Medford, home again....

...headed home...

...flying back to the roost,
that old back road gave my heart a big boost,
now it's time to think about something new,
only time will tell us the next thing Pete will do.

He's got a few ideas, but time is in a crunch,
he may not appear tomorrow, don't get your skivvies in a bunch;
Pete will return, in just a few short days,
when his mind is clear and not clouded in a haze.

The Piscataquis River, right where we left it....

...it's been thawed out now, but not for long.

Milo & Derby (Milo Junction)

Back in the day - the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad

...Maine, once one of the largest rail workshops in the state,
but, sadly, the day came when the trains met their fate;
times are uncertain now, and there's not so much freight,
but back in the day, trains more than pulled their weight.

South Portland's Rigby yards, and Derby's were king,
twenty-four hours a day you could hear those hammers ring,
the shops are much smaller now, and Milo is too,
but if you get the chance to visit Milo - please do.

Derby in the beginning-click to see "company houses"(top left)

Milo burning.  Several years ago much of downtown was lost, has not been rebuilt.

The Sebec River.  Milo is known as the Three Rivers town, the Sebec and Pleasant Rivers
join the Piscataquis in Milo

Dover Foxcroft.....

Moosehead Manufacturing, now defunct

...Maine, county seat and business center, busy place,
government and commerce stay on a rapid pace;
even here in Piscataquis County, now home county to Pete,
and it has some of the nicest people you will ever meet.

Dover and Foxcroft used to be two towns,
and back when they were united there were a few frowns,
that was long ago we have one from a blended pair;
and all are free to go to the Piscataquis County Fair.

Most of downtown, on one side

Sebec Lake and Borestone Mountain

Winter at Finest Kind Tree Farm

Greenville.....

An aerial view of Greenville and Moosehead Lake - click

....Maine, a small Town with a big reputation,
it's been heard of throughout the nation;
on the shore of Maine's largest lake,
they offer more than an outdoors man can take.

The annual "Float Fly-in" is an interesting part,
for some of us who take aircraft to heart;
all of those planes land right on the water,
so...if you've never been there, you 'oughta.

A small stream on the outskirts of town. Photo taken by my wife Linda in 2009 - click

At the annual fly-in, yes Wilbur it's what you think it is - click



The Steamboat Katahdin, it's original use was towing large rafts of timber



Jackman....

Scenic Jackman

...Maine, back in the good old USA,
but don't think Pete is home to stay,
there's a lot more miles that he needs to go,
but, maybe, this time he'll take it slow.

Just a couple of days until he gets home,
Pete's kind of tired, right to the bone;
but while he's in Jackman, there's a lot to see,
..then, which way to Medford, hmmm...oh, let him be.

Entering from Canada - Moose Rive - click

Jackman does a big tourist trade in winter

Attean Pond in Jackman - click

Calais...

...Maine, right on the Saint Croix River too,
in France it's "Ca-lay" here it's "Ca-liss" for you,
cross the river here and go to Canada for sure,
which we will, very soon, go to New Brunswick and more.

We'll take a spin through Canada going for East to West,
we were going to stay in Maine, but we're restless,
so here we go, off again, to places far and near;
but there's a new car now, 1948 won't make it, I fear.

Top: Calais is on the Saint Croix River
Middle: On the "airline" Maine Route 9, we came across a moose.
Bottom: The border crossing, ICE station, in Calais.

Medford (part 2)

Piscataquis River at Medford

The Piscataquis River bisects the tiny village of Medford (population 184). The north bank is known as Medford; the south bank is Medford Center. Before the Bangor & Aroostook Railroad opened a 600-foot-long, 60-foot-high trestle across the river in 1907, a ferry hauled supplies, produce, and people across the water. Eventually, ferry service ceased, and the freight line provided the only river crossing in the area. Citizens in Medford Center wanting to conduct municipal business were forced to travel a 40-mile route. When the railroad abandoned the line, more daring townspeople resorted to crossing the open ties of the trestle on foot and by car.
  After a short while the bridge was planked and guardrails were added, it is a one-lane bridge, but
traffic is light (as you'd expect).

"The Bridge" under construction, a long time ago





The church at Medford Center-out of use for years




A view from the bridge in winter.



Medford (part 1)....

....This would be my hometown, if it wasn't for my birth...
...in another place, but for what it's worth;
this is a perfect place, if one really exists, it's right up this road,
narrow with some turns and an occasional moose to ease the load.

So for Abby and I an anniversary, our first,
we'll buy Ol' Larry's house, the travel has burst;
we'll stay here for a while, before we travel on,
and by the way it's Larry and Linda's too (#28), go on toot you horn.

Ol' Larry and Linda, twenty-eight years ago,
started this journey, and there's still a ways to go,
they moved up here in '88, with three kids in tow,
then the other one came home, it caused the town to grow.

When they got here the population had reached 163,
and all of those people were happy as could be,
to have some new neighbors, they adopted us real quick,
and elected the geezer to office, they said that would do the trick.

