America is full of iconic scenes that paint the perfect picture of the people of this country. Further south there is the Empire State Building showing their engineering prowess and then in Norfolk there are their warships that drive home their military might. In Maine we went to the fair and found scenes that you would only ever find in America and optimise everything that everyone both loves and hates about the fascinating country.

After wearing out Tom & MA the Ruffians were left to their own devices and so we ventured to the fair that we had spied from the top of the hill. The fair was Americana in every way and especially in the junk food offerings. The eatery menus were loaded with high fructose corn syrup and animal fat centric delights. The motto seemed to be ‘If you can fry it, we can deep fry it’ and ‘if you can cover it in sugar you can also cover it in cream.’

The crowds with their deep fried cream covered fast food snacks lined the stands as the first of the fairs attractions entered the field. Horses the size of barns, tethered with thick leather traps, and barely under the control of their masters pulled and yawed. With the clang of their metal yokes on the metal sled there was an explosion of power and raw emotion. The horses pulled metal sleds weighed down with tonnes of concrete until they panted and sweated with exhaustion and Fiona was left fighting back the tears as she felt such empathy for the magnificent creatures.

After such a high energy spectacle, viewing the prize winning knitwear and rosette crowned vegetables was definitely more relaxing but we still had the all American antique tractor pulling contest to witness. The tractor pulling was along the same lines as the horses but there was the prospect of throbbing engineers and 100’s of horses being unleashed instead of just 2.

With not much more than a murmur the first of the machines entered the field, revved his engine and was off on a race of the slowest possible proportions. It seemed to entertain the crowds but the best entertainment came as the machine left the field and the driver gave the entire stand a view of his award winning builders bum as it hung over the edges of his antique perch.

After sailing with “Christmas” for a final day and going upwind both to and from Blue Hill there was nothing for it but to have a classic Maine dinner. With a view of Mount Dessert in the distance and our boats gently bobbing in the working harbour of Frenchboro below us, we sent 4 lobsta’s to a fishy based heaven and toasted great friends and said sad goodbyes.

If you can fry it, you can deep fry it. It you can put cream on it, you can put cream and sugar on it.


Raw power and raw emotion in the horse sled pull.


The gentle and cut throat pastime of veggie growing is celebrated.


Old tractors are put to ‘work’.


One of the many health foods on offer at the fair.


The gathered masses. An advert to the dangers of junk food.


Man in tights.


More upwind, but it’s actually quite enjoyable.



Ruffians and Christmases.


No chance of paddling on this beach.


Follow the path. You can’t get lost. We got lost.


BL. Before lobsta.


Only in Maine.


Iain creates some ‘baggies and no that’s not copious amounts of illicit substances its dried milk!


The fog makes a brief reappearance.