Castine, Maine

     Today was a bright and shiny day so we decided to take a drive over to Castine which is on the tip of the next peninsula east of us.  It was first settled in 1613, seven years before the pilgrims landed in Plymouth.  The Brits had fish camps here and elsewhere on the Maine coast sending salt cod back to England for some time before the pilgrims sailed.  As a matter of fact the pilgrims had to send a boat to Monhegan Island to get some fish to enable them to make it through the first winter.  During the Revolutionary War the Brits occupied Castine and even dug a canal across the isthmus to turn Castine temporarily into an island.  Today it is the home of the Maine Maritime Academy which trains cadets to become merchant mariners.  It is also the home of some of the handsomest sea captains' homes that you will see anywhere.

     The first picture, however, was not taken at Castine.  It's a leftover from a couple of nights ago when Penobscot Bay was so calm that there were bands of pastels across the bay.  The picture was taken from the front of the campground.  The next picture shows Dice's lighthouse at the tip of the Castine peninsula.  It is still an operational light.  Next is a picture of the "State of Maine", the training ship for the Maine Maritime Academy.  Finally there is a shot through the trees of an old sea captain's yard which shows a piece of the Castine harbor.

     Lunch was at Dennet's Wharf, a notable restaurant and dock.  We got back to the campground, fed and walked the dogs, and set up chairs for happy hour.  Just after we sat down, the rest of the crew showed up from the church supper turkey dinner in Frankfort.  It was a quiet and scenic evening.  Wish you were here.