Maine
Summer 2015
Rock Hall to Chesapeake CityJune 22, 2015 |
|
![]() |
![]() |
Cape May and Atlantic CityJune 23-24 |
|
2nd day. Chesapeake City to Cape May; 70 nautical miles in 11 hours. Some motoring, some sailing, some motor sailing. Riding the ebb current for part of the Delaware River I was steadily over 9 knots. Two C&D Canal bridges, Miah Maull Shoal light, and Brandywine Shoal light. Violent, scary thunderstorm last night in Cape May, complete with boats dragging through the anchorage, gave way to cooler, less humid conditions today. Had to don a sweatshirt for the sail up here this AM. View of the Atlantic City sky line from where I am anchored today. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
The East River and Hell GateJune 26Thursday's 13 hour motor sailing run from Atlantic City produced no scenery worth photographing. Today, on the other hand, produced many opportunities. A little lighthouse in the lower bay of NY harbor. The VA hospital in Brooklyn where my grandfather Admiral William Burns (USNR) died. One of the Verrazano Narrows Bridge towers. The Manhattan skyline. Statue of Liberty. Two Staten Island ferries. Brooklyn Bridge. Manhattan Bridge. Williamsburg Bridge. Queens pro Bridge with o...ne of the cable car towers for pedestrian transit to Roosevelt Island. A little cottage near the Throgs Neck Bridge. The lighthouse at Stepping Stones near the beginning of Long Island Sound. New York is a special place. Even from the water you can feel the frenetic pace. The number of high speed water taxis and ferries around Manhattan made the East River feel like the inside of a washing machine |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Manhassat Bay (Port Washington) to Port JeffersonJune 29 |
|
80 feet ketch in Manhassat Bay. They were sharing their taste in music with all the boats in the anchorage |
Schooner in Manhassat Bay |
A modest summer house overlooking Manhassat Bay. Actually Port Washington is close enough to Manhattan that this house probably belongs to a titan of Wall Street. |
Another modest summer cottage in Manhassat. Count the windows to get a sense of size |
The same schooner passing the lighthouse outside Manhassat Bay on LI Sound. He sailed the CT shoreline and I chose the LI coast. He was smart and beat me out to Port Jefferson even though he had to sail more miles |
Bye-bye Manhattan skyline as seen from LI Sound |
Cocktail hour on Andante in Manhassat Bay on a cold rainy day. |
|
Fischer's Island to Newport, RIJuly 1Fisher's Island,CT to Newport, RI today. A little slow for the first two hours until the wind filled in from the SE: 16-18 knots with gusts over 20. It was OK since I sailed a broad reach all the way. The confused seas left over from last night's storm meant hand steering all day. Just as I came up on Pt Judith, RI I found s/v Onward on my heels. I hadn't seen Joe for more than a year when I was last in the Bahamas. |
|
The little lighthouse that could in Fisher's Island Sound |
The White House over the stone retaining wall is a private residence on Watch Hill, CT. Does this guy really think that a few stones will hold back the fury of a real North Atlantic storm? |
|
The lighthouse and a small summer cottage on Castle Hill over looking the entrance to Newport, RI |
There are 1000 moorings in Newport harbor with no rationality to the numbering system (pun intended). Good luck finding your assigned mooring |
Summer cottage 1 |
Summer cottage 2 |
Summer cottage 3 |
CuttyhunkJuly 2 - 3With almost no wind, an adverse current and an incessant quartering ocean swell from the southwest I gave up trying to reach the west end of the Cape Cod Canal and turned in to the quaint summer town on Cuttyhunk on the Elizabeth Islands. Summer population maybe a few hundred souls. There are a few more house but is otherwise unchanged from when I was here 24 years ago. |
|
The little community overlooking the anchorage and mooring field |
An eccentric driveway to a private home |
Established in 1604 the town has a long history |
Elementary school and town library. |
The church in which to do penance when you are caught for wrongdoing by the town policeman |
This walled road with cuts for driveways is reminiscent of grandiose failed development projects in the Bahamas. |
Looking up the islands toward the cape. On a clear day Matha's Vineyard would be onthe right edge of the picture. |
|
As in the Bahamas building cairns must be a popular pastime in lightly populated islands. |
A parade? I am afraid I'll miss it |
The power plant and The Avalon, a hotel cum B&B. |
Signage for the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club B&B and the structure itself |
The island's power plant |
