MAINE: my final frontier. These are the voyages of the Scooter Vespa 250 i.e. Super. Its continuing mission - to explore America's most heavily forested state - to roam the vast coastline, numberless lakes, and mighty mountains. To boldly go where no scooter has gone before!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Go Fly A Kite!

On a perfect early spring day at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, it seemed that someone had suggested "Go Fly A Kite!" And a dozen or so eager kite fliers obeyed, filling the clear windy sky in the shadow of Maine's most famous lighthouse with kites large and small.




Portland Head Light became operational on January 10, 1791, lit by 16 whale oil lamps


This fighter-kite was one of the more elaborate objects in the sky



Here, a more traditional kite sails over the sea


Below the remains of the Fort Williams batteries and barracks, visitors stay a respectable distance from the icy ocean.


The big guns are long gone, but the abandoned batteries are still a popular place to visit



Until August, walking the paths in and around the park is more popular than swimming. But for about 20 minutes in late August, the ice melts and a few brave souls put to sea.


Ram Island Ledge Light, a mile from Portland Head light, was auctioned off in 2010 for $190,000 to a Windham surgeon. Since 2001, the light has been solar-powered. Landing a boat - the only way to get to the ledge - has been described as "treacherous." The ledge is under water at high tide; the only way to enter the lighthouse is via a 30-foot ladder.

But you can't beat the view!


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8 comments:

  1. Keith - Circle BlueApril 16, 2012 at 10:21 PM

    One of the things I love about blogs is learning about places I've never known about. Ft. Williams is such a place. Thanks to you and Google I now know about this place and its place in our history. Thanks for the share.

    And, I love the photo of the fighter kite!
    ~k

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    Replies
    1. Thomas KeeneApril 17, 2012 at 5:18 PM

      Keith,

      I pleased that you enjoyed the post. Fort Williams is a true gem, and a proposal to charge entry fees was turned down by the town of Cape Elizabeth this year. Those folks don't want anything to interfere
      with people visiting this treasure.

      Tom

      Delete
  2. SonjaMApril 17, 2012 at 12:07 AM

    Thanks for taking us out there. I totally like the pic with the lighthouse and the scooter in front.

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    1. Thomas KeeneApril 17, 2012 at 5:19 PM

      Sonja,

      Thank you. It's quite a place - and the most photographed lighthouse in the US.

      Tom

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  3. UnknownApril 17, 2012 at 3:28 PM

    Thomas:

    your weather looks nippy and refreshing. Those are great lighthouses ! I can almost imagine owning the Ram Island Ledge Light, but the "treacherous" is scaring me away

    bob
    Riding the Wet Coast
    My Flickr // My YouTube

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    Replies
    1. Thomas KeeneApril 17, 2012 at 5:21 PM

      Bob,

      The "treacherous" may be why the good doctor bought the place. No neighbors, great view, and little likelihood of anyone ringing the doorbell after you've gone to bed!

      Tom

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  4. Martha April 17, 2012 at 8:52 PM

    Yay Thomas! Wonderful and fun photos. The first one is darn near poetic! You've got a good eye. And one is all you need!

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  5. Thomas KeeneApril 18, 2012 at 7:33 PM

    Martha,

    Thank you! I am full of some kind of joy, having discovered riding and photography. People often say - and I have said - "It's too bad I found this so late in life."

    I'm just glad I found these pleasures at all.

    Tom

    ReplyDelete

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