In 2011 we pushed our way further east in Maine and explored some out-of-the-way places. Luke, the dog, was generally good company, although he appeared to be upset when the boat lurched in rough weather and he then wanted physical contact with us at a time when we were busy sailing the boat. For the most part it was just Janet, Luke and me sailing togther for nearly 8 weeks, but we were joined by our friend Rich Howard for 3 days and friend Stuart Gannes for 5 days.
After some weather delays, we left Keyport on June 26, with an easy ride to Glen Cove. We noticed that a new World Trade Center was rising. Nearly 10 years before when we returned from our first trip to Maine we sailed past lower Manhattan just 2 weeks before 9/11.
Our second day out we had an uneventful ride to Sachem Head, CT, followed by an extremely rolly night at a mooring. Unlike past years, this year, there was little fog in Maine; some of the worst fog was between Sachem Head, and Noank. When we turned the radar on as we left Sachem Head, we discovered that it had failed, perhaps provoked by the rolling the previous night. At Noank, the following morning, marking our 42 wedding anniversay, Janet hoisted me up the mast, but I was unable to open the radome, where I had suspected a bad connection. The radome was suspect because the radar occasionally came back to life; these events seemed to coincide with my jostling the radome with a halyard. I had never gone up the mast before, but this winter, prodded, and belayed by friend Edwin Muth, I tried some indoor rock/wall climbing in NJ, so I overcame some fear of dangling from ropes.
We pushed on to Dutch Harbor in Naragansett Bay where we hired professional riggers to go up and open the radome. They found nothing amiss. I had called Kemal of Pro Marine Electronics (who had wired my boat) to see if he had any spare cables (since I now suspected a bad cable) and he reminded me of a splice in the radar cable at the nav station. I reseated the cable at the splice, and the radar worked for the rest of the trip. Many thanks to Kemal.
We spent 3 days in Naragansett Bay fussing with the radar, and then we were off to Quissett. LIke much of the cruise this year, there was little wind, but the weather was fine and we escaped the horrid heat of the NYC area.
Quissett is a favorite stop. Moorings are always available and there is a fine walk for Luke to the "Knob" overlooking Buzzrds Bay. At the Knob, Luke usually gets more than his fair share of compliments from other walkers.
Again we spent the 4th at Provincetown. Luke was a great icebeaker, helping us to chat with many folks as we waited for the parade. He barked at each explosion of the fireworks that evening.
From Ptown, it was an easy, but windless, and whaleless ride to Gloucester, where Shana and Dave met us for dinner on the boat. The usually nasty 80nm ride to Potts Harbor on Casco Bay, turned out to be an easy motor sail, accompanied by visits of minke and finback whales. On July 7, we were in Tennants Harbor and began our summer campaign to control the lobster population. Luke did his share, eating the feelers and some of the guts, as well as a few french fries.
July 9: We have always enjoyed Smith's Cove, just past Castine. There is a fine spot for gathering mussels at a tidal waterfall.
We spent a few days in Penobscot Bay, and then moved on to Northeast Harbor on July 11. Most evening we would hike up Eliot Mountain, passing through Asticou Terraces, and a fine view of the harbor. There was also the now annual hike up Pemetic Mountain.
The Rockefellers have a large tract of land adjacent to Acadia National Park that includes Long Pond, some carriage roads, as well as fields and woods. The area, which is reachable by bus, is open to the public and dogs are allowed off leash. It is a great place to meet people and let your dog run free. It is also beautiful. From Long Pond it is a few miles' hike along Jordan Stream to Jordan Pond where there are buses back to Northeast Harbor.
On July 13, we had a forecast for four days of good weather, so we decided to head toward the east end of Maine. Despite the forecast, the first day out, there were storms (seen here from Schoodic Point looking to Mount Dessert). Fortunately, our boat was safely at a mooring in Winter Harbor.
We gave the weather an extra day to settle and on July 15 we motor sailed to Roque Island, nearly as far east as you can go without crossing into Canada. There was only one other boat anchored in the mile-wide lagoon. Luke was thrilled to run free on the sandy beach. Roque was the highlight of our trip. We almost had sailed to the end of the US.
Leaving Roque, we could see Grand Manan Island in Canada. Atmospheric conditions made it look like an island mesa.
From Roque, we sailed by Mistake Island, but decided it was too exposed for overnight anchoring.
Leaving Mistake Island, we went to the Cows Yard, which is well protected.
We spent 2 nights in Jonesport, waiting for fair wind before heading west, back to Northeast Harbor. Jonesport has a few moorings for cruisers, but it is a working harbor, which was fine with us.
We left Northeast Harbor on July 21 in thick fog and calm air headed for Frenchboro on Long Island. By the time we were in open water the fog lessened, but we had over 20 knots of wind on the nose and rough seas. We were happy to get a secure mooring deep in Frenchboro harbor. Later, we hiked out to the windward side of the island.
Northeast Harbor is so convenient with bus access to Acadia and the dog park at Long Pond, and dinghy access to Asticou Terraces and Eliot Mountain. At the dog park Luke enjoyed the company of his friend Ella, while Janet and Ella's owner picked blueberries.
Rich Howard joined us at Northeast Harbor and toured Mt. Dessert with us. We also made a quick trip to Frenchboro, this time in mild conditions.
Stuart Gannes joined us in Rockland on August 2 and the next day we sailed to Isle Au Haut, popping in on short notice on his friends George and Fannie, who graciously invited to stay for drinks and snacks.
Superb canine crew - on watch - barks as required.
In past years we always sailed right past Muscongus Bay. This year we decided to explore the bay. We passed through Friendship Harbor and anchored in tiny Bremen Harbor. Believe it or not, Janet and Stuart were discussing technology while sitting on the rocks.
It was a cold ride on the open ocean. Then on to the back waters of Casco Bay and the Basin, which is supposed to be warm enough for swimming. Janet was not sure about that.
Stuart left us in Portland and then we made a quick run to the Handy Boat Marina in nearby Falmouth where we stayed for three nights while it rained like mad. When the weather cleared we had a fine sail to Gloucester.
Rain kept us in Gloucester for an extra day; then on to Boston and dinner afloat with Dave and Shana.
We left Boston on Aug 12 and pushed through the Cape Cod Canal to Quissett. Another long day got us to Noank where we saw our friend Nancy DeVries. Heavy rain kept us there three nights. We then had stops in Sachem Head, and Glen Cove (where we are always treated like royalty by my mom), and then finally home on Aug 18. The new World Trade Center had grown quite a few stories during the nearly eight weeks we were gone.