This morning the wind is out of the north, exactly where I want to go, and the tide is running against the wind making Buzzards Bay an unpleasant place. Can see a couple of boats that left this morning out there bashing their brains out. This afternoon wind and tide will both shift 180 degrees. Give me a break! Guess I'll stay where I am until tomorrow |
Buzzards BayJuly 4Transited Buzzards Bay today going to Onset, MA. Thought the architecture of the RC church was noteworthy. Cleveland Ledges light house in Buzzards Bay. Schooner William Barrett anchored in Onset Bay. Yesterday evening someone in Cuttyhunk told me that Buzzards Bay is also fondly referred to as Bastards Bay. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
Onset, MAJuly 4I was treated to fireworks displays by all the surrounding communties. It all lasted well over an hour. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
Day's end. Onset, MA. Fireworks to start shortly |
|
Plymouth, MAJuly 5Spent a couple of hours walking around Plymouth. It was very busy with tourists longing for a look at where the Pilgrims landed (not) and 4th of July revelers. |
|
The fabled rock, at least what is left after being split in half, moved around and reassembled in its final resting place |
Massasoit. The native Americans kindnesses were rewarded with disease and massive genocide perpetrated by our paranoid forefathers |
200 people crowded onto this slow and awkward tub. They were taking their lives in their hands |
Aahh, religion in America. Kind of like the conservative justices who claim to know the intent of the writers of the constitution. This church and the stone church in the album both claim to be keeping the true faith of the pilgrims alive. They are right next to one another. |
Seeker of religious freedom or seeker of wealth and power denied to him in England? |
A mill was essential to all early communities |
A monument to all the immigrants that have come to Plymouth since the Pilgrims |
Mile marker |
This is the church to be paired with the white clapboard church posted earlier. It also claims to be 'first church.' |
|
Plymouth to Lynn, MAJuly 6Motored from Plymouth to Lynn today. Diana Buck will be arriving tomorrow to do a bit of sailing, visit with her brother, Christopher Buck, and sister-in-law, Tara buck, and her nieces. Two lighthouses along the way: Stellwagen Ledges and The Graves. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
Salem to GloucesterJuly 9, 2015On 7/9/2015 Diana Buckand I spent the morning exploring Salem. In the afternoon we sailed a beat across Salem Sound toward Gloucester until we had to pas between Great Misery Island and Bakers Island. The second half the trip was under motor; we didn't have the patience to sail a beat dead to windward against the 1+ knot current. |
|
Figurehead on the replica East Indies trading ship Friendship |
During the heyday of the age of sail Salem was an international seaport. During the early years of the republic most federal government revenue came from import duties |
East Indies merchantman replica Friendship |
On the waterfront this building was a warehouse and store for goods from around the world |
The Hawkes House. Begun by Derby as a planned 5000 sq ft home. Instead Derby bought a mansion in town. Hawkes bought it and finished it at 3000 sq ft. That's a lot of house for the early 19th century |
We need more Puritans |
John Ward house built 1684-1723. Within a generation Salem was a wealthy town. |
They are really into the witch thing. |
Witches Memorial. This is a recent build. There are 20 benches for the 19 women and 1 man put to death for practicing witchcraft |
Duh. 19th century town hall being restored |
Federalist House on Chestnut Street |
Diana Buck in front of Pickering House, the oldest frame home in Salem |
Federalist Home on Chestnut Street in the McIntyre District |
The Witch House. 17th century home of judge Jonathan Corwin, who presided over the infamous trials |
When Salem was a major international seaport the merchants built this for their trade association's use |
Anyone know this guy? An outdoor sculpture at the Peabody Museum |
The House of the Seven Gables. A necessary stop for Diana the young literature scholar |
|
GloucesterJuly 10On Friday (710/2015) we did a walking tour of Gloucester. What a contrast to Salem. The city of Salem does not welcome visiting boaters, Gloucester welcomes them. Salem is an up-market tourist town, Gloucester is a real working sea port that happens to be of interest to tourists. At the end of the day Diana Buck found a reference to an artists' colony on the other side of the harbor. This has to be the best kept secret of a wonderful town |
|
Gaff rigged schooner Adventure. Part of the Gloucester Maritime Center exhibit |
A sail assisted ocean going tug from yesteryear with an old schooner behind it. Both are tied up at the Gloucester Marine Railway waiting their turn to be hauled for restoration. |
