Bangor to Portland

 

Yesterday morning, while Jennifer and Susan signed and sold books, I visited the Cole Land Transportation Museum. The Cole family started a trucking company in Maine more than a century ago and after they sold it in the early 90’s created the museum. I stayed about an hour and a half, seeing all the vehicles and reading about them and the Cole family.

After that I drove about a half hour south to visit Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Observatory State Park. Fort Knox was constructed in the 1800’s to guard the Penobscot River against incursions by the British or other nations, but never saw any combat. The Penobscot Narrows Bridge opened in 2006 to replace an earlier over the river and included a an elevator that goes up 40 floors for views of the river. 

I spent about two hours wandering around the fort and going up the elevator for the views of the river and the town of Bucksport across the river, then headed back to Bangor. 

This morning I dropped off Susan and Jenn at the book event then went back to the hotel to check out. The event ended at noon, and after we packed up we headed south on I-95 to Augusta, where we stopped so I could take a photo of the Capitol. 

I also visited Old Fort Western. It’s $15 for a guided tour that lasts about an hour, but I had a guide to myself so went through in about half the time. The fort was built in 1754 by the English to defend against the French and Indians, and became a private home and store in 1767. It remained occupied until 1919, when the Gannett family restored it and turned it over to the city as a museum. 

We continued another hour south to Portland, and after checking into our hotel, walked down to the harbor and had dinner at the Ri Ra Irish Pub. The food was delicious and the upstairs dining room had a nice view of the harbor.