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Lighthouses, lighthouses!
We saw fourteen and toured two during our lighthouse cruise earlier this month, topped off with an exciting parade in the company of a dozen schooners.
Here are some of the ones we've seen from the American Eagle this season so far.
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Little River Light, Cutler
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On our Downeast trip in June we again enjoyed an open house at Little River Light in Cutler. No visit there should go without reading "It's Brasswork," a poem written by Little River lightkeeper Fred Morong. Schooner crews can identify with his sentiments in fourteen verses.
IT'S BRASSWORK
Oh what is the bane of a lightkeeper's life
That causes him worry, struggle and strife,
That makes him use cuss words and beat on his wife?
It's BRASSWORK
What makes him look ghastly consuptive and thin,
What robs him of health, vigor and vim,
And causes despair and rives him to sin?
It's BRASSWORK
The devil himself could never invent,
A material causing more world wide lament,
And in Uncle Sam's service about ninety percent
It's BRASSWORK
The oil containers I polish until
My poor back is broken, aching and still,
Each gallon, each quart, each pint and gill
Is BRASSWORK
I lay down to slumber all weary and sore,
I walk in my sleep, I awake with a snore,
And I'm shining the knob on my bedchamber door
That BRASSWORK
From pillar to post rags and polish I tote,
I'm never without them, for you will please note,
That even the buttons I wear on my coat,
Are BRASSWORK
The machinery, clockwork, and fog signal bell,
The coals hods, the dustpans, the pump in the well,
No I'll leave it to you mates...If this isn't...well,
BRASSWORK
I dig, scrub and polish, and work with a might,
And Just when I get it all shining and bright,
In come the fog like a thief in the night,
Goodbye BRASSWORK
I start the next day when noontime draws near,
A boatload of summer visitors appear,
For no other reason than to smooch and besmear,
My BRASSWORK
So it goes all summer, and along in the fall,
Comes the district machinists to overhaul,
And rub dirty paws all over,
My BRASSWORK
And again the spring, if per chance it may be,
An efficiency star is awarded to me,
I open the package and what do I see?
More BRASSWORK
Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud,
In the short span of life that he is allowed,
If all the lining in every dark cloud,
Is BRASSWORK
And when I have polished until I am cold,
And I have taken my oath to the Heavenly fold,
Will my harp and my crown b e made of pure gold?
No! BRASSWORK
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Winter Harbor
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Egg Rock, Frenchman Bay
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 | | Moose Peak on Mistake Island near Jonesport |
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How we got there
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Petit Manan Light
Its original first order Fresnel lens is on display at the Lighthouse Museum here in Rockland.
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Bald eagle sightings have been a daily event this summer. Not to be outdone, ospreys have been seen twice carrying squirrels. And I thought they only caught fish.
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