Going Back In Time....

Today we were delayed in getting out to explore as they were doing road work in front of the RV Park where we are staying and had the road blocked.  But we finally were able to exit the park and we headed to Plymouth, MA. to see Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II.  We knew we would not be able to see lighthouses in the area as they are located about six miles out from shore.  I must say, I always envisioned Plymouth Rock as a huge rock, and I was somewhat disappointed that it was simply a large boulder!  That is not to downgrade the importance of the rock, but I guess I was really disillusioned or did not study history as I should have.........shame on me! As we all know, Plymouth Rock is the traditional site of disembarkation of William Bradford and the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded the Plymouth Colony in 1620.  The first written reference to the rocks existence was recorded in 1715 and is described in the town boundary records as "a great rock". 

Plymouth Rock

Close to  the site of the Plymouth Rock, can be found the Mayflower II, a replica of the original Mayflower. This ship sailed from England in 1957 and is docked at the State Pier in Plymouth. The Mayflower Facts:  Dutch Cargo ship, 180 tons, 100-110 feet in length, 4 decks, carried 135 people to Plymouth with a crew of 50.

Mayflower II

Our first lighthouse visited today was the Clark's Point Lighthouse located at Fort Taber, MA.  The original lighthouse was paid for and constructed by the local whale oil merchants, to guide the ships into New Bedford, MA.  In 1854, sperm whale oil at todays prices was $35 a gallon.  Thus, it was important that this cargo be protected entering port.  Eventually, the U.S. government decided to build and maintain a permanent light at this location in 1804.  Later, it was deemed necessary to build a fort to protect the harbor, and over the years it encompassed the lighthouse, causing it to be repositioned at the top of the fort.  Clark's Point light was extinguished in 1898.  The City of New Bedford restored the lighthouse and it went back into operation June 15, 2001.

Clark's Point Lighthouse

 

Close to the Clark's Point Lighthouse was the Butler Flats Lighthouse.  This light is situated on a mucky shoal at the mouth of New Bedford harbor.  While the Clark's Point light directed ships to the harbor, the Butler Flats Lighthouse kept them from going aground in the channel.  This light was build in 1898 and is still active today.  Butler Flats Lighthouse is currently believed to be the only lighthouse flying a lighted U.S flag 24 hours a day. On May 15, 2012, it was made available under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act and an on-line auction will be held sometime this year. (Jim - Can you buy this for me?  Please? Pretty Please?)

 

Butler Flats Lighthouse

 

Also located in New Bedford is the Palmer Island Lighthouse.  (This one is cute!)  This lighthouse was first lit in 1849.  This light guides ships into the harbor.  In 1999, after a total restoration, the lighthouse was returned to full operation.

 

Palmer Island Lighthouse

 

 

From New Bedford we traveled to Mattapoisett, MA. to view the Ned's Point Lighthouse.  The town is best known as a center for ship building and whaling.  The ship "Acushnet" the ship that Moby Dick author Herman Melville sailed on and later deserted, was built in this town.  The lighthouse is used to guide ships into the Mattapoisett harbor.  The lighthouse is now under the care of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 63 - America's oldest Flotilla! It was built in 1837.  In 1996 the tower was renovated by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and remains the smallest working lighthouse on Buzzard's Bay.

Ned's Point Lighthouse

 

 



 The final lighthouse for the day was the Bird Island Lighthouse.  To view this lighthouse we had to drive to Marion, MA., around the back of the Kitanset Golf Club.  This is a beautiful area with large estates on the shores of the Atlantic and a beautiful view of the lighthouse.  This lighthouse is believed to be one of the oldest original structures.  Other lighthouse sites may be older, but their structures have been either replaced or rebuilt.  Bird Island was built in 1819 and is owned by the town of Marion.  The 1.5 acre island is habitat for nearly one-third of North America's endangered roseate terns

 

Bird Island Lighthouse

 

 

Here are a few miscellaneous pictures from today:

 

 Memorial  - Honoring all women in military service!

