Off to Anchor Maskell's Harbour

Hi F and F. 

 Note we are now with the English spelling of Harbor!

So we set off North at 1 pm up through the southern Lake and  up into the Northern lake by way of Bara Strait a narrow area with a bridge that separates the two. Fortunately we did not have to hail for an opening and sailed on through. Turns out this lake has very little tide about 8 to 9 inches normally.

On the way just past the bridge we saw a lovely white church  standing up on the top of a steep hill at a place called Iona ( good Scottish name.) This area is devoted to the early settlers and their life.

Shortly afterwards we turned left into the anchoring spot.Thebuoys  here are so small it was hard to find them.Ncessary as there were some rocks on left side .Also the lighthouse was hidden among trees, but Grame's sharp eyes and the binoculars soon sorted out that problem. Also the  answer is to just slow down and it all comes into view .

There were very few boats in there so we had our pick and lowered our new anchor.The bottom is mud and some weed so no problem and 23 ft deep. Just Idyllic ! The wind dropped and we had peace and calm.

Decided to dingy around a bit , and we went to meet up with the other powerboat anchored ahead of us. Friendly local people who have put their own mooring ball in this harbor. We had dinner on board Flank Steak salad and then pulled out one of the movies to watch once the sun had gone down.

Called Breach , a true story about one of the greatest security breaches  in U.S. History. Robert Hanssen was finally caught and convicted.

Over and Out , 

S and S

Off to try anchoring out in Maskell's Bay

Hi Fand F

We decided to have breakfast into this morning so headed off on foot to Gerry'y recommended restaurant. Stopped at the first corner to find an Inn and Restaurant, but it was closed.

Then we realized  Gerry must have meant Louie's Cosy Corner on the other side and  that must be it!

Also had noticed a stall where a friendly young lady was putting out her wares for sale.

We decided to pick up 6 DVD's for $5 as we had not watched TV in Canada yet  reception very patchy .Lynn had mentioned DVD's in her blog so that sounded a perfect solution to enjoy some entertainment on board.

Louie's had Graeme's  favorite on the menu , eggs Benedict and he declared them best  eggs he had eaten in along time.Turns out they came from a local farm.  We wandered along to the Kilt making Store by it was closed Next door was the MacAskill House and Museum and it was open!

Wallace MacAskill was born there and became a world famous  Marine Photographer back in the 1920's and 1930's .His love was sailing which he started when 11 years old secretly purchasing a boat and teaching himself to sail. One day his father needed a ride somewhere and had no transportation, so young Wally fessed up and offered to take his father who had no prior knowledge of his son's  activity. It was sailing that gave him his interest in photographing coastlines , seas and boats. A passing tourist sold him very cheaply a Brownie camera and the rest is history.

We are off to try out our first anchoring adventure on this trip in MasKell's Harbour.

Keep you posted.

Out and Out 

S and S

St Peters Canal and our first lock!

Hi F and F ( Familty and Friends)
Left Liscombe this morning at 8 am so we didn't get to experience the higher wind factor due to arrive this afternoon.
We slipped quietly out and regretted we didn't stay another night in this tranquil spot .But we need to move on. Once out of the river we headed north with again following seas Yipee!A good 4 hour journey brought us into  St Petes Bay. Again no sea  life  just 3 sail boats passed us by.
Our timing seems good as most of the school kids return to school next week and we haven't encountered problems with  getting slips so far. Finding the St Peters Lock entrance was a little tricky but two friendly lock keepers guided us in the the small lock .We only went 1 1/2 ft , but it was good practice for the locks to come.
Then on into the St Peters Marina where we were greeted by our friendly dock master Gerry..
Gerry offered us his GMC  4 WD  vehicle to go off to town any pick up some supplies at the Foodtown Supermarket. Past a couple of interesting museums and a Kilt making store. Will check it out tomorrow .
Rest time and the dinner on board with a nice Lets Dish frozen meal.Graeme cooked the Flank Steak on our Weber BBQ outside. First time we have used it on this journey.
Nice day and we were satisfied to  get of the  Nova Scotia Coast and into the Lakes  at last.
Over and Out ,
S and  S ( remember that means Skipperette and Skipper)

Photo

Photos at last

Here are some photos of our trip so you really get the picture Ha ha!

Liscombe Time to get back on the water

Hi F and F, 

Well after checking the weather forecast carefully and then Wayne our dock master have contacted a sailor already on the water coming down from where we were headed, we ventured back out at 9 am . .This time we finally had a following sea and it was bright and sunny. A South Westery which was due to strengthen late afternoon.Even the Nova Scotians respect the weather conditions here very carefully.

Great visibility and seas with a 2 ' to 3 ' swell.A piece of cake in comparison with two days ago.

 We saw one pod of dolphins on the way up and then two flocks of white seabirds flying in formation in two groups of 7 skimming the water.Most interesting. For the most part we have seen very little sea life on the ocean up this coast . Good entrance into the river and the half hour ride up to the end where Liscombe Lodge is situated. Thankfully, we had reserved the only slip up here and our boat just fit.

We had called to book it yesterday with Chester the dock master. As we came up the river we appreciated the tranquility and beauty of this area. We docked ourselves ,as Chester was out on a run showing visitors the river on his little pontoon boat. He does tours several times a day.

We checked into the lodge then headed back to put on our swim gear and take the lodge kayaks out for a bit of an explore and photo taking . This area of Liscombe Loge was originally the home of Lone Cloud , a Micmac Indian Chief .In 1960 a retired naval officer  Geirge Wadds built the lodge which is now owned by the Dept of Tourism.very popular and has repeat customers coming back year after year.

I had a swim in the river which was refreshing and not really too cold. The tannin in the water made that dark tea color and when you get into the water ,your body looks as if you have had a session  at the tanning shop! A young boy and his Dad were out fishing on the dock when we got back and so here was my moment to try out the little telescope fishing rod Blair had bought me  two years ago.

I got lots of advice from the delightful young boy and a bit from his Dad. I got the throwing technique going quite well and it looked as if I had caught the big fish .But as I reeled the line in the whole fishing rod snapped in two!

Oh well at least Graeme got to take a video of some of the action before it broke!!!  Graeme later spied  a seal in the water right up near our boat in the water.Amazing it came up so far up the river. Perhaps there were fish to be had here after all! 

