Maine Lighthouse tours

Maine Fall Lighthouse tour and whales galore

2009-10-11T09:34:00.000-07:00

Fall in Maine

We just finished our last lighthouse tour for 2009. This one day tour was a long day. We began at 8:00 am and finished at 10:00 pm. The day was not sunny but was a nice, cool fall day. The foliage was pretty but due to the rain we had earlier in the season, it was spotty.

Our first light was the Rockland Breakwater. We walked the breakwater, which is .08 miles out
to the light. This early morning walk was very exhilarating. We then went on a boat ride to see the Curtis Island Light and the Indian Island light. Stopped at Wassus for one of their famous hotdogs and then went to the Lighthouse Museum and gift shop.

Our next lighthouse was the Owls Head light. To get to this light it is about a 1/4 mile walk.
Then it was on to Marshall Point where they were suffering a power outage. The light in the tower was out (this light is a fixed light so it shines 24 hours a day). It is on a generator and if there is no electricity the light comes on at night. Fortunately for our guests, the light came on before we left and they were able to get some good pictures. You can see a picture of this light elsewhere in our blog. The fog horn was blowing (1 blast every 10 seconds) because it was a little foggy and misty.

We then continued to the Pemaquid Light (which is featured on the state of Maine quarter), where we were able to climb the tower. By this time it was twilight and the visibility was minimal, but it's always fun to be able to go into the tower. We walked the grounds around this beautiful beacon and onto the rocks, which were getting slippery due to the drizzle which was now coming down. We felt fortunate to get this last lighthouse in before the rain.

The gift shop at Pemaquid light was still open and all their items were marked half price because they are closing for the season. There is a restaurant at the gift shop and that is how we ended our day - with a great meal.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE WHALES came to Maine this year in large numbers. The boat captains said they have never seen so many whales congregated in international waters off Downeast Maine as they did this summer. The Downeast area was filled with right whales, finbacks, humpbacks and minkes. This is the area where we usually do our whale watches and the picture below is one of the humpback whales we captured on camera in the Bay of Fundy. Humpback's are our favorite as they seem to be more social and act like they are putting on a show. They are very graceful as they arch and come out of the water only to dive back in, nose first, leaving their tail out of the water. When they disappear beneath the surface they leave, what is called, "a footprint on the water".

Humpback whales all have a marking on the underside of their tail. Each mark is different and the whale watchers are able to distinguish whether or not it's the same whale they are seeing or a different one. Some of the whale boat captains name them and can tell if they come back each summer. The Humpbacks don't arrive in the Bay of Fundy until August (usually the second week). They come north to colder waters, where the feeding is good and go back to warmer waters for the mating season. This year the feeding was exceptional. We hope they come back next year when we tour downeast again - the second week in August. Anyone interested in taking a tour with us will need to book early, we are already getting requests for information on our 2010 tours.
Check our website and watch our blog for more information.

Humpback whale taken on one of our tours Down East

Maine Lighthouse Day

2009-09-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

LIGHTHOUSE DAY

OWLS HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

Fresnel light

Waiting to go inside the light

Maine Lighthouse Day on September 12 was a big success. The number of lighthouses that were open were 29 and not the 52 that had been hoped for. By the time it took to travel between the lighthouses, wait in line to go inside and have lunch, we were able to go into two of them. The lighthouses were open from 9 am to 3 pm.

The two we chose were Owls Head and Marshall Point. These lighthouses are not open to the public so this was a real treat. Both have been shown earlier on this blog. Coast Guard personnel were at each lighthouse to answer questions.

The lighthouse with the most people standing in line to see, was Owls Head. This lighthouse stands on a tree studded hill and is one of our favorites. It can, also, be seen in all its glory on our website at http://www.maineexpressions.com/. A little flat memorial stone, beside the standing one, in the right bottom corner is in honor of Spot, a little Lighthouse dog. He became a hero one stormy day when a mailboat, off the coast, was in trouble. The window to the light was covered with snow and ice and the light could not be seen. Spot, who sometimes pulled the rope to ring the bell, was unable to do so that day because the bell was encased in ice and couldn't be rung. Spot stood and barked until the Captain heard him and was able to direct the boat safely to shore. A charming little children's book "The Lighthouse Dog", written by Angeli Perrpo, about this little Spaniel, is available for purchase. Check your bookstore or email us for more information.

New pictures are shown above for you to enjoy. It includes a picture of the 4th order Fresnel Light (1856). The light is a fixed white light and the fog horn gives 2 blasts every 20 seconds. Plans are underway for Owls Head to undergo a face lift, after which, it will (hopefully) be open to the public.

Marshall point was the other impressive lighthouse we visited. This is a beautiful light and it is not surprising it was chosen to be featured in the movie Forrest Gump. It has a fixed white light- Fifth order Fresnel lens. The fog signal gives 1 blast every 10 seconds.

This was the first year for Maine Lighthouse Day to be observed. We plan take part in this historical event again next year and will be offering another exciting weekend of Lighthouses, Mystery and Fun. If visiting lighthouses is for you, this is a great opportunity to get inside some that are not open any other time.

We will be doing 2 or 3 other overnight 3 to 5 day tours in 2010. Be sure to check them our later on our website. We sometimes will do private tours and have one coming up in 3 weeks when the foliage will be in full bloom.

We are the only ones, in Maine, doing Lighthouse Tours. Our lighthouses are spread out along 5,000 miles of coastline and unless you are familiar with the coastline of Maine, you will spend a lot of time trying to find some of the lighthouses on your own. We invite you to come with us and let us handle all the stress while you sit back and enjoy our spectacular scenery, lighthouses, lobster, and much more.

Our next blog will be about Whales in Maine. Watch for it, I think you will find it interesting.

A rare glimpse inside the lights | Portland Press Herald

2009-09-13T15:03:00.001-07:00

A rare glimpse inside the lights | Portland Press Herald

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Lighthouse Day and Getting ready for 2010

2009-09-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

Spring Point Lighthouse
photo by Janet Berger, may not be copied or used without permission.

