Broken toe and bad haircuts

We have been on the boat for over a month now and really starting to miss the grandkids and the gym, I broke my toe and have cut my own bangs (the last two are not very pretty).  Really still loving Maine, but Sommes Sound, Mt. Desert  is probably as far "downeast" as we will go.  Formulating plans as to where we will leave the boat mid-September, while we go back home for a couple of months - the most likely spot would be Atlantic Yacht Basin in Great Bridge, VA - so we are looking at, at least three more weeks of travel on the boat.  We are not done with Maine yet, just setting our sights on the barn.  Rick discovered a leak in the generator heat exchanger, so a new one has been ordered and should be in Rockland, Maine at Landings Marina on Monday afternoon.  Next stop Rockland, Maine (Sunday morning, waiting for fog to lift).  

On Monday the 6th, we motored to Seal Cove anchorage and snooped around with the dinghy in all the coves - lots of pretty pink granite ledges and LOTS of seals.  

  Tuesday morning, up early with plans for breakfast in Stonington before we anchor at Deer Isle in Hells Half Acre.  Sunrise at Seal Cove.

Better yet, sunrise on a Krogen (Carina) in Seal Cove.

At the entrance to the cove, appropriately named Seal Cove - we found them sunning on a rock ledge at low tide (unfortunately not a very good pic - into the sun).

  

Carina attempting to anchor in Stonington Harbor - turned out not to be a good idea, so we moved on, to our anchorage for the evening, Deer Isle at Hells Half Acre.  Adorable town, Rick and I took the dinghy back to Stonington for some lunch and to check out the sights.

This is the way to get to shore in the "olden days" - the people with the oars are actually paying the other two people in the for an aft - for the joy of  paddling them to shore - I want that job.

and more of the harbor - as you can see we are at low tide, either climb a ladder or find a floating dock and use the ramp.

Again, another beautiful anchorage.

Then on our way back from Izzy's walk on the island - we ran into a lobsterman checking his traps - 6 lobsters for $15.00 can not believe it.  See Izzys wet head - yes we have a wet black lab onboard, again and  now some stinky lobster.

We selected a couple for dinner and started the lobster pot boiling.

Winner, Winner Lobster Dinner.

Heading to Southwest Harbor on Mt. Desert -the lighthouse at Bass Head Harbor.

Izzy and Rick returning from a potty run in Southwest Harbor.  Notice that brown spot on the front -  that is from our low tide issue at Block Island - we kept trying to pull the dinghy back to the water - one big pull almost landed us in the drink - when the handle separated from the boat.  We have since purchased a repair kit and hope to get the handle re-attached ( I guess more for aesthetic reasons, certainly not for pulling  a five hundred pound dinghy across 10 feet of rock)  -  after 11 years,  it's still a learning experience.

Approaching Southwest Harbor - Mt. Desert in the background.

and more lobster - I know it's a sin to say this, but getting tired of lobster - dying for a good Midwestern ,
Beef Angus steak.

The view from our back deck - Southwest Harbor, Mt. Desert

Carriage House behind the big house - I totally have this on the list of projects for when we get home.

and then more fog.

You can actually see it rolling over the hills back into the harbor.  So now I have frizzy hair with a bad bang cut - nice.

Too clean and pretty for lobstering, although it appears to be a working boat.

  While waiting for the fog to lift, we hopped the free shuttle bus, Island Explorer and went to Bar Harbor.  The buses do the entire island, including Acadia National Park in hopes of eliminating car traffic and exhaust. They run on propane.  It features nine bus routes linking towns, hotels, inns and campgrounds.

.Main drag, Bar Harbor  looking down at the water front.

The flowers are beautiful - it must be all the fog.  

More of Bar Harbor - we searched out an ice cream shop that was mentioned on the TV show "The View". Mt. Desert Ice Cream was selected as being one of the top five ice cream makers in the nation.  In need of his daily ice cream fix, Rick decided to see if it was true.  Tuff job, but someone has to do it.

The town has two locations, one is on Main Street (where President Obama had his coconut cone) and the second is on Firefly Lane where Mr. Smith had his nutella and coffee and yes, it was too die for.

Then some exercise was needed - so we hoped on the bus and visited Asticou Gardens.

and another Smoke Bush.

Sommesville on Sommes Sound.  In 1761 Abraham Sommes started the first permanent settlement on Mt. Desert.  The Historical Society is on the sight of the original homestead.  In it's heyday, seven mills, five shipyards and four blacksmith shops crowded the little town.  It is now just a peaceful, pretty town.  We anchored in Sommes Harbor - Sommes Sound - technically this is the only fjord on the Eastern Atlantic Seaboard, nothing like the fjords of Norway, but still very pretty. Hoping to get some pictures when we motor back down, but foggy again today and not looking good for pics.

Garden in Sommesville - looking out over harbor.

Rain and more fog on Saturday - we caught the bus into Bar Harbor and then picked up a connecting bus to Sand Beach and then hiked to Thunder Hole. Perfect thing to do on a rainy foggy day - NOT!

Shoreline between Sand Beach and Thunder Hole.

 
Thunder Hole - not blowing.

and this is about as good as it got for us - about five feet high.

This would be a perfect 10 day - I borrowed this pic, just to show you what it should look like - water shooting above ground out of the hole.

and looks like Izzy kept herself busy while we were gone.

Last night - fog falling down the mountain.  Sommes Harbor - Mt. Desert.  Captain Rick on Good Forturne - this would be a "pinch me moment".