Your Scribe motored to Scarborough last weekend for the opening of the Cabela's sporting goods store. There won't be a serious rivalry between the this store and L.L. Bean, like some sportsmen speculate. Perhaps Cabela's will take customers from the Trading Post in Kittery, but Bean will continue to draw the high-end shoppers, whether they are seeking fly rods or walking shoes.

This is what I liked about Cabela's:

The range of fish-finding gear, including a nifty device costing $419.

A hotwater shower for camp. It costs $119 without the hardware to make the water hot, but still, I liked the thought.

I was impressed by the aquarium. Many youngsters were intrigued, and that is good.

A fine, diverse collection of shoes and boots.

This is what I didn't like:

A huge display of Jeff Foxworthy peppered teriyaki and other products I don't plan to eat. Plus there were a dozen kinds of fudge, which I don't consider very outdoorsy.

A book section that provided for fewer texts than most teens can fit in their backpacks.

Too many "cutesy" stuffed animals and ugly art. I know this IS part of the outdoors but sections of the store looked like Marden's, not Cabela's.

I can't decide:

They offered a huge "enviornmental mountain," which is good for youngsters. But many animals featured don't reside in Maine. Still, Cabela's is a national chain (since 1961) so you have to cut them a break on some of their inventory.

Final take: It's good to have another outdoors store in Maine. This one is more kid-friendly than (the interior of) LL Bean, so perhaps it will be a grand success with families trying to educate their kids while buying a broader variety of goods.

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