Maine Lighthouse day is almost here.

Maine Expressions" lighthouse tours" is offering a tour on Sept 12 to several Maine Lighthouses. This is the largest effort of its kind in the nation, the event is designed to provide access, to the public, to all participating (about 30) lighthouses on that one day. We hope to be able to visit, at least, four.

Some of these lighthouses have not been opened before. This is a rare opportunity for all those who are interested in Lighthouses to spend a day visiting as many lighthouses as possible between the hours of 9 am to 3 pm on and not have to drive yourself from one lighthouse to the next. We provide the transportation.

Plans are being made for our 2010 tours and more information will be posted soon. We have met many wonderful people from all across the US and enjoy showing visitors our beautiful state with its magnificent beacons. We cover the coast of Maine from south to way Down East.

The tours are exhilarating, educational and fun.

Our tours have included Down East and Canada where we stayed overnight on Campobello Island and visited the Canadian lights, as well as West Quoddy Lighthouse. A whale watch on the Bay of Fundy, a visit to FDR's summer home and, of course, visits to some of the gift shops. We always try to go downeast during blueberry season, driving through the Blueberry Capitol of the world. A special stop is at one of the best restaurants in the area, famous for their delicious Blueberry Pies. We always try to include a lobster bake and when we go to Bar Harbor we stay in a cozy bed and breakfast, go to the top of Cadillac Mountain, take in a lighthouse cruise, visit the Bass Harbor Lighthouse (one of my favorites). Time is allowed for shopping and peeking into the lovely shops in Bar Harbor.

We are always on the lookout for special events taking place. One year it was the Indian Festival. Other things have included are Windjammer Festival, Strawberry Festival, Lobster Festival, A dinner theatre, Sail on a windjammer, gone inside some lighthouses that are open. Spent the night on Monhegan Island.

Monhegan Island is a place where artists congregate in the summer. It has no paved roads, no cars and is truly a place of beauty. The year round population is about 75. Lobstering is the primary source of income.

A real treat this year was a trip to Matinicus Rock, which is 22 miles out to sea and home to puffins and other birds. This lighthouse is not one that visitors coming to Maine usually see. Our boat Captain and his wife were from Matinicus Island (which we cruised past). You have, possibly, read about the turf wars happening on this Island over lobstering . The year round population on Matinicus is about 50.

Some of our lighthouses have been featured in movies and one of them, Pemaquid, is on the Maine State Quarter.

More information can be found on http://www.maineexpressions.com/ or

http://www.officialmainelighthousetours.com/

Maine Observes Lighthouse Day in September

2009-08-03T13:17:00.000-07:00

Marshall Point Lighthouse in Maine on a foggy day

Maine Lighthouse Day is being observed across Maine on Sept 12
when 52 Maine Lighthouses will be open to the public. This is the
largest event of its kind in the nation and the first time Maine has
ever undertaken such an exciting event.

It is being held in cooperation with the US Coast Guard, the ALF

and the Dept of Maine Tourism. The Coast Guard personnel is

coordinating detailed surveys of the condition of the lighthouses,

and a member of the Coastguard, will be present at each lighthouse

to answer questions and pass out information.

The Lighthouses will be open, all at the same time and on that

one day only, from the hours of 9 to 3. Some of these lighthouses

have never been open to the public before.

This is a rare opportunity for lighthouse lovers to get inside some

of Maine's Lighthouses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Maine Expressions - Lighthouse Tours
is joining in this exciting event and is
pleased to offer a getaway weekend of Lighthouses, Relaxation,
Mystery and Fun. We plan to visit 4 lighthouses (if time allows).
Transportation will be provided to the lighthouses.

Included on this special weekend will be: 2 nights at the newly
renovated Quality Inn in Augusta, (rated #1 Augusta Hotel by
Trip Advisor), with use of fitness room and pool; 2 breakfasts;

1 dinner and party on Sept 12.

We will need your help to solve the mystery of the Breaking

Point Lighthouse. This is sure to be a fun and and memorable

weekend you won't want to miss.

Reservation fee of $100.00 must be received asap or no later than
August 27, with the balance paid in full by September 2.
Space is limited and expected to fill fast. To take advantage of this
opportunity, you will need to make your reservation now as space is
limited for this offer.
First 2 couples that sign up will receive a tee shirt of one of the
lighthouses we visit.
Cost of this getaway is $439.00 per couple or $299.00 single.

call now 207-622-0884 or email us for information

Matinicus resident says ban on lobstering punishes the innocent - Bangor Daily News

2009-07-26T09:05:00.001-07:00

Our recent lighthouse tour to Matinicus Rock took us past Matinicus Island. The little island is 22 miles out to sea and just a few miles from the Matinicus Rock Lighthouse.

This area has very fertile waters for lobstering and has been subject to turf wars for years. In recent weeks it has gotten out of control.

The moral of this story is "don't mess with another lobsterman's traps".

For more information go to http://knox.villagesoup.com/Government/story.cfm?storyID=168796
Matinicus resident says ban on lobstering punishes the innocent - Bangor Daily News

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Maine Lighthouse Tour, Matinicus Rock, Windjammers

2009-07-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

We have returned from our trip to Matinicus Rock, shown here. We cruiused to the Rock with Captain George Tarkleson and his wife on their boat the Robin R. The Rock, 22 milesoff the coast, took us 4 hours total for the trip. We cruised around the Rock for an hour observing the Puffins and other birds that make the Rock their home in the summer months.

We didn't see whales, as we had hoped, but we did observe porpoises laying on the rocks. The day was relataively calm and we were thankful that there was no rain since we had so much of it this summer. Captain Tarkleson told us the day we went was the first time in a week the lighthouse was visible, due to heavy fog. When we left the dock in Rockland it was foggy, but the fog lifted as we got closer and we were able to see Matinicus Rock Lighthouse standing proudly upon the barran Rock. We were able to get some good pictures.

