Lighthouses of Maine

Lighthouses have a mysterious draw. There is something so irresistible and comforting in that eternal pulsing light, like a steady heartbeat felt from deep within a womb. The function of the lighthouse is to shield and protect us, while at the same time warning us to stay back, danger lies ahead if you come this way. The concept of providing a beacon of light along a rocky shore to a ship stranded at sea has evolved from blazing fires burning high on a hill, to a kettle of blazing tar set atop a pole, to strobe lights housed behind beveled glass inside a rock tower in what we today call a Lighthouse. With the automation of lighthouses in the last century, the days of lighthouse keepers and their families keeping lonely vigil at remote outposts has gone to the wayside. Today the "keepers" are mostly volunteers providing visitors like us with the history and romance of the lighthouse. There are 57 active lighthouses in Maine, and we had a chance to visit two of them during our week along the Atlantic Coast. The first one, Owls Head, is located on Penobscot Bay, was built in 1826, and was automated in 1989. It sits 100 feet above sea level and can be seen for 16 nautical miles. The second one, Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockland Harbor, is located almost one mile out on a manmade stone jetty, a fun walk on a pretty summer day. Built in 1888 and automated in 1964, it sits 39 feet above sea level and can be seen for 17 nautical miles. Here are some pictures from our visits.

Augusta, Maine

After leaving Vermont, we headed to Cushing, Maine for a one week stay. First on our list of places to go was a trip to the LL Bean store in Freemont, something I've wanted to do for decades! J The second day we made it to Augusta for our Capitol visit. Maybe not quite as fun as shopping in person at LL Bean, but it does mark our 43rd Capitol, kind of amazing to me that we've actually been to so many Capital Cities, and Capitol Buildings during our seven years on the road. We're zeroing in on 50! Occasionally we wind up at a capitol during times of restoration or repair. Such was our luck in Augusta. The Capitol Dome was undergoing restoration to replace the copper roofing, paint the cupola, and regild Minerva, the "Lady of Wisdom", who sits atop of the dome. The Maine State House was built using Maine granite, based on the design of the Massachusetts State House, since Maine was formerly a part of Massachusetts until separating in 1820. The park surrounding the capitol was quite green and lush, making for an enjoyable walk on the grounds after our tour of the building itself. Fun facts about Maine: Maine is the only state in the US with just one syllable; Augusta, Maine, and Juneau, Alaska are the only two state capitals with the names of months in them. Stephen King paid for a professional Little League baseball stadium behind his house in Bangor, Maine. The locals call it Field of Screams; People from Maine are known as Mainers, Down Easters, or Maniacs.

 

Burlington Bikeway, Burlington, Vermont

During our short stay in Vermont, we took the time to drive the 36 miles to Burlington in order to ride our bikes on the Burlington Waterfront Bike Path. Starting at Oakledge Park, this 7.5 mile route runs from the southern end of Burlington to the northern end at the Winooski River. At this point, it connects via the bike path bridge to the Colchester Bike Path that follows the Lake Champlain shoreline, offering gorgeous views of the lake and Adirondack Mountains. We lucked out and picked a picture perfect day for riding. Not too hot, a slight cooling breeze, puffy clouds, and many places along the trail to stop and watch the boats and ferries dotting the lake and take in the gorgeous views.

Stowe, Vermont

We only stayed in Vermont for a week this time around, in the northern part of the state, in the tiny town of Stowe. But then again, everything in Vermont seemed smaller than normal to me, as if all of one's existence has to be miniaturized to fit the scale of this wee state. Vermont measures just 90-miles long in its maximum north-south direction, and 158-miles across at its maximum east-west direction. The feeling of tininess is enhanced by narrow twisting roads surrounded by mountains and forests, with no wide open spaces to be found. Although the population of Stowe is just under 4,400, you wouldn't know it; with tourism in full summer swing, the roads were always bumper to bumper cars, and town always crawling with people. Skiing is a big draw for winter travelers with the Stowe Mountain Resort providing access to Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. The two outdoor attractions we took advantage of during our week long stay included the Glen Moss Waterfall in the C.C. Putnam State Forest, and the 5.5-mile Stowe Recreation Path that was filled with creative sculptures as well as natural beauty. I loved the fresh air, the wonderful smells of the forest, the blue-blue skies, and the charming New England ambience (not to mention the bazillion Adirondack chairs everywhere you go - notice the one below constructed from skis!). I would love to come back someday and spend more time exploring Vermont.