How far would you go for the delicious peach shortcake served at the Ebb Tide restaurant? Five miles? 20 miles? 100 miles?

James D. Lippincott traveled 1,782 miles.

Lippincott is a native of Wichita, Kan., and is the first person to redeem one of the many coupons for a free peach shortcake at the Ebb Tide. Owners Peter and Nancy Gilchrist have spent the past two winters placing the coupons around the country, each one at least 1,000 miles from Boothbay Harbor.

The coupons have been placed in spots such as the French Quarter of New Orleans, tacked to the pier at Redondo Beach in California, even in Hawaii and Mexico City. One is at the the top of Harney Peak, S.D., the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains and west of the Alps. The Gilchrists climbed the peak last February.

“We were very lucky; there was not much snow, and locals told us it was unheard of to be able to climb up and down the peak in one day in February,” Peter Gilchrist said. “We're working on climbing the highest points in all 50 states. We've done 34 so far.”

Lippincott found the coupon he redeemed at a rest area along I-335, where he stopped with his fiancee, Anne Crane, on their way back from visiting her daughter at the University of Kansas. He was walking their corgi, Callie, out behind the stop where there was a row of pine trees, one of which had a small sign on it.

“I ignored it at first, I figured it was put there as a warning about pesticides or something,” Lippincott said. “When I got closer, I noticed it was attached using a push pin, not a staple. That seemed odd, so I walked closer. I couldn't believe it when I read it.

“I knew I would be passing near Boothbay Harbor in the fall, because I inherited my mother's house in Camden and we're planning on moving up to Maine eventually (right now we're just getting used to the idea). Right then and there I knew what was gonna happen — I was gonna march right in and demand my shortcake!”

No demanding was, of course, necessary. On September 28, Lippincott walked into Ebb Tide with his fiancee, sister, and brother-in-law, and presented the coupon. Despite the fact that the coupon technically expired on August 31, the peach season was extended this year; Ebb Tide had enough peaches left for five more shortcakes, and the coupon was honored.

The whole group ordered dessert, and plans to return again once Lippincott's brother joins them in Maine.

“We're gonna invade the place,” Lippincott said.

“Let me tell you, and I'll be serious here, I've only ever heard of strawberry shortcake. I didn't even know another kind existed, and that stuff is absolute killer. I mean, they put enough juice in the bottom that the biscuit breaks up and you're taking chunks off and it mixes with the juice ... just amazing. I think it might be better than strawberry.”

The family stayed and traded stories with the Gilchrists.

“Our opinion of Jim (Lippincott) is that he is gregarious, intelligent, very fun to talk with, and a great storyteller,” Peter Gilchrist said.

“Peter and Nancy are a pretty extraordinary couple,” Lippincott said. “Both a can-do kind of couple. Still hiking and doing so much; just last weekend they said they climbed Mount Battie up the back way, on the old carriage road. How many people even know there is a back way?”

When asked if he shared his peach shortcake with his family, Lippincott said with a chuckle, “I let them see it.”