Maine, Put it on your Bucket List!!

Wow, sorry for the delay in posting, but "Can You Hear Me Now?" Verizon doesn't work very well up here in these parts - ok so in Verizons defense, our smartphones are working, we can at least check email and play "words with friends ", but no internet on our Hotspot.  We are now in Southwest Harbor, Mt. Desert (pronounced Dessert) and borrowing the signal from Beal's Lobster shack.  Anyway, we have lots of catching up to do, so here goes.  We've been mostly hanging out in anchorages around Penobscot Bay - each and everyone of them equally beautiful.  We split off from the Krogen boats for a few days, but are now hooked back up with Carina (they have summered in this area for quite a number of years and are very knowledgeable about the Maine cruising thing). Yesterday we purchased six lobsters for $15.00 from a lobster boat in our anchorage - I think we are finally getting the hang of it here. 

Doing the tourist thing and visiting the Wooden Boat School and headquarters for Wooden Boat Magazine.  They provide moorings for anyone wishing to visit - also overnight rentals are available.

Class in session and some pics of different styles of  boats and their progress.

and a completed project.

Carina heading out to our destination for the evening , Buck's Harbor.

  Three masted schooner "Victory Chimes" sailing the Eggemoggin Reach.  Built in 1900 she is one of the few remaining - original - three masted schooners.  

Carina and Last Whale at Buck's Harbor.  We had reservations for dinner at Buck's Restaurant so after happy hour on Moon Star we all headed into town via our dinghy's - dinner was incredible. There is well water  for refilling your water tanks at both the Yacht Club and Buck's Harbor Marina also the grocery store here is great - bread and bakery items by 10:00 in the morning.     

Next morning, Buck's Harbor anchorage - waiting for the fog to lift.

Looks like fog is lifting - time to move on - Moon Star leaving the anchorage.

and as quick as it lifted - it rolled back in again!  Trust me, you don't want to do this kind of traveling for too long - it was a race to get Ibuprofen and a glass of wine as soon as anchor was down.  

At least the slow boats you have a chance of avoiding a collision , but, the lobster boats darting around you  - there is not much of a warning.

And to make things worse, the William Fife boat regatta, and their fans, were all out in the entrance channel to Castine waiting for the fog to lift to start the race. It was a little dicey trying to weave around all those targets.  The fog finally lifted as we approached our "Smith Cove" anchorage.   

Checking out the town of Castine.  It was the last British post to surrender at the end of the American Revolutionary War - only to be recaptured in the War of 1812 - the British finally left in 1815.  This town changed hands some 20 times.   

This one is for my Mom, a retired Postmaster.  Since 1814 the United States oldest Post Office in continuous operation.

  Just liked the steeple on this church - it was designed by the same guy that did the U.S. Capitol and its bell is a genuine Paul Revere.  Ok, enough history of this town.  Tonight will be our last Happy Hour together as a group - Cocktails on Broulee and in the morning splitting off to do our own things.  

Friday morning we motored to Pulpit Harbor on North Haven Island - this was the view from Broulee's cockpit at anchor - I know awful, isn't it.  Then when we thought it couldn't get any better....

the Schooner American Eagle(on the right) and Heritage came sailing into our anchorage.

We thought they were just going to do a sail by, but turns out they were coming in to anchor right next to us. Time to get a glass of wine and enjoy the entertainment.

Getting ready to drop anchors and sails - these guys don't have engines - it was amazing to watch them have complete control under sail. 

Schooner Heritage dropping its jib sail just prior to putting the anchor down.

Anchored and getting the sails down  - Heritage the far boat will be staying for the night - it's the last night out on their week long adventure (it appeared to be adults).  The American Eagle was carrying about 20 young lads around 12 years old.  They did not stay overnight and we got a kick out of watching the boys climbing all over, tripping over lines, dangling from whatever they could dangle from - the crew had their hands full.  Heritage (the far boat) is a 95 foot, 24ft wide vessel built in 1983 along the traditional lines of the schooners that navigated the coastal waters of Maine more than 100 years ago.  American Eagle was launched in 1930 and is 92ft.

American Eagle with it's  20 plus, 12 year old men, heading back to port - ahhh peace and quiet in the anchorage.

Early the next morning, while enjoying coffee on the back deck - the shout out of "all hands on deck" alerted us that "Heritage" was about to weigh anchor.

Raising her sails - no wind in the anchorage to sail her out of the harbor - not to worry....

Lowering the Yawl boat to give her a push out of the harbor.  

Yawl boat still pushing - raising the jib and soon to catch some wind.

Weekends the anchorage fills up with what they call "weekenders"  - the local, still working people, looking for a little R & R.  The mooring balls have been placed here either by "them" or friends of "them" so not recommended to use one on a weekend.  But, during the week - we are learning, you can grab one and use it.  They have a great grocery store here called "The General Store"  the prices are decent because it serves the islanders (not just boaters).  

 Sunday we are back in the fog, again - but we weren't planning on going anywhere anyway.  

There is an eleven foot tidal range - so this would be the dinghy dock near low tide (actually it's already up a couple of feet) and this is the dock at high tide - practically a flat trip to land.

Sounds dangerous and adventuresome .

All you need is some lobster and propane and you are good to go - well maybe some plates and utensils, ok and wine or cocktails and a camp chair, and napkins, lots of napkins -  well at least no lobster smell on the boat.

 Private dock for the locals and their cute little dinghys. 

We decided to walk to the town of North Haven - lots of signals crossed - Rick was under the impression town was a mile (confused maybe because we are always reading the guides about walking to towns) I read it would take about an hour.  Ok, so we made it in 50 minutes and afraid to stop and turn back because it might be around the next bend.  When we finally made the 2 1/2 mile trek, Rick stood in the ice cream line - I was in the shorter, beer line.  Now 2 1/2 miles back to the boat - well we needed the exercise.   

Broulee at anchor Monday morning - Carina showed up in the anchorage yesterday and looks like we will be heading to Seal Cove with them today.   Nice to travel with people that know the area.  Wait till you see the next blog, couldn't believe it would get prettier, but it does.