September 24, 2011

Our trip up US1 today took us through several old New England towns with beautiful houses. The styles vary and most are painted white. But, every now and then you come across one that has been highlighted using two or three colors. We found this one in Thomaston, a small town near Rockland, ME. Another unique feature of this house is the small glass enclosed room sticking out of the roof that resembles an enclosed widow’s walk.


The fog continued to hang around all day producing enough moisture to run the wipers on the car. Our only stop of the day was the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. This is a very unique lighthouse since it sets on a breakwater wall that is 4620 feet long.

The breakwater was started in 1881 and was completed in 1901. The length was extended several times and the height was raised 4 feet between 1899 and 1901 after a nor’easter washed over the wall and damaged several ships. The breakwater is 20 feet wide on the top. (The below photo was taken from shore, about 1 mile from the lighthouse.)

It is built in a pyramid shape and the structure contains 768,774 tons of granite. The water is 50 feet deep at the end of the breakwater and the light tower stands 39 feet above the breakwater.
Note the lobster trap buoys along the breakwater. (The below photo was taken from the lighthouse, looking toward shore.)

A mom and pop lobster boat checking lobster traps. Most have out around 500 traps and check them on three day intervals.

The Governor Curtis, a ferry, is headed to a nearby island.


Tomorrow we will be going to the Acadia National Park.