Iron Sharpening Iron

(2022 Newfoundland Ep 3)

Prov 27:17 gives a perspective on the value of a friend.  “Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.”  Indeed, caring friends are blessing and a treasure for life.   

Old friends

As we continued northward to Newfoundland, Pat and I caught up with an iron-sharpening friend like this.   We visited Norm Maclean, a long-time friend who moved from Jacksonville to New Hampshire (via Massachusetts) more than 25 years ago. 

Norm and I started working Prudential Financial around the same time in 1978 and became lunch buddies.  During after-lunch walks Norm shared his faith in Jesus Christ with me.  I was what today would be best described as a ‘seeker,’ one who has questions about the Christian faith.  Norm patiently answered my faith questions day after day, and after Pat and I were married in 1980, I trusted Christ and became a Christian on December 21, 1980.

Many historic mills, like this one in Exeter, have been converted to condos, apartments and businesses

Our friendship continued with weekly racquetball games until Norm married and moved to Massachusetts in the mid-90s.   

We’ve kept in touch via phone calls, emails and a few short visits over the years.  This time we had more than two days to reconnect.

Norm now lives in Exeter, NH, a few miles west of Portsmouth.  Exeter’s claim-to-fame is a story of a UFO abduction that allegedly took place in the ‘60s.  They even have a UFO festival in early September that Norms says is a sight to behold.  We’re sorry we’ll miss it!

It was hot – even for Florida

We arrived on a very hot Sunday afternoon and after setting up at our campsite, we joined Norm for ice cream and conversation on the Exeter waterfront.  We learned about the church he attends and updated Norm on what was happening at our church, Christian Family Chapel.  Ice cream finished, we took an after dark walk around Phillips Exeter Academy and several other downtown buildings.

The next morning it was drizzling lightly and much cooler.  After touring Exeter a bit more, we drove a short ways to Portsmouth.  Norm showed us some of his favorite places and we had lunch at Geno’s Chowder and Sandwich Shop on the waterfront.  Because Geno’s lobster rolls were rather pricey, we opted for chowder.  Our wait person brought samples of lobster, fish and clam chowder (all were great), and we decided on clam.

Chowda and fellowship at Genos

After lunch we walked to the nearby Trial Gardens, flower gardens on the Portsmouth waterfront that have a beautiful assortment of flowers and ornamental plants.  Pat really liked that! 

Enjoyable flowers and ornamental plants at Trial Gardens on the Portsmouth waterfront

We finished the day with a stop at Jenness State Beach, where Norm likes to surf.  The waves were small and the boards were long, but they really do surf in New Hampshire!

One of many port fortifications in the Portsmouth area

Interesting bunker reflection

The next morning we returned to Portsmouth to visit a number of interesting fortifications that overlook the mouth of the Piscataqua River. around the port.  Portsmouth has long been deemed to have strategic value and the fortifications were built to protect the port from invasion from Britain (revolutionary and 1812 wars) and Germany (WWI and WWII).  We had a picnic lunch at Fort McClary State Historic Site in Maine on the north side of the river and learned that location has been repurposed for each of the wars above. 

Fortifications on both sides of the river ranged from a large wooden tower with narrow slots for cannons and muskets to large concrete bunkers that contained large 20-in guns, like those found on battleships.   At Odiorne State Park in New Hampshire we hiked to several large concrete structures that once housed large guns and are now covered with graffiti.  The massive bunkers reminded Pat and me of the Dharma Initiative on the TV series Lost.

Later, we rode our bicycles around Portsmouth to see a number of old homes and a few cemeteries, and enjoyed pizza in the basement of Portsmouth Gas Light Co. in the bustling and beautifully-restored Portsmouth downtown area.  What history were in those walls.

Piscataqua River panorama from Fort McClary

After our two day visit, we said farewell to Norm.  Our trip resumed north the next morning to Acadia National Park up the Maine Coast.

In closing, take the long road to visit friends and family as you travel.  You’ll never regret taking time to reconnect and never know what Rabbitrails you’ll experience in the process.