Sebasco Harbor, Harpswell, and Portland Maine

After leaving Boothbay, we cruised about 25 miles to Sebasco Harbor.  This quaint little harbor has several mooring balls and a classic Maine resort located on several acres on shore.  The resort reminds me of the old family campgrounds from a generation ago.  They have cabins to rent along with a nine hole golf course, croquet, badminton, shuffle board, corn hole, a salt water swimming pool.  There is a large building with both an informal pub downstairs and a large dinning hall upstairs with great views of the harbor.  They organize things for the kids like nature walks and kayak trips or boat trips as well as smores by the campfire and making cotton candy on certain days.  It seemed like a good old fashioned family vacation place.  Keith and I had a mooring ball in the harbor for an overnight.

The on site restaurant

View across part of the resort property

We had rain move in during the afternoon while on the mooring.  Dreary afternoon, so I took a few more black and white shots.

Luckily the rain stopped for us to dinghy in for dinner that night; and the next morning Keith was even able to play some golf  before we headed to our next stop.

The next stop was Harpswell, Maine.  This area consists of several long islands and peninsulas formed by the glaciers that covered this area millions of years ago.  It is a really pretty area.  We spent an overnight at Dolphin Marina.  This spot has a nice restaurant and a lobster pound close by.

The on site restaurant

Apparently it is a popular spot, someone flew their helicopter in for lunch

Keith and I rode our bikes to a trail that led out onto another part of the bay.  On the way back we stopped to purchase some home grown blueberries from a local; and he told us to try Erica's next to the marina for their lobster melt.  We did and it was great (think grilled cheese sandwich with lobster meat).

We also got to meet the couple on the boat (Marlow) docked behind us.  They were interesting to talk to.  We had actually seen this boat when we were in Seattle, Washington several years ago.  They bought it from that owner and had it brought to the east coast via cargo ship.  The boating community is a small world.

Southern Style and its neighbor at the docks in Harpswell

We had dinner at the restaurant Wednesday evening (August 14th).  Keith had to try the Lobster Ale.

An incredible full moon as we came out of the restaurant after dinner 

(Did not have my good camera with me so the shot is a bit fuzzy with the low light)

Got the good camera out for these.

     Thursday morning the 15th we were off to Portland.  This being our second stop in this city we decided to have lunch and then walk up to the Portland Observatory.  This is a signal tower, not a light house.  It was built in 1807 by Captain Lemuel Moody.   Because of the many islands surrounding Casco Bay and Portland's deep harbor, it was difficult to see approaching ships.  This in turn made it challenging for local merchants to prepare for the arrival of their ships and products.

Captain Moody built the 85 foot tower on top of Monjoy Hill overlooking the harbor.  This put the top of the tower at 222 feet above sea level.  He also mounted a telescope at the top of the tower.  This allowed anyone manning the tower to see ships 30 miles out at sea.  Using both the telescope and signal flags, two-way communication between the ship and shore was possible several hours before the ship arrived at the docks.   Ship owners and families of the crew could prepare in advance of the ship pulling into the docks.  This is the only known surviving maritime, signal tower in the United States.  It is on the National Register of Historic Places and was also named a National Civil Engineering Landmark in 2006.

Portland Observatory

Looking out over Portland Harbor

Where the telescope was once affixed to the tower

Portland is our last official stop in Maine.  We have had a wonderful time this summer in Maine and it has come to an end much too soon.  The weather was just phenomenal and the food unbelievable.  I for one can not wait to return.  Even though our time in Maine is over, fortunately there are still several new places to see as we pass through Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.  The New England adventure continues.