Maine - New Hampshire Trip
October 2018 Trip Report

Day five: Casco Bay Transit Mailboat Run, Victoria Mansion, Petey's Summertime Seafood and Portsmouth Halloween Parade

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Maquoit II - Chebeague Island, Maine
The Maquoit II at Chebeague Island
Handy-Four tug - WIlmington, Delaware
Handy-Four, a 70' tugboat
The sun was out Wednesday morning and Linda, Fay and I took advantage of it by riding the Casco Bay Transit Mailboat Run. We rode the 98' Maquoit II, a working ferry boat, which carries passengers, mail and freight to Little Diamond, Great Diamond, Long, Cliff and Chebeague Islands. It was a beautiful 2 hour 45 minute ride, which not only stopped at those islands, but passed many others, along with forts, lighthouses and boats of many styles and sizes. 

Local residents got on and off at each port, while mail and freight was loaded or unloaded. It felt like we had a glimpse into the lives of people on the Islands of Casco Bay.

Schooner Timberwind - Portland, Maine
Timberwind
This 98' schooner was built in 1931 and was once a Portland pilot boat. It now does excursions and tours.

Portland Observatory - Portland, Maine
Portland Observatory
This maritime signal tower was built in 1807 to communicate by flag with ships hours before they arrived in harbor.
It operated until 1923, but is now an observation tower and landmark.

Bug Light - Portland, Maine
Bug Light (also known as Portland Breakwater Light)

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse - Portland, Maine
Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse with Fort Preble at the right

Portland Head Lighthouse and lobster fishing boat Nomad
Nomad lobster boat with Portland Head Lighthouse in the distance


Fort Gorges on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay
Fort Gorges was built during the Civil War, but technological advances during the war made
the fort obsolete before it was completed and troops were never stationed there.

The first stop was Little Diamond Island, which had multiple passengers getting off or on, but will have less than 10 residents (if any) over the winter. There were multiple golf carts on shore and another at the end of the dock, but after some consultation, that golf cart was loaded onto the top deck.

Ferry Maquoit II loadng freight in Casco Bay, Maine
Loading a golf cart onto the Maquoit II

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