August 19-23 Portland to Southwest Harbor/Acadia National Park

08/19:  Left Portland at 0900 on a beautiful morning – light wind, almost flat calm and bright sunshine – for a forty mile run to a magnificent small harbor, Five Islands, on the Sheepscot River off of Sheepscot Bay  (NB: The Navigator, with the help of Active Captain and the Betty L recommendations, has an incredible record for finding us neat little spots to: be safely tucked away from wind & weather, experience local life and with ready access to the routes we want to use on the next day of voyaging.  Had a spot of trouble upon arrival – a Mooring Ball referenced in a 16+ year old Guide that was purported to be “free”.  We found it, hooked up and discovered that we were too close to neighboring boat.  Moved to a better location, and problem solved.  Subsequently, we dinghied ashore for lunch, visited local Marina and found that:   Oh yes, the Yacht club used to provide free moorings made with blue Styrofoam, but not any more.  If you had stayed there they would have come out to collect a fee.  And, “Oh yes, that ball you are on now (#61) is one of ours.  Thank you for your honesty; many people just use one and then leave.  And, that will be $30.00 please”.  This was well worth the price however as we love this setting as I am sure Bonnie will explain. Bonnie:  The setting was exactly like all the “tour guides” of Maine coastal towns: snug harbor filled with lobster boats, small commercial dock for lobster boats, Lobster House with picnic tables outside to enjoy one’s lobster and the view, Ice Cream “shack” and surrounded by rocky pine treed islands with homes (a few here have been in the same family for 6 generations-just like our Shady Shores in Leland, MI). A pleasant ½ mile walk up the hill was an established vegetable stand. In addition to the wonderful veggies, there was wine, gourmet cheeses and sausages, and other tempting non-food items----many related to lobster cooking and eating!!

 08/20:  0830 moved to fuel dock, picked up 42 gallons and were on our way to Rockland ME, a good sized commercial and yachting center on the Southwest shore of Penobscot Bay, by 0900.  We had planned to visit Rockland later in the cruise but accelerated visit so Bonnie could seek an X-ray of her hand, injured during her bike crash. Bonnie: Exactly 48 hours after by folding bike episode, I was in the Rockland ER. It took 32 hours before I felt the first twinges of pain and by this morning I could not move, touch or use my right hand due to 10/10 pain in my wrist and localized swelling.  I didn’t think there was a break but used one of the wrist splints in our 1^st aid box. Being on a boat in remote coves and harbors had us heading to the nearest ER to be sure. No break - yeah; wear a splint-gotcha; want pain meds?-nope, Motrin and Voltarin cream are fine; would you wear a splint?-already am; hmm?-I’m an OT; ahah!! Returned by cab to the Marina, fixed dinner, Burritos, and got out of dishes!! Neighboring cruisers were very friendly..and helpful. One was very familiar with Ft Harrison as for the last 30 years his company has been cutting the checks for the military at the Finance Center!! Another gentleman on a sloop has developed a chronic lung disease but he was still sailing, with his portable oxygen tank. And the 3^rd was a Lobster boat that brought in 1500 lbs. of lobster daily!!

08/21:  Lay Day, time Bill & Bonnie to see some local sites, visit a Lighthouse Museum (very informative, well done, and intriguing to realize that we had actually seen, from the water, a large number of the lighthouses commemorated therein).  Bonnie caught a second museum as well as some strolling the town (in the rain I had warned her about).  Off tomorrow to a mooring ball in Arcadia Nat’l Park.  More on the rain: yesterday’s 10-day forecast showed NO precip in this area until 08/28; it rained at 1700. Bonnie: Jada’s walks in new ports allows me to “scope the area”. Discovered Thursday is Rocklands’ Farmer’s Market ! I am learning to not purchase every wonderful looking veggie-the 2 of us can eat just so much. But one cannot have too many fresh “home grown” tomatoes!!! There was a cool band playing AND an area set up by the Library for storybook reading to children-either by volunteers or the parents. As Bill said, the Maine Lighthouse Museum was amazing. As with many of the smaller community museums we have visited, it is manned by volunteers. Fortunately, one gave us a personal tour! I have always been captivated by Lighthouse-as are most-and Maine is Lighthouse mecca. Michigan has more BUT has a larger shoreline to spread them out. The museum I went to was the Farnsworth Museum, which houses a permanent collection of Wyeth Family paintings. Most are Andrew Wyeth’s but there are several by N. C. and Jamie Wyeth. It was lovely. While Bill enjoyed his boat projects, I loved my leisurely stroll through the museum! Enjoyed Tortellini Primavera (got to use those veggies) and Tossed Green salad with fresh tomatoes!!! Good day, and way, to keep my wrist immobilized!

Owl Head Light

Marine Consignment shop

Vietnamese Pho in Rockland!!!

Wool spun from local sheep

Argyll--charter for $150,000/week

  

08/22:  Yet more on rain: yesterday’s forecast for today still showed NO precip in this area; it rained at 0500 this morning.  In any event, off at 0915 to fuel dock for a pump out, then away at 0945 on way to Acadia Nat’l Park, Mt Desert Island ME.  Light SE winds, waves 2’ or less and grey skies.  Forty-eight miles and 5.5 hour later we were secured to a Mooring Ball off the facilities of Hinckley Yachts & Marine Services.   Bonnie: Loved this Mooring Ball---had a float with a tall stick attached to facilitate grabbing onto----and the loop in the mooring line was not covered with slimy gook, weeds, etc!! Hinkley’s is on the far SW side of Southwest Harbor, easy dinghy to shore and walk along coast and lovely white “New England” style homes and BnB’s. But was just far enough away from ‘city center’ to miss enjoying this small community. Late afternoon our entertainment for the rest of the day/evening arrived, the sailing yacht Artemis! For 95,000 euros/week you too can charter this beautiful yacht – 44m long, 30’ broad, keel 22’, 4 cabins for 10 passengers though one cabin is presently used as a gym. It was spectacular to look at and did attract many small boats for cocktail on the water touring. At night it was exceptionally beautifully lit up!

Rockland Light

Artemis-44m sailing yacht; You too can charter for 95,000 euros/week

08/23:  Beautiful Lay Day to explore the Park.   Bonnie: Mt Desert Island, on which most of Acadia National Park is located, offers free bus transportation. Seven routes can take you anywhere on the island you desire—campgrounds, remote hiking trails, Bar Harbor, top of Cadillac Mountain. We caught the 10 AM and arrived in Bar Harbor 50 min later – time to confirm our afternoon Park tour, wander the streets and shops (no need to do all as they repeat themselves: T-shirts, Maine crafts/art, ice cream, restaurants, jewelry!) and grab a bite to eat overlooking the Harbor. Our  Park tour was excellent, included rocky coasts, marshes, mountaintops and everything in-between. The geology is about the same as our northern Great Lakes-glacier formations, granite, flora and fauna-but no venomous snakes!! Thanks to the efforts of wealthy “Barons” of the early 1900’s, especially John D. Rockefeller, thousands of acres were donated and preserved for all of us to enjoy. We had 100-mile views from the top of Cadillac Mountain-gorgeous! Returned to the Village Green for the bus ride back “home” and learned we had an hour wait. So what does one do when waiting for a bus? ICE CREAM!!!!!

Sea roses--flowers smell wonderful!!

Copper tooling

Top of Cadillac Mountain

Bar Harbor

Thunder Hole--at low tide. If at high tidde and rough water huge water spout blowin' through the hole!!!