Subs, Forts and an Aerial Course in Portsmouth, NH

Larry, Bill and I headed off to see the town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire before leaving the New England shoreline states.  We've had a great time in Cape Cod, Boston, and Maine.  Soon we'll be headed to New York and then on to Pennsylvania for a good portion of the summer.  But till then we have one day left to explore the town of Portsmouth.  And a really cool town it is.  I love the loads of character houses,  This door way hopefully undergoing some restoring or maybe it's a new "chic" style.

All the streets are so quaint.

A day earlier we had breakfast here when we picked up Larry the morning he returned from Seattle.  We obviously didn't realize exactly where we were.  Now we know.

Portsmouth's City Hall.









Another quaint street.

Graffiti or wall art?

Across this bridge is Maine and New Hampshire, depending on which side of it you are.

The USS Albacore, a research submarine of the late 40's.  A couple of pictures from the museum of the USS Albacore in action.

Moving the sub into it's permanent berth was quite the spectacle.

New berth and museum.

The propellers.

My stepfather Ed Hubler also served during WWII on a submarine.  The USS Ronquil, SS 395 launched 04/44 decommissioned  07/71

Apparently it looked like this sub.

We then decided to take a drive out to the coastal area of Portsmouth.  The drive was really pretty.

We came to this sign and decided to check it out.  What fun.  Apparently the site this fort sits on is the first site captured/victory from the British at the start of the American Revolution.  Fort Constitution was established in 1631, was once known as Fort William and Mary and was built to protect colonist.    

The fort sits on Coast Guard property but we were allowed access.  Across the way you could see a lighthouse on an island.

This small house must be another lighthouse with a light keeper residence.

Portsmouth Lighthouse photograph from around the late 19th century.



Walking past the Coast Guard facility.  Keep on the blue line.  Any diversion is trespassing.

That's right Bill, follow the blue line.

The jaws, er that be gates to the fort.

t

Bill doing his "on duty stance".

The Portsmouth Lighthouse on the point next door to the Coast Guard Facility.

The beach across the bay from the lighthouse.

Nice tunnel that now leads into a "non blue" area.  Talk about leaving the back door open.

Those ladies at the Daughters of the American Revolution sure are busy.

Driving back to the park we stopped to take a look at this "obstacle course" slash "aerial course".  It's not cheap either.  Seniors:  $37 for 30 minutes of instruction and 2 hours of vertical revulsion.

And so another day ends in Wells, Maine.  Still having fun.  Soon we'll head off to New York and the Catskills.  Come back again, and thanks for visiting.