Final Day in Lubec, Maine – September 14, 2012

We had a plan for today and it didn’t really turn out as conceived.  We were going to take some pictures that showed the tide changes and hang around for lunch in Lebec.  After lunch we were just going to read and relax back at the RV.  The first difference was the weather.

Fog in the Harbor at Lubec, ME

It was not sunny at all.  In fact the fog rolled in early this morning and never left.  The weather was dismal, but the other aspects of the day turned out better.

We went back over to Campobello Island to take some pictures of the tide change at the Mulholland Lighthouse.  While we were there we saw seals bobbing in the water.  There had to be 20 or 25.  We also saw two bald eagles; one mother and a juvenile.  Wherever the mother went, the juvenile would follow and there was constant chatter between them.  From there we went into Lubec looking for a hardware store and some little things we needed to help make our RV more workable.  I was struck by how helpful the person was, knowing full well we were not looking for anything expensive.  This friendly helpful attitude was exhibited in Frank’s where we had lunch and even in a shop where we looked for miniature lighthouse replicas.

Franks restaurant and downtown Lubec, ME

From these friendly people we found out that most people in Lubec do not own cell phones.  The FAA has a landing strip here which means they cannot have a cell tower, and therefore, most calls go through as International Roaming on Canadian towers.  In the shop where we asked about the lighthouses, she was going to call across to Campobello gift shops to see if they had them.  Talk about going an extra mile to help someone.

We decided to go back over to Campobello, to the visitor center and find the gift shops on the island.  Now this is the fourth time in four days we are in Canada and the border guard is starting to look at us funny.  At the visitor center they told us about the tide being out around 3:45 Atlantic Time.  If you remember, the last time we went to the East Quoddy lighthouse it was high tide and we couldn’t walk across.  Well since we were so close and it was only a little over an hour before 3:45 Atlantic Time, we decided to take a chance and see what it was like.

What an adventure!  Two ladies who live on the island volunteer and take people across to the lighthouse and then give them a tour of the lighthouse.  This is not a trip for the faint of heart or weak of knees.

Path at bottom of stairs leading to the lighthouse

MG walking across the bottom of bay at low tide going toward stairs to Lighthouse

There is a steep stair case that takes you down to the bay floor.  The volunteers have managed to scrap out a narrow path through the rocks and seaweed.  Jim kept cautioning me not to slip and to be careful (like the last two broken limbs were due to carelessness).  Once we walked through the main portion of the bay floor we went up an equally steep flight of steps to get onto the next rock platform.  Then across a wooden walkway and more rocks slick with seaweed and water.  Then up another metal stairway to the actual base of the lighthouse.  I would say we had to have walked a minimum of a quarter-mile or even half a mile.

The lighthouse was last occupied by a full-time keeper in 1982 and had fallen into major disrepair because of some juvenile vandalism.  The residents and volunteers have brought it back to a charming residence and property with lots of  private donations, some grants, and just plain hard work.  The lady providing the tour is actually the great-granddaughter of one of the keepers.  Her great-grandmother had two children while living at the lighthouse.  The entire time, she was telling us story after story of the what was involved in the refurbishing of the lighthouse and historical information.  It was delightful and fascinating when you think we were walking on the bay floor and that within three hours it would all be underwater again.

Picture taken at high tide, take notice you cannot see walkway

We finished off the day with a trip to the chocolate shop, and a wonderful dinner.