Larry A. Smail's Blog

Nubble Lighhouse

As the crow flies Maine has over two hundred miles of coastline. However, if one adds up all the coastline as it actually is then the result would be approximately 3, 478 miles of coastline and that is not including the many, many islands of Maine. Because of all these rugged and rocky shorelines and the multitude of islands featuring the same rocky outcrops, many lighthouse were constructed to help aid in the shipping travel. There are almost seventy lighthouses situated at various areas of Maine to help the wayfaring stranger along.

We saw a lot of lighthouse, but I don’t know many by name or even remember all their locations.  Two of them are the Nubble and Portland Lighthouses.  these two are, probably, the most photographed and painted lighthouses of Maine. they are readily easily  to find and get close to paint of photograph.

Portland Lighthouse

The Nubble Lighthouse, or the Cape Neddick Lighthouse, was began in 1879 and is seventy-two feet high. The Portland Lighthouse is forty-one feet tall and was erected in 1790. At the Portland site names were painted on a rock of those who perished on site.

At the shoreline at the Portland Lighthouse  one can see and hear the mighty waves crashing over and among the rocky outcrops. The noise is, soemhow, soothing to listen to.

A very common flower is visible most everywhere. the attractive flower is the Rugosa Rose. However, this specie is a non-native plant to Maine and is consider invasive.

Rugosa Rose

We visited other coastlines to see what things of interest were available. the answer..LOTS!  Among the rocks were areas of standing water. I noticed dense black mussels of some specie. Removing one to study was difficult for the darkened mass was anchored tight together. Barnacles were common throughout Maine bays and ports. They could be spotted on rocks, piers, boats and about everywhere.

The black mussels

One site was a good one… a Harbor Seal. We actually saw them at various areas, but the first one shown in this picture was a special find to photograph.

Harbor Seal

Seaweeds were common on the rocks. High tide would have seaweed drift and settle on rocks.

Seaweed

I noticed hundreds of small fish swimming in the clear water. They may have been Mackerel since that fish is common to the area.

Lots of fish

Various Mollusk shells are scattered along the beaches.