First one we have seen specifically honoring military women.

 

 Boats in dry dock in New Bedford

 

No explanation needed..........

 

 

Mural inside retro Mc Donald's

 

 

A mother duck with her ducklings at Plymouth Rock







 

 

 Lacy's new friend at the RV Park - actually it is one of many in the park!

 

 

Tomorrow we head to Rhode Island to view some lighthouses we did not get to see earlier in our trip.  We will be staying on the Navy Base in Newport, and they do not have wi-fi at the campground, so we may not be able to post our blog tomorrow or the next day.  We will blog and have it ready to upload for your reading pleasure as soon as we can find a Wi-Fi location!

 

Summer At The Cape

Today is was 47 degrees, rainy, windy and COLD!  In fact, todays temperatures broke a record for lowest temperature on this date, in this area since 1906!  But, that did not hinder our efforts to visit local lighthouses.  It just limited the amount of time we spent at each one! Too cold and wet to linger for long.........

We drove to Chatham, MA to see the Chatham lighthouse.  If Cape Cod were a bent arm, Chatham would be the elbow.  Its shores hide some of the most dangerous waters in Cape Cod.  Half of the known wrecks on the entire Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts have occurred here, thus the lighthouse.  Originally, there were two lights so as not to be confused with the Highland Light at the tip of Cape Cod.  Eventually, in 1923, one of those lights was moved to Nauset. MA.  The Chatham Lighthouse is on the grounds of a Coast Guard Station, with a great view - on a clear day!

Chatham Lighthouse, Chatham, MA

 

 

Our second lighthouse today was the Nauset Beach Lighthouse.  This lighthouse was built in 1877, then dismantled and moved from Chatham, MA to its current location.  In November 1996, due to erosion of the cliff the light sat on, it was moved along with its companion oil house 336 feet from the cliffs edge.  The move only took two days.  At the time of the move, the tower stood a perilous 25 feet from falling off the cliff.

 

Nauset Beach Lighthouse, Nauset Beach, MA.

  

Next we viewed the Three Sisters Lighthouses, also located in Nauset Beach.  These lighthouses were set 150 feet apart in a straight line atop a bluff at Nauset Beach; prior to the Nauset Lighthouse.  The lighthouses are affectionately known as the "Three Sisters of Nauset".  The origin of the nickname is uncertain. The name Nauset came from a local native American tribe, and refers to a 15 mile stretch of Cape Cod.  In 1911, the towers were in danger of falling off a cliff.  They were reduced to one tower, with the two remaining towers being auctioned for $3.50.  The owner moved them to a nearby location and joined them together as a summer cottage called "The Towers".  They would later be used as a dance studio.  The remaining tower was moved back from the bluff, and attached to the keepers dwelling.  When the Twin Tower from Chatham was moved to Nauset, the remaining sister light was sold for $10 and made into a cottage.  In 1965, the National Parks Service purchased the two towers that were made into a single cottage.  In 1975, they purchased the third tower.  In 1983, the National Parks Service placed the "Three Sisters of Nauset" in a park setting 1800 feet east of the Nauset Light.  They were lined up in their original configuration and restored at a cost of $500,000.

 

 

Three Sisters Lighthouses

 

The Middle Sister Lighthouse is the only one with a lantern room remaining,



 

 

 

After visiting the "Sisters", we drove to the town of Truro, MA. to see the Cape Cod (Highland) Lighthouse.  It was pouring down rain, and we had to sit and wait for it to subside before we were able to get any pictures.  The town of Truros' former name was Dangerfield.  Even in calm weather, the currents and swells were treacherous.  Additionally, blindingly dense summer fog lasting until mid day, made navigation treacherous.  The lighthouse was built in 1796, and was Cape Cod's first lighthouse.  The lighthouse is currently located on a golf course overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. 