In addition to Fitz Hugh Lane, the water colorist Winslow Homer, to whom I am related, also painted in Gloucester. This is Homer's rendering of the fishing fleet |
Diana waiting to be fitted for her hard hat diving equipment. There was a time when her uncle Paul Buck dreamt of being a hard hat diver |
A few of the rowing gigs at the Maritime Center |
A building on the waterfront that has been repurposed from its time as a warehouse. Note the oversize doors and beam for block and tackle to get stuff to the upper floors |
The home of Fitz Hugh Lane, a local artist from the age of sail, overlooking the inner harbor |
Fitz Hugh Lane at work |
The iconic sculpture of the Gloucester fisherman at the helm |
The memorial to the wives and children of the fishermen |
This describes how a statue of Jeam d'Arc found its way to Gloucester |
A statue of Jean d'Arc done by a woman in an era when it was thought that it was impossible for a woman to cast a bronze of monumental proportions |
Legion Hall, on the square with the Jean d'Arc statue |
One of the first churches in Gloucester |
Just a pretty house in town. |
The Sargent House. 1782. Built for Judith Sargent Murray, an early feminist writer and social activist. Now a museum. Houses works by Fitz Hugh Lane and John Singer Sargent |
Sculpture in front of the public library |
Town Hall |
Sculpture in front of Cape Ann Museum of Art |
Also at the Cape Ann Museum. Meant to make those of you suffering the heat further south a wee bit envious |
For those of you who think a seafood dinner is found in the frozen food case of the local grocery store |
The dock behind Rocky Neck where we tied the dinghy so we could visit the art galleries |
Our Lady of Good Voyage Church, Gloucester, MA |
The schooner and tug tied up at the marine railway mentioned in an earlier shot. |
A restaurant in Rocky Neck, home of the substantial artists colony |
Pretty house in Rocky Neck, opposite Gloucester, across the harbor |
A few tuna tales on the wharf at Rocky Neck |
Looking down the street filled with art galleries in Rocky Neck |
A sculpture in the garden of one of the Rocky Neck galleries |
On coming into the inner harbour of Gloucester this building is on the starboard side and stands at the beginning of Rocky Neck. Just an interesting old waterfront warehouse. |
Provincetown with the familyJuly 12 |
|
Another boatload of Pilgrims. This one out of Lewes, Delaware |
The Pilgrim Memorial. Really hideous. The Pilgrims first landed on the Cape but immediately got off on the wrong foot with the native Americans and decamped for Plymouth |
|
Sculpture outside the public library |
While Mom and Dad and Olivia had breakfast big sister was napping |
How fitting that the library, a temple of learning and knowledge should look like a church |
Sculpture on the grounds of the art alliance |
|
|
Street scene in Provincetown |
Big sister awake and demonstrating the proper use of a shovel. |
The girls after a long day at the beach |
OMG, it's shark week and there are now seals living on the Cape and attracting Great Whites |
Diana, Jaiden, D, Christopher, Olivia, Tara and Stephen. D and Stephen have rented a house in Truro and made it possible for me and Diana to see Christopher, Tara and the girls |
Diana reading to Jaiden while waiting for food, glorious food. |
This morning as I was leaving Provincetown they were taking the tall ship out for spin |
Gloucester to the waters of MaineJuly 17An addendum that FB wonT allow me to put at the end of the original text: Star Island was settled as a fishing community shortly after Capt John Smith stumbled on the place. In 1873 the Oceanis Hotel, in the photos, was built. In 1916 the hotel and island was acquired by a consortium of universalist, Unitarian and Congregationalist churches. It remains in their hands and hosts many retreats during the summer months. En route from Gloucester around Cape Ann to Plymouth I decided to stop in Isles of Shoals to wait out tomorrow's nasty weather. Technically I have crossed into the waters of Maine. |
|
The lighthouses on Thatcher Island off the SE corner of Cape Ann en route from Gloucester to Isles of Shoals then on to Biddefored Pool |
The hotel at Isles of Shoals. There are a few houses here, but this is NOT Cuttyhunk. The latter is a thriving metropolis by comparison |
A Portsmouth tour boat with the Gosport Ferry in the background |
Appledore Island; Sounds like it should be a place in a Harry Potter novel. |
Isles of Shoals Lighthouse |
The two residences on Smuttynose Island. They are available to people who volunteer to help with the upkeep of the sanctuary. |
The Tuck Monument and the solar array that provides 60% of the island's electricity needs |
The chapel dates from the 19th century. |
A birch bark wigwam. Part of a kid's project. The Native AMericans came out here for the summer fishing. |
