Gloucester 2,The Beach, Lighthouses and more

We started with a beautiful drive along the Eastern coast of Ipswich Bay- great houses and a fantastic rocky coastline.
We first stopped at Halibut Point State Park. After a walk through the woods we arrived at the quarry. Beginning in the 1840s, granite was quarried from this area, first on a small scale and primarily along the coast, and then on a much larger scale when the Rockport Granite Company acquired the Babson Farm quarry and expanded its operation. Shortly after the Cape Ann granite industry collapsed in 1929, 17 acres on the eastern side of the quarry were purchased and given to the Trustees of Reservations. The remainder of the area sat unused until late in World War II when a fire control tower (now the park's Visitors Center) was constructed to provide aiming information for the massive coastal defense guns that guarded Boston and Portsmouth Harbors. (from the website http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/northeast/halb.htm)
There were lots of signs NO SWIMMING in the quarry- we could see why it looked so tempting in the summer.
We continued on the path to the ocean overlook- fantastic! It was clear and we could see all the way to Maine along the coast. We also saw some fishing boats and lots of lobster lines.



After enjoying the view we continued along the coast to the Paper House. The house was started in 1922 . It has a traditional wood frame and roof. The papers were covered with varnish and have survived but are very brittle. The walls are 215 thicknesses. The curtains are folded papers. It was interesting.
We then found a parking place and walked around Rockport. We checked out several shops and a couple parks. We enjoyed all the old buildings. It’s an interesting to place to walk around. The Artist Open Studio tour is next weekend.
Bob then drove an some of Massachusett’s worst roads to find lighthouses. We saw the Thatcher Island Twin Lighthouses, and after driving all over, we didn’t go down the private road to see the Eastern Point lighthouse.

Then finally we made it to the Cape Ann brewery.

Tomorrow we head for New Hampshire.