This is the big paper mill in Bucksport, Maine, on the banks of the Penobscot River. It specializes in high quality paper used in magazine publication. Large, ocean going vessels, like the one docked at this mill, navigate the Penobsoct River. This is a tide water river, being very close to Penobscot Bay and the North Atlantic ocean. You can smell the sea here. Bucksport is a North Atlantic seaport town.

Day 28, Mon, Sept 29, Bangor to Bucksport, Maine

As we motored down US 1A from Bangor, we had repeated views of the Penobscot River which flows into the Atlantic just beyond old Fort Knox, pictured here.

We drove across the newer of the two bridges you see in the background, spanning the river. We were so taken with the sights about us at this spot that rather than journey further, though it was early in the afternoon, we obtained a room at a small but very nice hotel in the historic village of Bucksport that looks out across the river towards the fort and the bridges as shown here.

As a new missionary I visited Fort Knox with my companion David Williams and other elders and sisters of the Northern Maine District after a District meeting in Bangor. It was special to be here again and walk along the shore of this great river in this picturesque town.

There are two bridges side-by-side; the first bridge was built in 1931. The newer one with the very tall concrete towers was completed just two years ago. If you pay $5 they will let you take an elevator to the top of the tower on the right to an observation floor. (We didn't do that, but it would provide quite a view!)

Before leaving Bangor we drove down to the Eastern Maine Medical Center located on the banks of the Penobscot River on the south side of town. We found the original building where I received emergency treatment in December of 1961. It is still a part of the hospital complex but is now a resource where family members of patients receiving long-term care at the hospital can have a room at a reduced rate. In fact, if vacancy exists they will provide rooms to the traveling public for rates comparible to other hotels in the area.

I remember my companion bringing me to this entrance and walking in with him to the information desk inside. I went in today and found the interior of the waiting area basically as I remember it, with the information counter still there. In those days the place was known as the Eastern Maine General Hospital. Now, a huge medical complex exists behind and beyond this old red brick building.

We stayed 3 nights at the Day's Inn at Bangor, waiting out the storms from the Atlantic. We also made a visit to Urgent Care because of recuring high levels of pain in Linda's left knee. This morning (Monday) we checked out of our hotel and began our journy toward the coast of Maine.

This picture was taken in the Day's Inn parking lot. There were recuring incoming flight's of Air Guard KC-47's (Air-to-Air refuelers) landing at the Bangor airport. Linda will remember this place, not because of in-coming flights but the thunderous take-offs!