New Englanders know about stones. Sometimes you put steps in the stone wall to make it easier to get over it. |
There has been a resident population of fishermen on the island since just after John Smith stumbled on the islands |
The turnstile keeps the cows on their side of the stone wall while allowing people to pass through |
At the Biddeford Pool anchorage: This is what comes to mind when you think of Maine: a cluster of houses perched on an island with no road access. This is in Biddeford Pool. Oh, and by the way, a seal just swam by to say hello. And one more thing: good luck to all my cycling buddies at Masters' Track Nationals at the Giordana Velodrome in Rock Hill, SC |
|
Coastal Maine: Biddeford Pool to Boothbay HarborJuly 19Yesterday when I arrived at Biddeford Pool, after yet another day of motoring with the sail set in order to get a little lift from the insipid wind, the weather forecast for 07/18 was rain and no wind. This morning there was less rain in the forecast and, shockingly, wind! Decided to man-up and brave the rain, after all, I've come a long way in order to sail. The alternative was to wait a day and motor in the forecasted dead calm. Great beam reach in 16-18 knots true out of the south. Along the way I caught sight of the tall ships Oliver Hazard Perry and Picton Castle. USCG Eagle was in the mist somewhere. They were on Casco Bay for a tall ships parade |
|
Remains of a lobster dinner on Andante while anchored in Boothbay Harbor |
Lighthouse at the end of Southport Island on the way into Boothbay |
In Maine they have conifers right down to the water's edge, then park their boats out front |
Tall ship Oliver Hazzard Perry, on the left. Heard this ship and Picton Castle, on the right, on the VHF radio while sailing acrosss Casco Bay |
06 Private island in Boothbay Harbor |
The opera house. And, yes, it is a functioning venue in a place with more t-shirts shops than winter time residents |
Every little town up,here has the obligatory wooden schooner for taking out the tourists |
Boothbay Harbor is made up of art galleries, clothing boutiques, restaurants, and t-shirt shops. And one hardware store to round things out |
The sailors in the crowd will scratch their heads over the mixed rig on this boat. |
Sculpture of seed heads? |
There is a footbridge across one end of the harbor. At one time it had a swing segment in it so boats could get past the bridge. This was the bride tender's house. It is now for sale for a mere $700k |
Every town so far has had a marine railway with wooden boat in the ways that is being rescued; oops, restored |
See the lighthouse picture |
I have been known to feel this way about my own kids. Now I feel this way about people who bring their dogs on their boat with them and anchor next to me |
Always wanted to have a house with a weather vane on it. |
|
Damariscove Island: A remote place on the edge of the AtlanticJuly 22 |
|
![]() |
The fog on the day I came into Damariscove. The boat is only a couple of hundred yards away |
The cottage for the preserve caretaker and the stone wharf built during the heyday of the island. It is reported that at the height of the fishing season there would be 20 - 30 boats in here, anchored fore and aft so they wouldn't swing on the wind and get on the rocks on either side of this very narrow channel |
The ledges on the side exposed to the Atlantic |
Lobster-Zilla has stalked these waters |
One of two towers on the headlands at the mouth of the Damaeiscove Harbor. |
The storms wash the lobster traps up on the rocks |
Rose hip tea anyone? |
The life saving station is now privately owned |
Little Damariscove Harbor. Maybe at one time the residents of the island brought their canoes and dories in here. |
High bush blueberries sustained me on my trek around the island |
Peas I found alongside the trail |
Raspberries. Oh, did I say there was a farming and fishing settlement here in 1602? There was also Timothy and Rye grass in the open areas, testifying to the island's days when had an operating dairy. The motto of Boothbay and Damariscove is "We fed the starving pilgrims |
This area of the island is known as Flat Ledges. The granite was quarried to build the wharf and foundations for buildings on the island |
Just liked the shapes in these rocks |
The eastern tower and the lifesaving station on the west at the mouth to Damariscove Harbor |
Monhegan IslandJuly 23A resort off the coast. Captain John Smith was here. Kind of like 'Washington slept here' in the middle Atlantic region, Capt John Smith stumbled across many coastal Islands. Each of them is proud to claim that heritage. Monhegan is filled with summer tourists and art galleries. This was not a planned stop for me, but the weather and and wind were just right. |
|
2 contented Monhegan residents |
