Tag Archives: photos

An udderly strange traffic hazard.

November 6, 2022 Rivergirl 22 Comments

I always see news reports of the traffic jams in California and sigh. While I grew up in New Jersey and saw my fair share of highway clusterf*cks, I have to admit the traffic issues in rural Maine are much more pleasant to deal with. Like this one we came upon the other day…

Someone got loose and decided the grass was indeed greener on the other side of the fence.

While it wasn’t a heavily traveled area, that section of road was a straightaway and people tend to fly by. Not wanting to see a large pile of hamburger on our return trip, we tried to coax the soon to be road block back into the field.

That did not go well so we knocked on the farmhouse door. No one was home, so we tried a neighbor.

No luck there either, so we tried again to convince the bovine to rejoin the herd.

Ever try to argue with a cow?

We lost the battle, but left a note on the farmer’s door.

The road was happily pot roast free when we came back from our appointment so that’s a good sign.

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Something tells me I’m going to pay for these pictures.

November 5, 2022 Rivergirl 28 Comments

Lord Dudley Mountcatten is used to being photographed. But when his human mother had a cute idea the other day…?

His Lordship was less than pleased.

I think I’ll be paying for this folly. I don’t know how, and I don’t know when….

But yes. He’s definitely plotting something.

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Fort Knox part four.

November 3, 2022 Rivergirl 23 Comments

Every fort needs a kitchen and while this one probably didn’t contain many time saving appliances, it was large.

This box was used for dough.

And this was the table to knead it on.

That’s a serious amount of bread.

The enlisted mens quarters seemed to go on forever, but ironically construction of the fort was never completed and only 20 to 54 troops were garrisoned here during the Civil War. When 575 troops were stationed here during the Spanish-American War, they bunked outside the fort in tents.

The powder magazine was found behind an extremely thick door and was heavily guarded.

I’m hoping there was a no smoking sign posted as well.

One last walk around outside, past the D Battery cannon mounts.

And we were done.

So that was Fort Knox. Impressive, well cared for and a big tourist draw.

My. Husband. Took. Pictures.

That’s a triple A review in my world.

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Fort Knox part three, and the possibility of a ghost blanket.

November 2, 2022 Rivergirl 20 Comments

These strange discs were lined up on the parade ground so the husband had to investigate.

Having had my fill of stairs that day, I let him.

Turns out they were storage vaults for ammunition.

Alongside of that wall was a room with a broken water line that fed from a 27,000 gallon cistern…

And next to that…

A room with a giant rock. Because who doesn’t love that?

The officer’s quarters were far from luxurious. Geesh, look at that lumpy mattress.

But as cold and damp as Maine can be, at least they had a fireplace.

Now let’s take a strange turn here shall we?

Please note the mock up of a Revolutionary War officer seated on the right and the blanket draped over his chair. I wanted a better look at him and took this untouched photo from his other side.

Notice anything strange?

*cue the Twilight Zone music*

You. Can. See. Through. The. Blanket.

What the Hell!

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Fort Knox part two.

November 1, 2022 Rivergirl 16 Comments

If you’re a history nerd like me, you’ll love exploring this fort.

And even if you’re not, like my husband? It’s still a pretty cool place.

Did my knee enjoy the spiral stone staircases? It did not, but I lived to tell the tale.

Is it wrong the first thing I thought when I reached the top was… how do they get the lawn mowers up here?

The views are lovely..

And there’s the bridge we visited earlier in the day.

And if you’re looking for proof this was an amazing place? There’s my husband taking pictures.

My husband never takes pictures.

It’s a good thing there was an ambulance because I almost fainted from shock.

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Fort Knox, the Maine version.

October 31, 2022 Rivergirl 16 Comments

After visiting the Penobscot Narrows bridge observatory, we turned our attention to Maine’s largest historic fort which is literally right next door.

Fort Knox, named after General Henry Knox, America’s first Secretary of War and Commander of Artillery in the Revolution. He spent his final years just down the road in Thomaston. And yes, that other Fort Knox in Kentucky is named after him as well.

The first thing we saw upon entering the Fort’s grounds?

Proof!

I’m guessing this was a Halloween decoration as they host a big event here for the holiday. Or rather, I’m hoping.

The Fort sits on a peninsula jutting out into the Penobscot River and was deemed the perfect defensive spot in 1844. Almost a million dollars was spent on its construction, but it took Congress 25 years to allot those funds and as with most government run projects, it was never actually completed.

But no matter, it’s still an impressive place.

More Halloween decorations, which to be honest annoyed the photographer in me.

Yeah, Stephen King rules. We get it.

A diagram of the fort.

The minute you enter through the sally port you’re struck by how well designed this was.

The granite was local and expertly fitted.

Inside? It’s all about the canons.

Small cannons.

And Big Bertha ass cannons.

You know every single child ignores that sign.

Room after room of cannons. Two floors and four batteries contain mounts for 135 of those babies but only 74 were ever brought to the site. Not as many as it could hold, but that still requires a lot of balls. In more ways than one.

To be continued..

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Hope springs eternal.

October 30, 2022 Rivergirl 11 Comments

These sparrows have it in for our poor cat and are seriously driving him crazy.

All of a sudden there are flocks of them gathering on our back deck and Lord Dudley Mountcatten is positively beside himself with angst.

He cackles, he cries, he paws at the window and howls to go outside.

And then runs right to the bushes where they hide when I oblige.

His Lordship is not a graceful feline and more often than not falls flat on his face.

Unless he’s sticking it in the bush on purpose.

He’s on a leash, but there’s not much walking going on.

Those birds should be ashamed of themselves. Before long Dudley will be needing kitty Valium.

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Penobscot Narrows Observatory

October 30, 2022 Rivergirl 20 Comments

Do you have a bucket list for your own state? Mine is long and varied because somehow we never find the time to see the wonderful things in our own backyard… or in this case, the yard two hours away.

But last week I checked this off. The tallest bridge observatory in the world.. which just happens to have Maine’s fastest elevator. Good thing too, my knee would never survive a staircase 420 feet up.

The construction of this cable stayed bridge was big news in these parts and people anxiously looked forward to its completion. Started in 2004, completed and opened Dec. 30, 2006. And yes, we’re more than a little late to the party.

I’m not sure the pictures do it justice, but trust me it’s quite something.

Was my bad knee happy there were a few flights of stairs after we got off the elevator? No….

But I sucked it up and climbed.

And the 360 degree view was worth it.

Sam Champlain was here.

Suck on that Kilroy.

I’m including a video that has an annoying reflection of me throughout. Try to ignore that and enjoy the view…

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The duck is back.

October 29, 2022 Rivergirl 10 Comments

I don’t know if you remember, but last year I posted about a giant rubber duck that appeared out of nowhere in the harbor of a Maine town. No one knew where it came from or who deployed it… but everyone loved it and reported sightings with gleeful enthusiasm.

Now?

It’s back…. and yeah. Bigger and better than ever.