BASS HARBOR HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
Entrance to Blue Hill Bay, ME
Atlantic Ocean
This lighthouse was built in 1858 to warn mariners of the Bass Harbor Bar and mark the entrance to the harbor. This harbor offers protection from easterly gales and is one of the many picturesque harbors along Maine’s beautiful coastline. This easily accessible light is probably one of the most photographed lights in Maine. It ranks right up there with Portland Head for scenic quality. The brick tower casts a red light from a fourth order Fresnel lens. One can only imagine the difficulties that keeper’s faced during foul weather. The bell tower to the left of the lighthouse had to be rung by hand during heavy fog when the automation equipment failed. To be out in the winter weather and having to perform the tedious striking of the bell every so many minutes was probably hard at best, but these dedicated people performed their duties day in and day out.
http://www.lighthouse.cc/bassharbor/
This is one of the lights in Maine which decries the famous rocky coast. I find Maine to be a most interesting state in that the coast seems to be the most prosperous part because of the tourism. Going inland one finds less and less prosperity, more rural, and the tourism is pretty much limited to hunting and fishing activities. But the coast is devoted to the sixty five or so lighthouses in the state and the fantastic scenery. It took about three weeks to find and photograph each of the lights on land and those few on islands one can reach by ferry. It always amazes me that lighthouses which can be seen from as far away as 20 miles when at sea, but can be missed when only a mile away on land. Part of the mystique is simply being able to find these things. There are a total of 65 lighthouses in Maine.
I had an interesting experience when looking for Browns Head Lighthouse on Vinylhaven Island in Maine. This is a small island and we should have been able to find it easily. I had street directions for the thing and, when departing from the ferry, we went into the adjoining town looking for "Main" street. Well, no Main Street. In fact, not a street sign in the entire town. Hence the directions were not a bit of help. Back to the Ferry and the ticket agent for the return trip to the mainland in hopes of some information. When asked why no street signs, her down east reasoning took over. "Street signs? We don't need no street signs! We know where we are!" I did get some directions and made the photographs later in the day, but you just got to love Maine.
http://www.lighthouse.cc/brownshead/
This is one of the lights in Maine which decries the famous rocky coast. I find Maine to be a most interesting state in that the coast seems to be the most prosperous part because of the tourism. Going inland one finds less and less prosperity, more rural, and the tourism is pretty much limited to hunting and fishing activities. But the coast is devoted to the sixty five or so lighthouses in the state and the fantastic scenery. It took about three weeks to find and photograph each of the lights on land and those few on islands one can reach by ferry. It always amazes me that lighthouses which can be seen from as far away as 20 miles when at sea, but can be missed when only a mile away on land. Part of the mystique is simply being able to find these things. There are a total of 65 lighthouses in Maine.
I had an interesting experience when looking for Browns Head Lighthouse on Vinylhaven Island in Maine. This is a small island and we should have been able to find it easily. I had street directions for the thing and, when departing from the ferry, we went into the adjoining town looking for "Main" street. Well, no Main Street. In fact, not a street sign in the entire town. Hence the directions were not a bit of help. Back to the Ferry and the ticket agent for the return trip to the mainland in hopes of some information. When asked why no street signs, her down east reasoning took over. "Street signs? We don't need no street signs! We know where we are!" I did get some directions and made the photographs later in the day, but you just got to love Maine.
http://www.lighthouse.cc/brownshead/
No comments:
Post a Comment