On Sunday, June 29th Linda and I headed north to Maine. Leaving Boston on Rt. 93 we drove over the new Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge.
This bridge is very impressive, especially at night when it’s lit with blue lights. Some
sections of the Big Dig are actually completed including the northbound tunnel and the extention of I90 which makes it much easier to get to Logan Airport.
Our first stop was in Wells. Since we got off to a late start and hadn’t eaten we went to the Maine Diner for a hearty breakfast at almost lunchtime before taking in the Lighthouse Depot. In retrospect we probably should have gone there hungry and I might not have spent so much money! It was fun to finally get to the Depot and I had a chance to chat with John Lovely, the store manager whom I’d met at the Connecticut Regional in 2001.
Then we returned to I95 and went directly to Portland where we went to the Portland Observatory (1807).
When we entered the building it was like deja vue as I remembered it being exactly as it was when I was there with my Dad many years before. Linda and I, along with another couple were given a very informed guided tour which included some of the history of Portland. It was easy to see how the placement of the tower on Munjoy Hill enabled the observer to see the approach of vessels to the harbor. The tower has been beautifully
restored and the lantern room is completely new. The view from the walkway was great and we could see the Portland Breakwater Light and Portland Head. Spring Point Ledge would have been visible if a rather large rusty boat hadn’t been blocking it.
After stopping for a cold drink we headed south to view the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse. It took us a while to determine that the bridge we needed to cross was indeed the one we first thought was not the correct bridge. So we spent some time driving up and down Commercial Street which was bustling with activity. By the time
we got onto the bridge we had to wait a bit longer to cross it.
We finally arrived at the lighthouse which was built in the 1870’s and replaced an earlier
wooden light. There is some detail missing from the top of a couple of the columns.
There were some folks flying kites. This guy had the best one.
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Part 2
