The Places Between 12
Veranda Street, Portland
Parcels of public land dot Maine's waterfront in unassuming ways without title or advertisement. They exist as little glimpses of water through the trees, small outcroppings of rocks, and steep banks. I have visited many over the course of my time exploring the state and have written about a few. One such place is on Veranda Street in Portland, just outside the bustle of the city. Traces of local clammers braving the banks were all that signified the spot as a place to explore. Any other day, I might have driven by, taking for granted the open view of the ocean and the autumn colors that curved around its shoreline.
Another, easily-missed spot is Cutts Island Trail in Kittery. While many people drive to Seapoint Beach, they pass right by the pullout to the trailhead. A tidal river winds its way beside the forest, creating an inviting spot for birders, paddlers, and everyday hikers. The trail itself was longer than I had time to walk, but I ambled my way down it a bit anyway, snapping pictures as I went.
I did miss part of South Point Great Pond Sanctuary in Biddeford. There was a short trail that led around the pond to Fortunes Rock Beach, but in my defense, the sun was hitting the water in a way that I couldn’t tear my eyes away from. I pulled off the road just after the trailhead and stepped onto the small patch of lawn, nearly landing my foot on a vole who had recently met their end. At least the golden light that dusted the weeds made for a peaceful resting place.
If I lived closer, I could see myself picnicking at Grist Mill Park in Yarmouth all the time. According to the city’s website, the old mill was first constructed in 1674 and later expanded upon. Now, all that’s left are its foundations and the benches that sit upon it. Across the Royal River is an old saw mill. The river itself is tidal and forms little waterfalls called the First Falls, which are similar in size to those I saw hiking in Mariaville.
In all my travels last fall, I was unable to spend a lot of time in many places, as I was responsible for recording the amenities for over 70 locations. Some I snuck in more time, allowing myself to meander through wooded trails or across sandy beaches to make sure there wasn’t anything I missed, but the Eastern Trail in Scarborough was simply too big to fully explore. Technically, the trail runs from Portland all the way to Kittery, with 22 miles of it being a wide, off-road, dirt path. The Scarborough section runs through marshland and is abundant with visible wildlife. Immediately upon starting down the trail, I spotted a heron, or possibly an egret in the distance.