What's up with Down East?

I have wondered for a long time where the term "Down East" came from. When looking at a map it always appeared to me that I would be going up and then out East from Ontario...not down! Why do we say we are going "Out West" and yet we don't say we are going "Out East"?

Apparently the term as it applies to Eastern Maine originated long ago when ships were sailing from Boston to ports in Maine, which is east of Boston, the wind was at their backs (downwind) so this is why they would say they were going down East. On the return trip they would be going upwind and to this day you will still hear people going from Maine to Boston saying they are "going up to Boston" even though geographically Boston is about 50 miles south of the Maine border.

Canadians refer to the Maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI, as going "Down East" because it is in reference to being "Down" river from more western provinces up the St. Lawrence River.

So there you have it...a little trivia that you can wow all your friends with!