TEXAS RANGER: Portland, ME to Gloucester, MA August 18

The weak cold front passed through during the night, and by morning, except for a little mist early, winds were light and conditions good for travel. We got underway from Portland about 0630. It was an interesting city, but one of the "rolliest" dockages we have encountered, and we understand that all of them throughout the city are the same way. There is just a huge amount of boat traffic, since it is the busiest port north of Boston. The day cleared and was beautiful, and though our original destination was the Isles of Shoals off of Portsmouth, NH, Kay suggested that we continue on, and so prior to arriving there, I altered course farther offshore to pass clear of Cape Ann in northern Massachusetts with a destination of Gloucester, MA, where we arrived about 1600. Gloucester is an extremely old fishing village (1623), and that is still the major industry. Gorton's Seafood, founded in 1849, still produces the vast majority of the frozen fish (fish sticks, fast-food restaurant fish sandwich meat, etc.) for the eastern half of the county. A great deal of old architecture still abounds, and where most wind vanes on public buildings sport roosters, eagles, etc., Gloucester's City Hall sports a fish on its wind vane. We had delicious seafood at a waterfront restaurant recommended by our cab driver. The famous "Man At The Wheel" statue is here, sculpted to commemorate Gloucester's 300th anniversary and to honor the thousands of men lost at sea. The inscription reads, "They Who Go Down To The Sea In Ships...Psalms 107:23...1623--1923".