Maine-New Brunswick Challenge Offers You a
Chance to be
Among the First
Lighthouse Challenges attract lots of people. Some are true lighthouse
aficionados; some are just people looking for an interesting weekend event
to have some fun and do something different, while others are new to the
world of lighthouses and want to meet other people with the same interests.
Whatever the case, the upcoming Lights Across the Border, International
Lighthouse Challenge being held in Maine and New Brunswick will have
something for everyone.
First and foremost it is important to know that a “Lighthouse Challenge” is
not timed event like a road rally, nor is it a race, nor does it require any
specific skill, other than driving and finding your way to a specific number
of lighthouses and then viewing them. While at each lighthouse you receive
proof that you were there and then you go on to the next lighthouse. After
you have viewed all the lighthouses on a specific Challenge you will receive
a certificate or souvenir, depending on the challenge, as an reward for
viewing all of the lighthouses.
However, this summer’s being
held on Saturday August 9th in Maine and New Brunswick, on and
across the border of United States and Canada, offers those that take part
in the event, the opportunity to be the first people in history to ever
participate in an International Lighthouse Challenge. Since few people have
the chance to be part of the “first” of anything, this is an excellent
opportunity to do so, all while having fun learning about and visiting
historic lighthouses and their history and exploring the coastlines of two
nations.
With the $15.00 registration fee for the “Lights Across the Border”
International Lighthouse Challenge, those that pre-register will receive a
complimentary tote bag that features the colorful map that was designed for
the event. The map will be given to each participant in the Challenge and
will be stamped at each of the five lighthouses that you visit or view, all
of which can easily be accomplished in one day. Included in each tote bag
will be a number of free gifts that organizers say will surely delight every
attendee.
The International Lighthouse Challenge also offers people a rare chance to
view inside four of the five lighthouses included on the tour, weather
permitting, which include the famous red cross marked Head Harbour
Lighthouse, where the Challenge starts, and the red topped Mulholland
Lighthouse, both of which are on Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada.
Although you can climb the ladders up and down the cliffs and over the rocks
to the Head Harbor Lighthouse to climb the tower and tour the keeper’s
house, you are not required to actually visit the island lighthouse if you
don’t want to or are unable to do so. The lighthouse can also be viewed from
shore to get your souvenir map stamped proving that you were there. But be
careful, don’t get too near the edge of the cliffs.
In Maine, you will visit the famous red and white-striped West Quoddy
Lighthouse, which is the easternmost lighthouse on the mainland of the
United States and was once featured on a U.S. postage stamp. West Quoddy
also offers one of the most spectacular hiking trails on the Atlantic coast
with panoramic views from high above the cliffs. There is also a museum in
the old keeper’s house.
Although the Lubec Channel Lighthouse sits in the channel surrounded by
water, it can viewed from a number of places in the Lubec area. However, to
get your map stamped for viewing Lubec Channel Lighthouse you will need to
stop at West Quoddy Gifts, in Lubec, which is the easternmost gift shop in
the United States.
Included in the Challenge is a free boat ride out to Little River
Lighthouse, which is located on a small island in Maine’s Cutler harbor
where the keeper’s house and tower will be open for the event. It was once
listed as one of Maine’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties.
Although not included as part of the International Lighthouse Challenge and
if you have the time, you can also drive to Calais, Maine, to view
Whitlock’s Mill Lighthouse, which can be viewed from a park near the
lighthouse.
On the evening of the event, the Friends of Little River Lighthouse, a
chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, are hosting a lobster dinner,
with chicken also available, at the grade school gym in Cutler. The dinner,
which is a fund raising event for the lighthouse, will feature live
entertainment, raffles, autograph signings and an auction. Advance dinner
tickets, which are $30.00 each, can be ordered by calling 207-259-3833 or
on-line at www.LittleRiverLight.org.
The day after the event, on August 10, people are also invited back to
Campobello Island’s Lighthouse Days where there will be live music, food,
crafts, an auction and much more. Also the Cutler United Methodist Church,
where Little River lighthouse keepers and their descendants have worshiped
since 1847, is inviting attendees to worship with them
To register send, $15.00 to: Lights Across the Border, P.O. Box 671, East
Machias, ME 04630 or to register on-line go to www.LittleRiverLight.org. To
learn more you can also send $2.00 for a registration booklet or call
207-259-3833.
For those who attend, they will always be able to recall and always be able
to brag to future generations, that they were participants in the FIRST
EVER, International Lighthouse Challenge, Lights Across the Border.” Think
of the memories!!
