Campobello Island, Roosevelt's Summer Home, and Lighthouses!

Wednesday, July 26

Up with the early light, I opened the door to see how the air felt in all that sunshine, and there on the piling  sat the eagle!  Afraid of missing him, I grabbed the camera and donned flip flops, and went out with my terry robe pulled tight against the morning chill. Got a few shots...got closer....it didn't seem to mind. So I stood and waited. Then sat and waited!  The sun felt so good, I was just enjoying being out there, but was thinking I would like my morning coffee!  Low and behold, Clem finally opens the door, I turn to talk to him, and turn back and the bird flies!!  Sure, Now you fly!  

While I was waiting for the eagle to fly, this man walked down that amazing floating dock, which at low tide sits on the ground, to get to his boat.  

I went in for some clothes while Clem made coffee and we both sat out and enjoyed the beautiful sun and view and contemplated the plans for the day. Since rain was predicted for Thursday, we thought we should do Campobello island  and a few sights there, so I packed a picnic  lunch and we headed out. What was once a short ferry ride from town across the Bay, now entails taking a circuitous route around the point to the bridge, which took a good 45 minutes in what seemed like the totally wrong direction! Because it was, as the crow flies!  Thankfully, our new friend Bob had told us the way, and we finally figured it out......heaven forbid someone should have a local map!!!.....and we drove to Lubec, Maine, and crossed over the bridge to the Canadian border. ( sure missing that iPhone map app!)

We stopped at the Roosevelt Cottage visitor center first, where surprisingly they had a park stamp! 

What was once FDR's summer home, is now the only International Park in the world, created by Lady Bird Johnson and the Mrs Lester Pearson, as a joint venture between the nations, and the cornerstones of the Reception area were laid by President Johnson and the prime minister  Pearson  in 1966.  Queen Elizabeth declared the building open in 1967. 

I'm sure lady bird had a lot to do with the inclusion of all the lovely flower gardens around the visitors center and the cottage, as she was instrumental in flowers being planted along our nations highways. 

The center was full of wonderful photos of the Roosevelts and their life and family story, and I learned that FDR was an energetic, athletic man who enjoyed many active pursuits  before becoming stricken with polio at the age of 39.  We wondered what had brought an American President to this Canadian island, but learned his parents had built a cottage there, and he had come every year since he was barely one year old, and he loved it, and  had his own cottage where he continued to come his entire life. 

We  saved the cottage for later viewing, and headed to the very tip of the island to see the West Quoddy Light, where during low tide, you can go down steps and walk across and up another set of steps right to the base. It sits beautifully perched on rocky cliffs, and I got some photos and we watched some whales in the bay, and had a picnic lunch!  Lovely spot, and we saw another eagle fly over!

We drove back and toured the 10,000 square foot "cottage", which had been enlarged as the family grew, but remained simple in nature and never had electricity or heat. 

Photo over mantle showed what it looked like when the Roosevelts used the house.  

Stove was a gift to the couple when they wed. 

It was one of the rare days when an adjacent cottage of a wealthy friend was open, so we got to see what was a more lavish Victorian cottage of the day, one of those built by Wealthy Bostonians, New Yorkers, and the like, who summered in the cool air and enjoyed the chilly waters. 

 The "cottage" had a great wrap around porch, with a stunning view, and gorgeous breeze.  I could just imagine sitting there sipping a drink on a nice day.

And the kitchen had this amazing circular window, framing the view from there.  The couple had seen it in England, and had it shipped there and installed when the house was being built.  

Yet another "cottage", where we had "Tea with Eleanor."

We had booked "Tea with Eleanor",  and wandered about the grounds a while, just enjoying the magnificent day, before heading  to yet another cottage where we were served tea and delicious cookies made on the grounds, and listened as three docents described the great lady, whom they all clearly loved and admired. We had learned a lot about this remarkable woman on a visit to Hyde Park a couple of years ago, and this gave us a glimpse into her summer life and habits, as well as some stories of her amazing character, and it was very interesting. We were given a book with her cookie recipes as a memento as we left, and were given time to look around and enjoy photos. 

Mulholland Light, New Brunswick

The view from Mulholland Light, across the bridge to US.   

One more stop just before leaving Canada, we stopped before the bridge at the Mulholland Lighthouse, which ceased operation with construction of the bridge, which contains warning lights, so the light was no longer needed.  We saw seals in the bay, appearing to play in the rapid currents and what looked like a whirlpool!  What a day! Whales, eagles and seals.....oh my! 

Then on to East Quoddy Lighthouse!

In Lubec, we drove the downtown area, which was quaint, but headed for the next must see, which was the East Quoddy Light, sitting at the easternmost point of the US, got the requisite photos of the  lovely candy striped lighthouse, then headed back to Eastport for lobster at the Chowder House, which our new friend Bob said was his favorite. Once the first canning house for seafood, now a modest little place that I would not have even thought about going into, at an out of the way location, it  served up some good  food, a great view, and some mighty fine Maine blueberry pie!  

 Fish canning started in this country in the 1870's at this town of Eastport, and on this dock sardines were canned.  When they lost popularity in the 1968, the cannery was turned into a restaurant.  

The lazy man's lobster, already out of the shell. 

mmmm....good!

Got back pretty late, and Bob and crew were out at the fire, so Clem fed the cats and I  walked over to thank him for his pointers and suffer his kidding about the late hour and quizzing about where we ate. Oh!  A picnic at the lighthouse!!  Well, you did have a nice day didn't you?!  Indeed we did!