We headed to the lodge for dinner and had their signature Cedar Plank Salmon dish. It was very good.

Afterwards we took a walk along the river bank to see some small rapids, and also the little chalets you can rent at the waters edge. 

As we got back to the boat the moon was rising on this clear night and we felt blessed to be in such a place even if only for a short time.

Over and Out, 

S and S

A day of rest in Halifax

Hi F and F,

Woke up to a grey day with drizzle and plans to take the bus Ito Halifax city to look around.First the holding tank gauge need attending.

Our friendly Dock Master here who as Graeme said  should be cloned as he is so wonderful ,had arranged for a technician to come on board this morning. He worked out the problem which was minor.

However it took two hours to do , mainly because he had a young helper along could have been his son, and proceeded to use the time as a teaching experience. Still the job was done well and we could tick that off the list.

Around 11 am we took the bus in.It required a change of bus at the Halifax Town  center where we obtained a free transfer. Once in Halifax city we headed to the Nova Scotia bank first and decided to have a Tim Hortons experience for lunch.This is like the Dunkin Donuts in the USA .Then onto Rogers the Canadian tel company to get our new extra telephone activated. We also stopped to check out the Citadel high on the hill overlooking the city.It was pretty miserable walking up in the driving rain but worth a look. The other thing on our list was the Maritime Museum, good indoor activity today.It was filled with lots of life size and model boats , and stories of cruise adventures and wrecks .The Titanic was featured as this area was the first to respond when the mighty ship sank.There was a guide who described it all in detail. Also unknown to us this is where the Cunard Passenger shipping line started .

Mr Cunard had a very successful company and was born right here in Halifax. Got back on the bus system a very inexpensive trip both ways only $2.50 each .

Got back just in time for our new friends we had made on our dock to join us on Lady Erica for drinks and nibbles. Lynn and John had just done our journey but in reverse in their 36' trawler and had many helpful ideas on places to go and anchorages to try.They also very kindly lent us their guide books for the rest of our journey.

We had dinner over at the Royal Squadron YC and both had their signature Haddock dish which was very tasty. Lots of silver sailing cups lined the shelves of their glass cabinets and we found out this is one of the few Royal Squadron yacht Clubs in the world .There are several in Australia,one in New  Zealand and of course Britain. Time to head back to the boat for reading and then  bed.

Over and Out, 

S and S.

 

Scary Day on the water

Hi F and F, 

After a leisurely morning. We left for our next port of call Halifax , capital of Nova Scotia.

Decided to stop on the way into Mahone Bay as we had heard about its quaint town and more importantly it had a working pump out! The pump out equipment in Lunenburg  had not  been used all summer the dock master said!  Young Luke at the dock helped  us out and very quickly did the pump out which makes us suspect the gauge was wrong.Will check that tomorrow.

Walked on into the town and had lunch at Joanne's marketplace  mentioned in our guide book.Lovely fresh baguette sandwiches and coffee to sustain us for the next few hours.Took a walk along the road to see the three churches side by side .Anglican, Luthern and  United.No Catholic Church in sight for some reason . Walked back stopping in the little Free Settlers Museum and learnt some history there.

Turns out the settlers came over by boat leaving from Rotterdam, Netherlands.Made up of German ,Swiss and Dutch immigrants. They arrived in Lunenberg where they got to draw lots for land.Each male settler was give a garden lot, a 30 acres lot and a 300 acres lot. Not bad for a start in the new country!

We had a delightful two hours there then headed back to out boat on the free dock and retraced our steps out to the entrance of the Bay turning left this time.

The winds had got up a bit and there was quite a chop on the Atlantic Ocean. The NE direction meant  we were taking on the waves head on so there was a bit of banging going on but not too bad to start with. Again two bigger waves would come  in very close succession, in between a series of smaller ones.

Going was a little slower today around 13 to 14 mph but the boat was handling it well.

As we got closer to the last main point  called Sambro Ledges the wave action got quite big  probably 7 to 8 ft and strong winds and we experienced some big waves and chop and nasty slamming of the boat hull. Probably the worst we have experienced so far.

Poor Lady Erica to be subjected to such conditions,fortunately she held up well  even if her passengers were not so comfortable! It was with great relief we turned the corner and had the wind and waves almost behind us for the last 45 mins ride into the Royal Squadron Yacht Club Marina. It was wonderful to be greeted by Wayne the very friendly and helpful manager of the YC.

Safely tucked up after refuelling and a wash down , we relaxed ,had dinner on board and thanked God for a safe journey.

Over and Out ,

S and S

Up the coastal Lunenburg

Hi F and F, 

We were sad to leave the friendly little community of Shelburne.it was a fun place .A nice wooden house in good shape and freshly painted on the historic waterfront , was for sale for only $149,000 Cdn.

We decided to fuel up to the hilt as new fuel had been trucked in yesterday afternoon . We had drained the tank when we came in!!

The manager had some issues to deal with so we had to wait around for an hour , but with a lovely sunny day in a picturesque harbor that was no hardship.

Weather expected to be lighter winds this afternoon with 1 to 2 meters seas 

( that is 3.3 ft to 6.6 ft).Started off okay with a swell of around 3 ft and was fairly calm but built up to 6 ft with some waves around 7ft.with swell and non breaking waves coming fast at us. For me it was time to put on the life jackets! I had read about rogue waves that can hit side on and didn't want to be surprised! Our boat seemed to handle it ok although we had cycles of two bigger waves in close succession and that wasn't quite so pleasant.

About an hour away the sea seemed to flatten out , and we turned into the channel up to Lunenburg a another 10 or so miles Inland on calm waters. ( Once we docked the dock master suggested the wave action could have been the aftermath of Danny the tropical storm way down in the Caribbean )

We were able to dock at Zwickers Wharf right on the edge of the town.Very limited docking and a few mooring balls here so we were thankful to get such good place. Very inexpensive and free power.

Think $1 a ft Canada verses $2.50 to $3 at ft in USA At present Candian $1 is about 75 cents USA .

This town of Lunenburg is a UNESCO World Hertiage site lots of 18 th and 19th century architecture.

Brightly colored houses painted in purple, pinks , greens and yellows  with gingerbread facades.It was 

originally settled by Germans. Some of the old schooners sit in the harbor.We felt it was a bit touristy , but charming none the less. Walked and explored after signing in at the dock masters office. It was  next to an well stocked Foodtown supermarket, so stopped I for a few provisions.

