The Eastern Trail - Southern Maine Ride

I've recently been tossing around the idea of doing a short bike tour (not sure where, when or how long), but getting some time in the saddle made sense. I got on the bike to explore a little of southern Maine along The Eastern Trail. The trail, which runs 65 miles from Kittery to South Portland, is just a small section of the much larger 2900 mile East Coast Greenway which travels from Calais, Maine to Key West, Florida. After reaching the northern (eastern?) terminus of the Eastern Trail I crossed over the Fore River into Portland for a coastline route on the Eastern Promenade Trail. I had planned to loop around on the Back Cove Trail but It was getting late in the afternoon and I needed to return to my starring location. Back Cove will have to wait for another day.

Crossing a landfill (believe it or not) in Scarborough.

A nice wooded section along Barberry Creek in Scarborough.

An active rail line in Scarborough.

Fore River in South Portland at low tide. It was high tide by the time I returned.

Mill Creek Park in South Portland.

A war memorial near Mill Creek Park.

Approaching Cushing Point in South Portland. This was the site of an active shipyard during WWII employing 30,000 people building Liberty Ships.

Partial hull of a Liberty ship.

View of Fort Gorges from Cushing Point. Due to advances in "modern" explosives, the fort was obsolete by the time it was completed in 1865.

Bug Light on Cushing Point. 

Crossing over the Fore River into Portland.

 View from the bridge.

Downtown Portland. My least favorite part of the ride.

Tourists taking a spin in an old fire engine.

View of Caso Bay from the Eastern Promenade Trail.

Another nice view of the bay.

Chasing down a train on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad.

Trail-side refreshments.

I was tempted!

Ride on!