8/2 I will get the pictures posted later as the Wi-Fi location is not allowing them to be posted at this time. Please check back in a day or so. We will attempt this addition on the road to New Hampshire.
08, 34, 47, 64, 13, 96, 36, 44, 46
7/29 Sunday Although the fog was over us in the early morning, it had cleared by about 9. The weather forecasters continue talking about bad storms, but they have been wrong so many times we decided they would be again. With passports and dog papers in hand we headed for Lubec, Maine and Campabello, New Brunswick, Canada. The drive is almost 100 miles on US-1 winding along the coast and through several towns with multiple 25 MPH speed limits so you have time to enjoy their town.
We began seeing fog lying along the water about 20 miles from our destination. Upon arrival at the West Quoddy Head Light (lighthouse), we found fog all around. It had gone out earlier but had returned over the area. It made for some interesting sights with clear sunny areas sometimes divided by a thick band of fog.
The lighthouse is still a fully operational facility; many have been decommissioned due to things like GPS aides. The foghorn was sounding the whole time we were there. Later in Canada, we were still heard this horn. The area rocks resulted in many shipwrecks wrecks. The tide swings about 16 feet in about 6 hours, making the waters safe at one point but very dangerous only hours later. Photocells recognize the presence of fog and automatically activate the lighthouse foghorn.
After a walk on the rocks below the lighthouse, only inconveniently accessible by steep stairs that have been built so people would not attempt to climb the rock cliffs, we headed off to Canada. At the Canadian border, I guess I did not give the answers as smoothly required or maybe it was because I said we were from Houston and she could see a Florida plate on the car, but we were given extra attention through an inspection inside the car. The inspector was very happy I took the dogs out of the car during this inspection. Once completed we happily headed to the F.D. Roosevelt summer home.
Our personal tour began with a drive through the property that is now a part of the International Park. Establishment of this international park was the result of the Roosevelt property being equally divided, then donated to the US and Canadian governments to be preserved as a park. Future donated property adjoining the 10-acre property adjoining the property where FDR grew up and played now makes it now over 2,300 acres. Driving around we found another rock beach as well as various lookouts that were very restful. The temperature was about 720 with a breeze making it just close to being chilly.
On the way back to visit the boyhood home and visitor center we came up on a one-car rollover that landed in a gully. The driver was way over the 15 MPH speed limit and lost control on the gravel road. Making sure she was out and she appeared to have no injuries we headed to the visitor center to report the accident. The ambulance they called drove past the visitor’s center twice before I could flag them down to go down the park road. They transported the driver across the US border to a town 30 miles to the south on these same twisting roads we had earlier traveled. In my opinion, due to the distance and time it would take to transport a patient in this area of Maine plus an additional 15 miles from the Campobello Island, if the injuries were critical you may as well paint this patient dead.
We toured the F.D. Roosevelt summer cottage that has been nicely preserved from about 1900. It home is very large with 32 rooms. It was a home where FDR could have guests while housing four servants on the second floor. The home is three stories, but the third floor is not open because there is only one way up and down, so for safety reasons, they keep it closed off. The home is for us, beautifully landscaped with a wonderful view of the water. The difference between then and now goes back to the company that previously owned the land before the Roosevelt family. This company clear-cut the forest for various uses. For us, the new growth of the trees over the past 80+ years now made this place beautiful.
We were surprised at the size of the rooms. We know room size has increased over the years with new construction methods, but areas like the master bedroom appeared especially small for a president. The double bed and the whole bedroom was smaller than the opened front section of our RV. When the polio crippled him, it must have made his bedroom seem even smaller with the lounge chair he needed to sit in. His wife Eleanor was also his distant cousin, a fact I think we failed to know about. She really had her hands full when she had to take care of what had been a very active man who spent most of his time outdoors in the woods or sailing. Going there and taking a walking tour was very interesting.
We hurried off to the East Quoddy Lighthouse at the northern tip of the island. The Canadian government has maintained this lighthouse, although it would appear this is a decommissioned light as the Canadian government has given the deed to the light to a group who is dedicated to preserving the lighthouse. Further, the light shows only a steady red light and the revolving lens has been removed. It is reported this is the most photographed lighthouse anywhere and after going to the lighthouse, just the trip makes you take many pictures to chronicle your successful trip.
From the top of the light we were able to see a very large fin whale in the harbor. I think our view was better than those on the whale watch boat as the whale kept moving away from the boat as if to play with the captain. We were better able to see the size of this whale as they can reach 48’. Although not that large, it was very impressive.
Now to access to this lighthouse, first you may only access the area during low tide! The tide runs over 25’ in the Bay of Fundy, so the tide changes over one foot every 15 minutes; better keep a close track of time! If you are trapped on the lighthouse island, you are there for 8 hours and it can get really cold. Getting there we had climbed down a very steep rusty stairway (some of the bottom steps had rusted away), then across rocks bordered by wet sea grass, then up another stairway (more missing steps) to a high spot, then back down and across more rugged rock to the lighthouse. It was fun, but it did keep you on your toes – literally. There was a haring fish net everyone paid close attention to because if the water lapped a certain level, you better get out of there right then. The water is cold and the currents swift, so don’t challenge the water especially when you can’t see the worn path where sea grass has been destroyed by the constant walking. The thick, extremely slippery sea grass provides no footing on the rock.
Because the fog was coming quickly over the island, we decided to head south and eat somewhere in the US. Even eating in Lubec 30-miles south of the border, we found ourselves caught in fog for a large portion of the remaining 60-mile trip. It was a long day covering almost 230 miles, but well worth the adventure. In fact, the only problem was our failure to head out earlier so we could squeeze more into the day. By the way, while in Canada, we lost an hour as this island is on Atlantic time. Maybe that is why here in Trenton, ME, we have the sun rising at a little after 4AM.
