The Cliff House Resort, Oguinquit, Me, President Bushs and Mrs. Barbara Bush

Just came back from 3 days at the wonderful Cliff House Resort and Spa in Oguinquit, Maine. John and I checked out on Wednesday then drove three miles to Perkins Cove to walk around, browse, shop and watch the boats and folk. We sauntered over to Barnacle Billy's for ice cream when suddenly John said, "There's Mrs. Bush." She walked down the three red brick steps next to our table (we were tucked into a corner table in the front patio). Mrs. Bush paused and said, "Hello, that looks very good." I said," yes, it is, why don't you order one?" I was eating two scoops of ice cream: pistachio on top of vanilla in a cone.

Mrs. Bushe passed by, trailed by a Secret Service guy in shorts, a flowered tee, an ear piece. A minute later, John jumped up and said,

"Hi, Mr. President," as President George H.W. Bush walked down the three steps. "Which one do you mean?" he quipped to John and they shook hands. "You, how are you?" I just stood up, and said hello. No hand shaking for me, and besides, I was stuck in the corner while John was on the front side of our table.

Pres. Bush walked by, headed for the back patio where his two two grandaughers were already seated along with their grandmother.

Next, more "casually" clad secret service guys walked by, then Pres. George W. Bush Jr. walked down the steps. John got up, said hello and shook the president's hand and chatted for about two seconds. I just said hello and then tried to take some photos, only to discover that my battery pack had gone dead.

John did get two photos of the back of the presidents' as they shook hands with others on the patio, most eating ice cream. ONe couple I spoke to said they oftten see the elder Pres. and Mrs. Bush at Barnacle Billy but had never seen President George W. Bush there.

Now it was my turn to take a photo...but my the battery pack was dead. Memories remain. But I can't post those.

They had soon walked past a front patio, to the back and sat at a corner table overlooking the river. Security surrounded them but they didn't bother the diners. At first, a small flurry of a crowd came to gawk and take photos, then the situation settled down.
John and I continued eating our melting ice cream.

The Bushes had motored up to the dock in their three engine motor boat; secrutiy boat was tied up next to theirs. After they'd docked, they'd walked up the wooden ramp to the sidewalk then a few steps over Barnacle Billy's.

All in all, it was a good ice cream escapade at Perkins Cove. Back to the Cliff House, I couldn't wait to tell about my encounter. I had a good rest and a good story, too.