I’m not sure if Angel Chuck Billy ever really wanted this tour stop shared. He took his role as manager for Asa’s World Tour of Maine very seriously, meticulously researching each stop along the way. What he didn’t realize was that a place we’ve been visiting for years, actually fit the tour criteria of a Maine town named for a prominent city in the world. Angel Chuck Billy made that connection last fall, and we laughed as we posed at the town sign for Lubec, Maine.

Lübeck is a northern German city distinguished by Brick Gothic architecture, which dates to its time as the medieval capital of the Hanseatic League, a powerful trading confederation. Incorporated in 1811 as the 188th town in Maine, Lubec was named after Lübeck in Germany, because of its resemblance to that town. According to MaineMemory.net, “Jonathan Weston suggested the name for one of the German free cities because of its shape, location and the fact that trading was as ‘free’ as anywhere in the country.” Alright, truth be told Angel Chuck Billy assumed it was a French name, being so close to the Canadian border, and so many other places in the area being of French origin. Regardless, once part of Eastport, Lubec became the easternmost town in the contiguous United States. Not to be confused with Eastport, which is the easternmost city in the continental United States. Confused? Yes, me too. But it wouldn’t be the first time!

Over the years we have made many unofficial tour stops in Lubec. In fact, Quoddy Head State Park will forever be our happy place. It was love at first sight when we first visited in 2016. Since that time we have greeted numerous sunrises there, pondered many deep thoughts while relaxing on its cliffs, and made countless memories.

There was also the time we hiked Klondike Mountain. More of a hill at 150 feet in height, the summit loop trail is just a half mile. But don’t let the short distance fool you! It is a steep and difficult climb, and not recommended for all dogs. Also you won’t find gold at Klondike Mountain, like Chuck Billy had assumed when we visited in 2022. You will find views of Cobscook Bay, South Bay, Lubec, Eastport, and Campobello Island. It is named for a nineteenth century get rich quick scheme of extracting gold from sea water, so I guess Chuck Billy wasn’t the first to get fooled in Lubec!

We enjoyed a much easier on the paws walk at Old Farm Point Shorefront Park. This 16 acres park offers open fields, scenic views of Lubec and Johnson Bay, and has access to a small rocky beach. Best of all, this working hay farm allows dogs off-leash. Oh and for those looking for a clean outhouse in this area, the one here got Mom’s approval, at least on the day we visited 3 years ago.

Anyways, I digress. Upon realizing his mistake, Chuck Billy promised that we’d return in 2025 to do a proper tour stop in Lubec. Sadly, Angel Chuck Billy was not able to fulfill that promise. But a promise is a promise! Therefore all this week I’ll be taking you for a my recent walkabout in Lubec, Maine’s eastern most town! I visited some very scenic trails, marveled at sculptures that honored and memorialized Lubec’s connection to the sea, and even took a stroll on a beach where tree stumps from a primeval forest can be seen at low tide. All of which I’ll share in the days ahead!