 

Cape Cod (Highland) Lighthouse

 





  

Our final lighthouse of the day was the Sandy Neck Lighthouse as seen from Barnstable Harbor, MA.  This lighthouse was visible from the opposite shore from where it is actually located.  We were surprised that we were able to see it as the weather was so bad.  This lighthouse became operational in 1826, marking the entrance to Barnstable Harbor, and warning of the sandbar it sat on.  The dark black lines seen on the lighthouse are steel reinforcement bands to keep the tower from cracking,

 

Sandy Neck Lighthouse

  

Between going from Cape Cod Light to Sandy Neck, we drove through Provincetown, MA. (Their motto is: "Like Nowhere Else")  The furthest most point on Cape Cod, Provincetown is known as the first landing place of the Mayflower pilgrims in 1620. It is a quaint atypical Cape Cod town with lots of character but no free parking!  Had the weather been more cooperative, we probably would have bit the bullet, paid the parking fee and walked around and visited some of the historical sites in the area.  There are three lighthouses located in the area, but the closest was an approximate 2.5 mile hike over the sand dunes and the furthest was 8 miles away.  Dune buggies and boats are available to rent, but the weather made that unwise.  For more information on Provincetown, go to www.provincetowntourismoffice.org

 

After leaving Provincetown, we headed to Barnstable, but since it was lunchtime, we found a restaurant called Moby Dick's which served all the good New England specialties (lobster, clams, shrimp,oysters, etc.) and stopped for lunch.  I had the clam platter and Jim had the shrimp platter and we shared a delicious blueberry crisp for dessert.  Needless to say, dinner tonight was light as we had such a heavy meal for lunch! 

 

Moby Dick's Restaurant

Clam Platter

 

Sweet (slightly spoiled) Grand-Dog "Lacy" - A great traveler!

 

New England ......Still Thawing Out!

Sadly we bid adieu to the Walnut Grove RV Park in Alfred, ME and headed back to Massachusetts, which we had by-passed earlier as there was not an RV park vacancy over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.  We really enjoyed our visit in Maine, and especially our stay at the Walnut Grove RV Park!  We highly recommend this park as the owners are very accommodating and friendly, the facilities are well maintained and the amenities are the best!  Thank you Bruce and Patty for a great stay!

We are now at the Campers Haven RV Resort, located in Dennis Port, MA (Cape Cod)  We are just a few steps from the ocean and only two miles from the nearest lighthouse!  We expected this place to be overrun by tourist, but frankly, the weather is bitterly cold and windy, thus no tourist! 

Once we got setup (we have this down to a science now) we headed out to see our first lighthouse located in Woods Hole, MA.  This was the Nobska Point Lighthouse, built in 1828 for the sum of
$2,949.00!  Following its 1985 automation, the station became the home of the Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Group Woods Hole.  The station is closed to the public, but the grounds are open.

The second lighthouse we saw today, the Hyannis Lighthouse,  was a bit of a disappointment as it is now privately owned and the lighthouse is hardly visible due to overgrown shrubs and trees. There are also signs indicating private property and that violators (those who trespass) will be prosecuted.  But in spite of the obstacles, we were able to get a shot of the lantern room.  The lighthouse became operational in 1849, and marks the entrance to the Hyannis Harbor.  The current owners transformed the dwelling into a fitting showcase for the display of their 18th and 19th century marine antiques.  A new lantern room was placed atop the tower in 1986 to bring the lighthouse back to its former self.  Red stripes were added to the lighthouse about 2013. 

We then traveled to Point Gammon near Yarmouth, MA. to view the Point Gammon Lighthouse, and were again disappointed because the lighthouse is on private property and not accessible.  We found out from the gate guard that only the concrete base remains of the lighthouse. Need to research this more.......

Our final lighthouse for today was the Bass River Lighthouse.  The lighthouse was first lit in 1855 and sold to the Stone family in 1938.  The Stone family turned it into the Lighthouse Inn.  The lighthouse is still operational today with all the bells and whistles of a coastal resort hotel. 

