We crossed the USA-Canada border at Calais, New Brunswick on our way to Lubec, Maine. The wait was less than 20 minutes. The Border Agent only wanted to know if we had guns, firewood, how much alcohol, and to see if there were fruits or vegetables in the refrigerator. Of course not!!
Lubec, Maine
We stayed at Sunset Point RV Park. There were great views of the bay. 50 amp service and 45 psi water pressure. No sewer, so we planned on only staying 4 nights.
Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Lubec is close to the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. An easy border crossing over a bridge from Maine to New Brunswick. On the way back, the US agent gave Jake a cookie! Franklin D. Roosevelt summered on Campobello Island for many years. He came to the island as a child and learned to sail. Although he visited less frequently after contracting polio and as President, Campobello remained important to FDR.
He is considered one of the 3 greatest US Presidents. He won a record four presidential elections. He was President during the Great Depression and World War II. His party built the New Deal Coalition and he signed the Social Security Act. Roosevelt graduated from Harvard, then Law School at Columbia. He enjoyed politics and went on to be a New York Senator and Governor, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and eventually President of the United States.
At age 23 he married Eleanor Roosevelt and had six children. In his 30’s he had polio which caused permanent paralysis of both of his legs. Its possible he didn’t have polio, rather Guillain-Barre syndrome. Roosevelt had various extra-marital affairs, including one with Eleanor’s social secretary Lucy Mercer. He may have also had affairs with Marguerite LeHand , Margaret Suckley, and Princess Martha of Sweden. His mother threatened to not give him another dollar if he divorced Eleanor. They stayed married primarily for political reasons, but they were no longer intimate and Eleanor had her own separate house. He died suddenly from a cerebral hemorrhage at age 63. Eleanor also came from a wealthy family and was a distant cousin of FDR. Her parents died when she was young and she had an unhappy childhood. She was a controversial First Lady being outspoken and because of her stance on racial issues. She held press conferences, wrote a daily newspaper column, a monthly magazine column, and hosted a weekly radio show. She advocated for expanded roles for women in the workplace and the civil rights of African Americans. She pressed the US to join the united Nations and became the first delegate. She had a close relationship with Amelia Earhart. She had a close relationship with an Associated Press reporter Lorena Hickok, who “fell madly in love with her”. Some argue that the relationship was romantic. She was an accomplished and remarkable woman.
We drove the dirt roads to numerous lookouts and beaches. It was fun exploring the island.
Fireside Restaurant
Fireside is part of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park. The food was good and staff personable. They were closing early for the season, not enough business. The Park change it to buffet style service and the locals weren’t too happy with that, so business dropped.
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse
Built in 1808, Re-built in 1830 & in 1858, Automated in 1988.
It overlooks Sail Rock, the easternmost point of land in the continental United States, and is situated in the 481-acre Quoddy Head State Park. They have a nice museum with history, an art gallery, and artifacts. We took Jake on a hike along the Coastguard trail.
Downeast Charter Boat Tours
They are based in Lubec, Maine. We saw Bald Eagles, Minke whales, seals, and porpoise. The Minke are one of the smaller whales averaging 23-27 feet in length.
Our main reason for taking the boat tour was to see the “old sow” which is the largest natural whirlpool in the western hemisphere. Its formed by the topography affecting the changing tide. The size of the whirlpool is dependent on how high the tides are. We were there at only a 17 foot tide, so not a big whirlpool, but still very cool.
We motored close to the East Quoddy Lightstation on Campobello Island, New Brunswick.
Sunsets
Our RV faced west. Each evening in Lubec, Maine the skies were beautiful. So glad to be back in the States.
