One of my favorite places to go in Maine, is the quaint and seemingly away-from-society town of Harpswell. Harpswell is beautiful. I often ride along Harpswell Neck Road en route to my grandparents' house, and see the sparkly ocean, feel the crisp sea breeze, and taste the salt, especially along the causeway. I make it to Harpswell only several times every year, but every visit is just as enjoyable and relaxing as the one before.

My grandparents' house has been somewhat of a home away from home for me, for quite some time. It's an easy walk to the hidden beach, and a few quick turns until I find myself on the dock, overlooking the cove. As long as I can remember, Harpswell has never changed too much. Lobster traps still line the "S" curve in the road before the causeway, Estes Lobster House is still in sight, and the coveted garden of my grandparents' remains fresh and colorful every year.

However, in recent years, there's been a bit of construction next to Estes, and it seems that construction crews are being seen a bit more frequently on the way. I approve of new roads, but not of new structures that take away from the seemingly untouched timeworn and old-fashioned aura that Harpswell encapsulates.

This summer marked the first time that I've felt like Harpswell is losing a bit of that aura. Upon my first visit, for a family picnic, the street in front of my grandparents' house was bustling with people, cars lined up along the entire road, and many faces I have never seen before, which is quite unusual considering Harpswell seems to be a fairly tight-knit community. In my second visit this summer, this vacation with my mother, a group of obnoxious teens illegally sped in front of us and passed us on a quite narrow road with low visibility. It's just not the same as it once was.

People are learning of this hidden gem on the coast and it's rather destructive. There are new neighbors that glare instead of wave, new families in cottages, and it's more of a public destination than a private location. There is a certain lack of respect by new visitors here - such as the woman who let her dogs sniff through my grandparents' flower gardens today.

Harpswell is a beautiful getaway. And for so many years, it was seemingly untouched. I realize that tourism is a tremendous part of Maine's economy and well-being. However, some places are meant to just be. I was on the beach in the above picture at about 5PM on this past Thursday evening. There were ten people there besides myself. Never can I remember there ever being more than one or two people beside me, or a member of my family.

I remember when the now-Potts Point Preserve less than a quarter mile down the road was barely and rarely tread upon. A little while ago, it was seemingly packed with people. People, I had never seen before. People, that were simply exploring as tourists. They didn't know what they were doing. How were they supposed to know? Why does this hidden gem, suddenly have to be uncovered?

There's no going back now, though.

All images are my own.