New England Adventures: Portsmouth and Kittery

On Monday, October 6, we decided to go north to show Kodi the fall colors as part of her Birthday celebration.  Turns out it was still just a bit early as there has not been a fall freeze and we stayed to close to the coast.  Heading northwest up into Vermont might have produced a different result.

In any case, we drove about 90 minutes north to visit Portsmouth New Hampshire.  Had our schedules worked out differently this summer (i.e., not running the Pershing 64 north and not spending weeks in Chicago selling our property) we would have stopped in Portsmouth as part of Maine cruise.  Maybe next year.

Portsmouth in located in the northeast corner of NH at the border with Maine

Portsmouth turned out to be a gem and well worth the effort.  This beautiful harbor town is located in the northeast corner of NH at the border with Maine.  Notice the forts on the map.  Portsmouth harbor played an important role in the creation of the US Navy and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard survives to this day.  The population is 23,000

One of the first sites we visited was Sheafe Warehouse in Prescott Park. It is considered to be one of America's best preserved examples of early eighteenth century waterfront architecture.   The Revolutionary War ship Ranger, built by Colonel James Hackett and commanded by John Paul Jones, is said to have been outfitted at the Sheafe Warehouse.  John Paul Jones is considered to be the founder of the US Navy.  We visited his tomb in Annapolis when we visited the Naval Academy as part of our Great Loop adventure.

A gundalow in the foreground.  Sheafe Warehouse behind.

Tomb of John Paul Jones at the US Naval Academy

Bridge to Badger Island and Kittery Maine

Bridge to Badger Island is a memorial to WWI sailors and soldiers

Restaurant row on Bow Street
All have water views

Restaurant on Bow Street

Our view from the Riverside House where we dined alfresco

Market Street shops

Moffatt-Ladd House.  Home of William Whipple, signer of the Declaration of Independence
New Hampshire representative to the Continental Congress

North Church on Congress Street

Kilwins fudge shop, a clear indicator of a tourist town

Passengers ready to set sail on a gundalow at Sheafe Warehouse

As we walked back to our car we passed Sheafe Wharf and the gundalow Piscataqua now loaded with passenger for a late afternoon sail.  Gundalows represent a new category of boats for me. Wikipedia to the rescue.  A gundalow is a flat bottom cargo vessel that was common in New Hampshire and Maine.  They first appeared in the 1600s and were used into the 20th century.  They range in length up to 70 feet with a 19 foot beam.  The were primarily propelled by tides, which took them up and down rivers augmented by poles or "long sweeps" (oars).  Unique is a lateen sail that acted as auxiliary power.  It lowered to allow the vessel to shoot under bridges.  These vessels, each of which was unique, carried up to 50 tons of cargo.  The Piscataqua is a replica maintained by a not for profit corporation for educational purposes..

Gundalows Piscataqua under sail

Written by Les