Our Captain and his wife live on Matinicus Island, Matinicus Rock is not connected to the Island. About 50 people live on the Island year round and in the summer it swells to about 150. There are cottages on the Island that you can rent. The school, this year, has 6 students. There is no doctor on the Island. Lobstering is the maine source of income for the residents of the Island.

After we got back to shore, we went to the Rockland Cafe for a delicious lunch (best fried shrimp ever). Visited the Owls Head Lighthouse, which will soon be undergoing a face lift and open to the public. We visited Marshall Point Lighthouse, featured in the Forrest Gump movie.

On this tour, we, also, took in the Windjammer Festival and crused out on the Ocean on the Island Lady to watch the Windjammers sail into the harbor. We passed by the Ram Island Lighthouse and Burnt Island Lighthouse. Burnt Island is owned by the State and used for educational purposes. In July and August you can take a boat to the lighthouse and get a tour to see how life used to be when lighthouses were manned by a lighthouse keeper and his family. Pemaquid Lighthouse was another lighthouse on our tour. This lighthouse is featured on the Maine State Quarter.

We visited the beautiful little town of Camden and drove to Rockport to see the Belted Galloway Cows. The cows were brought over from Scotland several years ago and are a big attraction in Rockport. They are sometimes called oreo cookie cows because they are black with a wide white stripe wrapped around their middle.

Other highlights of this tour were Portland Head Lighthouse, Nubble Light, Cape Elizabeth Twin Lights, Spring Point and Bug Lights, Lighthouse Depot, Pres. George H.W. Bush summer home, LL Bean and a few other interesting things. On our way to Matinicus Rock

Our Captain and his wife Robin, dog Rossi

Part of our Group

At the Owls Head Lighthouse

The State of Maine will be observing Lighthouse Day in September and 52 lighthouses will be open to the public. More about that, next time, when I get the details.

Lighthouse Tour to Matinicus Rock

2009-06-10T12:17:00.000-07:00

Rockland Breakwater

Only 16 days left for our trip to Matinicus Rock Lighthouse The interest has been great for this special tour. There are only 3 spots left. We will leave at 7:15 am from Augusta and board the boat at 8:30. The tour to Matainicus Light will take 4 hours.

Expect to see birds, seals, dolphins and porpoises. Sometimes whales are spotted. Puffins live at the rock and can be observed. We will pass by 2 lighthouses on the way to the Rock.

After lunch we will go to one of these lighthouses, (The Rockland Breakwater) and, if time, will visit both of them. A visit to the Lighthouse Museum is always a great experience and a gift shop will be included in the tour.

Lunch will be at one of the local Lobster Shacks where you can have a lobster roll or something else if you don't care for Lobster.

This "special" tour will be a full day experience. Camers are a must, as well as warm clothes for the boat ride. Sturdy shoes are recommended, sunglasses and, if necessary, seasick pills.

Soft drinks will be provided.

Matinicus Rock Lighthouse:

There is neither tree nor shrub, and hardly a blade of grass on the rock. The surface is rough and irregular and resembles a confused pile of loose stone. Portions of the rock are frequently swept over by waves which move the huge boulders into new positions. -- 1891 Annual Report of the Lighthouse Board.

http://www.officialmainelighthousetours.com/

Celebrate LIGHTHOUSE WEEK : Lighthouses, Puffins...More

2009-05-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Lighthouse Week With Us
One Day tour Lighthouses, Puffins, More....

A very special, One day, Lighthouse Tour is planned for June 26. This limited Tour, in observance of "Lighthouse Week" in Maine, is planned to Matinicus Rock where you will see one of the most isolated and lonely lighthouses on the coast. This is not a lighthouse that is usually included in any tours and it is a great opportunity to see it up close.

You will, also, be able to see the Puffins that come to the rock each
summer. *You can read about these comical little birds in this blog.
Plan to see other sea life along the way, that may include whales,
seals, eagles and more.

Also included, is the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse that sits 0.8
miles at the end of a stone jetty. You will be able to walk the jetty
to the light, if you desire. Visit the Lighthouse Museum, and if we
have time, we will visit another lighthouse. Lunch is included.
You will need to bring your camera, warm clothes and rubber
soled, comfortable shoes.

This very special tour is being offered for only $159.00 per person.
There are only 5 spots available. If this is a tour you would like to
take, you need to get your reservation in NOW.

If you would like an overnight with dinner and continental breakfast
included at a cost of $130.00 single or $160.00 a couple, let us know.
See our website for information on a five day tour June 23-27
http://www.officialmainelighthousetours.com.
mainelights@gmail.com

* PUFFINS
Atlantic Puffins are found from Labrador to Maine. Breeding
colonies are on several Maine Islands, including Matinicus
Island (22 miles out to sea), Petit Manan and Eastern Egg
Rock. The birds arrive in the spring and stay until mid-August.
It's estimated there are 12 to 15 million of these 'comical' birds.

They are about 10 inches tall and live for 20 years or more.
They don't mate until they are about 5 years old. They fly at
speeds of more than 48 miles per hour by flapping their wings
up to 400 times a minute. They make a low growling sound,
not quite like any other bird.

They lay one egg per year and it's the job of both male and
female to incubate the egg and bring up the baby. They keep
the same mate and use the same burrow each season.

"Surely the puffin is one of the world's most endearng creatures.
Seen up close, this is a small, chunky bird that walks as though
wearing galoshes. Its cheeks are puffy, its eyes are marked
like the tuft of a sofa, and it flies like a buzz bomb, with rapidly
beating wings. Part of the puffin's charm is the contrast between
its sober black morning coat and earnest expression, with its
orange feet and brilliantly colored beak. It looks rather like a
clergyman on a binge."
Courtesy of A Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast", by Taft, Taft
and Rindlaub, www.mainecoastguide.com

Matinicus Lighthouse - Puffins - Lobsters

2009-04-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse

Celebrate Maine Lighthouse Week with us in June

Official Maine Lighthouse Tours has, just added an exciting one day cruise to Matinicus Rock Lighthouse on June 26, 2009. The lighthouse is one of the loneliest lighthouses on the Atlantic coast. It sits on a barren rock 25 miles off the Maine Coast.