The long hard winter that the east coast experienced this year,  has taken a toll on tourism in the area.  It is still very cold here, and it is not expected to warm up into the upper 60's lower 70's for another week or more! The wind coming off the water doesn't help either........it is really cold! This is the end of May right?   Brrrrrrrrr........

Tomorrow is another day, and we are looking forward to viewing several lighthouses in the area.

Nobska Lighthouse

 

Hyannis Lighthouse

 

 

Bass River Lighthouse

 

 

A Rose For My Sister!

This rose is for my sister who is housesitting, pool sitting and cat sitting! 

It was in the garden at the Lighthouse Inn - Thanks Sis! 

Lighthouses of Maine, Day 2

Up early again today to seek out more lighthouses!  First stop was the Portland Head Lighthouse.    This lighthouse was the first completed by the United States Government and is the most visited, painted and photographed in New England.  One keeper took financial advantages of the areas draw, another enjoyed visits from a famous poet, while yet another thought it was the most desirable place he could serve.  Some believe that at least one former resident has never left.  The light was built in 1791.  It was ordered to be built by President George Washington and was dedicated by Marquis de' Lafayette. 

Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine

 

 

From the site of the Portland Head Lighthouse, one can view the Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse. It marks a 1/4 mile long rock on the opposite side of the channel from Portland Head.  This light was built in 1905. It is currently in private hands.

 

Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse

 

Our third lighthouse of the day was the Spring Point Ledge Light.  This was located at the site of Fort Preble.  This light became operational in 1897.  In 1998 it was transferred to a public trust.

 

Spring Ledge Light

 

 

Another scene from the lighthouse.......too nice not to share.....

 

 

Our fourth lighthouse of the day was Half Way Rock.  This lighthouse was viewed at a great distance from the Spring Point Ledge Light.  It is so named because it is half-way between Cape Elizabeth and Cape Small in Casco Bay.  It is best seen by boat, however, with Jim's super-duper camera lens, we were able to get a shot.  This lighthouse was lit for the first time in 1871.  In May of 2012, it was made available under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act to eligible agencies. No qualified custodian was found so it was put up for auction in May of this year. 

 

 

Half Way Rock 





 

 



After Half-Way Rock, we visited the Portland Head Breakwater Light.  This light marks the end of a breakwater at the entrance to Portland Harbor.  This light is affectionately called the "Bug Light. The breakwater is 1800 feet long and is designed to keep waves from entering the harbor. 

 

 

The "Bug Light"



 

 

 

 

Our next stop was the Doubling Point Lighthouse.  This was one of five lights on the Kennebec River.  It is located in rustic, back roads area which required some creative navigation on our part.  This is all part of the challenge of the "hunt".  It is a quaint lighthouse with a keepers house on the property.  This lighthouse was built in 1898 and is still active to this day, showing a flashing white light every four seconds. 

 

Doubling Point Lighthouse





 

Squirrel Point Lighthouse was our next lighthouse.  This was truly a challenge as we had to park the car and walk over three quarters of a mile (one way) to reach it.  This was no easy task considering it was through the woods and up and down hills following a narrow foot path to the rivers edge! Jim has difficulty walking for a long distance and it was definitely a show of strength and sheer will power for him to make the trek.  This lighthouse is another one of the five that was built on the Kennebec River.  These lighthouses guide ships up the river to Bath, Maine.  The lighthouse was finished in 1898 and continues to serve as a navigational aid today. 

 

Squirrel Point Lighthouse

 

 

Our final lighthouse of the day was seen from the Squirrel Point Lighthouse.  It was Bald Head Light.  None of our reference books show anything about this light, but talking to a local resident, we were assured that there is a light at the location. (Thank you Ralph!) This picture is taken from a distance as we were not up to walking the trail to Bald Head Light.....no kidding!

