It Makes No Never Mind

by James Nalley

By the time of this publication, Mainers will have survived yet another winter with its ups and downs, after which they are promptly rewarded with the so-called “fifth season,” i.e., the mud season. At this point, one has two choices: 1) continue to hunker down, even though, mentally, it might not be a good idea (considering the winter); or 2) accept it and head out into the fray! For those that choose the latter, the following are some ideas in Western Maine, considering that you dust off your preferred L.L. Bean, Bogs, or Muck boots.

First, with the winter ending, the ski season at Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley refuses to go out with a final bang. In this case, it offers the Reggae Festival in early mid-April. Billed as “the largest spring skiing festival in the East, it features two nights of music in the King Pine Room, two days of outside entertainment on The Beach, three nights of music in The Widowmaker, and reggae DJs at Bullwinkle’s. All outdoor music on the Beach is free, while tickets can be purchased for one night or the entire weekend. In their words, “When the lifts stop spinning, the party is just getting started.”

Second, for a more sedate experience, there is the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. Re-opening in mid-April, this unique park is not a typical zoo. Instead, it is where injured, orphaned, or human-dependent animals find sanctuary. In fact, the park is home to more than 30 species of Maine wildlife that cannot be returned to their natural habitats. There is also a fish hatchery, gardens, and two educational walking trails. There are also guided tours offered throughout the week.

Third, there are the five breweries on the Western Maine Beer Trail, including: Oxbow Beer Garden in Oxford, a renovated 200-year-old barn with a restaurant (and wood-fired oven) and tap room; Norway Brewing in Norway, a country farmhouse with an outdoor patio, where you can play card games and Trivial Pursuit while waiting for your craft brew and food; Side by Each Brewing Company, a small brewery with a large tasting room, and delicious food from Pinky D’s food truck; Gritty’s Brew Pub in downtown Auburn, which offers handcrafted ales and traditional pub fare, and is the “brew pub of choice for Mainers and folks ‘from away’”; and Baxter Brewing Company in Lewiston, a renovated 150-year-old mill that features 20 taps and delicious food, with their beer served in cans, which they swear makes the beer taste better.

At this point, let me first ask, “Is that mud on your boots?” Then, let me close with the following jest: A little boy is patiently fishing in a mud puddle with a stick and a piece of string. A man walks by and with a slight chuckle says, “What are you doing there, son? Fishing?” “Yes sir!” replies the boy. “I’m going to catch some really big fish and sell them to buy my mama some flowers for her birthday!” The man says, “Oh, you’re such a good boy. I’ll tell you what. Here’s $10. I’ll be over there talking with my friends outside of that house. Make sure to give me mine the minute you catch it!” The boy smiles and says, “Thanks a lot sir! I definitely will!” As the man walks away, he stops, turns around, and asks, “By the way, I see you are sitting on a cooler. How many fish have you caught?” The boy says, “Oh…you’re the first.”