It has experienced some very violent storms and is best know for Abbie Burgess, a young girl, who saved her mother and 3 sisters in a terrible storm in 1856 while her father was away getting provisions for the family. Abbie lived on the rock 8 years before she married Isaac Grant, the son of the lightkeeper who replaced her father and they remained at the rock 14 more years. They had 4 children, all born at the Rock, and moved to Whitehead Light when Isaac was named lightkeeper there.

Built in 1827, after 156 years of these families manning the light, Matinicus Rock Lighthouse was automated in 1983. This lighthouse is not one that is usually included in Lighthouse Tours and not one that is seen by many people who come to Maine.

Matinicus Rock is a breeding home to Puffins in the summer.

This, very EXCLUSIVE - one-of-a-kind - guided - one day, tour includes a puffin watch and other sea life which could include whales and more; a trip to the Lighthouse Museum, a tour of the Rockland Breakwater Light, Lunch and more. It will be a long day, but one you will long remember.

Plan to relax unwind, enjoy the gentle sea breezes and fresh salty air, while taking in the beautiful scenery. Warm clothes are highly recommended as it can get very cool on the ocean - even in the summer. So pack your bags with plans for a wicked good time, leave your worries on your doorstep, bring your camera, put on your comfortable shoes and let us give you a real Maine experience on our rockbound coast.

Space is very limited and open to only 12 people. We have to charter the boat by May 26, so if this sounds like a trip you would like to take, make your reservations now.

If you sign up for the tour after it is filled and enough others are interested, we may be plan another one day tour in July. It may not be to Matinicus, but will be exciting and full of adventure and fun.

Watch for more information on www.officialmainelighthousetours.com

Exciting lighthouse tours in Maine

2009-03-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

I am sitting here today, looking out my window at another snowy
day. I hope this is the last, but in Maine you never know.
Our snow banks are piled so high it's hard to see around them
when you drive out of the driveway.
I have been looking at my flower books and planning my garden,
am anxious to get started on that.

Our plans for the June 23 lighthouse tour are coming along well.
This is turning out to be a real exciting trip. We have never
been able to find the time to go to the lighthouse at Matinicus
Rock, and have put it in our schedule this year. You will be
able to see the puffins, as this is one of the few nesting places
we have in Maine for them. The Windjammer Festival will be
another highlight and is a first for us, as we have not been able
to work that in our schedule until now. The last time we tried
to go, we had to cancel it.

There is still time to book the tour and it's guaranteed to be a
vacation you will remember for a long time. Lobsters, Cruises,
15-20 lighthouses, take a peek inside a lighthouse, puffins,
lighthouse museum, gift shops, spectacular scenery,entertainment
and much more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The August tour is still being planned, at this time, but may
have to be cancelled if tour is not filled by April 30. This
tour is one of our favorites and covers the whole Maine Coast.
Down East is more serene, less crowded and less cluttered. The
tides down east arethe highest in the world, sometimes rising
28 feet. If the tide is right, you will be able to walk out to
the East Quoddy lighthouse in Canada. You may be able to see
whales swimming around the lighthouse. We will go on a whale
watch and have tried to schedule this tour so we will be there
when the humpback whales arrive.

If we can arrange it, we will stay at a coast guard station that
has been converted for guests, but that depends on how early we
get the reservations. If we are able to bookthe station, you will
be able to hike-walk to the West Quoddy lighthouse to watch the sun
come up. This is where the sun touches the US first each day.
It's a great place for taking pictures.

Since, as they say, God has a manufacturing machine for making fog
down east, you will need to be prepared for that, we have no control
over the weather, but do have alternate plans just in case.

We will be spending 2 nights in Bar Harbor, go to a lobster bake,
travel through the blueberry capitol of the world - stopping for
blueberry pie, how about blueberry coffee or blueberry juice, or
blueberry muffins????? Maine produces 90% of the worlds wild
blueberries.

You are in for a real treat on this tour, 15 - 20 lighthouses,
cruises, whales, blueberries (in season), look around Bar Harbor
(that is always interesting and fun), visit former FDR's summer
home on Campobello Island, spectacular scenery, entertainment and
more.

There is still time left to book the June tour.
go to www.officialmainelighthousetours.com for more information on
these exciting tours.

Maine Lighthouse Tour - Puffins - Whales Windjammers - June 2009

2009-01-24T17:33:00.000-08:00

Curtis Island
Lighthouse
in Camden, Maine

Plans are well underway for two fantastic, exciting Lighthouse tours for the summer of 2009. The first tour will be June 23 to 27. It covers half of the Maine Coast from South to Mid-Coast. 15 to 20 lighthouses will be seen, depending on time, tide and weather.
The tour will take in the parade of Tall Ships as theysail into harbor. The little coastal town will be bustling with people who come to celebrate "Windjammer Days" that is held each year.

We are especially enthused about the possibility of cruising to Matinicus Rock. This Lighthouse sits on a barren rock 25 miles out to sea and is probably the most isolated light on the east coast.

It's best known for 17 year old Abbie Burgess, a lighthouse keepers daughter, who is credited with saving her invalid mother and 3 sisters while her father and brother had gone to the mainland for provisions. A violent storm kept them from getting back to the lighthouse for four weeks, leaving Abbie to keep the lights burning. Abbie moved her family to the base of the lighthouse, while the storm swept the living quarters into the sea.

When a new lighthouse keeper was appointed, Abbie's father stayed on to help. The new keeper had a son, Isaac. He and Abbie fell in love and were married. This allowed Abbie to stay on the Rock for several more years before moving to Whitehead Light where her husband was appointed lighthouse keeper. Their 4 children were all born on Matinicus Rock. Abbie spent 22 years of her life at that Lighthouse.