 

 

Bald Head Light

 

 

It was a beautiful day to seek out the lighthouses, lots of sun and the warmest day we have experienced in Maine thus far.  We stopped in Wells, Maine on our way back to the RV Park, and had LOBSTER at Mike's Clam Shack.  It was scrumptious!  

 



(This guy did not have a chance.....)

 

 

 



Lighthouses of Maine, Day 1

We arose early this morning to begin our lighthouse quest in Maine. Our first stop was to see the Whaleback Lighthouse in Point Kittery, Maine.  This lighthouse sits in a park on the Maine side of the Piscataqua River.  This lighthouse was erected at the mouth of the river to mark the entrance to the Portsmouth Harbor, and is still operational.  The light is a LED beacon operated by solar power. From this view point we were able to see the Portsmouth Harbor lighthouse which is located on the New Hampshire side of the river, on the ruins of Fort Constitution.  The lighthouse was built in 1804 and is still active today, maintained by the U.S, Coast Guard.

The next lighthouse visited was the Cape Neddick/Nubble Lighthouse in York Beach, Maine.  This is an amazing lighthouse set in an awesome location on the coast of Maine. The conical cast-iron sections of the lighthouse were made in Portland, Maine and transported by the USS Myrtle to its location in 1879.  This is an amazing lighthouse setting!  It was a beautiful day and there were many people visiting this lighthouse! 

From the Nubble Light we drove to Cape Porpoise in Kennebunk Beach, Maine to see the Goat Island Lighthouse. The light is located one mile off shore on Goat Island.  It was erected in 1833, is supposedly haunted by a former keeper named Richard Curtis.  He drowned while out in a boat with his dogs, and after that, strange things began to happen in the lighthouse!  A visitor heard voices that told her he (Curtis) was alright and the voice kept repeating that one of the dogs made it.  Items gone missing would eventually turn up on the kitchen table. Then one day, the new keeper remembers "it was cold, and I was exhausted, so I sat in Richards easy chair and said Dicky, give me some heat", there was an old electric heater that much to the keepers surprise turned on, and it hadn't worked in years!

Onward and forward to Biddeford Pool to see the Wood Island Lighthouse.  This required a hike of about 3/4 of a mile , one way,  to view.  This lighthouse was on the lighthouse "doomsday" list for some time but it is now in the hands of the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation and funds are being raised to continue restoration of the lighthouse which was originally built in 1807, to mark the entrance to the Saco River. 

We then drove to Cape Elizabeth to view the Two Lights.  The Cape Elizabeth lighthouse marks the approach to Portsmouth Harbor.  It was built in 1828.  That same year they decided to build another lighthouse on the Cape. (Cape Elizabeth West).  One would have a rotating light (West), and one would have a fixed light (East).  The reason for the lights was to warn of the rocks entering Portland Harbor where from 1780-1990, 98 vessels wrecked on the rocks. 

The drive from the lighthouse in Point Kittery, Maine to Cape Elizabeth was on local back roads which allowed us to go through many quaint beach communities, most teeming with Memorial Day weekend tourists!  Amazingly to us, with temperatures in the lower 50's all day, many tourist were in shorts, tank tops and flip-flops.  Is this Maine's version of summer? 

We did stop for lunch in Cape Porpoise (Kennebunk Beach) and enjoyed clam chowder, a clam cake, Atlantic fried shrimp (small) and blueberry pie!  Although it was somewhat pricey, it was delicious!  Hopefully LOBSTER is on the menu tomorrow!  Yes!

 

Whaleback Lighthouse, Maine

 

Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, New Hampshire

 

Nubble Lighthouse, Maine

 

Goat Island Lighthouse, Maine

 

Wood Island Lighthouse, Maine 

 

 

 Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse



Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse West

Lobster Boat

 

 Maine Shoreline

 

Jim at Nubble Lighthouse, Maine

 

Cute RV - Smaller than our "Turtle"



Lobster Trap Buoys

 

And then some.......