End of 2024 Season

 It has been a great 2024 season

The boat has run without issue. We have be on the boat many nights. Perelandra took us to many of our favorite spots in Maine on our down-east cruise - but we skipped some to leave for next year. We again made some new discoveries of trails to hike and enjoy. And in short, we once again affirmed that there is no place better to be than on the Maine Coast.

And I even got in a glorious sail on friend and slip mate Glen's boat Chickadee III. The breeze was light and gave us a chance to fly the colorful sail called a Genaker - a cross between a genoa and spinnaker sail.

After a sail south out towards open water, we turned north after the sea breeze came up and ran back up the Sheepscot river.

We passed close to the east shore and Hendricks lighthouse.

And back at the dock, it pays to keep a watchful eye out. I thought I spotted something unusual and discovered a just married boating couple.

We had planned to take the boat out for the season on September 16, but watching the tropical activity in the Atlantic, and seeing a nice stretch of weather in the offing, we arranged to have the boat hauled on September 9. The shots below are around the marina the day before we traveled south to NH.

Our last Robinhood sunset of the year.

As you can see we were underway just as the sun was deciding whether to arise for another day. Our destination is 76 nautical miles away. I am going to have to ask my co-captain, Bree, how many statute miles that is. Hint: you can see the answer on the screenshot below of the trip.

Our route

A lobsterman is out ahead of us. I always thought that being a lobsterman, and being on the water all the time would be a great job. But the more I think about it, I am convinced that having to go out into some lousy conditions, because the traps need to be tended, would quickly take the shine off the adventure side of the equation.

Looking at Small Point that is the eastern end of Casco Bay,

The sun is faithful again.

Seguin Island off the mouth of the Kennebec River. I think a visit there next year should be in the cards.

Small Point and seals on Fuller Rock - and small island at the tip of Small Point.

We have crossed Casco Bay as we have arrived that the "P"ortland Light buoy that marks the entrance into guess where.

We are well south as you can discern from finding Boon Island on the above travel map. Boon Island, as you can see from clicking on the link, is a lonely and dangerous place. I would not have been seen raising my hand to be a lighthouse keeper at that remote patch of rock.

Soon we are entering the Piscataqua River.

The last bridge

On a mooring at Great Bay marina.

We have to drive back to Robinhood to get our second car. I walked the dock to see our empty slip - until next year.

Back at Great Bay

Our last sunset of the year on the boat.

So after coffee, the evening is cooling off fast with the departing of the sun. Time to head to bed with the extra blanket now added to the layers of covers. So........

Good Night and May God Bless

Indian Island, Boothbay and Burnt Island

After our summer cruise we returned home to do things like mow the hay field (ie lawn) and pick up mail and accomplish a few other normal tasks.

We returned to the boat to find cool weather as it was warm at home several nights of our week long stay. But the weather on the boat had some days that had us decide to stay at the dock and do some local things including pickleball and the tracking down of a water leak in the freshwater system. So time well spent.

Our arrival day was nice and the evening clear as you can see below.

But the next day came in foggy. We did play pickleball in Brunswick and I did shopping for plumbing parts for the water system.

We did get in a walk around Robinhood Cove. While it is not much fun to travel in, the fog does paint a completely different and ethereal landscape. The changing views of the coast are a major element of why the ocean is such a magnificent place to be.

After several days of a similar pattern of weather, pickleball and yes more trips in search of plumbing fittings, the weather turned to the wonderful sunny days that we long for.

One of the amazing things of the location of Robinhood Marina is how close wonderful spots are to enjoy. While we have been there before this year, we headed back to Indiantown Island. The map below highlights the proximity of the great locations in the immediate area.

We again were able to pick up a most welcome guest mooring that the Boothbay Region Land Trust has placed for guest use. There is plenty of area to anchor, but it is far easier to just pick up a line and tie to our bow cleat.

And the main reason to visit Indiantown island is the hike around it. It is about 2.5 miles so it is a fine bit of exercise in a beautiful setting.

Note the high tide and compare to photos below

The south end promontory is always a reward for our effort. It never ceases to amaze me how the view is so different from the one at water level.

Not bad for a hundred and two and 54 - I robbed the cradle. (There might have been some slight exaggeration in the previous sentence.  I will let you speculate how much.)

The trail leads by a glimpse of a field. Today I determined we would find our way to the field. It turns out this was apparently the site of a homestead at one time.

The evidence for this is the remains of a foundation of a house ......

...complete with bed frame.  Always fun to discover something new. In case you are wondering, there is a house on a portion of the island and it appears that the owners mow the field on occasion so it is not overtaken with trees.

We spent the night peacefully and were in no rush to go any where. So we decided to hike the trails again.

Compare the tide perspective to the photos of yesterday above.

And off to Boothbay

The weather remained nice and pleasant. After a night in Boothbay we decided to do something different for exercise other than walking to Spruce Point. Our adventure for the day was to dinghy to Burnt Island. You can see Burnt Island on the map above. It is about 3 miles from town. 

Here we are approaching the island.

The island is relatively small, but the vistas are large. Nearly every twist and turn offering reason for a photo as as you can tell from the number of snaps below.

Looking out to the Cuckolds Lighthouse and the south end of Southport Island.

The moss in the trees seemed unusual.

And the tree swing is still here.

 Good Job Nana!! - I am sure the girls would say.

There were wonderful rocking chairs on the porch of the keepers house. We could have sat there all day.

And Boothbay from dinghy height.

We decided to play tourist and wander the shops. 

I took the photo below for my fellow coffee hound Mike - BEFORE I saw the sign "Store Policy - no Photos."

And this bench has been here for a long time. Look closely at the name in the back to see the evidence.

And I took this photo for my son Ryan. Notice the peeling paint of the sign. Years ago on a family trip to Boothbay on our sailboat, Ryan insisted that we have to buy him some scrimshaw from Gimbels as it was on sale at 50% off - and Today Only he insisted. But he realized that the sale was not so great a deal when I pointed out to him that the sign had been there for years and proved my point when I said "Look the paint on the sign is even peeling." He decided to buy something else with his spending money.

But next door is the Downeast Candy company and fudge was calling our name.

And is was delicious with my after dinner coffee.  As the sugar high is now wearing off, it is time to say.....

Good Night and May God Bless