It was a hot and humid day , so that called for a stop at the homemade icecream shop ! We are not doing our weight any favors this trip! I had a new flavor called Haskap berry.This is a dark red berry with taste of raspberry , black currant and  blueberry.This super berry is a native of Japan and Russia. Was delicious not too tart and not too sweet.

We had been given a couple of recommendations for a casual dinner , so  later on we walked first to the Grand Banker Grill and Pub ,only to find it closed for a function then past several  of the restaurants which sit on the hill behind the waterfront .Instead we choose to find  the Knots Pub and try out the Mussel soup  it was known for.( a lady at the evening concert yesterday had been very specific about us trying it)

It was not on the waterfront but a short walk away up and down a few streets.

Place was full of people , always a good sign in my books! Just like an old English style pub and indeed the soup  was good and I had their other signature dish the Ceasar Salad with Salmon. Tried out the Schoonenberg beer which was a light lager style.We walked back along the dock area.One large Westport boat 100 plus ft was tied up at the public wharf. We preferred our cosy 48 ft Lady Erica for the night!

Over and Out , 

S and S

Whe

Day in Shelburne

Hi F and F, 

Wow , our first sunny day after 5 days of thick fog!!!

Today strong winds are forecast out in the Atlantic as I mentioned so we are staying put and will check out this delightful little Britsh town .Yes still got Union Jack flying everywhere here!

After breakfast we got our bikes out , first time for Graeme this year , I finally got him on his bike !

We rode around to the Islands Park about 1/2 hour away. Lovely views of streams and the amazing camping grounds with individual spots all numbered and with separate toilet facilities and views of the water. The water here is a dark tea color from the tannins from the trees , just like parts of the intracoastal on the east coast of USA . We biked back to the historic dock street for our lunch at the Bean Dock.A cute little cafe in one of the old historic houses built in the 1780's. We sat at a  bay window overlooking the water and shared a nice bacon and scallop wrap and a flat bread chicken pizza.All made with fresh ingredients.Got back to the boat and chatted to the sailors behind our boatOne Couple  was from Stonington, Connecticut , the other a German couple had been on their boat on and off for 8 years and had started their trip in Victoria British Columbia , Canada. They had spent some years down in Mexico and also the Caribbean.

We had visited (our favorite store ) the visitors center after lunch and got an excellent walking tour of the houses , so I set off to investigate them and the history of the area.Just like Yarmouth , this had a big ship building industry.The Dory is famous here a flat bottomed fishing vessel and many were built in the area.The Dory shop and museum still has a dory maker perfecting his craft. The shop was visited and opened back in 1983 by Prince Charles and Lady Diana.I sneaked back into Bean Dock and got a Coconut Bliss icecream while wandering around!

Dinner on board tonight The wonderful CYC Gumbo was delicious We had bought and frozen some before we left the Chesapeake Bay.Then we headed off the the Charlotte Lane Restaurant for a concert! Yesterday when we were wandering around and checking out this the restaurant was closed , so the owner was outside watering her plants and suggested we could join her and the local friends to come to their monthly concerts they have upstairs in their house. So 7 pm we wandered over with a bottle of wine and joined in.Kathleen the owner was MC and she played guitar and mandolin,her friend Robbie played the guitar and violin and they had invited two young ladies from Halifax who played Celtic Harp and flute.Wonderful music a lot of Irish tunes with singing .Songs of the Sea and Irish themes. Robbie had also written several of the songs.

We got formally  introduced by Kathleen to her 30 guests. All very friendly and welcoming.

It wa s a special evening. Turns out Kathleen's husband who is the restaurant cook hails for Thun a place very close to Interlaken ion Switzerland. He had gone to Culinary school there, and returns to Switzerland every year to ski when they close the restaurant down for the winter. As we walked back to the boat , the wind had died, the water was calm  and flat and the half moon was shining on the water.

Just Idyllic!

Over and Out 

S and S.

Off to Shelburne Nova Scotia

Hi F and F, 

Well having gained our confidence traveling through all this fog we decided to set off up the Atlantic Coast another 80 miles to Shelburne Harbor YC .We were fortunate yesterday to miss the two high speed Ferries that go between Yarmouth , Nova Scotia and Portland , Maine.The foggy weather seemed to have lifted somewhat so once the big Ferry next door took off for Maine at 9.30 am , we decided to go also.

The Channel out was clear all the way til we hit the open sea and the fog once again descended into a thick mass.Headed towards Cape Sable and the famous rip tides.You want to steer clear of them or give them wide berth. Starting off in very calm waters as you approach these rip tide areas the sea gets very choppy and waves seem to go in all directions A little bit like the mixing bowl effect when passing the mouth of the Potomac River on the Chesapeake Bay. Just after this ,the sky cleared amazingly and we could see everything for about an hour before the fog descended on us once again.

Saw one lone trawler boat heading south and no sea creatures until the mouth of the channel going up to Shelburne when we encountered a few Dolphins. Five hours of fog , and choppy rough seas for 2/3 rds of the journey was enough and we welcomed the calm waters of  the 10 mile channel into the Shelburne YC marina. Nice little Marina with excellent wifi and good docks.

We fueled up but they only had about 190 gallons worth left and we wanted 300 gallons.Also it's now in liters not gallons.We have to be careful as not all Marinas stock fuel in Nova Scotia.

We walked into the small town .Lots of quaint houses and history here , it's known as the Loyalist Town after it was settled in 1783 by 3,000 British Loyalists from New York after the American Revolution.

The town was spruced up in the mid 90's for the setting of a movie called the Scarlet Letter.

As the Charlotte Lane restaurant considered the best in town was closed tonight, we found the Ship's Galley on the Main Street after a recommendation and had a delicious hamburger and  hand made fries  there.

As weather and sea conditions in the Altantic is looking ropey for tomorrow we may stay another night here in this tranquil place .

Over and Out, 

S and S.

Just a note re the Killam Bros

Hi F and F,
As I write this watching the band playing  Country music ( the wifi is strongest here) a little more about Killam Bros. John Killam built the first vessel in1788 and then his son Thomas Killam founded the company in 1849  and they made their mark on the maritime trade. Ship Chandlery,Coal Merchants, Ship Builders,Importers and Traders. Real entrepreneurs !
Quite something for this small little town!

