History YUCK! Oh wait...I might like this stuff👍

After leaving Belfast we visited Boothbay Harbor.  This was an awesome town that was very cruiser friendly.  They had a public town dock, plenty of restaurants and shops, an excellent candy store, and a nice grocery store within walking distance to the harbor.  This town was also very artistic with many galories and communal displays, but they definitely specialized in a different genre than seen in Belfast...no chainsaw art was on display in Boothbay Harbor.

Here we are anchored with our ‘sister’ ship.  It’s the angle that makes us look so much smaller😉

Interestingly, there are small islands right in the middle of this harbor.

After two days in Boothbay Harbor we are heading to Portland, again we deal with some dense fog.

Note to self...when navigating in Maine, DON’T INVESTIGATE THE POLE!

This stick looking pole-thing is placed on a pile of rocks that gets submerged at high tide. These rock piles are accurately marked on charts, but it is a strange sight to see the pole in the middle of  what appears to be open, deep water.

Are you a history buff? I’ve always considered history to be my least favorite subject (I know I recently confessed to a geography deficit, but I am even worse at history.) However, entering Portland Harbor inspires even the weakest history student to investigate the numerous lighthouses and forts.  

Ram Island Ledge Lightstation was constructed of solid local granite in 1905.  It was sold at a public auction in 2010 for $190,000.  Don’t let its condition trick you into thinking this is the oldest lighthouse here.

Portland Head Light was built in 1791 at the directive of George Washington.  It is the oldest lighthouse in the state of Maine.  The light keepers’ house was built in 1891, and is now a Maritime Museum.

If the lighthouses don’t get your historian juices flowing, the forts certainly will!  This port must have been very valuable and strategic.

Seven forts have been built to protect this harbor. Fort Allen (1775), Fort Sumner (1794), 

Fort Preble (1809 and later renamed Fort Williams in 1899), Fort Scammell (1809), 

Fort Gorges (1859), Fort Lovett (1903), Fort Lyon (1909).

This is Fort Scammell, currently public owned and for sale for 4.5 million.

Fort Gorges is open to the public, but is only accessible by boat...the website says to bring a flashlight if you intend to explore the dark interiors of this Fort...this history thing is starting to sound pretty darn COOL!!

We are here to pick up some friends for an overnight excursion on the boat...exciting!