In just another week I’ll be heading north to Maine to supposedly escape the high summer heat of Maryland. Although I may be a few weeks late as the weather is already starting to cool at home, I’m looking forward to our trip.

Our first stop along the drive to Mount Desert Island in Maine is Portsmouth, New Hampshire so that we can visit friends.  The historic downtown area is absolutely charming and easy to walk through. Along the waterway of the Piscataqua River, the harbor of Portsmouth is well known to be the home of these beautiful Tug Boats.

Since the 1930’s, the pier on Ceres Street has been home to several 100-foot tugboats. Still used today, these tugboats bring tankers up the Piscatagua River which is considered to have one of the swiftest and most difficult currents in the country. Local river pilots are required to take the helm of the commercial vessels and guide them safely through the channel. (source: http://www.portsmouthnh.com/harbourtrail/tugboats.cfm)

Owned by the Moran Towing Company which has an extensive tug-boat fleet throughout the east coast of the U.S., these Tug Boats seem to whisper of earlier years. Strong and trustworthy, these slow and steady tugs are relied upon to be the guiding light for larger vessels in their time of need.

I look forward to visiting them again, and know they will be standing watch waiting for my arrival.