D Day for our trip to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia .

Hi F and F,
Well we decided fog or no fog we were off today This is a journey based on faith! A good parallel to our Christian faith. We are going to rely on what we cannot see and just trust.After a short prayer we headed off at 7.30am.Still very foggy but with keen eyes and our radar we felt ok about it.Fortunately the seas were very calm but those lobster pots were thick until an hour out into the ocean.And them some more but easier to see.We saw a few Dolphins along the way Graeme swore he saw a shark  also. After three hours the thick fog suddenly lifted and we could see several miles out.Sadly it was shortly lived and soon closed back in.Just as we entered the Yarmouth entrance the fog did lift fortunately and we were able to come in with ease to the Yarmouth Killam Bros Marina., to a nice side tie dock.a music festival greeted us and will continue on th evening til 10 pm Bit of Contemporary and Country and Western music. Fun local culture!
The Killam family were shipbuilders in the area back in the 1700's .
We walked the town pretty depressed and people happy enough and very polite with pedestrians.
Dinner is on board tonight.Fresh organic lamb Chops , salad and new potatoes bought at the market.
Over and out,
S and S

Two more days in NE Harbor

Hi F and F ,
Catch up again! Well we waited out two days for the fog to lift .But it was stubborn!
20 th August
We could t keep the slip so decided to move to a floating dock for the night.
First we went to fuel up in case we could get a quick getaway in the morning.Just a few yards away is Clifon Dock with nice big dock face.Very nice and helpful lady owns the facility.
Then it was off to find our floating dock , a first for us to use one.
You have to be prepared to jump off and tie up quickly! Went very easily, more so that a mooring ball in my opinion!
Off in the dingy to check out the far,ears market held at the edge of the marina and we were surprised at the choice of organic fruit and veg , meats , cheeses and breads. We bought several items and also a no and soursop a doping roll froma Thai  lady selling from her stall.
Went back had the Thaifood for lunch ,the Hot and Sour soup was very good ,wish we had purchased more!! The off to e plot NE Harbor town and Main Street. Unlik eSw Harbor this was a more vibrant town and had lots of interesting shops .Time to catch the LL Bean bus again  go into Bar Harbor for internet coverage.Found a good cafe to do the job. Just coming back and we had a call from Bill and Nancy our Sabre friends we thought we had said goodbye to in Rockland! Met up in MainStreetand had fun joining in on the Kentucky Derby Hat Afternoon complete with free Mint Julep, ham biscuits and a very delicious pecan pie.We were entertained by a great jazz band. Why they chose this day to celebrate I have no idea as the Derby was back on May 2 nd!
Back to the boat  for drinks and appetizers dinner , til 8 pm when Graeme and I dingied into the marina grounds to watch the outdoor movie of Secretariat the triple crown winner of the three most famous horse races.So that's why we had the Kentucky Derby party!!
21 st August
Still more fog so we joined with Nancy and Bll to go over to the Thuya Gardens on the other side of the harbor. We were blown away by the beauty and serenity of these fabulous gardens..
After the climb up to the gardens we deserved some breakfast so we dingied back to the town area and had a hearty breakfast at The Bakery . Then back on the  bus again for more Internet and phone use at BarHarbor.Amazinghow you rely on this modern convenience! I was planning to do a walkaroundJordans pond a two mile walk but unfortunately I had the boat key and Graeme had already left on a different bus, and had no way to get on the boat. By the time we returned Nancy and Bill had already left to go south. The fog has lifted some but too late to leave, so another got on the floating dock and dinner board.

• Over and Out 
• S and S

North East Harbor on a foggy day

Hi F and F

Woke up to very foggy conditions and debated about when to leave to head North again.Decided to leave around 11 am when things often clear But this was not to be! We saw a lonely seal on our way out and then nothing.Kept our speed at around 10 knots as visibility was very poor around 50 to 100 yards.Started using the fog horn every 2 minutes .

Avoiding the lobster pots was better at this speed and so we got the experience of going at Trawler speed but without the pleasure of seeing the scenery!About an hour away from our destination we heard a fog horn very nearby but couldn't locate it despite having the radar screen to help us.

Then suddenly out of the deep mist a large cruising vessel slide pass us .It was a ghostly experience!

Finally came into NE Harbor on Mt Desert Island.

Last time we had stayed at SW Harbor nearby.Fortunately we had a slip to go to as someone had cancelled and we had the whole 100 ft dock to ourselves. Weather forecast doesn't look good for the next few days so sense we will be here still.

Over and Out 

S and S.

Andrew Wyeth at the Farnsworth plus other Maine info.

Hi F and F
Thought I should give a little background seeing this guy is so important to Maine culture.
Andrew Wyeth 1917 -2009 was born in Chadds Ford Pennsylvania.
First started coming up to Maine with his family during the summers in 1920. Port Clyde was their summer home for painting and enjoying family time. .He learnt from his father and spent happy hours also onMonhegan Island a favorite spot for many artists.Frank Benson 1852 -1951 was another famous impressionist American artist who hung out in the area .He had a house on North Haven Island  off the coast of Rockland.
Many of the Maine artists attended the School of Fine Arts in Boston and some also did graphic design at the MIT in Boston.
Maine Commodities consist of Wild Blueberries,( Native Americans were the  first to  harvest them around coastal Maine.)Lobsters,and Potatoes.
The average Maine lady ( my impression)  drives a Subaru or Toyota station wagon wears little makeup , casual outdoor clothing , going for the natural look .Lots of families do camping , hiking and sailing .Good outdoor activities.A wholesome life up here.
Lobster Season is usually Spring to early Fall ( Autumn) The lobster fishermen who go out past the islands have a season that goes through Winter months as well.
During the off season the lobster buoys are brought in , cleaned of barnacles and other debris then sanded and repainted.Each lobsterman chooses his two colors to paint these styrofoam buoys.They replaced the wooden ones back in late 1960's  and early 1970's.
Over and Out ,
S and S

Last day in Rockland continued

Sorry internet playing up ! but end of day with usual cocktails with the gang then dinner at Cafe Miranda's.
Over and out , S and S