When her husbands father John Grant left the lighthouse service, his grandson -son of Abbie and Isaac -became the new keeper. It is said he had a cow named Daisy, who
could be seen on the barren rock (the only living thing in view) who often looked over to Matinicus Island and mooed woefully. She had the company of a rabbit for a little while and they could be seen playing together.

Now Matinicus rock is inhabited by puffins and other birds, that you will be able to see. Along the way you may be able to see whales and other sea life. Dressing warm is a must as it can get quite cold on the ocean, even in the summer.

This cruise will be determined by the weather. Alternate things are being planned in case of a weather cancellation or some other unforseen incident.

THIS IS A SPECIAL TOUR AND IS LIMITED.

Reservations must be made by March 1. After that, if our limit is not met and we are still able to get a room for your overnight, we will try to accommodate you. A late fee will be charged.

Keep in mind that your reservations need to be made 4 months prior to the tour date. We have to make our reservations for bus, driver, cruises, overnights, etc. and need enough time to make these reservations before they are taken.
(see refund policies on our web site)

For our other exciting tour to Pure Downeast Maine, August 4 to 10, and for other information and tour policies go to our website at: www.officialmainelighthousetours.com
or email us at mainelights@gmail.com

Guide to Maine Lighthouse Tours in 2009

2008-08-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Surf splashing on the rocks at Pemaquid

Travel Tour Guide to 2009 Maine Lighthouse Tours

We are posting information on Maine Lighthouse

tours early because some of you have inquired

about taking a tour and it has been too late to

accommodate you.

If you wish to Tour Maine with us, it is necessary to

makeyour reservations early - we recommend 4

months prior to the tour date.

Much planning goes into the tours and it's

important for us to get a count 16 weeks in

advance, in order to make reservations for

overnights, arrange for the tour bus and

driver and make plans for the cruises and

other interesting, fun things for you to do

and see. We cannot make the proper

reservations until we have a deposit and a

count on how many will be touring

with us.

You will be refunded the full deposit, if you

have to cancel 90 days prior to the tour date.

Tours must be paid in full 60 days prior to

the tour.

This next year we are offering you a chance to

join our Travel club and make monthly

payments.
This offer is subject to a $100.00 processing fee

that will be forfeited if you have to cancel ....

For more information, please see tour policies at

www.officialmainelighthousetours.com

There are two tours being planned for the 2009

season.

Tentative dates, at this time, are June 23 to 27

....approximate cost is $2499.00 per couple

This tour covers the Maine Coast from Southern

Maine to the Mid Coast.

Another tour will be in August (exact date to be

posted soon) approximate cost of tour....

$3379.00 per couple.

The tour covers the Maine Coast fromSouthern

Maine to Down east (Bar Harbor and Lubec),

going into Canada.

These tours are great for kids and they make a

memorable family vacation.

Singles, also, enjoy these tours....

To see a sample of what we do on the tours, go to

www.officialmainelighthousetours.com
and check the tours for 2008.

Email us with any questions at

mainelights@gmail.com

http://www.maineexpressions.com/

Lighthouse tour along the Maine coast.

2008-08-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse in Maine

Built in 1829, it's now automated and a private residence. The light is the most powerful on the New England Coast, visible for 27 miles.

Our last tour for this year is over. We had a great time even though the weather was foggy and misty. We began the tour in southern Maine and travelled along the Maine coast from Nubble Light to West Quoddy Light and into Canada.

We visited up close, by boat, through the fog or from afar, 19 lighthouses. Seven more lights were planned, by boat, but the fog kept us on shore. Anyone who travels down east should be prepared for fog and have alternative plans. which we always plan for, especially doweast. This is where God has his fog manufacturing machine.

In Canada, we went whale watching on the Bay of Fundy. It was an overcast and windy day. The water was quite rough at times. We saw a finback whale but the humpback whales (which are our favorites) had not yet arrived in the Bay of Fundy. We did see sea gulls hovering over the water, along with 100's of porpoises. The fish were jumping out of the water and the gulls and porpoises were getting a tasty dinner. We stayed the night at the Harbor Drifter, a cozy little bread and breakfast on Campobello Island and visited FDR's estate.

We went to the East Quoddy Lighthouse just as the tide was coming in. The tide rose, that day, 28 feet. It is the fastest rising, highest tide in the US. When we arrived it was dry enough to walk across to the Light and one of our guests decided to hurry across and get a picture. He was about 5 minutes and when he came back he had to wade through several inches of water. You can go to the light at low tide and have time to spend at the light, but you are warned not to go when the tide is coming in because you can get trapped out there for several hours. Needless to say, I was thrilled to have him back on dry land.

We stopped by the Rockland Lobster Festival for lunch and watched the Lobster Crate Race, where kids and adults try to run across 50 lobster crates floating on the water. The trick to getting across is to run very fast so the traps don't sink below the water line. It is very tiring on the legs. We didn't stay to see who won, but were told that several years ago one person went back and forth for a total of stepping on 3,000 traps.

We did many other fun and interesting things....went for a sail, a lobster bake, LL Bean, shopped in Bar Harbor, and more. We will soon be making our plans for next year and will be doing two or three tours in 2009.

Hazel Davis

Maine Lighthouse Tour

2008-07-14T07:29:00.000-07:00

Nubble Light, Cape Neddick

Our first tour of the summer is over and what a great time we had. A couple days were quite overcast but that didn't stop us from doing most everything we planned. We were unable to go to the Seguin Light because the sea was choppy and it was very foggy. We did go to Popham Beach where we could see the outline of Seguin lighthouse in the fog ...

From Nubble light we were able to see Boon Island Light in the distance (8 miles out to sea). Boon Island is the tallest lighthouse in Maine and can only be seen up close by boat.

