Travel Day (Again)

Today was 6 hours, 265 miles, 2 bridges, 1 lighthouse and a thunderstorm long. 

The storm overtook us about 4 hours into the drive from Bar Harbor, with rain so hard we had to pull off the highway in Kennebunk and wait for it to pass. 

Then we were back on the road, heading for the Cape Neddick Lighthouse, aka The Nubble, in York, Maine. A ‘nubble’ is a narrow strip of land with an island at its point (who knew?)

The cast iron tower was completed in 1879 and the current Fresnel lens was installed in 1928. 

So picturesque! So unreachable! with that 600’ gap of icy cold water between us. (The island is linked to the mainland by a rocky bar at extremely low tide and uses/used a bucket and chain system for moving supplies, and sometimes people.)

They also had a great gift shop adjacent to the parking lot. Happy to do our part to support the lighthouse society!

Piscataqua River Bridge

An hour and 2 bridges later, we’re tucked up in Danvers MA, 

about 20 minutes from tomorrow’s destination - Salem!! Rachel and I can’t wait.* 

*At 9 pm we had to change rooms because the hotel put us right in the middle of 32 teenagers from Colorado on a church camp/retreat/something who were racing in the halls, banging on the walls and having a great old time. And they’re here until Friday - I feel sorry for the front desk staff! Happy our new digs are much quieter.

Acadia and Bass Harbor

We slept in for an extra half hour(!) this morning 

before heading out to Acadia National Park. 

 First hike, Acadia NP

This is the last week of the “off season” - 

 Jordon Pond, Acadia NP

which people in Maine take very seriously. 

Jordon Pond, Acadia NP

Well over half the shops and restaurants in Bar Harbor 

 Jordon Pond

have been closed for months.

 Creek flowing from Jordon Pond

The same is true in the national park. 

 Otter Point, Acadia NP

Most of the roads are open-ish - some still doing construction - 

 Looking out from Otter Point, listening to the ‘booms’ from the cave below

but all the buildings, concessions, ranger stations, etc. are closed until May 3 … 

when we will be back in CA.

Unfortunate timing on our part, 

but we’ve really enjoyed the ‘no crowds anywhere’ vibe. 

Steps to Otter Point

We also visited Bass Harbor Light and its very small parking lot. 

Apparently “in season” it’s almost impossible to visit due to crowds, lack of parking 

and neighbors who (rightly) don’t want tourists parking in their yards and driveways. 

Light was first used in 1858

But today, off season, there were maybe 6 cars in the lot 

and we could spend as much time there as we liked….

Original fog bell, dated 1891

which was fortunate, 

since we took the wrong path and ended up climbing down (really) steep stairs (and back up again) to - not the lighthouse - but the local rocky picnic spot. 

Oh well… at least it was pretty…

I had one other lighthouse on my list to visit today. Apple Maps gave us clear, concise directions to Bear Island Lighthouse …

except it was to the harbor from whence you took a boat to the light, 6 miles offshore. Major Fail, Apple Maps! 

More pics:

Bar Harbor harbor

 Bar Harbor harbor

Bass Harbor Light

 Coast Guard fog bell, Bass Harbor Light

 Gulf of Maine from Bass Harbor

Pier on the road to Bass Harbor

 Acadia

Jordon Pond visitor center was closed, no popovers for us ☹️

Red dot is a huuuuuuge house on the far shore. 

Day 2 - Rocklin to Bar Harbor

Today was chilly and damp - spitting rain off and on, with temps in the low 40’s - but we managed to find 3 of the 5 lighthouses on our route. 

Note: tap/click any picture to see it full-sized rather than the ‘preview’ Blogger posts here.

First up was Marshall Point Light, in Pt. Clyde, famous from the movie “Forest Gump.”

Wish we could have seen the interior of the keeper’s house but since it’s Sunday, a lot things - including the house - were closed. 

We found the Fishermen Memorial on the seaward side of an outbuilding, with a list of names and dates on the back. Several of the surrounding memorial benches had been knocked over and broken apart, possibly by the hurricane that hit Maine this winter, but the memorial itself looked undamaged.

Hubby and I climbed to the top of Owl’s Head Light - 53 steps! - in the rain and **cold** wind. Worth it!

This is a functional light, controlled by the US Coast Guard, and was “on” while we were there. 

Our third stop was the Rockland light

but we quickly decided walking a mile out across the breakwater - and a mile back - 

in the rain and wind was not going to be as fun as going to find lunch. Gotta admit, food (almost) always wins. 

Penobscot Narrows Bridge

I had 2 more lights on today’s list, but one was on an island with no bridge and the second was… gone, with houses all around where it was supposed to be. So I’m guessing it’s either been torn down or someone has an awesome backyard ornament. 

We also stopped at a couple of antique stores, drove through a bunch of quaint small towns, and saw some amazing scenery (and houses!)

Teeny, tiny baby irises 

Tonight we are in Bar Harbor, gateway to Acadia National Park, where we plan to spend the day tomorrow.

Spring is coming

Then we head south again, hopefully visiting a couple more lighthouses before we finish the trip in Salem and Newport. Stay tuned…

Daffodils at the Marshall Point lighthouse