Monday Memories
Maine Sculpture Trail
June 2018
Today started out bright and beautiful with us in no rush to go anywhere – at least not yet. We had no definite plans for the day when we woke up but that soon changed. We knew we had mail waiting for us back at Pumpkin Patch and we were interested in finding more of the granite sculptures on the Main Sculpture Trail. Along the way we were to also discover the Hancock Memorial Park and the Prospect Point Lighthouse.
So if you haven’t guessed already before long we were on our way. The sky was again clear and the temperatures in the mid 70’s. A perfect day. The big question again would be what kind of traffic would we encounter on a Friday in a prime tourist area. Guess what? Again, no traffic coming or going.
So our first stop was back at Pumpkin Patch where we picked up some mail that came just a day after we left. They were gracious enough to hold it for us until we were able to pick it up today.
On the way back, our mission was now to find some of the granite sculptures that make up the Maine Sculpture Trail. The Trail consists of 39 stone sculptures that are made up of locally quarried granite and basalt. The artists who made the sculptures come from 16 different nations including Taiwan and Sweden. The full Trail covers some 200 miles along the coastal region of Downeast Maine. Following are the sculptures that we have discovered to date.
This is called the Whispering Stones and is located in Hancock, Maine.
This is called The Gate and is located in Gouldsboro, Maine.
This is called the Cleat and is located in Winter Harbor, Maine.
This is called the Tribute to Life, and is located at The Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park.
So, by our count we only have another 30 more to locate and take a picture of!
Along the way, we quite by accident, discovered this memorial park along Route 1 in Hancock, Maine. First up, is a monument that honors those who fought in the Civil War.
Then there was this flag pole that was dedicated to those who served in WW II and Korea.
Then this monument which was dedicated to those who served in the World Wars.
And finally this monument honoring those who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War.
Finally, we found another lighthouse of which, of course, there are many up in this area. This is the Prospect Point Lighthouse. The Lighthouse was built in 1850 and rebuilt in 1891. This white cylindrical lighthouse with a black lantern top matches the keeper’s house, a classic New England clapboard home with black trim.
The station was automated in 1931. It remains an active aid to navigation and is owned by the U.S. Coast Guard and licensed to the American Lighthouse Foundation. Today, it is a Navy recreational asset known as Gull Cottage and is available for lease by Active, National Guard, Reservists, and Retired military of all branches.
So that brings us to the end of our day. Remember in the beginning I said that the temperatures were in the mid 70’s? Actually over by Pumpkin Patch the temperatures were in the mid 80’s and the humidity was oppressive. That quickly changed by the time we got back to Schoodic Woods and home sweet home. The temperature had dropped to the mid 60’s and the fog was beginning to roll in. You could actually stand on the road in front of our site and literally watch the fog, I guess really a cloud, come down the road! That was a first for me.
Once again we had a great day, traveling along, hand in hand, singing our song. We had a day of discovery and a day of interesting sights. Night is now here but no stars tonight since it is completely overcast. Hey, did you have a great day? Sure hope that you did. If not, why not? Your day is yours to make of it what you wish. Now a closing thought for all of us:
These are the voyages of Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans. Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before
"On The Road of Retirement" 
I have never heard of the Maine Sculpture Trail. There is so much to see and do in this country of ours! Your thought gave me a smile, “Did you have a good day….if not, why not?” And of course, I like your following sentence, “Your day is yours to make of it what you wish.” I also smiled at how you noticed and described the fog rolling in – “a cloud, come down the road.” I haven’t see that yet either. Thanks for sharing this good memory. Enjoy your day today!
LikeLike