We went for a sail on a Windjammer. The day was perfect for this activity and we sailed past the Curtis Island Lighthouse in Camden...The only way to see this lighthouse up close is by boat..............

We went to see Tim Sample, who was performing in Boothbay Harbor. Tim is a Maine Humorist, who worked with another Maine Humorist, Marshall Dodge, before his untimely death in 1982, after which he met Dodge's friend and co-founder, Rev Robert Bryan, who had together, created the famous Bert and I recordings. Rev Bryan and Tim worked together and recorded, "How to Talk Yankee" and other TV specials.

We visited or viewed from afar 14 lighthouses, 2 lighthouse museums, a puffin project, a lobster demonstration (how lobsters are caught), ate at a lobster dock, attended a special performance at the Boothbay Opera House, went for a sail on the Windjammer "the Schooner Surprise" and much more.

The tour didn't give much downtime, it was jam packed, as are all of our tours.

Our next tour is in another week when we will travel the whole coast of Maine.

Hazel Davis

Maine Lighthouse Tours

2008-06-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

MAINE LIGHTHOUSE TOUR INFORMATION 2008 and 2009

Maine Lighthouse Tours is announcing important information for planning your Coastal Tour with us. It's important for all to realize that we are unable to accommodate anyone who tries to make a reservation after the deadline (unless a cancellation occurs).

Reservations must be made, at least, 4 to 5 months in advance in order for us to make overnight reservations, as well as secure the motor coach and driver. We have had to turn down many of you because it was too late to get transportation for the tour or some of the dates you wanted were not available or most of the best overnight's were filled.

Depending on how many sign up for the tour will depend on the size of the vehicle we reserve. (If we only get reservations for 6 or 10 ... that is the size vehicle we reserve and that will not be changed to accommodate any one else. We don't want anyone to be left out because they thought they had plenty of time to make their reservation. Private tours may be available if we have an open date, however, they
cost more than if you go with a group.

We offer 2 tours each year and try to set the dates far enough ahead to give you all a chance to make your plans. We will be announcing the dates for 2009 soon in order for you and for us, to make all the necessary arrangements and reservations needed.

Dates for 2008 are June 25 to 29 and will cover the Coast of Southern Maine to the mid-coast. It is too late to sign up for this tour but we will be writing about the tour later and you will be able to read about what we saw and did.

The 2008 Downeast Tour is July 29 to August 4. This is one of our favorites and covers most of the Maine Coast -from south to Down East and into Canada where we will spend one night, see some of the Lighthouses in Canada and go on a whale watch. This tour is great fun and will include the Maine Lobster Festival.

It is necessary for us to have an aproximate count of people planning to tour with us, 4 to 5 months prior to the tour date so we can make the proper plans and reservations.

If you find it necessary to cancel, your full reservation fee will be refunded if you notify us 3 months before the tour date.

We hope this will eliminate some of the confusion of the past and you will not be disappointed when a tour is full or cancelled.

Warmer weather is predicted for this week and we are all looking forward to our first tour of the season.

The picture above is Curtis Island. When we take our Windjammer cruise we will pass this island and see the Curtis Island Lighthouse.

Seguin Lighthouse, 2nd oldest light in Maine

2008-06-17T11:50:00.000-07:00

Our first tour for 2008 is almost upon us. One of the lighthouses we will visit is Seguin Island.

Seguin is one of the oldest lighthouses in the US and the second light to be built in Maine, in 1795, at a cost of $6,300.00. It is one of the foggiest places in Maine and one year the fog signal sounded for 2,734 hours. Because of the heavy fog, Seguin has one of the most powerful foghorns made. One lighthouse keeper said the horn was so powerful he saw seagulls knocked out of the sky.

Seguin light is located 2.5 miles from the mouth of the Kennebec River on a 22 acre rock rising 150 feet out of the sea, making it the highest light in Maine. 13 years before the Mayflower landed at Plymouth, colonists, trying to navigate into the Kennebeec River, got caught in a storm and found shelter at a place now known as Popham. 100 sailors and colonists began building the first colony. They endured many hardships and finally gave up and returned to England.

In 1819 the old wooden tower was replaced with a stone tower. In 1857 it was replaced with a taller tower made of granite with a first order fresnel lens that is still standing today. In 1939

the lighthouse was taken over by the US Coast Guard and in 1985 the personnel were removed and the light was automated. In 1998 the friends of Seguin became the owners. The US Coast Guard maintains the aids to navigation. A museum was established in 1991. Visitors are able to go ashore by dinghy to see this majestic lighthouse up close. After a vigorous climb up the trail, 144 feet to the lighthouse, you will be rewarded, on a clear day, with a spectacular view of the Maine Coast.

Seguin lighthouse sits in a place that can be quite violent when the tide is coming into the river. The wind and tide coming in the opposite direction causes very rough seas. The name Seguin is derived from an Indian name, meaning "the place where the sea vomits".

A Lighthouse Riddle

2008-04-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Maine,

All the patches of snow are gone and it, finally, seems like spring.
The daffodils are in bloom and the earth is beginning to fill with
beauty. We are looking forward to our two exciting lighthouse tours
this summer. The June tour is closed, but if you missed that one,
the July/Aug tour is still available, but that will be closing soon.
Get your reservations in before it's too late. Check the website at
www.officialmainelighthousetours.com.

Here is a riddle for you to solve. Be the first to get your answer in
to us and we will send you a copy of the very popular Down East
magazine. Be sure to include your mailing address along with your
answer. email: mainelights@gmail.com

Here is the riddle~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The lighthouse is one of the oldest on the Atlantic coast...........

The lighthouse is the tallest in Maine standing on a rock that

rises 150 feet above sea level...................

It is one of the foggiest places in Maine.............

It gets its name from an Indian word that means "the place

where the sea vomits"..............

A magnetic force near the lighthouse can send a compass

spinning...........

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good luck. You will have until May 5 to send us the answer.

After that, the answer will be posted on our website and we

will write about this lighthouse in our blog.