Rockland and Sabre and BackCove's 45 th Rendevous

Hi F and F,
Well we left Camden in brilliant sunshine !
It was a short trip into the big open Rockland bay and headed for the Wayfarer Marina.This is a huge place and more of a working Marina.When we arrived it was a shambles They didn't think they had slips available even though we had booked back in January! While the harbor master was sorting that out we both fueled up and that was also a fiasco. No one to help us !
Anyway they finally sorted us out and put us around with the lobster boats and the delightful smell of fish and seaweed!! No one was particularity happy with the arrangement especially as we were due to stay four nights. Anyway all came right as they found we could move to one of the best slips later in the afternoon even though we were near the coast guard boats that went through their early 7 am testing of their sirens each day! I went into the town to check out the area,
.Lovely Main Street with a fabulous bakery called the Atlantic Baking Co.A wonderful museum store where a purchased a few gifts.This is the home of the Farnsworth Museum , all the Wyeth painters, Father, Son and Grandson.We caught up on the docks with some of the other Sabre boats who had also arrived Bob and Becky and Joy and Howie (who we had meet in Camden).
As Graeme was not feeling so well , we think it was one scallop too many or perhaps the fish stew, we did not join Linda and Roger for dinner at Primo an upscale Italian restaurant in the town but had a light supper.
First day of the Rendevous  ,16 th August.
Graeme and I spent most of the day cleaning up our boat in preparation for the open boat afternoon the next day. Oiling all the wood walls , floors .We did the windows inside and out.
At 4 pm we had a cocktail get together with our friends Linda , Roger, Bill, Nancy and Naomi and  Sheldon .All Sabre owners.then off to the first event , registration and cocktails .We all received large bags full of goodies and had a good time catching up with old and new friends.
Great  place for networking , these events.
Second day of the Rendevous, 17 th August
Another gorgeous day .The weather has been fabulous so far. We skipped the Sabre breakfast, Graeme still not feeling great! And at 10 am walked down to join everyone for our bus trips .The first was a trip to visit the Sabre factory that is in the process of building a new design a 66 ft boat.
We got to go over it and enjoy seeing all the new innovations.Very impressive.This boat had to be built near the water unlike ours ( which was built in Caso Maine) because a boat this size is not allowed be be transported by road , so they told us.After an hour or so We were ready to leave the smell of the varnish. Then back on the bus to the Owls Transportation Museum . Lots of beautifully restored old cars and planes to see there.
We arrived to look at the racing  green Austin Healy sports car .Daniel owner of Sabre said Erica you would look good in that car, so I suggested he buy it for them.That produced some laughs then Daniel said he knew Graeme's  credit card number! Back to the boat and then the afternoon trip was to the Farnsworth Museum , but Linda and I chose to do that the following day. At 6 pm we all gathered at
the Landings Restaurant for Sabre cocktails then the sit down dinner with lobsters all around except Linfor Graeme and a few others who don't eat lobster.These lobsters had softer shells and were easier to open that the ones we had in York Harbor. Dessert was blueberry bread pudding or chocolate cake . We got to see Hilary and her little baby Riley who is just 4 days older than Sebastian our little grandson.We got to know Hilary really well when we had both our boats commissioned in Protland Maine, so it was great to catch up with her and many other of the Sabre family members there.Time
 Awards and speeches followed then time to retire for the evening.
I forgot to mention the open boat session that afternoon.No one showed up to see our boat or anyone else's it seems!!, Oh well at least we have a clean and tidy boat for now!
Last Day of the Rendevous
This consisted of a Maine pancake breakfast  with fresh blueberries and Maple syrup from one of the Sabre employees family farm.Delicous and all the Sabre staff served us including Daniel the owner of the company!
Time to say our goodbyes and also promises to catch up again with both new and old friends.
We met up with a new couple who bought their boat in the Chesapeake Bay near us but keep their boat in Sarasota so we exchanged cards .
Linda and I headed off to visit the wonderful Farnsworth Museum and then over the raid to the Puffin project to watch a video of these amazing birds.They live up to 30 plus years and lay one egg per year The babies are called pufflings.

Full Day in Camden.

Hi F and F,
Well I should have done this in Rockland but internet reception was shaky! Just arrive back  on Mt Desert and am in a cafe at Bar Harbor trying to update you all!
Just backtracking, we had a reprieve just like we did at  Castine so we got to stay another night on our dock in Camden.After general house keeping on our boats ,we borrowed the courtesy car a bright canary yellow four door vehicle. We headed off to Rockport to check it out .Its a small artist town and was where we were due to go if we hadn't kept our slip in Camden. Had a walk down to the little harbor ,lots of guys and kids fishing off the pier for mackerel that run at this time of year .Apparently the blue fish chase them and they stick together , so makes for easy catching. Blair had given me an expandable fishing rod two years ago so I decided to get it kitted out at the local huge Outdoor sports store.Bit like a mini LL Bean store.Got line and lures so we shall see what I can catch! Soon it was time to return the car . The marina has a 2 hour time limit, but we booked it again for the afternoon .After lunch we headed off again in the yellow canary to visit Belfast another local town north of Camden. More little quaint shops to poke around in. Back to Castine and I had to have my Ginger icecream fix again.The best Icecream I have had!!! Instead of dinner we had the drinks and heavy appetizers again on Linda and Roger's boat. This is probably one of the nicest town harbors we have stayed in so far.
Over and out,
S and S.












.We left Camden in brilliant sunshine.As we left Camden again the lovely Windjammer ships were out sailing in the harbor entrance

Camden

Hi F and F

We awoke to a beautiful calm sunny day. Maine is sure a great place  to be in this kind of weather.We can see why it is such a popular destination during July and August. We have seen lots of Tags (number plates )from Virginia , Maryland , New Jersey and Massachusetts 

W eso enjoyed our breakfast out we decided to try a recommendation from Chris and Susan the other Sabre tied up on our dock. We walked back up the hill a short way to find the Alleyway for a breakfast place which freshly made quiches , muffins and even scotch eggs.

We sat out on the wooden balcony enjoying our coffee,food and the sunny day.

Just after 10 am we set off, Roger in the lead today.Best conditions ever , even the lobster pots were sparse today. We travelled along at 20 knots and reached our destination in 1 hour 20 mins.

The harbor has an inner and outer harbor with lots of mooring balls and a long slip at the Wayfarer's Marina.

