Driving on US1 in Maine this past weekend I happened upon the Montsweag Flea Market. I hadn’t planned on stopping at this particular flea market, but I had some time to kill before we could get the keys to our summer rental and I knew there’s a lot of good stuff on US1. Once I found this place, I was not disappointed. (I didn’t know it at the time, but this flea is coincidentally listed on the map of flea markets that I made way back in 2009.)

Having given up on the Brooklyn Flea some time ago (partially because I’m not in New York all that much when it is going on and partially because it’s a bit too over-thought for my liking) it’s not always easy for me to get to a good flea market. I’ve spent more than a few early weekend mornings going to the Elephant’s Trunk in Connecticut and have found some great stuff there, or have at least had a great time hunting. Most of the time looking is what these things are all about. There’s a challenge to dig and find the cool little things that are really worth taking home. There’s a sense of adventure and hopefully a surprise around the corner. That’s keeps me coming back and what always makes me pull-in if I spot a flea while driving down the road on a beautiful Saturday in Maine.

These were my only purchases at the flea. There’s a guy in a Pharrell hat and a bunch of Maine beach beauties.

There were a lot of old salts wearing suspenders.

100% Maine all together in one place.

This nice lady was selling home made doughnuts, biscuits and bread. She was curious why I would be interested in taking a picture of her stand. I told her that it’s not something I see everyday. And if you are wondering, those doughnuts were delicious.

When I was obsessed with Kodachromes (with buying them, I’m still obsessed with looking at them) I constantly noticed that fishing was a huge activitie in the 1950s. I also picked up on the fact that Johnson motors were everywhere at that time. When I see them at flea markets, I also think back to all of those old photos.