Not All Fort Knox's Have Money

Today I took a trip to Prospect Township, Maine with a friend visiting from Philadelphia. We went to check out Fort Knox (not the one with all the money...the FIRST Fort Knox) and the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge, upon which sits a 420 foot observatory. The bridge just opened this year in June (2007).



Though it was a bit of cloudy day with a few showers, the view from the observatory was awesome. It was a 360-degree view so we were able to look in each direction. With the tree leaves in their final week or so of full color, the landscape was brightly colored. This picture is looking North-East towards the town of Bucksport, and you can see Fort Knox in the foreground.

This picture looks South-West down the Penobscot River.

The fort was built way back in the 18hundred-somethings to protect the river from the Brits. The fort never had to engage in a battle as the threat of the Brits coming up the river to control the flow of wood (then used in the masts of ships) never materialized. The State of Maine was able to buy the property from the government in 1923 for a grand total of $2,121. It is now a historic site and is visited during the season that runs from May or so until the first of November. The fort is fun to walk through. Check out this view looking towards the town of Bucksport through a gun slot.

Here's a great view looking South from Bucksport towards the fort. The bridge is just so cool looking, eh?

Once we were done at the fort and bridge observatory we headed back towards Orono, but stopped first in Bangor to have lunch and beers at the Sea Dog mircro-brewery and restaurant. I totally love their logo! Oh, and their hamburgers. But c'mon, tell me...is there really a more perfect food than a cheeseburger?? (Sorry vegetarian friends.....I could live on cheeseburgers...with bacon on them too, of course.)

**burp**

I Have Got to Find The River

The Penobscot River is but 50 or 60 yards in front of my house. When I was a kid growing up down the street from where I now live, the Penobby was the play-ground for us kids down in this end of Orono.

Across the street from my house is the old Bangor Hydro Power Plant. This plant used to produce electricity from water routed from the other river I live near...the Stillwater River...through the turbines within this old hydro-electric plant. This building sits on the area where the Stillwater and the Penobscot Rivers merge. These days, however, this plant is no longer used to create electricity, although it still has a power-routing station located on the property. The dam at the mouth of the Stillwater River is on the list to be removed soon.

These pictures were taken from my front door. You can see the old hydro plant, and in the background you can see the gray/blue color of the Penobscot River through the trees.

Here is a picture taken from the river looking back at my house. Pretty close, eh? I wonder if this counts as waterfront property?

A couple of pictures of the river - one right by the hydro, and the other looking south down the Penobby.

This time of year the water is down pretty low. It hasn't rained much lately, so the water is down a little lower than normal. Once winter hits,

the level will rise and much of it will freeze. And when the spring thaw arrives, it will be a raging river with a wicked higher water level.

Luckily this area never floods, so I'm safe and sound right where I'm located.

**crosses fingers**

**rubs lucky rabbit foot**

**hangs up a horseshoe**

**gets out 4-leaf clover**