Visiting New England Part 3

Welcome to my trip to Maine! Part 3 and the final part of my New England adventure.

I am staying with a great couple, Wendy and Tom at their airbnb in Winterport, Maine and I am really close to the things I want to see and do.

First I am visting the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory. This is the tallest bridge observatory open to the public in the world.

Once you step into the elevator you soar 420 feet up to the 360 degree observatory.

The views are amazing from the observation deck.

A view of the bridge that crosses the Penobscot River.

The Penobscot River from the top.

The town of Bucksport, Maine and Fort Knox in the foreground, but not the Fort Knox where all the gold is held.

In order to get to the observatory you drive through Fort Knox. It only costs $8 to go up in the observatory.

Fort Knox was constructed from 1844 through 1869 to help protect the Penobscot River Valley against a possible future British naval incursion.

Fort Knox looking across the river from Bucksport.

An old ambulance.

The B Battery

The A Battery

The sally port or entrance to the fort.

Casements

The big guns, 24 pound flank Howitzer on the right and a 10 inch Rodman cannon on the left.

Inside the fort walls are the parade grounds and vault covers.

I have visited several forts and this fort has spiral stair cases at the front two corners which is very unique.

The stairs lead to the hood.

A better picture of the vault doors and parade grounds.

Above the casements is the D Battery

At the end is what looks like a two-story house, these were the officers quarters.

A long hall inside the forts walls.

Enlisted men’s quarters.

Ovens in the baking quarters.

Designer bunk beds. They don’t look very comfortable to me.

Exiting the sally port.

I really enjoyed touring this fort because it was so unique.

***

What a beautiful day for a walk around downtown Bangor, Maine.

Expecting a huge metropolis I was pleasantly surprised to find a very busy downtown area that was easy in and easy out.

Along my walk were remnants of posters used in a contest to get people of the city out and about.

Canals bisect downtown Bangor as the Kenduskeag Stream flows into the Penobscot River.

There is a very nice park between the canals.

A very distinctive feature to downtown Bangor.

This is one of the many statues you see throughout the city.

My favorite statue though is this one! Bangor lays claim that Paul Bunyan was born here, but so does Bemidji, Minnesota. So where was he really born, depends on who you ask!

I now drive up the hill to see the Stephen King home.

Interesting wrought iron fencing.

I was not surprised to see red balloons but had I seen a clown lurking around I most likely would have stayed in the car.

Winged creatures.

A frog that looks like it is in a trance sits in the corner of the yard .

Here is the house that Stephen King lived in and was the inspiration for “Pet Cemetery “.

Apparently there is a pet cemetery behind the home, the neighbor across the road was real and Stephen King’s son actually ran towards the road but Stephen rescued him before he made it.

***

The mountains are calling and I must go! Borestone Mountain to be exact! I wanted something a bit challenging and I got it.

As I hike up the trail there is an overlook of Little Greenwood Pond.

There were several rocky protrusions along the hike.

Some fuzzy type of moss on this fallen tree.

At the lake and Rangers station about a half mile in. Before you continue to the summit you have to sign in and sign out when you return.

The trail starts off by walking through a marshy area on planks.

The trail was marked really well and thats good because of all the rocky terrain.

The rocks were manageable but the roots from the trees were a little tricky at times.

The trail is 3.5 miles round trip.

The peak from the lake is a moderate to strenuous hike.

Climbing towards the 1960 foot peak you maneuver sharp rocks and it becomes very steep, but there are iron rungs to assist hikers.

At last the peak!

360 degrees of breathtaking views.

I enjoyed my lunch and just sat there and relaxed while breathing in cool clean air.

Time to hike back down. My shins will love me tomorrow!

***

Showing some color.

***

This my friends is Moosehead Lake in the Longfellow Mountains in the Maine Highlands Region.

I am in the town of Greenville, Maine on the banks of Moosehead Lake.

I enjoy a cup of coffee as I wait for a canoe trip I booked a few days ago.

Across the street is an interesting building dating 1893.

It’s 3:30 and time for some canoeing. We all load up in the van with our guide Tim.

