Atlantic Highway

Photo Tour Midcoast Maine: Series 3

2010-04-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

All Photos: Copyright Dale R. Preston 2009
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

(1)

"Autumn Notch"

Fernald's Neck Preserve, Megunticook Lake, Camden, Maine

(2)

"Autumn Treasure"

Fernald's Neck Preserve, Megunticook Lake, Camden, Maine

(3)

"Dazzling"

Children's Chapel, Rockport, Maine

(4)

"Leaving on a Schooner"

Rockland Harbor, Maine

(5)

"Red Trim"

Rockland, Maine

(6)

"Resting Place"

Children's Chapel, Rockport, Maine

(7)

"Stepping Stones"

Children's Chapel, Rockport, Maine

(8)

"Worth The Effort"

Rockland, Maine

Full Beaver Moon over Rockport and Rockland, Maine Fall 2009

2010-03-10T08:34:00.000-08:00

The following photos are of the Full Moon on the night of November 2, 2009 taken in Rockport and Rockland, Maine.

This moon is known by several different names: Full Beaver Moon or Beaver Full Moon because the beavers are now active in their preparation for winter; Frosty Moon because this is the next full moon after the Harvest Moon; and the Hunter’s Moon indicating it’s time to hunt because wild animals are coming out to glean the just harvested fields. A full table will be ready for the Thanksgiving banquet that’s just a few weeks away.

All Photos: Copyright Dale R. Preston 2009

(Click on Images to Enlarge)

(1)

Over the hills of Rockport, Maine

(2)

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(4)
Over Chickawaukie Lake, in Rockport and Rockland, Maine

(5)

In the forest near Rockland, Maine

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The Gobblins of Halloween are still in the air!

Photo Tour Midcoast Maine: Series 2

2010-02-27T16:09:00.000-08:00

All Photos: Copyright Dale R. Preston 2009

(Click on Images to Enlarge)

(1)

"Autumn Shoreline" Megunticook Lake, Camden

(2)
"Delicate Butterfly" Beech Hill, Rockport

(3)
"Greyhound" Rockland Harbor
(Belongs to the schooner Lewis R. French)

(4) "Over The Fence" Rockland Breakwater & Schooner

(5)
"Partners" Children's Chapel, Rockport

(6)

"Purple Eye Shadow" Children's Chapel, Rockport

(7)
"Through The Forest" Children's Chapel, Rockport

(Note the Chapel hidden in the trees - top of steps to the left.)

(8)
"Under Way" Rockland Harbor

Rockland, Maine Fall 2009

2010-02-10T09:43:00.000-08:00

Late Night Downtown & Main Street

(Click On Images To Enlarge)

(1)

Turning Onto Main St. from Park St.

(Robert Indiana "Love" sculpture

with Trade Winds Motor Inn in background)

(2)

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(4)

(5)
The Strand Theater

Movie Theater and Live Performance Center
Restored in 2004-2005 to its 1923 magnificence.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

(6)
Making Pop Corn at the Strand Theater

(7)
Atlantic Baking Co.

(8)
The Wine Seller on Tillson Ave.

(9)

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(11)

Dowling-Walsh Gallery Display on Winter St.

(12)

(13)

Stained Glass Panel

On the front door of the Thorndike Creamery

(14)

Through the front window of the Thorndike Creamery

(15)

Through the front window of the Thorndike Creamery

(16)

Through the front window of the Thorndike Creamery

(Click on image to expand and read the Menu)

(17)

Street Lights on Main St. from The Black Bull pub door.

(18)

(19)

Knox County Courthouse completed in 1875

(The courthouse dome was a navigational guide

for Sea Captains entering Rockland Harbor)

(20)

Robert Indiana "EAT" sculpture

On the roof of the Farnsworth Art Museum

(Looking North on Main St.)

