Category Archives: Lighthouses

New Tradition?

 
With recent events, my family wasn’t really feeling the “Christmas vibe” this year. We exchanged a few gifts on Christmas eve, as we always do, but on Christmas day, we were shocked by the weather. In my little corner of Maine, it was bright sun and temperatures in the 50s. Even the breeze was warm. It felt more like the end of spring, beginning of summer than Christmas Day.

 
So, my parents and I decided to take advantage of the weather and get out into the fresh air, perhaps starting a new tradition in the process.

 
We went hiking at Quoddy Head State Park, one of my favorite hiking spots. The road there was pretty much deserted with stores closed for Christmas and pretty much everyone else at home observing whatever traditions they observe on this holiday. We did meet two couples on the trails at Quoddy, wished them a Merry Christmas, and went on to enjoy our hike.

 
It seemed strange. Christmas day with no snow whatsoever, and the temperature in the upper 50s.

 
Weather permitting, we just might try to do this every year, hence starting a new tradition.

 
Here’s a photo I took during my Christmas hike. Enjoy…

 

 

 

Quoddy Head Light, Christmas 2015

 

 

 
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Yule, or whatever it is you celebrate at this time of the year.

 
As this is the last Monday in 2015, I wish you all a Happy New Year.

 

 

 
Until next time…

 
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~A.M.

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Lighthouse Adventure….Round 2!

Back in 2012, I went on a little trip to the Little River Lighthouse in Cutler Maine (you can view that post here).

This past Saturday was the Summer Solstice and I managed to view another lighthouse, but this one was in Canada.  The Head Harbour Lightstation on Campobello Island to be exact.

The only way to get to this lighthouse is by foot at low tide.  It’s not just a straight shot walk though.  You have to climb down some old rusted metal stairs, cross a small beach, climb up more rusted metal stairs, cross a small wooden bridge, climb down MORE rusted metal stairs (these were a little treacherous as they were more like a ladder and were slanted), and cross another little beach to the actual lighthouse.

I saw this lighthouse before about year or two ago, but I wasn’t there at the right time to get over to it.  So, I just settled for taking a few pictures from the parking lot back then.  This time, I hit it just right (lucky me!)!

It costs $5 to even walk over to the light house and there’s another $10 charge if you want to tour the inside of the keeper’s house and climb the tower.  Well, for me, all that’s a little steep, but I don’t do this every day (or even every year), so I went for it.

The coast guard had possession of this lighthouse for a long time before they decided to shut it down, board it up, and forget about it.  Then, it went down the line, being offered to different outfits/agencies before it was offered to, accepted by, and taken over by the town.  Volunteers and students are still working to restore the lighthouse and keeper’s house to it’s former glory (the full fee for walking over to the light house and touring it goes directly to the restoration/up-keep fund so that made me feel better about paying the price).

It’s a cute little lighthouse.  Getting into the tower, I expected to find the typical spiral staircase curling around the tower, but instead, there were two normal flights of strait stairs and a ladder leading to the light at the top.

It’s typical to see seals and whales from this lighthouse.  I did glimpse a seal, but it was camera shy and dove under the waves just as I lifted my camera.  Oh well.

Head Harbour Lighstation (Campobello)

As I mentioned in my last lighthouse related post, if you ever have a chance to tour a lighthouse and climb the tower….do it!

And if the lighthouse adventure weren’t enough for the day, I also went hiking over in the Roosevelt International Park.  I would highly suggest this park’s trails to anyone that enjoys hiking.  They’re pretty and the views are amazing.  There’s also something called the “Sunsweep Scuplture” near Liberty Point that’s worth checking out.  The cliff it’s on was covered in wild Irises.  I saw an eagle the minute I got out of the car.  I also saw a wild rabbit on the trail!!  Yay wildlife!!

 

 

Eagle

 

Wild Rabbit

 

So, aside from the fact that I fed the mosquitoes and black flies, it was a nice day.

Until next time…

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~A.M.