Prouts Neck Cliff Walk

Saturday, April 29, 2023 

Hi Blog!

After a short and fun visit with family, we have left Connecticut and now find ourselves in Scarborough, Maine. We last visited this area in August 2012, and the weather was warm enough that we were able to paddle Scarborough Marsh. Being here in April is completely different than August. Gone are all the summer beach goers and the tall marsh grass. We can now see the Nonesuch River and the various sinks and pans across from our campsite.

Several days of rainy weather are heading our way. This may be our only chance to get out and explore the area. After driving all day yesterday, we were not eager to go far. Lucky for us, we are just a few short miles from Scarborough Beach State Park and the Prouts Neck Cliff Walk. After failing to find parking at the east end of the Cliff Walk, we decided to park at the State Park and approach the Cliff Walk from the west end.

After paying our entrance fee, we walked out past Massacre Pond toward the beach. The area around Scarborough had been invaded by Europeans around 1631. At that time, the coastal areas of Maine were populated by the Sokokis Indians. They called the Scarborough area, Owascoag, "land of much grass," because of the extensive salt marsh. As more Europeans began to arrive, the local tribes attempted to run them off. Several settlers were killed. Hence the name Massacre Pond.

As we arrived on the beach, the tide was going out - a perfect time to hunt for rocks, shells and sea glass. Several locals were out walking their puppies on the beach. We had a lovely chat with two of them. One turned out to be the actor, Michael Murphy, while the other woman had grown up on Prouts Neck. They both lived nearby and had taken their puppies for a beach walk. They told us how the Cliff Walk had been closed since September when a tourist fell off the cliff and died. Several improvements to the trail had been made since then,  and it is now reopened.

We bade our new friends farewell and headed up the cliff.

The old pump house belongs to the Black Point Inn. Originally known as the Southgate House, it was once one of the many grand hotels to call Prouts Neck home. Today, its the last remaining hotel on Prouts Neck, and a true historical Maine hotel.

Prouts Neck was beloved by the famous painter Winslow Homer, whose family owned a cottage around the corner from the Black Point Inn. Mr. Homer spent over 25 years on Prouts Neck, painting and drawing inspiration from the sea. 

We also felt inspired as we trekked along the rocky shoreline.

There is so much color and texture. The light was constantly changing.

In one part of the hike, we were high above the surf. The next section brought us right down next to the water. Always on the search for treasure, Kathy scans the shore line.

A massive storm hit the Maine coast back in December. We noticed several lobster traps, buoys and general flotsam and jetsam along this part of the walk.

At first, we thought these two ducks were different. As it turns out, male Eider Ducks are white and black with a soft suffusion of green on the nape. Females vary from rich brown to cold grayish, always with extensive black barring covering body and wings.

As we reached the east end of the trail, Dave did his best William impression.

Kathy, on the other hand, was more interested in the tide pools. There were lots of clear looking critters swimming about. We later learned that they were lobster larvae. Lobster eggs get tossed about in the surf and can end up in tide pools, where they can hatch, and the little larvae, if they are lucky, can wait until the next high tide before floating back out into open water.

We found a memorial bench along the trail and it made the perfect spot to stop for lunch.

Before long, it was time to head back to Scarborough State Park.

We continued our search for treasure and found several common ringed plovers dancing along the surf.

As we made our way back to the Jeep, we discovered new life in Massacre Pond. The resident goose couple quickly led their three little charges away from the dangerous humans.

Back at the RV, we are preparing for several days of rain. We will see what indoor activities we can come up with. In the meantime, stay thirsty, my friends.