Happy Spring

Hazel Davis

MAINE - LIGHTHOUSES - TOURS

2008-04-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

The snow is melting fast now for which we are thankful. The buds appeared on the trees last week and the time of singing birds has come. It's been a long winter and we look forward to spring with renewed hope.
Maine's summer lighthouse tours will be here before we know it and the Lighthouse tour for June is closed. If you wanted to tour the Maine coast with us in June, but waited too long, there is still a chance to join us for the DownEast - July/August tour.

The Downeast tour is still open, but chances of overnights in one of Maine's best bed and breakfasts is getting slim, and - in the far downeast, overnight accommodations are not very plentiful. For this reason, as well as booking the tour bus, reservations must be made early, the tour will be closing soon. If you are interested you will need to book now.

The lighthouse station in Isle au Haut is for sale. It includes the keepers house, vehicles, more. It has 700 feet of water frontage. Electric power is provided by a windmill and a large generator. The lighthouse, owned by the town, is not included in the sale.
Isle au Haut Inn-Keepers House has been a place for overnight guests to come and enjoy the peaceful, slow living on the rugged coast of Maine. Sadly, these accommodations are no longer available. There is one small Cottage on the island that is available to be rented by the week. It has a kitchen for preparing meals, or one of the great cooks on the island may be available to perpare meals.

The Owls Head Lighthouse will be restored, thanks to the Coast Guard who granted a license to The American Lighthouse Foundation. It is estimated they need to raise about $250,000for the project. They plan to open it to the public after the restoration is complete. The Friends of the Rockland Breakwater will partner with the ALF in the fundraising effort. Owls Head Light was built in 1826 and is one of our favorites. You can see it featured on our web site.We visit this lighthouse on some of the tours.

Plan to include Maine in your vacation this summer and let Maine Expressions help to give you memories that will last a lifetime.

Lighthouse Tours and Maple Syrup Time in Maine

2008-03-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

We are looking forward to summer when we travel the Maine coast and begin our lighthouse tours. The June tour is about to close. If you are interested in participating in that tour you must get your reservation in right away. For information and tour itinerary check out http://www.officialmainelighthousetours.com/ or email mainelights@gmail.com

It 's been a long winter and the snow is still piled high. Before we get to summer, we must go through spring and with it comes mud season as the snow melts. Each season has its own special beauty and spring is no exception when we see the first robin, or hear the first peeper or see the first little flower peeking out of the cold ground and the trees come to life again.

The first sign of spring is when the sap flows from the Maple trees.
Each year on the 4th Sunday in March, we celebrate Maine Maple Sunday. Sugar shacks across the state open their doors to the public to give demonstrations on how maple syrup is made. Some of the farms serve a pancake breakfast, baked beans cooked in maple syrup, ice cream, candy, baked goods, and more.

Since Easter comes on the 4th Sunday this year, many of the Sugar Shacks will be closed, but will be open to the public on other days. You will need to check to see which Sugar Shack will hosting an open house.

Maine is the 2nd largest producer of Maple Syrup.

When the weather begins to warm up, the sap in the Sugar Maple trees begins to flow from the root up through the tree trunk. Holes are tapped into the tree and a spout inserted. A pail is placed under the spout and the sap drips into it, when full, the pail is emptied into a storage tank ...OR the sap may be collected through a tubing system which goes from tree to tree and flows into a pipeline where the sap goes directly to the storage tank. When enough sap has been collected, it is boiled in a large steel evaporator, that is heated by a wood fire, until it is concentrated into Maple Syrup. It takes 40 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of suryp. Maine maple syrup, commercially sold, is U.S. Grade A quality, as defined by Maine law.

The light amber syrup comes from the first drippings and has a sweet delicate flavor. The medium amber is considered the best for pancakes and has a more pronounced flavor, while the dark amber is good for cooking and is less sweet.

Here is a "wicked good" recipe you might like to try.

