Day 22, East Coast Trip, Scarbourough Maine Sunday Oct. 8, 2023
The sun came out and what a difference that made in the weather. Yesterday's rain lasted all day and kept most people indoors for sure. Although the tempertures did not get above 63F, it seemed warmer (and was) in the sun.
Our goal today was to complete some of the lighthouses on the southern coast of Maine and that in included three of them, mainly; 1. Cape Elizabeth Light, 2. Wood Island Light and 3. Nebbick Light sometimes called, "the Nubble".
These lights, from where we were starting in western Scarborough , were not far by our standards and we visited them all by 3:00 PM. Getting to them is no straight line for sure! (130 miles in all):-)
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| Cape Elizabeth Light, ME |
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| A touch of fall, |
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| They like white in houses and barns/garages? |
Light No.1 (The Cape Elizabeth Light), was just on the south side of Portland, where the road wended around the large residential homes that so often grace the properties that have a view of the Ocean. This was no exception. The best view of the Lighthouse was from a very rocky escarpment that was very difficult to walk. We did not do that , but settled for some photos from near the parking lot. The waves were crashing today and we lingered to watch them. The Lighthouse is sometimes known as "Two Lights" and was first constructed in 1828. There was another lighthouse there at one time.
Also:The use of multiple lights in a given site was discontinued in 1924. The western light was removed from service, and was converted into a coastal artillery fire control tower for the Harbor Defenses of Portland, serving as such through World War II. It was eventually sold in 1971 to retired actor Gary Merrill who had been previously married to Bette Davis. Merrill sold the property in 1983.
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| The old mills in Biddeford, ME on the Saco River |
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| Wood Island Light at York |
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| Stage Island Memorial, formerly a guide for ships. |
It took another 45 minutes to get to the second lighthouse on our list called the Wood Island Light. There were two approaches to this one, through and out of an Audubon reserve, another through private property and a golf course. We choose the latter is it looked like we could see the lighthouse without too much walking. It turned out to be true. The Wood Island Lighthouse is about a quarter mile across a channel in the bay. Adjacent to it as a second island with a tall, curious, monument on it that we had to research to find out what it was. It stands about 30 feet high on the very small, half-acre, Island. There is a story here.
Also; Wood Island Light was established in 1808 under the orders of President Thomas Jefferson. The original tower was an octagonal wooden structure. After it rotted, a granite tower was erected to replace it in 1839. In 1858, the new tower was renovated to allow the installation of a 4th-order Fresnel lens. The current keepers dwellings were also built then.
It now uses a ** VLB with LED that will last ten years. It has many stories including a murder (no mystery as the culprit committed suicide), and a rescue of two men in a ship that crashed and their rescue in a winter storm by the lighhouse keeper.. It was very quiet there in the"neighborhood" and on one video the local church is heard playing its carillon. (It was Sunday!). **The VLB and VRB are marine beacons used with LED lights in lighthouses among other places. This is the second oldest lighthouse in Maine and I think the eleventh oldest in United States being established in 1808. Jefferson knew good ports and entrances to ports would be important in America's growth.
The old 'second light' at Neddick 
Cape Neddick Light 
Local barn near York
Then the Journey to Neddick Light, which was about 30 miles away near the towns of the Biddeford and York . Again it was a winding journey to get to the tip of the land where the lighthouse was located. It was Sunday... remember, and the sun was shining... remember, so we did not anticipate the crowd that was at this lighthouse. Before we even got there there was an ice cream store on the side parking lot was quite filled and on both sides of the road the cars were parked for about a quarter mile from the entrance to the lighthouse. It did not look good forgetting in close. So the plan was to drive in a short distance drop Ruth off, turnaround, pick Ruth up and drive out again. She would take the photos that she needed as there was no way we would even get in to park the truck in less than 30 minutes. To top off the confusion and the crowd there was a lobster stand right at the entrance to the lighthouse Road. It was packed at the outdoor tables. The road was short and about one narrow one lane road, leading to three parking lots. I pulled in the driveway, then into a private drive and backed up, made a turn around. Ruth was finished by that time and we slowly made our way back the way we came. The adventure of getting there and getting back out was more exciting in seeing the lighthouse I think.
Cape Neddick Light, also known as Nubble Lighthouse, (Nubble:Synonyms; blob, chunk, clod, clot, clump, dollop. glob, gob, gobbet, hunk, knob, lump, nub, nugget, wad. ) is the most distinctive feature of the community. Construction began in 1876 and cost $15,000. It was first illuminated on July 1, 1879. The lighthouse was originally red but has been painted white since 1902. The distinctive red house was also built in 1902. The tower stands 41 feet (12 m) tall. The lighthouse became automated in 1987.
It is a CDP (Census designated place) meaning the surrounding areas of the beaches and much and is also incorporated into the designation.There are over 2,000 people living there so it is good reason the place was crowded along with the day, etc.The Lighthouse is THE attraction in the area.
That was it for the lighthouses and I think we have seen 19 of them the 6 days we have been here. So we headed North on I-95 for home at the end of a beautiful day. Ruth had asked me many times to stop at an "Ace Hardware" and there was one just before the freeway. We stopped and picked up some cup hooks that we needed for the trailer. It seems all the jostling and bumping over the years his pulled some hooks out so what they need to be replaced. We did that.
Downloading the photos and preparing for supper was what's left before the day was over. Ruth had a rice and chiles dish prepared for supper. I finished my ice cream bar I had been saving for six days. That was a treat. I'll put a few photos in in the morning as I am sure we won't be able to download them tonight .--we did catch snatches of the Detroit Lions game in their fourth victory today. That was good news and they seem to be doing better… much better.
Tomorrow we move into New Hampshire, and it is not a long trip as it is just less than hundred miles. We should begin to pick up a lot of color going in that direction at this time in October.--thanks for reading, -- Jim
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