We have had a couple of interesting days here in Portland. After arriving in the snow and wind from  Bar Harbor we awoke the next morning to bright sunshine, it was still cool though. After breakfast we set off on a morning walk around the city streets. Passed through some old residential areas, the fall colours were still out in some areas. But on the wane. Portland is the birth place of John Ford, the movie director. He did a lot of those John Wayne western  epics in Monument Valley. He has a small statue dedicated to his work.

John Ford memorial

The famous 19 century poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow also lived in Portland, who cannot forget ‘The Wreck of the Hesperus’ and ‘Paul Revere’s Ride’. His old home is a museum dedicated to his work.

Allthego dropped into  the ‘International Cryptozoology Museum. This is one of its kind in the world. It is dedicated to presenting the evidence for ‘hidden or unknown animals’. These are usually larger zoological species that , to date, remain unverified by science eg Big Foot, Yetis, lake monsters, Bunyips,  etc.  It also encompasses the study of animals of recent discovery eg the Coelacanth and the giant panda. It was all very interesting, lots of evidence and they also highlighted so-called evidence that had been fabricated. In leaving Allthego had his photo taken with a Big Foot replica, the guide indicated that the model was probably a bit bigger than a real Big Foot and the facial features would be more ape like than human. The model was based on Harry from the movie ‘Harry and the Hendersons’!

Big Foot and Allthego

After lunch we wandered around the old port district and then retired for dinner at an Irish pub. Allthego managed to collect another beer glass for his collection.

Bull Feeney’s Irish Pub

Today the weather was overcast and dry. we took off for Cape Elizabeth to see the Portland Head Light, the oldest of Maine’s 52 operating lighthouses. It was commissioned by George Washington in 1791 and was manned up until 1989, when it was mechanised.

Portland Head Light 1791

Back in town we went for lunch to the ‘The Great Lost Bear’ dining and drinking venue. There was a great array of craft beers on tap here and enormous lunches of burgers and other delicacies to tempt discerning eaters. Back in town we had a lazy afternoon before heading out to see a movie, ‘My Old Lady’. This is one of those understated and laid back British/French collaborations which at times was poignant and at others funny. No plot give-aways here, but the movie has a top cast in Maggie Smith (as the old lady), Kevin Klein and Kristen Scott-Thomas. One not to be missed!

Tomorrow we are off on the last leg of the road trip down to Boston.