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It has been several weeks since we completed our Great Loop adventure. It is good to be home and working our way back into to a more localized routine. It is still strange not needing to think about where we will be going today and even what is the travel plans over the next week or so. Strange as it may seem that became a routine itself.
We did successfully move the boat to Robinhood Marina in Georgetown, Maine on Sunday May 12, 2019 following our return to NH on Thursday May 9, 2019. But before we did we were able to connect to see most of the grandkids so Nana and Papa could get the hugs we desperately were waiting on for sometime.
On Saturday the plan was for Ryan and Robert and families for get together Saturday evening. We had planned to enjoy Mother's Day together, but the only foreseeable weather window to move the boat to Robinhood was going to be Sunday (and the weatherman did get it right). So the Saturday night get together was arranged.
On Saturday morning I changed the oil in the engines and generator. About noon Faye called and said she would bring me something from McDonald's on the way home from her shopping trip. She did indeed and not only that she brought Lauren and Bree, who according to mother Dawn, "were two girls that we bursting at the seams to see Nana and Papa!" So it was great to get some of my hugs early!!
And here is the two cute ladies with Papa in his work clothes.
And then all four of us after I got cleaned up.
And a little nail party with the girls
And as planned we had a great evening at Ryan's house with the tribes. Here Madelaine and I are both happy to be together again. And she has had a wonderful and very successful first year of high school (did I really just say that?) at Brewster Academy where her Dad, Rob, teaches. We are thrilled that she is enjoying and thriving in such a wonderful and enriching environment.
Lauren, Charlotte, Bree and Nana enjoying the feast.
Melissa, Dawn and Ryan
And we had to laugh that Mitchell and even Charlotte still love to play with the plastic cups that Nana buys for parties.
Sunday morning comes early and shows off the last of the sun for the day. The clouds soon consume the direct sunlight and leave us with a gray day.
But the good thing is the cloudy day is also one of those days that doesn't have any wind generating patterns and thus makes for a smooth, if cool, trip to Robinhood. Here we are going down the Piscataqua River.
And this is the old Navy Prison that is on Portsmouth Naval Shipyard property. A prime target of developers - but no one has yet pulled the pin on making it happen - likely to much red tape and security issues.
And here we are at the mouth of the river and looking at Whaleback Lighthouse and in the distance Isles of Shoals
And as you can see the sea is calm and the day is gray. And the temperature is 45 degrees. The calm sea allows the Admiral to run the diesel heater and she is nice and warm - I am dressed for winter and only slightly chilled. But I will take this calm seas day with cool temperatures any old time over a rough and warm day, which seldom happens this time of year anyway.
We are making progress - this is the Portland Light buoy. It is a little more that half way on our 78 mile journey.
And we are getting close to home. This is Small Point that marks the eastern end of Casco Bay.
And then comes Seguin Island and its powerful and once very important lighthouse.
And just past Sequin Island is several islands that the seals love - they are relaxing and show up quite white against the dark seaweed covered rock.
Approach to Robinhood via MacMahan Island passage.
Coming around the corner to Robinhood Cove and the marina.
And our summer home is in sight!!
And the Admiral is all smiles now that we are back "home" and the power is plugged in and the heaters are on and the cabin is nice and toasty warm.
As things should be once again.
And a few pictures of the marina
And the next morning we are off to Mae's restaurant in Bath - a favorite of ours near the boat. That is a plate of homemade cornedbeef hash. It is the best I have found - and I looked all over the Loop!!
Even being in our familiar grocery store feels right after seldom being in the same one twice for the last year.
And the next day we met friends Bob and Paula at Maxwell's restaurant - think I would have got a photo of us wouldn't you.
And after several days on the boat we headed back on Thursday morning to met the water company technician to have the water turned back on at home. And we stopped again at the Northside Grille.
This time I remembered to get a photo of the breakfast - still the best I have found for a good "Common" (what they call it on the menu) breakfast - yum.
On Saturday we again got to see Lauren and Bree - they came down to the house overnight and then we all went to their church on Sunday.
Helping Nana make potato salad.
And back home at Rob and Dawn's. it is time for a game of Uno. Bree is a great player!
And then it's time to return to the boat. We have found pickleball at the nearby Y and the Admiral is ready to play!!
We decided that a trip to Moody's Diner was in order. We went with Richard and Betsy who live near by in Woolwich and we saw them in Longboat Key as they have a condo nearby. You also are likely saying how come you didn't get a picture of all of you - dumb again. But the choice to have some pie was a winner as always!! Warmed with ice cream is over the top!! Boy it's good to be home!!
And a beautiful shot looking west over the Kennebec River from Richard and Betsy's house - lovely spot indeed.
And over the next several days we just drove around the area seeing some of the places we have missed over the last year. Here we are on Orr's Island.
Take a close look at that clapboard art. That is amazing how someone sculpted that into the shingle work.
And further down the peninsula we come to the "land's end" - a wonderful spot looking out to the open Atlantic ocean.
And you may have seen this lobster shack on calendars sometime - it is often photographed.
And Mackerel Cove is a welcome sight.
And the cobblestone bridge connecting Orr's and Bailey's Islands is famous for its unique construction.
And soon it was May 25 and Memorial Day Weekend.
We started the weekend on Saturday with a visit to Ryan and Melissa's new trailer at the summer camp site on Little Ossisspee Lake in Maine. The new digs are very nice and comfortable.
And the weather turned nice to be able to sit outside and have a feast
and ice cream too!! Right Charlotte? Some ice cream even made it past her face!
And Mitchell found interesting things to do with his - fortunately it didn't get any closer than just sizing up his aim.
Too valuable you see to mess it up.
And Easter Egg hunting was successful. Yes Easter was last week but many were still around.
The hit of the day was stomp rockets that went up quite high - they had great fun.
And then the weather stayed nice and on Sunday we headed to the boat. Here Admiral Faye is changing the Looper Flag to our Downeast Yacht Club flag.
And the Admiral is all smiles because grandson Wesley is with us for several days.
And as we leave the marina an eagle watches for his lunch to swim by.
And some photos of the six mile trip to Boothbay Harbor. It feels so good to not have to travel even our typical minimum of thirty miles for the day while on the Loop.
The swing bridge at Southport Island.
Chickadee III, our Robinhood neighbors, are heading the other direction.
And finally back at Boothbay Harbor and it is Memorial Day!!
And time for an ice cream!!
This little fella is enjoying his and .....
Wesley the big fella is savoring his.
The art shop of paintings needs some painting of its own!!
And the day is fading nicely over the harbor.
Ah it is great to be back home. I say honestly that in all our travels we did not see anything that can beat the beauty of the Maine coast. Georgian Bay comes close and many would say that it is better, but the combination of tides, islands, places to get off and hike, and the ocean is a combination that is impossible to beat.
So with the light fading on this day it must be time to say .....................
Good Night and May God Bless
