We had a leisurely morning, sleeping in and going to breakfast 8:30-9. Didn’t leave the hotel until around 10am and it was already a light drizzle. The two lighthouses we were looking at today was Bug Lighthouse (aka Portland Breakwater Lighthouse) and Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse. They were only about 6 miles away and very close together. It was spitting rain but we were happy with the pics anyway.

There was an unusual steel sculpture beside the parking lot that turned out to be the bow of a ship that was constructed as a memorial to all the Liberty ships built here in Portland during WW II. It was very cool and interesting to read all the history related to this harbor. The original pier used still stands, although it isn’t used for the same purpose today. More on the Liberty Ship Memorial.

As we were leaving the parking lot of Bug Lighthouse we passed a museum we decided to check out – after all, it was a rainy day and we needed some inside stuff to do. That also turned out to be a good decision. Larry, a history teacher and lecturer, was full information – imagine that. In one of the pictures it shows a house connected to Bug Lighthouse but once Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse was constructed it was demolished since the light keepers took care of both lighthouses.

Bob had read about these Giant’s Stairs in Harpswell about an hour away. Since it was a nasty day we figured we may as well drive out there and check it out. (Didn’t want to hang out in a hotel room anyway.) The rain wasn’t too bad, a little drizzle here and there but nothing a rain coat wouldn’t handle. Since it was now lunchtime, we were hunting for a place to eat before we checked out the stairs. The Nav wouldn’t find the Giant’s Stairs but it WOULD find the The Giant Stairs Seafood & Grille Restaurant. Sounds nice, right? Hmmmm. It was another little hole in the wall (which can be just fine). It was okay. Bob’s wrap was better than my shrimp, but it served a purpose and we moved on.

Trying to find this little “gem” was way more interesting than the “gem” itself. It’s located on Bailey Island, which is connected to Orr’s Island and the scenery was beautiful – even on this rainy day. The houses were gorgeous and all the waterfront properties with docks leading to the water were jaw dropping – but in a modest way. Nothing like what we saw in Newport, RI. It was a very cool place that was interesting to drive through. We picked up a map in the restaurant at lunch that listed all the businesses on the island. We passed one of the arts and crafts places and pulled in. Cute little building filled with nothing but pieces from local artists. Immediately I picked up a little lobster Christmas ornament. As we were walking around we saw a lady painting on a small canvas. Come to find out she’s the daughter of the owner (who lives in Savannah and knows the artist we discovered on the riverfront and came home with two of his pieces) and has just recently started painting again. We loved that she only had works of local places. There were a couple of beautiful Portland Head Lighthouse pieces we loved but she also had several of “the steps.” I wanted to see “the steps” before we chose, so off we went. Of course now was the time the raindrops started falling in earnest. It was full out raining at this point. Still we parked, suited up and started walking. It really was anticlimactic. I’m sure it would’ve been different it the sky was blue and we could’ve actually climbed the steps but we couldn’t. We only went a little way (the whole trail is only 1/4 of a mile) before we turned around. On the way back to the car we decided to stick with getting one of the Portland Head pieces. Before we got out of there she showed us a card collection she designed that reflects four places of island history – the lobsterman, the buoy shack, the cribstone bridge that connects to Orr’s Island (very cool story there) and the Giant’s Stairs. So we got those to frame as a momento of our trip to Bailey Island.

The one place in Portland Bob really wanted to visit was Allagash Brewery. We’d been thinking about that brew all day. And after being drenched all day we had earned it. That was one hopping place. We each built a custom flight and sat down to drink it in. Amazingly we both picked 3 of our 4 the same. That never happens. We both had the same favorite too – River Trip. Even walked away with a 4 pack to go.

Now it’s dinner time. Our hotel is in a business district with a mall across the street. Anything that’s around us is a chain. Bob found this place on Yelp – Scarborough Lobster. Oh. My. Goodness. Talk about a dive. But, the prices were good and the food even better. We both ordered “Lobsta Chowda” and peel and eat shrimp. Both were excellent!!

Another long day bites the dust!