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Beacons of Hope and Safe Harbor: Lighthouses of Maine
By carlvaleri | September 11, 2008
The low thumping sound of the water lapping against the side of our sailboat as we slid slowly through the calm waters caused my drowsiness as well as calmed my nerves on this important day. Eyes straining from rays of sunlight reflecting off the ocean made the approaching harbor difficult to make out, but then it suddenly appeared. The tall structure with alternating white and red stripes caused my excitement on this important day in my sailing career. The Harbor Town Lighthouse on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina signified the final point in my graduation sail from the Offshore Sailing School.
Many emotions ran through my childhood mind. A sense of accomplishment, a sense of awe at the beautiful large light, and a sense of safety in entering the harbor made my heart beat rapidly and my smile stretch from ear to ear. I’ll never forget the day I fell in love with lighthouses beacons which define a hope and safe harbor to me and many sailors past.
Exploring the coast of Maine and the many lighthouses brought back fond memories of my childhood sailing adventure, adding a sense of nostalgia in my newly found paradise. Grand buildings surrounding tall sturdy lighthouses perched atop rocky cliffs with crashing waves below; small beacons at the end of short breakwaters; and island lights protruding through the fog show the diverse beauty and importance of the lighthouses along coastal Maine.
My exploration of the coastal lighthouses of Maine seems the most appropriate place to begin my series, Beacons of Hope and Safe Harbor. My journey begins with one of the most photographed lighthouses, Portland Head in Cape Elizabeth and ends at Mount Desert Island and the lights surrounding Acadia National Park. While trying to photograph these many wonderful lights, I climbed steep inclines, descended rocky cliffs, and traversed mile long rocky breakwaters to bring you these exciting, historic, and important nautical aids to navigation.
Together we will explore the history of each lighthouse, learning the challenges the lighthouse keepers faced in keeping the lights running, the current efforts in preservation of these important lights, and other activities available in and around each light. You will discover as I did that you can spend a day at each lighthouse enjoying the beauty of the lights as well as the harbors they protect which include their shoppes, restaurants and museums.
For More Information:
Maine Office of Tourism: Lighthouse
More about Lighthouses at Serendipitous Journey
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