Captain John Smith plaque |
Monhegan lighthouse and museum |
Food store. Not as big as either the Red or Blue Stores on Staniel Cay, Bahamas |
Remains of a ship that came to grief on the southwest coast of Monhegan |
A little agricultural ecological program done with the summer kids |
Public library. Quite a contrast to the one in Salem |
Early morning in Monhegan Harbor. |
Rock bound southern coast of Monhegan |
Not as catchy as the sign on Ocean Cabin. Restaurant on Little Farmers Cay, Bahamas which reads: MOST DAYS ABOUT 9 OR 10 |
God's house undergoing some repairs |
A sampler at Monhegan Brewery. That was a lot of beer for one young man, but I did my best to get through it |
The older houses on Monhegan have naturally weathered gray cedar shingles. The come lately stain their shingles with an awful blue-gray product. Patience is a virtue |
The harbor at Monhegan |
Island Inn. Don't know the room rate, but I saw many small cottages available for $1100 per week. Forget Nantucket and the Vineyard, come here! |
The one room school house. Shared a picnic table at the fish market with a woman who has just spent a year here with her kids: 11, 9,9,6. They attended this school. They are ready to go home |
Monhegan is filled with art galleries. Just a small taste. |
|
IslesboroJuly 25Islesboro is at the upper end of Penobscot Bay, right in the middle. This is a place for the wealthy to remain anonymous during their summer vacation. I came here to see Diana and Stanley Pendleton, owners of Pendleton Yacht Yard, who I met in the Bahamas. |
|
Came across Picton Castle again. This time in Penobscot Bay |
Heritage came into Gilkey Harbor and anchored about 200 feet from me |
These fishermen's shacks are reminiscent of the way things were done on the Eastern Shore of Maryland years ago |
The church in Dark Harbor |
Bustling downtown Dark Harbor |
Met these two characters while walking in the woods |
Summer bungalow belonging to the man who sold US Cellular. Diana Roberts tells me that I got the story wrong: Not quite. He worked at IBM. Stan gets overexcited in his who-did-what stories. Whatever, it's a helluva house. |
The boat on the left is an L. France's Herreshoff (I got that wrong too. It's Sparkman and Stephens) design built in 1935 and restored by Pendleton Yacht Yard. The one on the right was just built by PYY from the original drawings. It was finished with the mast and hardware from another 1935 boat that couldn't be restored. |
Schooner Mary Day |
The third big sailboat to come in while I was at Gilkeu Harbor |
BucksportJuly 26Six generations ago Jonathan Buck was part of a group that founded Bucksport. In the naval debacle known as the battle of Penobscot Bay he lost his ships and the British burned the town. After the war people returned and rebuilt the town. A couple of generations later his progeny founded Bucksport, SC. both parts of the family traded up and down the east coast and the Bahamas. |
|
On the way north to Bucksport, the lighthouse at Fort Point. The waters off Fort Point was the site of the worst naval defeat in U.S. history |
The bridge from the mainland to Verona Island. Almost a bridge to nowhere. This replaces a bridge built in the 1930s that won many award for its aesthetics and engneering innovations. |
The Bucksport waterfront |
A bird taking flight or a whale's pectoral flippers? There is now a waterfront park and walkway along the Bucksport waterfront. When I was here more than a decade ago the town was just a tired paper mill town. Now it is quite attractive |
Even the stoutest seat of learning needs attention. The stone masons are hard at work. The head librarian, Gerri Spooner, has done a lot to document the history of Bucksport. It was through her efforts that a roadside historical marker (now missing) was installed and our family visited Bucksport as part of the dedication ceremony. |
The Johnathan Buck grave is on the other side of the fence. Not long after the stone was put up a stain in the shape of a leg and foot appeared. Naturally a myth soon developed. The short version is that the witch Buck condemned to be burned put a curse on him and the stain is the manifestation. Of course no one had been put to death for witchcraft since the Salem trials. Moreover, Buck was not a judge. |
Bucksport Museum. In the old railroad station |
Pretty house on the waterfront |
This paper plant in town has just closed recently. 500 jobs gone overnight. Devastating loss to the towns tax base. Local wisdom is that it will be demolished and sold for scrap metal. Then what? |
Guildive came in for the festival. She is 90 years old. I knew her as Sixpence when she was owned by Dmitri B. When he found her in Puerto Rico she was a near wreck. He meticulously restored her to her present state. |
On the grounds of Fort Knox. |