MAPLE GINGERBREAD
2 cups flour . . 1 cup Maple Syrup
1 teasp ginger . 1 beaten egg
1/2 teasp salt . 1 cup yogurt or sour cream
1 teasp soda
Combine dry ingredients.
In separate bowl mix egg, maple syrup and yogurt.
Combine mixture and bake at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes.
Delicious served with whipped cream.

~~~~~~

Maine is known for its dry, crusty humor......

Tis mud season here in Maine ----

Bert was walking to the store when he met his friend Al --
"Mornin' Al" Bert said, "kind of muddy underfoot, ain't it?"
"Yep, not much good for walkin'", Al answered.
"But", said Bert, "it sure is beautiful overhead".
"Ayuah", Al replied, "but I ain't goin' that way".

Be sure to check out the Lighthouse Tours at
http://www.officialmainelighthousetours.com/ or http://www.maineexpressions.com/

About Coastal Maine

2008-03-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

The rocky coast of Maine makes one imagine how the New world must have looked to the first settlers who came here. Maine could offer only lonely wilderness to those who came and posed a challange to those who decided to stay. King Henry VII, in 1496, gave John Cabot and his 3 sons the right to occupy the lands along the coast of Maine. The Cabots did not care to occupy the harsh, rocky land and left, leaving it to other explorers that came later.

In 1604 settlers like Samuel de Champlain settled in Maine but left after one year. Early pioneers were intimidated by the long harsh winters, everpresent fog, and treacherous ledges buried beneath the surface of the sea.

Finally after much persistance, some brave, courageous men settled in Monhegan and Pemaquid. The early explorers came looking for gold, but fishing and fur trapping were the main reasons these fearless men settled here. Captain John Smith established fisheries on Monhegan Island in 1614. Today, lobstering is the main source of income for the residents on the island - (more about that later).

There are over 4,500 islands along the coast of Maine. The largest unbridged island is Vinalhaven at 11,386 acres. Mt. Desert, which is connected to the mainland by a causeway covers 69,049 acres.

Maine has nearly 5,000 miles of rockbound coast with all its many inlets and coves. 65 ligththouses dot the Maine coastline. Down east has some of the highest tides in the world, rising and falling up to 20 feet each day. At certain times of the year, the water level will vary 28 feet every six hours or about one inch every minute!

Lobsters, blueberries and potatoes are the main agricultural products of Maine. Downeast is the blueberry capital of the world and produces over 90% of the worlds wild blueberries. One quarter million acres of blueberry barrens produce 30 million pounds of blueberries each year.
The Southern part of the state is a tourist haven in the summer. It is the summer home of Pres. George H. W. Bush in Kennebunkport.

The mid coast is less crowded but nontheless tourists flock to the area in the summer. Artists come every summer to Monhegan Island, Jamie Wyeth owns the lighthouse at Tenants Harbor (local residents refer to the lighthouse as "Jamie Wyeth's place" (it was originally purchased by his father Andrew in 1978.

Downeast is less crowded, more harsh, with a natural, untouched beauty. A bridge connects the US to Canada (Campobello Island), where Pres FDR had a summer home. On our Downeast Lighthouse tour we will visit and tour his home as well as the two lighthouses on Campobello Island.

The Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine, built in 1791. West Quoddy lighthouse is at the easternmost point in the US. Those fortunate enough to travel downeast enjoy going to West Quoddy light to watch the sun rise in the morning.

Each year Maine Expressions offers 2 or 3 lighthouse tours to those who wish to have a guided tour of the state. Maine Expressions -Lighthouse Tours is a wonderful way for lighthouse lovers and vacationers to get a Real Taste of Maine where everything is planned for the utmost enjoyment. Each tour will take you to visit some magnificent lighthouses, eat a lobster, go on a whale watch or a lighthouse cruise and so much more.

These tours are limited and must be booked early. Contact us today for more information and to see what each tour offers.....go to www.officialmainelighthousetours.com or email mainelights@gmail.com

Lighthouse Tours by Maine Expressions

2008-02-22T11:14:00.000-08:00

news from Maine............. by Hazel Davis

We are getting ready to embark on two very exciting lighthouse tours this summer. Lighthouse lovers will have a choice to travel half of the Maine coast or the whole coast with us. Detailed information can be read at http://www.officialmainelighthousetours.com/. Reservations are coming in but space is limited. In the summer it's difficult to get the kind of overnight places we prefer for our guests so it is necessary to book early.

When we go downeast, hotels, inns and other places are not very plentiful, the availability is extremely limited and are booked up months ahead. We hope to reserve a newly restored Coast Guard Station for one overnight stay. This will be a true Maine experience. It is located in the easternmost part of the United States where the sun shines first. You will be able to see the sun come up over the Bay of Fundy. You will need your camera.

The lighthouses downeast in Washington County, Maine, have been targeted by lighthouse groups to participate in a "Lights Across the Border Lighthouse Challenge". This will include West Quoddy Lighthouse, Little River Light, Lubec Channel Light and on Campobello Island in Canada, East Quoddy Lighthouse and Mulholland Lighthouse. The event is planned to draw attention to the lighthouses and publicize the efforts by these groups to preserve the history and save these magnificent, historic beacons.

Those going on the DownEast tour will have a chance to see these lighthouses (except for Little River Light which is off the beaten path and can only be seen by boat). Passports are needed to go into Canada.

Another great tour covers half the state from south to Mid-coast. You will be able to have lunch at a lighthouse, drive by Walker's Point (former President Bush's summer home), visit 14 lighthouses on this tour, visit LL Bean, eat a lobster and more.
Check out the website for more information.
email: mainelights@gmail.com

Maine Lighthouse Tours

2008-02-13T12:02:00.000-08:00

MAINE LIGHTHOUSE TOURS, by Maine Expressions, are guaranteed to give lasting memories. You are invited to pack your bags with plans for a "wicked" good time, leave your worries on your doorstep and embark on a vacation in Maine you'll never forget.

In Bill Caldwell's book "Lighthouses of Maine", he wrote, "the king of all homecoming signals is the sight of a lighthouse or the noise of its fog signal. A lighthouse seen from a distance on a calm day, is like a congratulatory pat on the back.....at night, the sight of a lighthouse beacon is like a loving kiss in the dark....in thick fog or blinding snow, the sound of the foghorn from a lighthouse is like God's welcome home".

67 Lighthouses dot the Maine coast. All are magnificent beacons and it's hard to pick a favorite.
Some can be walked up to, a few are open for the public, some can only be seen from the sea, all of them are now automated. There is one light operated by the State that shows how life used to be when manned by a lightkeeper and it is included in the Southern-Mid coast tour.

Maine's tallest light is Boon Island and is one of the most isolated lighthouses on the Maine Coast. It can be seen on a clear day from Nubble Light, which is the first light you will see on two of the tours.

Pemaquid lighthouse is featured on the Maine quarter and is open to the public, you will be able to climb the tower. The scene from the top is spectacular. This light is included in each tour.

Going Downeast you will see-what some call- the ugliest lighthouse.... but you can judge that for yourself.

Some say God Manufactures fog Downeast. Most of the time, on these tours, the days have been clear but that depends on whether or not God's fog machine is operating that day. That's the one thing we cannot control

The rock-bound coast of Maine has some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The Downeast tour covers it from South to way Downeast.

You will stay in Inns, B & B's, a Coast Guard Station... eat a lobster, go on a whale watch, go back in time to a living lighthouse and see how life used to be when lighthouses were manned by a lightkeeper, climb a lighthouse tower and so much more... Plus--you will travel thru the blueberry capital of the world during blueberry season, take a boat ride on the Bay of Fundy, where the tides are some of the highest in the world and you are sure to see whales hunting for food.

The tours are limited and inquiries are now coming in. They are expected to fill quickly.
Check out the tours for 2008 and make reservations now for an experience of a lifetime at: http://www.officialmainelighthousetours.com/ or http://www.maineexpressions.com/