As our New England Road Trip story continues, we leave Salem, Massachusetts, and head to Portland, Maine!   I was especially excited about this part of the trip due to the many lighthouses I would see in that area.  I remember years ago seeing a beautiful picture of a lighthouse sitting up high on a hill, almost as if it was sitting on the edge of a cliff.  When I realized it was within driving and/or flying distance, I vowed “one day” to visit.  On this trip, I was able to mark that lighthouse off the list, as we visited the Portland Head Lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine!

It was a cold morning in Maine, chilling us to the bone, as we dashed from the hotel to our awaiting metallic blue Toyota Corolla rental car.  Oh, how we wish we had heated seats in this thing!  We settled into the car with camera in hand ready for our adventure, only it wasn’t calling for rain when we last checked.  Reaching for my phone, I swiped over to Weather Underground only to find the forecast changed to now 100% chance of rain.  As I made this announcement to my family, a big *splat* of rain hit the windshield.

*splat*   *splat*

… and then …

All of a sudden, it started pouring down rain!  Oh no!!  We didn’t know it was going to be like this, but we only had a few days on this trip.  We weren’t going to let rain interfere with our good time.  Searching the car, we found a few items for makeshift head wraps to fight against the brutal wind.   Once we arrived at our destination, I could not get out of the car fast enough, even in the rain that was now hitting me in the face.  I made my way to awe over the majestic lighthouse that stood before me.

I walked around trying to get “the” right angle to showcase the lighthouse.  Before realizing the cold, dreary day would dash my dreams, I envisioned capturing this lighthouse surrounded by glorious sunlight glistening off the blue waters licking at the rocks beneath it.   In my mind, I envisioned the sun surrounding it as if an angel in Heaven had a spotlight upon this great lighthouse.  Ah, but I had to settle for a dreary picture instead.  Whatever works, right?  But … the fact is I was there in Maine standing before this lighthouse in all of its wonder and beauty.  Truth be told, I could have stayed out there longer and would have if it wasn’t for the bitter cold ripping right through me when the wind would blow.   We endured as much as we could stand before retreating to our rental car.  We drove along the path and saw the ruins of a mansion to our right.

This was none other than the Goddard Mansion, which was made out of granite back in 1858.  Mr. Goddard was a local businessman who briefly served as a volunteer army colonel at the beginning of the Civil War in 1861.  The mansion was later acquired by the army in 1900 and was used as the non-commissioned officers and sergeant’s quarters.  We found it very interesting, but sadly, the fence prevented us from getting an even closer look at it.  The grounds leading up to the Portland Head Light is known as Fort Williams.

Stay tuned … there is more to come!