Freeport, Bailey's Island, and Bath

         We started today (September 17th) at an historic farm.  The Rodick Pettengill Farm is an early 19th century (est. 1810) saltwater farm overlooking the Harraseeket Estuary in Freeport, Maine. We walked through peaceful woods to reach the property, explore the grounds, and climb down a slippery hillside to check out the calm, still waters of the estuary.  Such a pretty spot!  

   

Harraseeket Estuary

 

     Back at the saltbox farm house, we found wonderful drawings of sailing ships that some early resident had etched into the plaster walls of the upstairs bedrooms.  The Freeport Historical Society has begun restoration of the farm house and these "sgraffitti images" were discovered when the wallpaper was removed.  It was like finding buried treasure!  

Pettengill saltbox farmhouse

 

 

"Sgraffitti Images" of sailing ships

     Exploring along the coast, we headed for Bailey Island and crossed the Bailey Island Cribstone Bridge. We found this National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark fascinating.  Built in 1928, it is the only one of its kind in the world.  Constructed of open split Maine granite cribwork, it was engineered to allow the free flow of swift tidal currents through the bridge foundation.  

Bailey's Cribstone Bridge at low tide.

 

Cribstone foundation

 

      At the southern point of Bailey Island we found the rocky seashore at low tide and spent some time climbing on the rocks and gazing out to sea.  

         We had read that there was free overnight parking in the Riverside Municipal lot in Bath.  When we arrived, however, we found it had been discontinued.  Before backtracking 5 miles to spend the night at the Walmart in Brunswick, we decided to take a little stroll around downtown Bath.  We were just locking the camper when a young man approached us and struck up a conversation about truck campers.  (His name is Jeremy and he is a chef at a nearby restaurant.) He was taking his break to run home (2 blocks) and let out his wife's new puppy.  (Their condo was across the street from where we were parked). We gave him a quick tour of our camper and he kindly offered us an overnight parking spot right on the Kennebuc River in the parking lot directly behind their condo!  He introduced us to his wife's $2,500 puppy and then returned to work. We backed our camper into our spot a few feet from the river and Mark spent the evening sitting in the doorway enjoying the view!  

Prime overnight parking spot on the Kennebuc River!

 

Sitting in our doorway, enjoying the view!