(21)

Wyeth Center of the Farnsworth Art Museum

Dedicated to the work of

N.C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyeth, & James Wyeth

(22)

(23)

Lucy Farnsworth Homestead

At the Farnsworth Art Museum

(24)

Lucy Farnsworth Homestead

At the Farnsworth Art Museum

Photo Tour Midcoast Maine: Series 1

2010-01-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

All Photos: Copyright Dale R. Preston 2009

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

(1)

"Nobility" Camden

(Click on image to view the Black Mallard)

(2)

"Autumn Rocks" Megunticook Lake, Camden

(3)
"Boulder Shore" Megunticook Lake, Camden

(4)
"Daybreak" Rockland Harbor

(5)
"Magical" Rockland Harbor

(6)
"Red" Rockland Harbor

(7)
"Pensive" Rockland Harbor

(8)

"Sun Worshiper" Rockland Harbor

Beech Nut Stone House on Beech Hill Preserve, Rockport, Maine 2009

2010-01-01T08:31:00.000-08:00

Plus: Hilltop Views and some Flora & Fauna

All Photographs: Copyrighted Dale R. Preston 2009

(Click on Pictures for Expanded View)

(1) Sod Roof

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

(6)

(7)

(8)

(9) Penobscot Bay

(10)

(11)

(12) Chickawaukie Lake

(13) Indian Island Lighthouse, Rockport, Maine

(14) Indian Island Lighthouse and Schooner leaving Rockport Harbor

(15)

(16)

(17)

(18)

(19)

(20)

(21) Bee and the Butterfly

(22) Beech Nut Stone House on Beech Hill Preserve from Chickawaukie Lake

Camden Harbor, Maine - Fall 2009 Photo Tour

2009-12-24T17:11:00.000-08:00

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The Breakwater Lighthouse, Rockland, Maine

2009-07-27T15:24:00.000-07:00

Construction of the 4,346 foot Breakwater across Rockland Harbor towards the Owl's Head pennisula began in April 1881 and was completed in November of 1899. It was built to protect Rockland Harbor and boats from the forces of the Atlantic Ocean. 732,277 tons of granite blocks were dropped into the water in the form of a trapezoid 175 feet at the base and 43 feet wide of the top to a depth of approximately 60 feet. The granite cost $750,000.

The Lighthouse, consisting of a brick lighthouse with a fog horn and a wood frame four-room keeper's house, was erected and lit in 1902 at a cost of $30,000. It orginally had an oil burning light, but was converted to electricity in 1940 by the installation of a generator which was upgraded to an electric cable to shore in 1960.

The first of the following pictures shows the Breakwater beginning at the shore on Jameson's Point. Come along for the walk to the Lighthouse.

From the very first granite blocks of the Breakwater (above) at the shore of Jameson's Point you can barely see the white Lighthouse at the other end over three-quarters of a mile away. The gaps between the granite blocks make it a treacherous hike.

The Samoset Resort and golf course can be seen in the distance.

You can see yellow, red and white lobster buoys.

Finally, we're getting to the Lighthouse just as the island ferry heads in toward Rockland.

You can clearly see the wood-frame keeper's house and the brick lighthouse. The old boat house is the white structure to the left.

Standing on the last granite blocks before being in the water at the end of the Breakwater looking up at the Lighthouse, you can see the little white fog horn with the big noise inside the railing at the top.

The view of the Breakwater from inside one of the keeper's bedrooms.

Let's go up the spiral staircase in the light tower.

The trap door entrance to the light room.

My foot. You can see it's a tight squeeze.

Slate shingles on the roof and the Breakwater running to shore.

The light through the glass from the outside walkway.

Where not to stand when the fog rolls in. This is the fog horn.

The following pictures show some of the ships and boats that sail past the Lighthouse, everyday.

A schooner at full sail.

A small pleasure sailboat.

A construction ferry carrying dumptrucks returning from one of the offshore islands.

A small pleasure cruiser.

If you ever make it to Rockland, Maine as you travel along the Atlantic Highway, be sure to take the walk out the Breakwater to the Lighthouse. You just might see some dolphins and seals, too.

Aldermere Farm, Rockport, Maine

2009-06-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

Aldemere Farm is a 136-acre farm located on Russell Avenue on the town line between Rockport and Camden, Maine. It is a landmark of midcoast Maine, and is one of the world's premier breeders of Belted Galloway cattle.

