Walking the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine

Eileen and I devoted Thursday of our summer vacation in Ogunquit to walking the Marginal Way.

Marginal Way near Ogunquit beach

The trail starts in the village of Ogunquit and brings you to the shore across the river mouth from Ogunquit Beach. The trail follows the water about a mile and a half to Perkins Cove.

Marginal Way - Little Beach and Lobster Point

The shot above is Little Beach and Lobster Point, where we went snorkeling on Wednesday. (See the video at my YouTube channel) This is a great dive site. I will make it a point to go back there with the scuba tanks.

Marginal Way Lighthouse

People walking the Marginal Way

Ships and boats off of the Marginal Way

More ships and boats off of the Marginal Way

People climbing on the rocks along the Marginal Way

Near Perkins Cove along the Marginal Way

At trail’s end at Perkins Cove we had an excellent lunch at the Oarweed Restaurant before walking back along the trail to Ogunquit village.

Isles of Shoals Cruise of July 2011

We spend part of our summer vacation in Portsmouth and part in Ogunquit, Maine. While in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Monday we took a tour with the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co. out to the islands.

M/V Thomas Laighton

Portsmouth, NH waterfront

From the ship you get a nice view of the Bow Street waterfront in Portsmouth with the three Moran tugboats and the waterfront restaurants we had eaten at the night before.

The cruise took us past the navel shipyard, the old Navel and Marine prison and several old forts near the mouth of Portsmouth harbor.

Fort Constitution

Fort Constitution and the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse sit on the south side of the harbor. Fort Constitution has an interesting history. I read in Wikipedia that

“Fort William and Mary was the site of one of the first acts of the American Revolution. On December 14, 1774, colonists arrived at midnight aboard a gundalow (sailing barge), waded ashore and climbed over the fort’s wall. Captain John Cochran and the fort’s five soldiers surrendered, whereupon the rebels loaded onto the boat 100 barrels of gunpowder.”

Whaleback Lighthouse

Whaleback Lighthouse is at the north entrance to Portsmouth harbor is another old lighthouse with a long and rich history.

Appledore Island

The islands are about six miles from the mainland. The first island we approached was Appledore Island with it World War II radar station tower. Appledore is also home to the Shoals Marine Laboratory.

Smuttynose Island

Next was Smuttynose Island which is best know for a famous murder of two women in 1873 and of course Smuttynose Beer. The light brown house is the one on the Shoals Pale Ale beer label and six-pack.

Star Island

Next was Star Island, which is one of the better known island due to the religious conference center.

Star Island

This is the first time I got to see this side of the island. I was curious about the stone obelisk to the right of the church and village. I discovered it is a memorial to Rev. John Tucke who lived on the island from 1732 to 1773.

White Island Lighthouse

Our last destination before heading back was to swing by White Island Lighthouse and Lunging Island.

Memorial Bridge in Portsmouth, NH

We got back just in time to slip under Memorial Bridge, which goes up for boat traffic every thirty minutes.