We had one slip for the two of us and were able to raft up to Roger's boat. This arrangement works very well as we can both have access to electricity and the dock that way.After lunch we walked around the edge of the quaint harbor into the ,yes again  another Main Street! Lots of stores and restaurants , bit more touristy here but still very nice. Each place we visit has a unique quality about it. Not as many old houses here , as there were in Castine.

Graeme and I went to book for dinner at a restaurant called Atlantia. Chris and Susan had arrived  here yesterday from  Castine and had recommended this place. Went back to the boats for a rest.This boating is so strenuous!!!!

Around 6.45 pm we took the water taxi directly across from our boats to the restaurant and had a lovely view of the harbor from our table as the sun was setting. 

 The food lived up to the recommendation and was superb. A short ride back after dinner and an after dinner drink plus some dessert  (we bought to go from the restaurant)out on the cockpit ,completed the evening.

The town church clock chimed gently ringing to tell us time.

The lights from the town were reflecting on the water of the cosy harbor and a few boats were quietly coming into tie up for the night ,including the famous windjammer sailboats that frequent the waters here.

Over and Out, 

S and S

Full day in Castine

Hi F and F,
Well this morning we woke up to fog after a rainy and windy night .The wind died  down but fog replaced it .We were due to move off the slip and go to a mooring ball because a large group from Boston Yacht Club were due to take our slips.But due to the weather many cancelled and we got to stay!!!We decided to walk up to the Castine Inn for a cooked breakfast Great deal $10 for full breakfast each in a lovely old home turned into the Inn. To walk off the breakfast ,we carried on up the hill along to the Historical  Society Museum. This building was the original Abbott School back in 1859. There was a great video of the Penobscot  Expedition in 1779  during the revolutionary war, in which the British brought about the destruction of the largest  Americal Naval  fleet assembled during the Revolutionary war.
Also there was a display about the large Herimone Ship which was involved also around that time .This is the vessel we had seen earlier on  the 4 th July in New York Harbor. We wandered back down the hill.
I did some damage in a lovely little boutique call Lucky Hill , buying some items for the boat, our  grandson and a lovely scarf and cotton blouse . We have  to help these shop owners , they only sell in the warmer months! The others went back to the boat and I decided to go to explore more of  the town and also try to find Marianne ( a friend of our Sabre friends Nancy and Bill) who lived in the town of Castine near the yacht club. There were lots of plaques in the town marking various forts and places where English, French and Dutch had inhabited the area.I made my way to the Wilson museum which houses an interesting collection of items from all around the world and also across the road from there was a collection of small houses holding demonstrations  with a blacksmith, a wood turner and also rope making. I had a damaged NZ kauri wooden bowl so decided to go back and get it off the boat and return to see what the wood turner could do to help put it right.Sandpaper and walnut oil was the answer .I was pleased with the results and helpful advice.
Marianne and her partner had meantime been to our boats and we were invited to have drink out at their house on the point , a short drive away.They came by around 5 pm picked us up and we enjoyed a lovely time enjoying the views and sharing stories.
We all went back to Eatons boat yard and joined in on the Lobster stew evening put on  by the  owners of the boat yard.Originally this was supposed to be a meal especially for the Boston YC group .
Out of the 40 boats due to come , only 12 had showed up.So we got invited! It was held in the old boat yard shed along with old equipment  stacked around the sides and we had at wooden bench tables. The lobsters had been caught very recently and the stew was made to a family recipe. We had fresh biscuits and salad to accompany the stew and delicious blueberry cobbler to follow .All for
$ 17.50 a head Our cheapest dinner out yet! We just brought our own drinks.Very fun evening.
Over and Out
S and S

Castine ME

Castine our next spot 

Hi F and F

Well Mt Desert was wonderful , I could easily have spent several more days here!

But time to move on or in this case back down the coast, to Castine.

Slight hiccup to start as Graeme started the engines to warm them up I noticed  out the back a lobster pod line which seemed attached to our boat! 

Engines were stopped and we tried to figure out how to loosen the line and the big yellow ball which had gone under the boat.We feared it had caught around the prop as it didn't want to come loose.However help was at hand and a nice young man came out from Hinckley's Marina in a dingy and unhooked it.Seems it was caught in the freedom lift. What a relief that was!

I pulled up the mooring ball and we were off at 9.30 am.Graeme took the lead as Roger had his turn last time. The benefit of being behind the lead boat is you don't have to be so vigilant about the lobster pots , the person in front does the work for you.Once we got to the Eggenmoggin Reach we saw less pots and in the end it was a breeze especially as we had following seas and it was fairly sheltered being on an inside passage.We passed lots of lovely big homes perched on the cliffs overlooking the water. Wonder who buys these homes and if they are there only in the  summertime. We went under one tall bridge , the first one we have encountered since leaving New York.We arrived at Eaton's Boat Yard to find our new friends Susan and Chris from Boston tied up with their 48 Sabre on the long dock.With a bit of juggling ,we got our two boats parked in front of  them.Originally we had been told we would be rafting up .

So that was perfect , and side ties are  my favorite dock setting! Rain had started to settle in and continued throughout the afternoon .Graeme and I decide to set off to explore the town and made a lovely walk up the hill visiting the Maine Maritime Academy buildings.Ths academy offers undergraduate and graduate degrees , and has a large 500 ft long  ship they use for training purposes in the harbor. Makes sense for kids to go here with so much water based activity in the region. We also checked out the few little stores including the T and C Grocery store, and also the lovely old homes , churches and school buildings. Th rain was persistent and feeling rather damp we decided to call it quits and headed back for the boat.

At 7 pm we rallied Linda and Roger for the short walk to the nearby restaurant called Dennett's Wharf.

As you can imagine lots of fresh seafood is served here.

Back to the boats and fortunately the ramp leading to our boat was now level .There is a 10 ft tidal difference .It had been a steep climb up the ramp earlier in the day.

Still rain and wind so nice to go back to our cosy boats for the rest of the evening.