Enlisted men's quarters |
Officer's quarters |
Arnold's brick ovens for making bread to feed the troops |
Looking across the top of Fort Knox toward Bucksport. Andante is a speck on the water to the left of the flag pole. |
Fort Knox overlooking the river and Bucksport. It was begun in 1844 and never completed. |
BelfastJuly 28 |
|
Alex and Ann Jervis (s/v Raven) at Young's Lobster Pound |
American Cruise Line "Independence" |
Young's Lobster Pound. The ordering counter and kitchen are mayhem, but it all seems to work out. See the picture below. |
One of the local rowing gigs. These boats are a far cry from the boats folks like Darrell Vreugdenhil and Rob Lea rowed in the Olympics |
![]() |
Tanks of lobsters, the price list, and customers waiting to pick up their dinner. |
The sort of thing you can take out of the water with your 440 ton lift. See the picture of the lift in tomorrow's post. |
Something else to put in your ginormous lift |
Belfast Museum |
Photo bomb. Me sporting my new Pendleton Yacht Yard t-shirt in front of the museum. |
Annie and Alex Jervis came to First Church to renew their vows. LOL! |
One of the early commercial banks in Belfast |
Public library, old and new. Built by a single benefactor rather than by the municipal government. |
19th century commercial hub |
Odd Fellows Building. Commercial and residential 19th century building |
Something else to put in the slings of that 440 tons lift |
Then of course you could pick these out of the water also. Notice the size of the ten wheeler truck in the background |
And you wondered what happened to the soup-nazi after Seinfeld came to a close |
State of Maine training ship out of Castine. Owned by Maine Maritime Academy |
|
Belfast, MaineJuly 29, 2015Apparently there was a sculpture contest for the design of public seating. Below are examples of the entries. |
|
440 ton lift at a First Street Shipyard. This lift has a capacity about nine times as great as anything to be found in Rock Hall. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
July 30, 2015 Islesboro to Buck's Harbor |
|
![]() Lighthouse at Pumpkin Island on the way to Buck's Harbor and the western end of Eggemoggin Reach |
![]() They like their wooden boats here in Maine. This one was at Gilkey Harbor on Islesboro
|
![]() Pendleton Yacht Yard owns this landing craft. Stanley had a second one, but sold it to a contractor planning to use it in the Bahamas. This one is used in various projects around Islesboro. Its name is 'Sunset Destroyer.' Ya gotta love Stanley's sense of humor.
|
![]() A beautiful sail up here from Islesboro. Close reach and close hauled in 10-11 knots apparent
|
![]() A floating summer cottage in the mooring field of Buck's Harbor
|
![]() Brooksville, the postal address of Buck's Harbor, has an art gallery, a church, a market, a restaurant, and a library. What more could you want
|
![]() Two of the diners at Buck's Restaurant. The yellow sign says the have been waiting 8 years for a table because they never made a reservation
|
![]() |
![]() Community center and library
|
![]() |
![]() Quintessential Maine |
There is no doubt I am in Maine |
July 31 - August 1, 2015
At the Wooden Boat School and Regatta on Eggemoggin Reach, Buck's Harbor to Babson Island
|
|
![]() Heading out to the course |
Heading out to the course. |
![]() Now hold on a minute, you can't play with the big kids |
![]() The race fleet
|
![]() |
![]() This boat finished in less than 2.5 hours, more than an hour ahead of the bulk of the fleet |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Not only is this boat wooden, but her hull is varnished not painted. Same with the other one in the album that looks yellow |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() 17. Part of the fleet coming in under spinnaker. The breeze out there is 15 or more knots |
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Fog lifting from Buck's Harbor at the west end of the Eggemoggin Reach. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() Each student is making their own copy of one of these two sailing dinghies. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() The workshop. |
![]() Store and offices. |
August 2 - 4, 2015 Scenes from Mt Desert Island |
|
![]() Two storefront signs for Diana Buck, the literature major. |
![]() Gallery row in Northeast Harbor. This is about the some total of the village. |
![]() War memorial to the fallen of Mt Desert. |
![]() For my cycling friends. Maybe all the cyclists who compete at T-town should participate en masse at the next 4th of July parade? |
![]() Typical trail marker at Acadia National Park. |
![]() How do you capture in a still photo the scent of the pine trees, the wind rustling them, and the trickle of water bubbling over the stones in the trail side brook? |
![]() Warning: Don't desecrate the trail markers. |
