Weekend with Nick, Part 2: Lighthouse Day

Our mission for our second and last day with Nick and Emanuelle was a survey of some of the iconic lighthouses and quaint fishing villages that dot the coast. Ideally I would have suggested we go to Portland Head Light as I think it’s one of the two most picturesque lighthouses in Maine, but we were a little too far north so instead I chose my other favorite, Pemaquid Point, to start the day with.

The white conical tower and attached keepers cottage of the light station is cute in and of itself, but it is the setting amidst the alternating swirled metamorphic and igneous layers of bedrock that make Pemaquid Point one of the most photographed of Maine lighthouses. The dramatic, striated rock that extends from the grassy, treed blufftop to the crashing waves is postcard-perfect, and a wonder to explore in detail. Us four humans spent nearly an hour canvassing the rock and taking photos – though Abby gave up on us and settled in for a quick nap after awhile. First however we went up the tower to get a birdseye view of the grounds and the bay beyond while learning a bit of the history of the lightstation.

Our second stop was Marshall Head Lighthouse, famous for both it’s unique wooden access bridge and it’s appearance in the movie Forrest Gump. We spent a good amount of time here too, climbing the rocks, exploring the small tide pools, and walking the shore. After we’d had enough we decided to visit the small town of Port Clyde which is probably the cutest of all the villages along the midcoast. Located in the harbor about a mile from the lighthouse, the colorful buildings and painted rowboats of the port provided us with even more photo opportunities and a charming place to walk. We also found a place that was willing to serve us some appetizers and a couple rounds of beer on the deck overlooking the docks; here we rested our feet and continued our conversations for much of the remainder of the afternoon.