Even though Portland is the largest city in Maine, it is possible to leave it behind by taking a short walk along the shore of Casco Bay. A great place to start is the corner of Commercial and Franklin Streets, one of the busiest traffic intersections in the city, and it is also where the Portland Ocean Terminal is located. This building used to be the access point for all of the large ships coming into the city, but now its pier is usually populated by a cluster of red tugboats.
These tugboats escort tankers, cargo carriers and cruise ships to their docks, and one day each summer these hard-working vessels are scrubbed and dressed with fluttering flags. Cheering fans in team-colored T-shirts line their decks and the tugs participate in races on the Fore River and tests of strength where they come nose-to-nose mid-river in pushing and shoving games…
View original post 1,815 more words