![]() Trail marker cairn. The second type of trail marker to be seen in the park. |
![]() Whew, I made it up Goat Trail. |
![]() Cranberry Isles from top of Norumbega Mtn |
![]() The fog is just starting to roll in from the valley below that is Northeast Harbor, announcing the advancing cold front. |
![]() Bridge over the brook feeding Hadlock Pond. |
![]() Hadlock Pond Brook. |
The switchback approach to Thuya a Cottage and Gardens. The approach is called Asticou Ledges. |
Climbing the ledges to Thuya Lodge and Gardens there are three overlooks. When I was there the fog completely shrouded Northeast a Harbor. There was nothing to over look. |
![]() Mother Nature can be cruel. |
![]() Another overlook on Asticou Ledges. |
![]() Thuya Lodge. |
![]() The last overlook. |
![]() |
![]() A quiet place to contemplate the gardens. Note to parents: unruly kids should be left at home or fed to the lobsters. Actually the kids werent't so bad; just energetic and running about trying to compose photos. |
![]() This member of the rhododendron family was in bloom on August 3; unheard of in Philadelphia. |
![]() My attempt to catch the switchbacks on Asticou ledges. |
An unusual fog event: the sun is trying to peak under the clouds while the fog is obscuring the lower elevations and harbor. Note the silhouettes of the tree tops. |
![]() Another view of the switchbacks at Asticou Ledges. |
In the opening frame you can see the north end of Somes Sound; about as close as we get to a fjord in North America. In the following frames you get Parkman and Sargent Mtns |
A moose and lobster claws as decorative motifs. Actually this did not seem to be atypical of the design sense in the little bit of Bar Harbor that I saw |
|
August 5, 2015 En Route to Little Cranberry Island I poked my nose into Somes Sound |
|
![]() Entrance to Somes Sound; America's fjord. Acadia Mountain on the left and Norumbega Mountain on the right. The Sound is about 1/4 mile wide and about 4 miles long. |
![]() The granite wall overlooking Valley Cove on Somes Sound. |
Little Cranberry Island: Islesford is another one of those places in which the summer residents and local fisherman live side-by-side, to the benefit of both. The little town is also home to a small museum administered by the National Park Service. A really idyllic place, at least in summer |
|
![]() The shops and restaurant wharf in Islesford. |
![]() The museum was first opened nearly a century ago by a summer resident escaping the summer heat of Philadelphia |
![]() The public wharf has scores of lobster traps waiting to be put out to catch dinner for us. |
![]() The public wharf has scores of lobster traps waiting to be put out to catch dinner for us. |
![]() Congregational Church. |
![]() The post office and a struggling general store share space. I have more food stocks on my boat than are available in the little store. |
![]() The mosquitoes and flies of Maine are keeping its wilderness resources safe: carrying away the children and strictly enforcing the speed limit so that it is easier for them to chase us down. |
![]() Private residence with the town miniature golf course in the front yard. |
![]() The Catholic Church. |
![]() The public library and town meeting hall. |
![]() As a minister who has obtained his ordination online, Jeff Janacek needs to add a warning like this one, in yellow at bottom right, to the stern of Adirondack "Caution Pastor Stay Back 50 Feet". |
![]() Could this be Bullwinkle the moose? If the flies and mosquitoes don't get you this guy will. |
![]() You can never have too much lobster. Do we have to add lobster to the list of varmints to beware of while tramping the byways of Maine. |
![]() Yeah, more lobster! |
![]() Little Cranberry Lighthouse, now a private residence. Where was I when the federal gov't was selling off all the Coast Guard Stations and lighthouses? |
![]() A boat in which to go after the lobstahs. |
![]() Bas relief of Islesford dock hanging over a fisherman's garage door. |
![]() Part of the herb and vegetable garden belonging to the islesford dock restaurant. |
![]() The side of the Islesford Dock Restaurant building where the sun don't shine. |
A panoramic video of the anchorage at Little Cranberry |
August 9, 2015 Leaving Mt Desert |
|
![]() Au revoir Mt Desert. |
![]() Ile au Haut lighthouse. My intent had been to stay the night in the harbor, there were no clearly marked rental moorings, the harbor was full of lobster pots, one boat was already anchored in the channel, it looked like another thunderstorm was looming to the NE. Just seemed like a fuster cluck waiting to happen. Pressed on to Vinalhaven instead |
![]() Winter Harbor anchorage, Vinalhaven. Granite block house and wood barn on the edge of a small meadow. |
