April Vacation

Pumpkin Island Light off Little Deer Isle turned out to be the last on our lighthouse list. It was a wonderful place to finish. 

To get to Pumpkin Island, we drove over the wonderfully unusual two-lane suspension bridge from Sedgwick to Little Deer Isle, and honestly, the steep bridge alone is worth the trip. We’re starting to think this may be turning into the Bridge & Lighthouse & Library Challenge. Designed by engineer David Steinman and built in 1939 by the Public Works Administration, the Little Deer Isle bridge is a high-level suspension bridge nearly half a mile long with a center suspended span of 1,080 feet long, and side spans of 484 feet and almost 100 feet above mean high water at its highest point. Once we were across, we followed Route 15 and Eggemoggin Road all the way to where the road simply ends at the water, with the island and lighthouse in clear view about 1,000 feet offshore. It’s a bit of classic Maine shoreline—summer “cottages,” pines, rock, and a pebble beach—all perfect for kids to scramble over and explore. The lighthouse dates to 1854, was discontinued in 1933, and is now privately owned. And just to make the whole thing even more memorable, it was snowing when we were there on April 24.

 On our way back, we had lunch at the Pickled Wrinkle in Birch Harbor. We just couldn’t resist the name. Wrinkles are large sea snails or whelks, cousins of the smaller periwinkles, all of which get their name from the wrinkled appearance of their shells. There were none on the menu the day we were there, but there were dulse chips that convinced us to give up potato chips. There were also other daily specials, including a crabmeat roll and various versions of fresh haddock sandwiches, plus plenty of choices for kids. We were a group of six and all of us, including the kids, were made to feel very welcome, making it one of those typical Maine meals that inspires you to keep exploring.