Sunday, 7 October 2007 at Owls Head Transportation Museum near Rockland, Maine

Come join us for a great show at the Owls Head Transportation Museum near Rockland, Maine. This museum has a wonderful collection of antique cars and planes (WWI vintage) and most are in operating condition - in fact they fly the planes most every weekend. Gates open at 9:30 AM

This year Volvo is the featured marque at their Fall Import Auto Show and all Volvos are welcome regardless of age. Anyone coming in a Volvo will get to park on the show field and receive free admission!

This is the VCOA Maine Chapter annual gathering. This year, I would like to invite everyone to join us for some additional activities on the weekend. This area has LOADS of stuff to do and see. I can offer a list of options for ‘on your own’ tours, or we can plan a couple of outings as a group. Many great restaurants in the area, and depending on the numbers, I can offer a lobster picnic here at ‘End Of Town Farm’ in Clark Island (about 5 miles from the Museum) on Saturday afternoon (~$25/person for steamed whole lobster, corn on the cob, potato salad and cole slaw).

Please let me know if you are coming and whether you want to join us for a lobster feed (I have to order the lobsters several days ahead of time), or whether you would prefer a nice dinner out or other organized activity.

Steve@VCOA.org 207-594-9747

There are many museums (Farnsworth, home museum of the Wyeths; Light House Museum; Marshall Point Light House Museum - this is the light house that was featured in Forrest Gump; and many more).

Art and sculpture galleries - too numerous to mention - ~50 within a 10 mile radius of downtown Rockland.

Several islands you can visit by passenger ferry - notable is Monhegan which is mostly an artist community - great hiking on trails along the rugged coast of the island.

Other opportunities include ocean and estuary kayaking, an educational boat trip to eastern Egg Rock to see puffins (as well as osprey, eagles, seals, et al.).

And finally, this is the best time to visit this part of the coast - weather is great - warm days and cool evenings, leaves are beginning to show their fall colors - and the mosquitos and black flies are gone!.

For those wishing to stay overnight - here is a list of several places. Due to the popularity of the area, prices are not cheap, but the accommodations are pretty good.

Craignair Inn - One of my favorites - right on the ocean at Clark Island ~ 5 miles from Owls Head (and 1 block from my house) Great Restaurant. 800-320-9997, www.craignair.com ($65-$155)

Hampton Inn - brand new, on US 1 between Thomaston and Rockland - ~ 5 mi from Museum - 207-594-6644

Navigator Motor Inn - on Rockland Harbor 800-545-8026 ($85-$135)

Trade Winds Motor Inn - on Rockland Harbor 207-596-6661 ($79-$145)

Glen Cove Inn - Rockport just North of Rockland on US 1 207-594-4062) ($89-$179)

Local Restaurants (can you tell I like good food?) These are some of the local ones - there are loads more

Thomaston Café - Rt 1 in Thomaston 207-596-7556 - some of the best food in the area! Reservations suggested, reasonable prices

Harbor View Restaurant - Thomaston 207-354-8173 (gotta try the haddock chowder!)

Billy’s Tavern - Thomaston (new) Irish pub, often music on weekends

Café Miranda - Rockland 207-594-2034 - huge menu loads of unusual selections - prices are a bit high, reservations suggested

Suzuki’s Sushi Bar - Main Street Rockland 207-596-7447 reservations suggested. One of the BEST sushi bars I have found anywhere- better than Sushi Ko in Washington DC and Tachibana in Arlington, VA! Great atmosphere. Prices typical of sushi bars.

In Good Company -Main Street Rockland - 207- 593-9110 - reservations suggested, upscale wine bar and restaurant, excellent food, very comfortable atmosphere, a bit pricey but worth it.

Applebees - the usual - next door to the Hampton Inn

Rockland Café - Main Street in downtown Rockland - New England comfort food

The Waterworks - nice pub with excellent food - best fish and chips in the region! Try them with the sweet potato fries. Often music on the weekends.

Sunfire Mexican Grill - Main Street Rockland 207-594-6196- good Mexican food, reasonable prices.