthest NE I have been is Vermont (did that a few months ago for business).
 
You mentioned hiking trails... Doesn't the AT end in Maine somewhere?

Was he closing for economic reasons, or retiring?  

Hi maximum,
 Yes the AT does end here and it is supposed to be some tough hiking. We have been hiking the more gentle sea cliff trails which I have found surprising in that there are heath bogs right behind the cliffs. We walk on planks through bogs with rare pitcher plants, spagnum moss etc. and then come out on the rocky cliffs with stunning views. A real treat for a flat lander from Florida where most of our bogs were drained and sub divided.
 
Hi Jan,
 Some businesses are seasonal and summer is the high point but the Pizza lady was 365 and said that last summer was too slow for her and she just can't make a go of it. We drove over because it had rave reviews.
 
 The coast up here is so detailed with inlets and coves that each town is a great driving distance from each other even though you can see them all over the water. It not like the So Fla or So Cali endless bummer sprawl. I imagine that makes commerce difficult.
 
 Both towns seem reduced to a few sea food bars, a bunch of sparsely stocked "art galleries", and old style urban decay. I am almost feel guilty being on vacation when I sea the local fisherman walking around on their day off. Everyone is amazing friendly and nice and appreciative of our having visited, so that helps me feel better.
 
 It is so palpable that I had bad dreams about it last night. It seems like people are just starting to buy vacation houses up here but I guess it is just for summer use.
 
 I'll come back for the hiking and sight seeing and hope that folks find a way to keep going.
 
 Anyways... just babbling.
 
 best regards,
mike
 
 

This slow down and urban decay is all over. Business is the slowest it has ever been for my company in the 22 years I have been in business. I would hate to be starting out in this type of economic environment. Even companies doing well are reducing staff and cutting people back to 28 hrs or less.  In a few more years, I fear full 40 hr a week jobs will be the rare exception.
 
Our closest large town (Wilson) has been trying unsuccessfully for as long as I can remember to "revive" it's downtown business district. They tore up sidewalks and redid them with planters and brick laid in patterns to make it look better. Small businesses come and go in short order. Very few actually stay any significant length of time. Part time workers and unemployed people are just not able to go out to eat and patronize the businesses.
 
Between laws and regulations, businesses are finding it harder each day to make a profit.  I do believe, unfortunately, it will continue to get worse. The America I grew up in is gone. We live in a place that is hard to recognize.

Seasonal makes sense.  When you first wrote about it, it seemed a little more permanent.  
 
They've been getting by for a long time with the seasons.  I'd like to see them have an easier time of it, but I think they'll survive.  Take advantage of the services while you can.  That will probably help most.  

mike_mccue
...but the Pizza lady was 365 ...

Wow, she's even older than Bapu!

craigb

mike_mccue
...but the Pizza lady was 365 ...

Wow, she's even older than Bapu!

but not as many plugins i'm sure

...and we don't have a boat..
 
lol, this fell through the cracks in my eyes at first reading...

I'd say that a viewing of "Mystic Pizza" is in order to honor Mikes' vacation. And I'm off to FLA in a few weeks. Have to watch Miami Vice for that trip.