Located about a mile from downtown Camden, between Lily Pond and Penobscot Bay, Aldemere Farm is an attraction for young and old, Mainers and tourists, and a treasure trove for photographers.

Enjoy the rest of my recent photos of these fascinating cows in their idylic setting.

http://www.aldermere.org/about/index.html

Mount Battie, Camden, Maine

2009-05-12T12:42:00.000-07:00

Mt. Battie

To present a view of the coast of Maine I've selected Mt. Battie in the heart of our midcoast in the village of Camden. As you can see from the picture above, Mt. Battie towers over Camden Harbor which, just before the summer season, is getting its fleet of large schooners ready to go windjamming with adventurous vacationers.

At the very peak of Mt. Battie is a castle like tower that can be seen in the distance over the top of a Camden Harbor schooner sail in the picture to the right. The tower is a great place for a panoramic view of the coast line. In fact, it was to the top of Mt. Battie that Edna St. Vincent Millay, the great American lyrical poet and playwright, would climb to take in the view as she wrote her poems such as "Renascence." It was in Camden that she was discovered in the Whitehall Inn reciting her poems and playing the piano.

Fortunately, a road has now been constructed to get to the top of Mt. Battie.

And this is the face of the tower seen from Camden Harbor.

Inside is a stairway leading to the platform floor on top.

From the tower top we look back down the mountain at right at the schooners in Camden Harbor where we started our journey.

A sequence of pictures start at right, facing north, along the coast and then continue down the coast and around to the mountains on the west side. The land that you see are islands of which there are thousands along the coast. Many of these islands have residents, and some stay out there all year long. Their living is made fishing for ground fish and lobsters.

There are numerous celebrities, like John Travolta and U. S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, that have summer homes on these islands and it is not uncommon to have them in our restaurants and stores and on our streets. They like it here in Maine because they get treated just like ordinary folk - they stand in line just like the rest of us.

The body of water that you see in these pictures is the Atlantic Ocean and in this area is called Penobscot Bay. Beyond these islands is open water to Europe.

Notice the young couple walking up the path toward the tower. They are on vacation from Iowa and when they joined me at the top I gave them a verbal tour, with a lot of finger pointing, of the surrounding villages, lakes, islands, and mountains. A bald eagle honored us with a spectacular fly-by riding the air currents toward the ocean.

In the picture at right, you can see the harbors of Rockport and Rockland in the distance to the southeast.

To the west are mountains with many lakes hidden in the valleys. In fact, one of those mountains is the home of the Camden Snow Bowl which is the only ski slope in America where you can see the ocean as you ski down.

Note the paved access road up the mountain and ALEX hiding in the trees.

Be sure to come back because I've started collecting pictures to post a tour of Camden, and another posting of some very interesting B & B's along the coast.

Atlantic Highway: Exploration in Maine

2009-05-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

To start this blog I should first explain that the historic Atlantic Highway came into existence as the network of roads connecting the major eastern cities which grew up along the fall line where the Piedmont of the Appalachians meets and drops down to the coastal plains. The major eastern cities are located along the fall line because that is where rivers have rapids and generated the power needed to run the mills in the old days.

The Atlantic Highway, eventually, was designated U.S. Route 1 and runs from the Canadian border at Front Kent, Maine to Key West, Florida. In other words, the Atlantic Highway connects the northern-most point to the southern-most point on the east coast of the United States.

The section of the Atlantic Highway that is part of my daily life is along the coast of Maine from Portland to Brunswick to Thomaston, Rockland, Bangor, Ellsworth, Machias, Lubec, Eastport, to Houlton. From Brunswick to Ellsworth is known as the Mid-Coast, and to the east of Ellsworth, is called Downeast Maine.

As can be imagined, there is a huge treasure of history and historic places in the Mid-coast and Downeast. Every old road that connects to Atlantic Highway has a story to tell and old ruins to explore. For instance, Thomaston was settled in 1605 and the Mayflower didn't arrive until 1620, and the Jamestown Settlement started in 1607. The Mayflower is believed to have stopped at Monhegan Island, Maine to purchase processed fish from a colony. And, of course, the American Indians were here long before the rest of us.

I will photograph some of the Maine history I find and post it on this blog for all of you.