Over and Out, 

S and S

Full Day on Mt Desert Island

Hi F and F
The first thing we learnt was the pronunciation ! It's called Mt Dessert ( not Desert as in the sandy place ) here.Most interesting!
We found out there is a free LLBean bus service that can take you all over the Island with 7 different routes .We chose the one going to Bar Harbor  and dingied in to catch the bus in Manset next to a restaurant .
A  guy and his wife had just bought this restaurant and were moving up from Key West! He was busy painting Arrondeck chairs outside .
They gave us a map of the island with the bus timetable .We had a nice chat with them.Going to be interesting for them when winter arrives after having lived in Key West!
The old style bus arrived It has the pull line above the seats so you can tell the driver when you want to stop.The trip took 45 mins as we wound our way up and across the Island stopping at Acadia Park Center , a couple of camping grounds, lakes and even the high school. Bar Harbor was a little bit touristy but it was a beautiful day and we wandered down to the visitors center and some of the stores .Linda had asked for a lunch recommendation, and sit down at a table and a view of the lake was provided by the Gaylyn's  Restaurant in yet another Main Street.
We walked back to the village green and caught the bus back .Time for a rest and read. Hard work this retirement business!
At 6.30 pm Linda and Roger dingied over to our boat for a dinner of Bison burgers and fresh Blueberry pie . We found the pie over in Bar Harbor .Nice treat to have in the land of Blueberries!
We watched the sunset sky turn orange , yellow and red while we had dinner.
So ended another day in Maine.
Over and Out ,
S and S


.

Onwards northSouth West Harbor

Hi F and F, 

This is indeed catch up ! Wifi has not been favorable !

Sad to leave this tranquil place , but glad we could check out this recommendation north of Mt Desert Island and Bar Harbor. We have a longer journey ahead! Left around 9.30 am back down the Sheepscott  River , past Cuckold Island with its solitary house and dock. must be very exposed in the wintertime! Also passed Damaris Island on our right .This Island is considered the earliest US permanent European colony.

The Mayflower ship  stopped here for provisions in 1620. We continued to pass lots of Islands  and made a couple of short cuts .This is lobster pot heaven ! Makes us realize that lobsters reproduction must be keeping up with the lobster fisherman ,considering the amount of pots .No worries here !

It was a long day and the seas were not kind .A 2' to 3 ' big swell (often bigger than that)  to deal with.When I took the wheel for Graeme, standing on the Stidd chair ledge so I could see the pots ,I felt was back horse riding over jumps! Quite fun !

We arrive at the Hinckley Mooring field around 3 pm and fortunately both had the best mooring ball experience. Very easy. This used to be the Hinckley Boats manufacturing site .Now has been moved 20 miles away .

Lovely big harbor with great views including the view from our boat of the Somes Sound,  the only natural fjord in USA apart from the Alaskan ones. We dinghied into the edge of the SouthWest Harbor town and had a lovely meal at Fiddlers Green .It was recommended in our Waterway Guide..

This guide book is our go to for a lot of information?after a long day , it was early to bed.

Over and out , 

S and S

Robin Hood Cove This is the real Maine!

Hi F and F,
Time to move North again. We left Di Millos after a false start Literally at 10 am the starboard engine wouldn't start! So we got Chris owner of Di Millos and a technician down to see what we could do. After trying  several things they got the engine going .Thought there could have been air in the system after all the work done on the engines. So we set off after fueling the boat out of the Portland Headland and headed North as opposed to the south on our previous two occasions from here.
A little treat on the way out ,we saw two seals in the harbor !
Flats seas were very welcome and we headed up the Sheepscott River which was wide and deep. We took a left turn into Goose Creek Passage and into the Robin Cove Marina , Georgetown. Truly lovely scenery, calm and restful.Still lots and lots of lobster pots to negotiate but worth it.
The two dock hands were there to greet us , very helpful and friendly. We were able to use a courtesy car ,so after booking  for dinner at the Osprey Restaurant here at the Marina ,we headed off to Wiscasset a neighboring town considered the prettiest town in Maine. Car was pretty good , a Subaru Legacy !
Wandered the shops in this quaint town , passing the long queue at the famous Red Eats Restaurant which supposedly serves the worlds best lobster rolls .Lots of nice Art Galleries here.
Back to the Marina and then dinner at the Osprey Restaurant with its very good reputation.
Proved to be so and we had a great meal, the guys chose a salmon dish with a blueberry Jalapeño sauce. Roger and Graeme then decided to have the same sauce on vanilla icecream, but added a little Grand Marnier liquor to it. Tasted very good! So they called it Coup Nicole after our lovely young blond waitress. Walking back along the dock with the moon shining on the water and a calm atmosphere ,this place is not to be missed!
Over and Out
S and S


 

Days in Portland and Days in New York for Erica 8/3 to 8/7 /2015

Hi Family and Friends,
Well it's been a long break Sorry about that!
We have been very busy! Graeme would say that's a understatment. Me ,doing Gran duties in New York and Graeme getting many jobs done on our boat.This is the best place to do it with good help at hand except for Cummins who continue to frustrate us no end! We are here at Di Millos where we had the boat commissioned back in Sept 2011.
We had one day together here on Monday We hired a car with our favorite Enterprise Rental Car Co.
Spent the day doing cleaning ,haircuts and getting settled.
Tuesday I flew down to JFK airport , took a taxi in to Balir and Danielle's place. Got reacquainted with dear little Sebastian and we shared a lovely Morrocan chicken meal , Danielle prepared.
Graeme started with all the work schedule back in Portland. He had the cooktop replaced ( it was cracked ) The anchor was changed out for a 55 lb Rocner ( go Kiwi  workmanship!) we had previously had a 44 lb Danforth. Two extra cleats were added to the back of the cockpit for better use of tying the lines, Two hand hold wooden grips were added so I could  hold on to something while standing while boat is in motion( thanks Roger for inventing that) A floor  panel was replaced ( had been damaged by a cleaning lady) and several engine and oil changes of which I know little about! Our cockpit Bimini was also re waterproofed.and the sticky shower door fixed. Boat also had a big clean and polish Never ending things to do and money to spend on a boat!!!
This was completed over a period of four days.
Meantime I was enjoying being with the kids and our grandson. Very special time. I was able to babysit and give the kids some time on their own a date night and a movie .Little Seb was perfect slept5 hours that evening. Thursday morning time to return to Portland and Blair and I took a blue city bike around the bottom of Manhattan and up to our old haunt around  Battery Park. There is a wonderful bike path  that goes all up the western side of Manhattan, with great views of the Hudson River. Mid afternoon back in the taxi to JFK and into Portland where Graeme was there to meet me.
He had got almost all of his list dealt with , good man!
Friday , last day in Portland , we did a big defrost and clean of the fridge and freezer.
Both Roger and Graeme still had things to do with the boats so Linda and I went off to visit the Portland Museum by car. I can't say why I have never been there in all th times we have visited this lovely city, but it was wonderful.
Lots of Homer and Wyeth paintings .The artists lived in this area. Also sculptures and an interesting sculpture of a man crunching made of wire and rocks outside in the garden.
We then headed off for Freeport the home or LL Bean..This is an amazing place Has four stores plus .an outlet store. A main clothing and apparel store, a bike, boat and ski store, a home goods store,and a hunting and  fishing store .
I had not yet visited my favorite stores so when we returned the car I walked across the road to Le Roux kitchen store , Edgecomb Potterystore and C Company Store.
I bought a new throw rug and matching bed cover and shams for our bed at CCompany.Got to look smart for the Sabre rendezvous and we needed something that didn't wrinkle like the last one.
Evening time we had Bentley and Brenda ( Sabre friends) over to Roger and Linda's boat for cocktails.Our wood floor was still drying from the varnishing. Then we all went out to another favorite place in Portland Walters Restaurant.
So ended another fun day!
Over and out ,
Skipperette and Skipper.
Ps excuse any mistakes didn't have tie. To proof read it today Got to get it while the wifi is available.!