Ol' Larry served the town for 8 or more years,
on the Selectmen committee, it's for volunteers,
take care of the finances, such as they were,
and that time went quickly, almost in a blurr.

Top: The road to Medford from Lagrange (State route 16).
Bottom: The house, in early summer.

Brownville & Brownville Junction.....

....Maine, a town that's all about railroads and slate,
along with scenic views and a river walk that's great;
slate from the quarries, all closed now,
roofed many buildings in New England, all said wow.

The Canadian National, Bangor and Aroostook, and more..
..join together here to transfer goods from shore to shore;
the CN cuts miles and miles off it's tracks coming through Maine,
for West to East shipments of petroleum products, lumber and grain.

Top: The Norcross Quarry - back in the day.
Middle: A New Brunswick Southern train passes through.
Bottom: A Canadian National (old CNP Colors) at the Junction.

West Sebois...

...Maine, home to Sebois Lake and not much more,
except the lake, a few camps, and a beautiful shore;
railroad trains of Canada and the United States,
all carefully controlled by two cattle gates.

A population under 50 of the year-round kind,
and enough peace of mind to blow you mind;
one road in and one road out,
what small town life is all about.

Top: Nice and quiet for the loons.
Middle: Maine-Montreal and Atlantic train passing through.
Bottom: A lake view of Mattamiscontis and Katahdin in the distance.

Ebeemee....

...Maine, it's not a town, unorganized township, that's the line,
there are plenty of those in this part of the world, that's fine.
A beautiful place, if old clearcuts are ignored,
if you look at those, it's like the bull gored.

The river is clean, and the pond is clear,
a few camps built 'round, some people hold dear,
right on State Route 11, just north of Brownville,
up where very few live, and the nights are still.

Top: Ebeemee Pond, north view.
Middle: Ebeemee Falls, I think Pleasant River.
Bottom: Ebeemee Pond, west view, good night.

Gulf Hagas (KI) 2....

....Maine.  Back again for day two,
can't leave here just yet, check out that view;
this is one pretty spot, and there are so many,
come on up, and check it out - if you've not seen any.

There are lot's of these "special places" we've discovered,
and we've missed a lot, unseen and uncovered;
some day we may go back and re-visit a few,
well, I mean, if that's okay, between me and you.

Top: The high rim.
Middle: Downstream from the falls.
Bottom: A winter visitor (actually they're here year round).

Gulf Hagas (KI)..

...Maine.  The Grand Canyon of Maine, oh, what a place,
part of Katahdin Iron Works Township, it needs it's own space,
rugged and wild, natural and free too,
it's a long walk, but it would be worth it for you.

The Appalachian Trail passes right through,
for those on the long hike deserve a good view,
there are the Screw Augur Falls, and all of the pools,
all made by nature, and without any tools.

Top: One of the falls.
Middle: A nearby bog and a misty morning.
Bottom: Another of the falls.

NOTE:  Just a few more days now until Tehachapi is in his new home (11-6-10); and one or two more days right here!  We are very near his new home right now.

Katahdin Iron Works Township....

....Maine, the State's only smelters for twenty years or so,
just ingots moulded in the dirt, they didn't last, it was long ago,
but the land's still here beautiful and great,
we're going to stay two days in this part of the State.

Lots of people come here to hike or climb,
I like to hike but climbing is not a thrill of mine,
it's a good place for a walk, or maybe catch a fish,
in the Pleasant River, I'd go on an invite or a wish.

Top: Rows of brick kilns and tender buildings, the smelters were in another row. c.1850
Middle: All that's left one kiln and one smelter.
Bottom: The Pleasant River runs through the KI near Screw Augur Falls (see tomorrow).

Milo....

....Maine, 'A Friendly Town', that's what the sign used to say,
then in an act of arson, that whole downtown block, gone in just a day;
a sad end for most of Milo's downtown,
the sign is back up, but the town wears a frown.

Railroad town in the Derby part,
lumber is important too, from the start;
trading center, fades away to other places,
Milo, though, stands the test of time, there are smiles on new faces.

Top: A frosty Piscataquis River.
Middle: The first KKK march in New England, 1923 - my how times change!
Bottom: A Maine-Montreal-& Atlantic train 'plows' through recent snow. April 2007

A NOTE: We are very close to Tehachapi's final stop! 11/16/10

Old Town...

...Maine, where they make the canoe,
shoes and paper used to be made here too;
the paper mill  now makes some bio-fuel,
and electricity and steam, that is no fool.

It's the home of the Penobscot Nation,
who live on Indian Island, sort of Reservation;
this is a nice "small" town sort of place,
but, big enoung still, to be in the rat race.

Top: Old Town from the air.
Middle: The Old Town-Milford dam, a hydro project for years, it will be removed soon.
Bottom: The "home" of Old Town Canoe, they still make canoes and kayaks, now all fiberglass, no longer make cedar ones.

NOTE:  Isn't it odd that when Ol' Larry is away Tehachapi can't write his own stuff?
 see http://www.larrysramble.blogspot.com/ to see where Ol' Larry has been