4 September 2013 - Concord, NH

 Of course, the most beautiful day of all, while we have been in Bar Harbor, comes when we have to leave.  It was a wonderfully beautiful morning.  The sun is bright, the sea blue, a gentle breeze is blowing, scattered clouds scud along and it is dry.  In fact, as we looked over the harbor, lobster cage floats and the lobster boats seemed to be bobbing gaily about, sea birds dashed to and fro, dipping into the water and generally cavorting.  I think the lovely day happened because a large cruise ship docked during the night and the town authorities decided to turn on the sun in their behalf.  We felt a little cheated by it all, but truly enjoyed our visit in this lovely little town and we would be happy to return and enjoy its beauty and charm and the surrounding area another time.

We thought a ship of this size seemed out of place among the small yachts and fishing craft scattered about the docking area.  Indeed, even the larger yachts seemed to be dwarfed by this large vessel.  It was an interesting sight.




Leaving this attractive location, we headed north toward Bangor, Maine and then south down the coast, toward Portsmouth, NH, right on the border.  Once more the roads were lined with the wonderful forests that I have so much enjoyed in the entire northeast.  With frequent downpours, a humid location and ocean nearby, these green hills are about as thick as could be imagined and they grow wherever the soil is not blocked by stone.  The local granite is so massive and beautiful, when used to build bridges and homes, it seems just the natural thing to have plopped in the middle of the woods.

As we hurried on the freeway, we decided that we had not had enough of this gorgeous coast, so we pulled off to pay a visit to Cape Elizabeth, site of one of the important lighthouses along the shore. It is a location call Two Lights, because there are two lighthouses in basically the same spot.  It is an amazing location, wild and rough, but awesome for its magnificence.

This wonderful light, built over a hundred years ago, warns against dangerous shoals and a headland that juts out into a sea, dangerous to the unwary.  It was also so interesting to see the rocks in this area.  Up close they look like massive petrified logs, scattered along the shore with waves beating against them unceasingly.  I loved this location as well. I asked a man who was there, who was born in Maine and lived there all the time, what kind of stone this was.  He actually did not know but thought it was a form of slate.  I must agree with him, but its composition and form was unique in my experience and fascinating in its resemblance to the striations of wood. 

We could have spent another long time sitting on these monoliths and enjoying the crashing surf.  We heard a boat horn, watched herring gulls and listened to the sound of the ocean.  But, time began to press.  However, nearby was another "Lobster Shack" and I prevailed on Ronda to join me in one last lobster roll before we headed for the interior and left the coast behind.  We were able to eat looking right out on this spectacular location and deeply appreciating the opportunity we have had to visit here.  It has been on my list of things to do and it needed my visit because "my IQ demanded it".

It has been a gift and a tender mercy to be able to travel with Mom.  Who knew 18 years ago that the Lord would be so kind and generous to us and prolong both her years and mine.  We are grateful and recognize the hand of the Lord in all we do and have.  We will continue to be thankful as we head toward Vermont and points west.