We have been moving around from one harbor to another and each has it's own appeal. While we were at Holbrook Island we checked out most of the trails, met a number of other people cruising the area.
We also made a trip across the harbor to the village of Castine. We walked around, hit the bakery and walked to a market that specializes in fresh hydroponic vegetables. While there we also bought several lobsters from the seafood truck. Lobster for dinner the next two evenings, delicious!
Sunday morning we decided to leave since we were tired of hearing the boats around us running their generators. We motored out into Penobscot Bay and down to North Haven. There was no wind the entire trip. We motored through North Haven harbor to Vinylhaven Island and picked up a mooring ball in Perry Creek. In the morning we took the dinghy up the creek to the trail head and hiked some of the trails. The area around Perry Creek is set aside as a nature preserve so there are no houses and a lot of trails.
Once back to the dinghy we found the disadvantage of going hiking at high tide. The dinghy was high and dry about four feet above the water. It could have been worse, there is a nine foot tide here. We muscled the dinghy back into the water and we were off for more exploring.
Tuesday morning we made a quick run with the dinghy to North Haven to try to get better cell service and see the town. They have a very nice Watermans Center with free wifi, coffee shop and lounge. We were scheduled for a conference call with our financial adviser so we needed the cell service. Most of the islands we have visited have some cell service but very slow data service. We can get and make calls, texts and emails but cannot get internet access. Once back to the boat we dropped the mooring and motored to Isle au Haut. We were not able to get a mooring in the harbor but got one of the guest mooring just outside the harbor entrance. Just a little further to dinghy to shore. We went ashore and checked out the gift shop and grocery store, both very small since not many people live here. Most of the island is part of Acadia National Park so we walked up to the ranger station to find out about the hiking trails. Most are on the far end of the island. The next morning we took care of some boat stuff and went ashore in the afternoon. The ranger told us that the lighthouse was a short walk away. Off we went. When we got to the light we found that the light was open allowing us to go up into the tower. The old lightkeepers house had been made into an Inn and since no one was there at the moment we got to tour that also.
As we were leaving to go back to the boat we stopped at one of the lobster boats to see if they had any to sell. We offered them $14 since that was all we had on us at the moment. We bought two small and one large lobster. All three were cooked up for dinner.
We had heard that Burnt Coat Harbor on Swan Island was interesting to we dropped the mooring in the morning and wound our way through the lobster pots to check it out. It turned out to be a very nice location, protected from almost all sides and the lobster boats cut their speed to reduce their wakes when they approach the mooring field. We do not usually use mooring, choosing to anchor instead, but the anchorages are all deeper then I care to anchor in. We dinghied around the harbor taking it all in and then retired to the boat. For dinner we had the mussels Cori collected when she was kayaking in Perry Creek. When we picked up the mooring and shut off the engine I heard the water pump running, we were out of water. We carry an extra five gallons in a jerry jug so we were not technically out. We carry 120 gallons of water and we last filled up in Gloucester.
Since we were low on fuel and short on water we decided to make the trip to Rockland for the weekend. Once out of the harbor we were able to sail with just the headsail and mizzen almost all the way. We had to wind around many islands and dodge lobster pots but I had the idea that without the propeller turning we shouldn't have to worry about picking up a pot. At one point they were so thick that I couldn't maneuver around them and suddenly our speed dropped to almost nothing. We had hooked a pot. I went down and tried turning the prop by hand with success. As I turned it the pot came loose and we were free. After a great sail we arrived at Rockland and called a marina to take on fuel, water and rented a mooring for the weekend. We ended up on a mooring next to a boat from Oriental NC, just across the river from our old home and a boat that we were familiar with from listening and checking in with the single sideband radio. Saturday morning we went to town and walked the streets checking out the shops and viewing the harbor. On the way back to the boat we did a dinghy tour of the harbor and got a close up look at several schooners. Those are some beautiful old boats.
Since we have good wifi service I have taken the opportunity to upload the Google map that shows our stops using our Spot locator and pictures. I found that Picasa had been replaced by Google Photos so I am making some changes to accommodate that instead. So far it seems to be working.
Hi you two, you are sure getting a good education on Maine. Take care and we will meet you down the pike
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