Camden … More Lighthouses!

We drove northwards … first up was Eartha, the world’s largest rotating and revolving globe at the DeLorme mapping corporation in Yarmouth. It’s huge… hello Joanna!

Next was the Desert of Maine, a 40 acre expanse of glacial silt which has been a tourist attraction in Freeport since 1925. This became exposed in the C19th through soil erosion when the Tuttle family failed to rotate their crops then over grazed the land, eventually overtaking the whole farm. It has been preserved as a curiosity but slowly vegetation is becoming established once more and covering the sand.

I hadn’t heard of LLBean, but this store was founded in 1912 by its namesake, hunter and fisherman Leon Leonwood Bean in Freeport. Today there is a huge shopping campus open 24hrs daily selling clothing and equipment for every outdoors pursuit imaginable.

Just as we were feeling peckish we saw a huge lobster and had to stop! I had a cup of lobster stew, but I have to admit, having had Maine lobster twice now, that I would still prefer a crab sandwich any day!

All along this part of the coast fingers of land stretch into the sea. We took a detour down to the end of Pemaquid Point to visit the lighthouse, which was looking splendid against the blue sky in the sunshine.

Moody’s diner had been recommended to us by Christopher in Gloucester who said their choice of pies had to be seen to be believed … and he was right! I chose a four berry pie, while Chris opted for the peanut butter cream pie … a deliciously indulgent afternoon treat for us both … thanks Christopher!

Just a little further and we reached Camden, where we had booked a room at the Towne Motel which has been welcoming guests since 1955.It was great to be able to take a short walk into the village for dinner and eat at the Seadog Brewing Co and in the morning breakfast was served in the parlor of the original 1853 house.

We thought we might start with the Mount Battie viewpoint in Camden State Park, but one look out of the window and we realised the summit was shrouded in mist … another grey day in Maine! Instead we headed down the St George Peninsular, catching views along the way.

Marshall Point Lighthouse is at the bottom and has a wooden runway linking the light with the keepers house which makes for a great photo op.

We also took a detour from Spruce Head to Spruce Head Island …

… and stopped at Owls Head Lighthouse accessed by a short walk through the State Park.

The next lighthouse required a little more energy, as Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is at the end of the breakwater, almost a mile in length, and boy was it blowy!