Backing up to our last days in Maine

Saturday before take-off, I went down to Portsmouth, NH to meed Dylan, Kristin and Helena for a farewell day.  Is, unfortunately, was in the middle of a pastel painting which had to be finished before we took off, so couldn't accompany.  Had a good walk around the waterfront in the beginning throes of the Fish and Lobster Festival; helped Helena traverse quite a few curbs (apparently her latest "thing") and then had a good lunch at a place whose name I never knew, but would like to remember.

So then, on Monday I called Westbrook Taxi for a cab to pick us up at 1245, as we needed to be at the bus station at 1:00 PM.  "No problem" says the dispatcher, "we'll be there at a quarter to one."  So after two more calls, and being driven past twice by the blind cab driver at around 1:10 pm, we get in the cab and the guy tells me it's not his fault-the dispatcher gave him the call at 12:54.  I didn't care and told him to get us to the station; which he did, giving us under five minutes to wrestle four bags and a huge bicycle case to the bus.  This is the second time that Westbrook Taxi has done this to me, and they won't get a third chance.  To all you taxi-needers in Westbrook:  WESTBROOK TAXI IS NOT A FIRM I WOULD RECOMMEND IF YOU WANT TO GET ANYWHERE ON TIME.
Our next pleasant surprise was that the Virgin Atlantic plane we were to take to London was going to be about two hours behind schedule as they had to change planes before they flew our way from London.  Cool!  I don't want to fly on questionable aircraft.  Well, we get into London two hours late, but still might make it to Gatwick and our connecting flight if everything goes well.  It didn't.  The National Express bus was ten minutes late and got us to Gatwick five minutes after check-in time.  So we shell out 50 Sterling apiece and cool our heels for five hours and finally get on a plane to Alicante, arriving at 9:20 pm, tired and bedraggled.  Good ole Les Harris was there to pick us up and drag us home-bless his soul!
48 hours later, we are starting to recover, and will be able to show the Augusta trio around the area.