Portland , Our boats Home Port !

Hi F and F,
What another sunny day and light winds and sparkling blue seas!!!
We left about 10am bound for Portland. Past the Nubble Lighthouse going slowly  so we could take some photographs, then up on plane again to our 20 knot or so speed heading north.
At a place called Hoyt Point the garmin map noted a marked way point six miles off shore and we realized that was the place were we had rescued the fishermen back in 2011 when our boat was on its maiden voyage south. We had a quiet thought and prayer for the one man who sadly lost his life out there that day in September.
Soon we were passing the Portland Harbor light house , it's yellow flashing light must be a welcome sight for those who travel when conditions make it hard to see.Fog is a common occurrence up here  The red buoys usually have bells attached to also aid the boaters.August is supposed to be a dog free month usually.
We had planned to fuel up before entering our slips at the De Millos Marina , but with two large vessels already there we decided to skip it  til we leave next Friday.One of the boats was taking on 1,500 gallons of fuel, three times what we take on for a full tank.
Our two boats had convenient slips side by side and we were soon settled on.Our friend Bob who we had caught up with in Nantucket also a Sabre 48 owner,was parked opposite us.
I set off for a walk to find some fresh shrimp and goodies for our cocktails on board .We were having Linda , Roger and our Sabre Company friends Aaron and Sarah over.
Aaron and Sarah had been on board on our maiden voyage along until Boston back in 2011,They had been  instrumental in helping when we did the rescue of the fishermen near Hoyt Point.
We went out for dinner to Street and Co ,one of Graeme's favorite restaurants here in Portland.
Let me say there are many wonderful restaurant here in this city! Having spent two to three weeks weeks here each time the two times we bought our Sabre boats , we know this city fairly well and it almost feels like home!
A lovely cool and clear evening greeted us as we left the restaurant for the short walk back over to the Marina. Another day well spent, and we are mindful of the safe journey and God's care.
Over and Out,
S and S

First Day of August celebrated in York Harbor

Hi there F and F( Family and Friends)
We get to have a whole day in this lovely spot and enjoy it with our Sabre friends Linda and Roger and Helen and Bob. Another sunny day with light winds. This harbor has very distinct tides and currents .The terms high , low and slack tides are very well illustrated here.
After breakfast we took dingies a short distance across to the Agamenticus Yacht Club.This is a very active sailing club they have sailing races three time a week.
Helen and Bob had made a plan for us today.First we joined them at the local Farmers market a short drive away.Lots of local flowers , bakery items and fruit and vegetables for sale.
Helen and I ended up buying some fancy mushroom tea supposed to be very high in antioxidants and should cure all our ills!We walked across to Stonewall Kitchen , a big store, cooking school and gardens , famous on the NE Coast of Maine. It was started by two men who cooked up jams and chutneys with handwritten labels  out of their house and lead to a very successful business. The story goes they misspelt the word marmalade and when they first shipped an order somewhere in the country , the receivers queried the spelling and one of the guys  thinking quickly said oh that's how we spell it in Maine! The spelling has since been amended . We got to sample many jars of their products and bought a few to take with us,
We then all headed off in the two dingies up the river to watch a boat/ dingy floating parade due to start at 1 pm. This part of the river had a very low solid bridge , so only very small craft can get under it. Fortunately at near high tide ,we just squeezed under and were greeted by all sorts of floating vessels including two large bright yellow plastic ring duck floats each with a young lady sitting in them wearing a shower cap and carrying a back scrubber in one hand and a paddle in the other.
They and the others were using the current to gently drift down stream. This parade was part of a fundraiser for Navy Seal team families and organized by an ex Navy Seal guy and his wife .
It culminated in a big pot luck lunch at Chris and Emily's house. We were also invited .
So back with our dingies, into the cars and off to the lunch party. Chris had some interesting objects in his house including a stuffed lion and stuffed black Siberian bear.
Back to the York beach area after lunch I decided to take a plunge into the sea.
Not too many people were going out further than their knees , but I did go right in.It was cold but wonderfully refreshing.
Back in time to have a little cocktail hour on Linda and Rogers boat before we all dingied back to have dinner at Helen and Bob's place.
Earlier in the morning the three guys had gone off to order the Lobsters for this evening. They were picked up at 7 pm , cooked and still warm.
Bob had also prepared his homemade clam chowder which was delicious .We all had a lobster including Peter another guest who had been invited .
Graeme was the only one who didn't partake,he hasn't quite come to grips with eating lobsters. Fresh  sweetcorn from the market was added , it is the typical way to accompany the lobster here.
Peter had brought along a blueberry pie and icecream for dessert. Another  delightful evening was spent , eating , drinking and sharing stories. Peter had recently sailed up around Nova Scotia and was able to sit with Graeme and talk about good places to visit for our upcoming trip north.
A moonlight trip back to our boats completed the full and very pleasant day.
Over and Out
S and S ( Skipperette and Skipper)