Rain, Rain, Go Away!

The Dock on Flying Pond

Unfortunately we are having a rainy and dreary day here on Flying Pond.  Our kayaks sit at the water's edge awaiting the return of the sun.  Perhaps tomorrow!  So rather than dwell on today, let us return to our saga at sea .  At last look, our hero and heroine had settled in aboard the Mary Day for the night, after returning from the Sweet Chariot Folk Music Festival on Swan's Island.

As we return, it is Wednesday morning and our protagonists are preparing to weigh anchor ( I just don't get that, doesn't the anchor always weigh the same?) and leave Burnt Coat Harbor.

There is excitement aboard the boat; word is out that early this morning, the Captain made a trip ashore, stopping at the local Fisherman's Coop, to pick up, what else, bugs, as lobsters are referred to here in Maine.  This could mean only one thing, it's Lobster Bake Day!

Hockamock Lighthouse

Once the "bugs" were safely on board, we carefully slipped out of the protected harbor back past the Hockamock Lighthouse,  on to Penobscot Bay, and a day full of sailing.





Long Island

However, before the big feast, we were treated to another trip ashore.  This time we shuttled ashore to the town of Frenchboro, on Long Island, NO NO, not Long Island, New York, Long Island, Maine. Both Swans Island and Frenchboro are served by the ferry from Bass Head Harbor on Mt. Desert, home of the of Acadia National Park.

Frenchboro

Once ashore, we again had the opportunity to explore another of Maine's quaint coastal towns.  Penobscot Bay is know for its excessive tide changes, and when we arrived at Frenchboro, it was not hard to see that it was now low tide.  It was quite a sight seeing Frenchboro harbor with little or no water, all of the docks standing high and dry.  But it was a beautifully sunny day, and our walk around Frenchboro turned out to be quite pleasant.


Then it was back aboard the Mary Day and back out on to Penobscot Bay.  At around 5:00 PM the crew prepared to drop anchor and we instinctively knew that here is where the Lobster Feast would take place.

The Mary Day and the VictoryChimes

The island that the Captain selected was called Hells Half Acre, a small island located along Merchant's Row just off the Town of Stonington, on Deer Isle.  It happened that the "Victory Chimes", the windjammer fleet's only three masted schooner had also selected this island as their evening hideaway.  Not to worry, there was plenty of room, and the sight of the "Victory Chimes" anchored in our cove provided a beautiful back drop to our Lobster Bake.

The first boats ashore took our "bugs", and all of the other goodies that would go into making this trip ashore memorable.  Then once that was completed, boatloads of passengers followed.

Arriving at Hells Half Acre

Once ashore, we had time to explore Hells Half Acre, as the Captain and crew prepared the lobsters, and, for folks like us, hot dogs and hamburgers.  On the Mary Day, the motto truly is, "All the lobsters you can eat!" 





Sunset on Hells Half Acre

The repast was quickly consumed, with most of us barely able to move.  But the sun was beginning to set, and it was time to return to the Mary Day, where we would remain anchored off Hells Half Acre for the night.

As the morning broke, we found ourselves enveloped in a heavy fog, not uncommon on the coast of Maine.  Since sailing would be too hazardous, our Captain decided to move the Mary Day closer to Stonington have give us some shore time.

Once re-anchored, "Arno" our yawl boat brought us ashore, for a few hours of R&R, yeah, we really needed rest and relaxation.



Stonington

Main St.

Stonington, itself, is quite typical of the coastal towns along Maine's coast.  The building, while well maintained are quite old, and visiting Stonington, is truly like going back in time  On this day, the fog only added to the town's mystique.  Stonington is noted for its lobster trade and the mining of granite, as well as its attraction for kayakers from all over.

Back on board we found that he fog had abated enough for us to safely continue our voyage, as we wondering just where our anchorage would be for the coming evening.

The Mary Day at Anchor

After hours of sailing our Captain brought the Mary Day to rest near the Holbrook Nature Preserve, just a few miles from the town of Castine.  This one of the few places that really remind us of the Jersey Shore, no, not because Snooki was here, but because of something just slightly less offensive, mosquitoes.  Because of their presence our time on deck that evening was limited, just about everyone turning in early.

The next morning, to every one's satisfaction we headed towards Castine, and another shore trip.  In all the years that we have sailed on the Mary Day, and that began in 1995, this was the first time that re actually tied up to a dock rather than anchoring off shore and being ferried in on "Arno."

Docked in Castine

It is no mean task to ease an 90 foot schooner up to a town dock, but Captain Barry and his crew made it look simple.  Within minutes, the Jacob's ladder was lowered and we were released, with instructions to go ashore and "terrorize the local citizens."

Castine

Castine turned out to be another beautiful Maine coastal town, larger than most, but still retaining its small town charm.  Castine itself dates back to the late 1600's, but many of it's buildings and dwellings date from the Revolutionary War, or the War of the Rebellion as I call it,  and the War of 1812, or the War of Reclaimation, and have been meticulously maintained.

Maine Maritime Academy

Castine is also home to the Maine Maritime Academy which was founded in 1942.






Warren Island State Park

Friday our last full day ashore, consisted of another great day of sailing on Penobscot Bay.  As evening approached, we found ourselves dropping anchor at a small cove on,Isleboro, a tony, yes tony, island across the Bay from Camden to the south and  Lincolnville Beach to the north.  Here we had the opportunity to spend some time at the Warren Island State Park walking its well marked trails.

After a sufficient amount of time ashore, we moved to another anchorage, this time in Turtle Head Cove on the northern tip of Islesboro, where we would spend the time prior to our return to Camden Harbor the next morning.  It was quiet aboard the Mary Day that evening, a sense pervading the vessel, that this wonderful voyage would soon be over.

Saturday morning arrived all too soon, and before lond, because the wind was nearly non-existent and the time short, we found our selves motoring back to Camden.

Our Gallant Crew

Our arrival was handled with great precision, and before long we found ourselves right back where we had started, Camden's dock.  Before leaving the vessel, we spent time with our new found friends exchanging phone numbers and e-mail addresses, promising to keep in touch.

Another great of voyage aboard the Schooner Mary Day had once again come to end.  "See you next year", was echoed by many.

We were now back on shore, but our adventure is hardly over.  Stay tuned!