We were up, breakfasted, packed, and out of the camp by 9:04 (four minutes late – but that’s still pretty good). Our first destination was the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse – a short 3:15 jaunt down the coast. The map above doesn’t show the actual route we took. The listed path down US 1 is actually :15 longer than our route. On the other hand our route took us over largely back roads, complete with twists, turns, uphill and down – it was a real pleasure to drive, but not so much for the poor people in the back seats who occasionally asked me to slow down. But eventually we got there with all breakfasts intact.

This being New England the wind on the coast is rumored to be quite brisk. So Cheryl came prepared. Here she shows off the essential Down East headwear.

Before we visited the lighthouse we took some time to scamper about the adjacent rock formation.

After a bit of rock play we had a picnic lunch and checked out the lighthouse.

Actually we spent more time in the lightkeeper’s house. It’s been turned into a Fisterman’s museum with some interesting displays and information about lights and shipwrecks along the Maine coast.

Before we left I poked my head into the bell house.

I should probably tell you about Reece. He was traveling with his cousin and grandparents as they toured New England. We met Reece when they sat in front of us on Diver Ed’s boat. We had just sat down when he turned to me and asked if we were in danger of being eaten by sharks. He’s a very outgoing young lad and we had fun joking with each other on that boat ride. We next encountered Reece yesterday at Sand Beach. More banter. So it shouldn’t have been much of a surprise today when Kim and S were on on the rock formation and heard someone calling Spencer’s name.

In the fullness of time it was time to pack up and head to our next stop. Because of the propensity for queeziness (they said) the women determined that they would ride in front with J and S in the middle and Chris and I in the back. We hit the road and J, S, and Chris opened up a video game. It was fun listening to the banter back and forth. I’ve decided that S has an evil streak and takes great delight in making J holler. “OK Spencer, now pick me up but don’t throw me. Don’t throw me Spencer! Spencer Don’t! Spencer!”

We arrived at the town of Bath and made our way to the Maine Maritime Museum. Waiting for us in the parking lot was Brooke, fresh from her class and ready to party. We checked in and paid our entrance fee to the museum and then walked down to the dock where we boarded the museum’s boat for a 1 hour tour of the Kenebeck river and the Bath Iron Works. The cruise started by going downriver and around the bend so we could see one of their lighthouses

And the narrator could talk about navigation along the river.

Then we turned up river and sailed past the Bath Iron Works where they are getting ready to christen the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Daniel Inouye. The ship is named for the late senator from Hawaii – a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions in World War II.

Also being worked on currently is the USS Lyndon Johnson – the last of the Zumwalt class destroyers.

Following the tour we took some time to visit the excellent museum. In addition to the main building and the kid-friendly displays on the grounds

There are several buildings from the former Percy and Small shipyard. These buildings have been set up to display all facets of ship building from planking to sail-making to furnishing the captain’s cabin. Also on the grounds is a sculpture depicting the schooner Wyoming – the largest wooden sailing vessel built in the United States.

It’s interesting to look at the ground today and realize that this is where ships would have been rolled down a structure to float in the river.

Inside the museum…

…and many other interesting things. Eventually we pried people out of the museum gift store (It goes without saying that the gift store is the ideal meeting place in a museum but it doesn’t come without cost in terms of time.) and headed off to find ice cream. Then it was time to hit the road for the last adventure of the day.

We burned an hour or so (and bought stuff) while soaking up the ambiance. Then we headed off for dinner.

Today was a special treat for Cheryl. She’s been such a trooper, not throwing up on the back seat on wind back roads, not eating ice cream (although she has discovered that ice cream stands will sell an empty waffle cone, which she very much enjoys), sitting in the car with a sleeping S while everyone else invades the LL Bean mother store, putting up with traveling companions who think that beer selection is most important in selecting a restaurant (It is, isn’t it?). So this evening we found a Thai restaurant. She was in heaven and a good time was had by all.

From dinner it was just a short drive to our home for the next two nights. We got settled in. Kim and Cheryl made a grocery run while I ran a load of laundry and Chris wrangled S. J disappeared with his IPad – catching up on Dan TDM. Brooke is staying the night with a friend in the area and will join us tomorrow for more fun and games.

So tomorrow we see what fun is in store as we explore “the other Portland.”

Till then, nite all.

R