Day 8 July Cruise  Seal Bay to Northeast Harbor Wednesday July 23, 2020

The night was mild and the air was calm. The sun was up there above the coastal clouds that have been so prevalent this summer. Temperatures in high sixties. 

Click here to see map of this Trip

The fog, as predicted, came in during the early morning hours.  I had thought of staying another night in Seal Bay but decided that being 12 miles from NEH compared to about 30 was a better choice. And I think you might agree looking at the fog.

The first four photos show the fog before and after scale up. It was actually thicker than that but the photos would have been just a blank grey.

But the fog did allow me a chance to finish my book call Apparition Island. A neat mystery book set on the Maine coast. Apparition Island was a cover name for Monhegan Island, a wonderful offshore island. It was fun reading knowing first hand the details of the place that was being described in the book.

So we can now get underway for Northeast Harbor

I enjoy photos of special buoys. This one is CP that marks the entrance to Casco Passage, a rocky path between Black and Buckle Islands.

This one is WB for the western end of Bass Harbor Light channel. If you look closely you can see Bass Harbor Light through the fog in the distance.

And this one is EB. Guess what it marks?

And we have turned into the passage called the Western Way. Normally the mountains of Mount Desert are boldly showing off as we are now headed directly at Northeast Harbor.

Sutton Island stands sentry duty at the entrance to Northeast Harbor. The lighthouse, now extinguished, shows the importance to ship traffic to this area in days past. The first settlers and more importantly, rusticators, came by sailboat and then steamers with only a compass, early charts, and a prayer (likely more than one on some days or nights). The lighthouses along the coast were far more important then than they are today since we now have electronic charts that you can even have on your phone that always show exactly where you are and where the rocks are too!

Northeast Harbor has a newer welcome center. NEH is a destination for many boaters and home to ferries that take folks to the nearby islands.

We went into town for a few things. This old Ford was neat to see. We stopped at the Colonels Bakery for several of the world's best donuts. At $2.25 each they were worth every penny. We needed a few things at the world's highest priced grocery store. One tomato, loaf of bread, and bag of romaine lettuce hearts - $13.50.  Guess they were worth it too as we bought them. Glad we don't shop here everyday. But the local summer folk seem to take being taken in stride so I guess it is just the price of convenience of still having a grocery store in the Town. And they need to make money during the summer as it is really quiet in the winter.

 Here is the water side view.

Salad topped with steak is a lighter meal that somewhat mitigates our donut indulgence. And with our sugar high causing that drowsy feeling, it is time to say .........

Good Night and May God Bless