Goodbye Maine…

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Lynn here today…..

Leaving Kennebunkport…

We had a beautiful sunset on our way to dinner at Chez Rosa, unquestionably the finest meal the entire trip. We are moving to a new harbor each day, as we race to get settled before Ernesto hits, but we’re taking time to enjoy stops along the way.

Sunset in Kennebunkport

But before we leave Maine, let’s talk a bit about the lighthouses. The coast is dotted with them – 70 total – and the temptation is to take photos of each one. It’s amazing to think that these were the main source of navigation along a very rocky coast before satellites, charts, and GPS. The ancient mariners had their work cut out for them. (We didn’t mention the boat across from us in Camden was named Ancient Mariner II, with a couple – he was 106 and had a patent on radar and she was a 96 year old Harvard trained pediatrician!)

Owl’s Head Lighthouse – Rod’s favorite ( I think he just likes the name,)

The lighthouses use a technique developed by the French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel (1788–1827) for use in lighthouses. The fresnel lens combines refraction and reflection to capture more light from the source making it visible at greater distances. BTW it’s pronounced Freh-nell.

This lens is about 8 feet tall.

Arrived in Scituate, Massachusetts, on a beautiful, clear afternoon. (Up here they pronounce that Schituate.) The entrance to the harbor is narrow, but opens up to a huge mooring field. The town is really cute – we expect many Boston commuters travel an hour to work each day so they can live here and enjoy this beautiful town. .

Yesterday, we arrived back in Pandanaram, and we will be holed up here for a few days. (This one is a real tongue-twister: Paid’ nuhram). We’ve had extremely calm seas recently, but the forecast is for things to get pretty rough from the offshore effects of Hurricane Ernesto. This is another lovely town with excellent mechanics at the marina, so we will be here until we’re sure it’s safe to continue our travels south.

TTFN