It's Bill, 3/1/26: Our Guests
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Armchair Traveling at West Quoddy Station
West Quoddy Station provides lodging for guests traveling from all over the USA and the world. Some guests are travelers to a further destination, while the majority have selected West Quoddy Station as their stopping place to enjoy the Real Downeast. Over the years, our guests have shared their friendship and personal stories with us. Talking with guests provides me the opportunity to be an armchair traveler with them. Sharing our stories brings us together for a fuller understanding and appreciation of our world. It’s all good. And just plain fun.
A Five-Hour Drive for Snow
The inspiration for writing about some of my guests’ stories came about a month ago, just after a snowstorm. The guest was well spoken with a British accent and pronunciation. His voice was wonderful to listen to. After taking his reservation, I could not determine his nationality. He asked me if we had much snow. “Yes,” I said, “but the roads are black pavement, no problem traveling here.” He said that he appreciated that.
He traveled up from Southern Maine, arriving after sunset. In the morning he came to my office to introduce himself and to thank me for all my help and fine accommodations. After chatting a bit, my curiosity got the better of me. “Why did you drive five hours here for one night, then turn around for a five-hour return trip?” He said, “You see, you have snow. My son is visiting with me from India where everything is green all year. White is a special color for us, pure, almost sacred. I wanted my son to enjoy the natural beauty of your white snow.” Knock me over, I was speechless. The simplest things in life are best.
On December 30, 2024, a family from Mexico City was traveling to Montreal. They stayed a night, and their four children had their first snowball fight.
Pilots, Photographers, and the Night Sky
Last August, a guest contacted me about getting an Uber ride from Lubec’s grass strip airport, about a ten-minute drive. Lubec does not have Uber or taxis. I volunteered to provide transportation for him and his two pilot friends. They were all friends from China, where the pilots had learned to fly. The pilots had rented a plane and flown from the West Coast. The pilots were dropping my guest off in Washington, DC, then proceeding to Florida, then across the lower US to California. Something different for Lubec and a memorable experience for all.
A few weeks ago, I went to the Lubec Brewery to see what folks were saying about me. The owner, Gale, introduced me to some of my guests. They were professional photographers who specialized in underwater (warm water!) photography of whales, sharks, turtles, and more. The husband-and-wife team were meeting up with Lubec’s Adam Woodworth, a Lubec resident and professional photographer who specializes in night photography of the heavens. West Quoddy Head is a favorite location with no pollution or ambient light.
We don’t get to travel much here; however, our guests travel for us. Works for us.