As we are driving to our destination there are cars stopped in the road ahead. What? WHAT??

MY FIRST MOOSE EVER!!!!!! BONUS it’s a mother (cow) and her calf!

I take tons of pictures and video! Wow! A real live moose! I think I was more excited than the two young girls who were with us.

After a while we all get back into the van and head to a nearby lake.

The highest peak in this group is the official start or end, depending on whether your heading north or south, of the Appalachian Trail.

The lake is awesome and we are the only ones there.

Our guide Tim!

And off we go. There are two couples, a family of four and myself and Tim.

OH my gosh look!!!!!!!

Another moose coming out of the woods and into the lake.

She didn’t seem to mind we were there, of course we stayed very quiet. Every so often she would check to see where we were.

We were so close to this moose we could hear her eat.

Turn your volume up and watch the video.

We got about twenty feet from her and watched for about 30 minutes.

What an amazing creature!

As we watched, Tim had us group together like a raft.

I got to name the moose because I was the only one who had never seen one before.

Her name is Eleanor ♡

What a great experience to have. I am on cloud nine!

Remember the picture of Moosehead Lake from earlier? Here is the sunset from our drive back to the outfitters.

***

Today I am out just driving around and exploring.

This is Frankfort, Maine where I found a very interesting post office. This building was once the old schoolhouse and bell tower, built in 1905.

The church next to it was built in 1849.

Down the road a ways is Bucksport, Maine, home of the cursed Buck Memorial.

Story is that Colonel Buck burned a witch and her leg rolled out of the fire. When he later died, a mysterious leg/boot stain appeared on his headstone.

People I can’t make this stuff up!

Next I am going to check out a nearby lighthouse in Castine, Maine.

Dyce Head Lighthouse is at the end of a dead end street. Built in 1828, it was decommissioned in 1937. It is now owned by the city of Castine and the keepers house is rented out for upkeep money.

Castine is home to the Maine Maritime Academy. A four year college and nautical training institution.

A historic quaint little town with a beautiful harbor.

I decided to sit and have a bite to eat from a shanty down at the harbor.

My pick was the fresh crabmeat pie, it sort of reminded me of quiche but oh my it was delicious!

Driving back to Winterport, this unique mailbox caught my eye.

***

I am up early and out the door for a full day on Mount Desert Island.

Destination Acadia National Park.

First stop, Cadillac Mountain for the most awesome views.

Jordan Lake

A Scenic Bridge

The Beach and the busiest place in Acadia this day.

Thunder Hole was not so loud today.

Otter Cliff and there aren’t otters.

Look closely, it is a Sunfish swimming around down there.

***

I saw more ice cream shops in Bar Harbor, Maine, than anywhere else I have traveled.

Lots of shopping too.

And if your hungry there are plenty of places to fill you up.

The Harbor

Everyone told me to try the lobster, “try the lobster” they said. So, I tried what they call a lobster roll.

Not impressed, and for $23.00 I got lobster meat on a hotdog bun, that really wasn’t that good. REALLY?????

***

Off I go to explore the southwest of Mount Desert Island.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse on the cliffside in the village of Bass Harbor, is actually within Tremon, Maine. Built in 1858 and still in operation today .

***

My time in New England is coming to an end as I head back to Boston to catch a flight back to Chicago, but first I have two more lighthouses to visit.

Owls Head Lighthouse in Owls Head State Park in Owls Head, Maine.

Owls Head Lighthouse was built in 1825 and is still an active light.

I drive down the coast to Bristol, Maine.

This is my Donald Trump hair!

Above me on the rocky shoreline is the Pemaquid Lighthouse.

Built in 1827 and replaced in 1835. Now owned by the Coast Guard and licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation.

Pemaquid Lighthouse is the only lighthouse that is open to the public for tours.

The lens is one of six Fresnel lenses still in service in Maine.

Who could ever get tired of this?

***

Here I sit on a plane back to Chicago where my son will pick me up. I have the biggest smile on my face and so many beautiful memories in my soul.

Thanks for coming along on my New England adventure.

Until next time be happy and healthy.