Start of 2021 Boating Season - NH to Robinhood Marina

 "Well it's that time of year again." 

That is the opening line of my last post - but that was about the foliage and a trip to the White Mountains.

I am happy to say that this time the reference is for the start of the 2021 Boating season!!!!!

The boating season starts with the spring routine of getting the boat ready for the water, launch, and the trip for 77.8 nautical miles to Robinhood Marina in Georgetown, Maine.

Here is launch day Monday May 10, 2021.

Always an eerie feeling to have your boat hanging up in the air so far. There are too many videos of boat slipping out of their slings.  But that didn't happen today - the Great Bay crew is really good about handling the boats.

And unlike some years, we are able to head north the next day. The wind was up to start, but contrary to the forecast, it eased up. And with the wind blowing off the land and somewhat behind us, the seas were rather manageable.

We are about two thirds that way home when we pass the Portland Light Buoy.

Seguin Island is now on the horizon (center of the photo) - and great to see!!

And we are at our home for the summer. Started about 05:45 and here just before 1300.

Our first night in Maine

I bought a new motor for the dinghy and went for a ride to break it in. Just traveled southwesterly into Robinhood Cove.

 As life should be.

Love coffee on the boat. But followers may ask, "Where's the bagel with PB & J?"  An excellent question. Faye and I have been doing a Keto like diet - low carbs - so bagels are off the list of approved foods. But the diet has been good for weight and more importantly, blood sugar - that us senior citizens (did I really say that?) all need to be working to control.

Well after a few days it was time for our first trip to Boothbay Harbor. There were actually a surprising number of people. And a shop keeper said they opened the earliest this year than she can remember because, "there were a lot of people about in mid April." I am not surprised and we are like everyone else who are glad to be vaccinated and able to begin to move about more normally. 

An interesting curved faced building.

Be sure to come by tomorrow for cheap gas!!

Our trip was made all the more fun as old friends, Wes, Lisa, and daughter Natalie joined us for the day. The forecast for rain as you can see changed 180 degrees to be a marvelous day.

My new motor has been a great addition. We are now confident to undertake long trips in the dinghy.

Today, Wednesday, May 19, was a day for such a ride. There is an island, MacMahan, near the marina that is the location of many wonderful summer homes. We have never gone on the island until today. From the map below, you can see the red dot that is the marina and the short ride to the island - about 1.5 miles. 

We discovered that most of the homes are on the south end. The north end is conservation land with some wonderful vistas and shore line including a beach that we plan to take the dinghy to for a picnic later this year.

Some really nice old "cottages."

There is a wonderful apple tree, that if you look closely, has had one limb propped up.

And even a graveyard with the stone of a young child. Seems there was a year round community at one point. Will need to look up the history of the island.

We have reached the north end.

The beach we will come back to later with a picnic basket - Yogi will be welcome.

Back to the south end of the island. There is a local marina as you can see here.

And the Admiral has had a great walk - and is pleased that we found such a gem in our "backyard"

 

Our walk on MacMahan was just further proof to us that there is no better place to boat in the land.

So with wishing for a wonderful summer of 2021 for all, I will say.......

Good Night and May God Bless