The Casco Bay Transit Mailboat Run out
of Portland continued with two stops on Great Diamond Island and single
stops at Long, Cliff and Chebeague Islands.
Echo Point - Great Diamond Island
Echo Point Light (also known as Pocahontas Light) is the smallest lighthouse
registered with
the United States Coast Guard. It is only 6 feet tall.
South Fork of Fort McKinley (1873 to 1947)
Oyster Farming near Little Chebeague Island
The most interesting stop on the Casco Bay Transit
Mailboat Run out of Portland was Chebeague Island. As we approached
the dock, we could see a dog who was excited that the boat was approaching.
When we docked, the captain threw it several treats from the pilot house,
apparently a part of every trip. Many pallets of freight were unloaded
here and we had a few minutes to walk up the dock to the shore to look
around briefly. It was interesting watching them move the freight with
the ferry's crane.
Clouds hid the sun while we were at Chebeague and the
rest of the trip was a little darker and colder.
Fay had packed sandwiches and we had a picnic lunch on
the boat as we left Chebeague Island. We finished the meal off, splitting
a Lil's Whoopie Pie from Bob's Clam Shack in Kittery.
"Scout" catching treats from the captain
Scout oversees the freight being unloaded from Maquoit II
Lil's Whoopie Pie
11,000 square foot home on privately owned Hope Island
Cliff Island has a winter population of about 60 people. There is a
one room school for grades preschool - Five.
The captain said there were 5 children in the school from 2 families.
Older children commute by ferry to
school in Portland.
Fort Preble and Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse
Back in Portland, we walked around part of the nearby
Old Port district, visiting a few shops and Harbor Fish Market. The current
market dates from 1966, but there has been a fish market at this location
since the late 1800s.
Casco Bay Ferries at left
United States Custom House (built 1868-72)
Harbor Fish Market
Many varieties of live oysters
Our final stop in Portland was the 1858 Victoria Mansion.
They do not permit photos within the Italian Villa style house, so there
are none in this trip report.