![]() On my return visit to islesboro I espied this addition to Stanley's landing craft. Is this his new man-cave, or the honeymoon suite for son Gabe's pending marriage? |
![]() Summer rental in Port Clyde with a waterview. |
![]() Port Clyde lighthouse. You have to have a way to get out there and change the lightbulb. |
August 11, 2015
The Basin on the New Meadow River to Biddeford Pool ![]() |
![]() Downtown Biddeford Pool. The price of Lobstahs was double the price in Port Clyde. Maybe there is an arbitrage opportunity here. |
![]() This bell hung in the Wood Island Lighthouse at Biddeford Pool |
![]() No one would mistake this for the Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, MA |
August 15, 2015 Isles of Shoals to Gloucester |
|
![]() New Catle Light at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor. |
![]() Kittery Point Light at the entrance to Portsmouth Harbor |
![]() Abandoned Light at Kittery on the entrance to Portsmouth. |
![]() Au Revoir Isles of Shoals |
![]() Trapped like a rat, er, lobster in a display at the waterfront museum in Gloucester. |
![]() Character schooner in Gloucester readying to take out a boatload of tourists. |
![]() Bringing back memories of middle school history class. |
|
August 16, 2015
Provincetown to Hadley Harbor ![]() Transiting the Cape Cod Canal with the west bound Bruce A. MacCallister tug-and-tow heading for New York just after another passed us going east bound. |
|
August 18, 2015
Hadley Harbor to Newport |
|
![]() Awaiting restoration at the International School of Yacht Restoration. |
![]() Schooner undergoing restoration at ISYR. This is about five years into the project. |
![]() If only I could look this good after restoration. |
![]() A home of the not so wealthy in Newport. |
![]() The home of one of those who provided services and built homes for the rich of the Gilded Age. |
![]() Newport Public Library |
![]() |
![]() Tennis Hall of Fame, in Newport, America's yachting capitol? |
![]() For Alex and Annie Jervis, owners of the J42 Raven. Didn't realize their fame was so widespread. |
![]() Port Judith, harbor of refuge southeast of Newport and on the way to either Block Island or east to Fisher's Island and then Long Island Sound. |
August 20, 2015
Great sailing today. Ghosting along at barely 4 knots early in the morning, then hitting more than 8 knots in the afternoon.Port Jefferson to Port Washington |
|
![]() |
![]() |
August 21, 2015
Through Hell Gate and the East River to Sandy Hook, NJ. Southport on the East River, a view of the new World Trade Center, and Lady Liberty. Rode the tide all the way from Manhassat Bay.
Manhassat Bay (Port Washington) to Sandy Hook ![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
August 22, 2015
81 miles in 12 hours, motor sailing downwind under Genoa from Sandy Hook to Atlantic City. Found a quiet anchorage in St George's Thorofare Bay (Brigantine Bay) just across the inlet from the casinos. BTW, it was possible to see the tallest of the shoreside casinos from nearly 30 miles away. Regarding the anchorage: For simplicity we'll say the Atlantic City inlet runs East-West. Do not go all the way to the bridge. proceed west past R12 until you can line up the entrance into Brigantine Bay. It will look very narrow. It is narrow. on your way north into the cut there will be poles with red triangles on them. Favor the port side with the grass. As you come to the north end of the cut you will see a grass island; keep it on your starboard side. Just as you come upon the island there will be some green marks on poles; honor them on your port side. We did not explore the little bay very much. The depths we saw in there were 7-9 feet at low tide, less than shown on the chart. On exit do not cut close to the little island, now on port.Sandy Hook to Atlantic City |
|
![]() |
![]() |
August 23, 2015
Atlantic City lighthouse is now obscured by the casinos on the waterfront. Like many places I visited this summer Cape May has its touristic 2x daily schooner cruise.Atlantic City to Cape May |
|
![]() |
![]() |
August 24, 2015
Motor sailing all day on a run downwind. Miah Maull Shoal Lighthouse is largely white from the sea gull guano. That's a big ship trying to get under the bridge at Chesapeake City.Atlantic City to Chesapeake City |
|
![]() |
![]() Grand Pearl is a car carrier; probably 8,000 cars. She is 600 feet long and 100 feet wide and draws 27 feet of water. My guess is that her stacks and antennae are about 70 feet above the waterlin. The bridge clearance is 135 feet and the canal is 400 feet wide between the bridge towers. Anyway, she made, steaming through without even slowing |
![]() |
August 26, 2015
Got back to Rock Hall yesterday. 1,600 nautical miles, 245 engine hours, not much wind for nine weeks. But fabulous scenery in Maine and a fine time with friends made in the Bahamas and Rock Hall |