Last night we stayed in a quaint cabin that had Wifi – – but it was so slow I couldn’t finish this post, much less publish it. So this one’s a day late. I’m sure you’ve all been waiting with baited breath! We stayed at Moody’s which is an institution around these parts. The original cabins were built in the 20’s and more were built in the 40’s, when they also added running water and electricity. No air conditioning, though there is a lovely little screened porch on the back and you can sleep with the windows open, listening to the breeze in the trees if you don’t mind the mosquitoes too much.
Moody’s diner is down at the bottom of the hill and has been in the family for at least three generations. The food is down home good; I recommend the rhubarb strawberry pie. Highly.
Anyway, yesterday we headed inland, on our way to Fort Knox. You know, where all the gold is housed. As we got close we saw a beautiful bridge over the Penobscot River. It’s unlike anything I have ever seen before.
What’s even more amazing is how narrow the cable system is. Here’s what it looks like from the end of the bridge:
And in the top of one of the towers, which look like a skinny version of the Washington Monument, is an observation room!
How cool is that! And you just know that we went up there! How could we not! This is the way the bridge looks from the observatory:
The towers are 447 feet tall (The Washington Monument is 555 feet tall). From the observation tower at the top you can see views like this:
Amazing.
After we were back on the ground we went to visit the fort. It’s an engineering feat from another generation, and fascinating in a whole different way. Built from 1846 -1866 it’s a wonderful example of forts from that era. It’s all pretty much still there, the parade ground, the barracks, the officers quarters…
…and the tunnels below and behind the walls, filled with dark damp memories…
…and maybe the ghosts of soldiers past.
We spent a long time at Fort Knox, exploring all the nooks and crannies, thinking about what life might have been like back then, the conditions soldiers lived and died under.
It seemed strange to see the old fort with the new bridge in the background. An interesting contrast.
Then, because we could, we stopped by a lighthouse. Just for you, because we didn’t want you to have lighthouse withdrawal. After all, we are in Maine.
This is the Fort Point lighthouse.
It’s part of a State Park, but we found it on a road along the coast without going into the park. It has beautiful flowers, and sits high above the sea on a bluff. Such a pretty spot.
So that’s it for yesterday. Today we overdosed on lighthouses. I’ll post more on those tomorrow. Or later. Sometime anyway; it all depends on wifi. Most of you know how that goes.
I hope you enjoyed your tour of the Penobscot Bridge, Fort Knox and the lighthouse!
















July 9, 2014 at 10:08 pm
I always like the view from way up high.
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July 9, 2014 at 11:56 pm
Me too. So did my Dad, I get it from him, he always had to go to the highest point to see what was on the other side.
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July 9, 2014 at 10:10 pm
fantastic views! Not for the faint at heart though. Did the bridge wiggle when large trucks passed? I dislike that sensation.
I’m taking notes, by the way. Cole and I will be heading up to Maine next year. Fort Knox may be on our agenda. Thanks for the suggestion.
Now, get some rest tonight, we have plenty of sight to experience tomorrow.
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July 9, 2014 at 11:56 pm
Yep, it’s midnight, need to get my rest for another sightseeing filled day!
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July 9, 2014 at 11:57 pm
Oh..no the bridge didn’t wiggle at all!
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July 9, 2014 at 10:20 pm
that is an amazing bridge and love how it has that observation bit at the top. I am so envious – all those crab cake options…love crab cakes (providing they don’t have peppers in them 🙂 Got your postcard today too – thank you for thinking of us 🙂
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July 9, 2014 at 11:57 pm
Had crab cakes tonight Bree. They were a.m.a.z.i.n.g. 🙂
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July 9, 2014 at 10:33 pm
What a cool place. Hope there were no ghosts
Snorts,
Lily& Edward
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July 9, 2014 at 11:58 pm
Well…you just never know for sure.
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July 9, 2014 at 10:55 pm
The bridge was under construction when we were there in 2006. We viewed it from a viewpoint, which is where we met the local who led us to Stonington. We met because he had a dog and I needed a dog fix, having left Bailey with a house/dog sitter.
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July 9, 2014 at 11:58 pm
I still need to look up Stonington…
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July 10, 2014 at 9:33 am
We took the mail boat out to an island – something Haute or the other way around – when we were there. Nothing exciting there, just a charming little fishing village.
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July 9, 2014 at 11:58 pm
Hey Jamie..another thing…they let DOGS INTO FORT KNOX! 🙂
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July 10, 2014 at 12:33 am
It’s called a cable stayed bridge. I love bridges! Probably as much as you like lighthouses!
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July 10, 2014 at 8:00 am
Cool! I didn’t know what it was called..it was like a sideways Brooklyn Bridge!
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July 10, 2014 at 7:25 am
The bridge is stunning! My parents have friends who live on that bay in the summer (lucky them).
I’ve never been to fort knox. It looks really cool, and I love the fact that they allow dogs! Maine is so dog friendly.
Moody’s is so cute! We used to stay in cabins like that every summer when I was little, but sadly they tore them all down and put up fancy townhouses. Such a shame, because it was such a great way for families to vacation. Glad Moody’s has survived!
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July 10, 2014 at 8:01 am
I think Moody’s has thrived. It was the cheapest night we’ve spent so far and we didn’t mind that the floors all sagged in different directions and there was no air and no screens!
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July 10, 2014 at 7:35 am
Great photos from way up high!
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July 10, 2014 at 8:01 am
Was so much fun to go up there and see the river the the fort from 400+ feet!
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July 10, 2014 at 8:17 am
I’m enjoying your tour through Maine. You are much further north than I visit every year, so this is nice for me to see.
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