THAT'S ALL FOLKS, for now....

Written lying Pickering Island, Penobscot Bay

Since the Bella Report, we have been busy.  Belfast, Frenchboro, Castine, Buck’s Harbor, Woodenboat School, Sabbathday Harbor, Pickering Island, and others.  The weather has continued to be extraordinarily good.  Yet, it is all ending in the next few days when we will slip into Rockland and Journey's End Marina.  CODA will winter there and we will resume the cruise next spring.

The schooner HERITAGE joins the fleet in Buck's Harbor for the night.

Speaking of the Bella Report there is a correction to be made.  The First Mate denies turning on the running lights.  She explains that she turned on the spreader lights switch and for some reason the running lights came on.

Anyway, Milly recently wrote down what she will miss and not miss and then asked me to do the same.  The details are revealing, but the headlines are that we will miss the peace, the closeness to nature and the fun of discovering the islands, coves and harbors.  The things we will not miss are mostly about life in a small space.

Early evening in Sabbathday Harbor.

Peace comes in the form of silence and a motionless anchorage surrounded by nature. The silence can be profound in some of these places.  I particularly like to rise early and deeply inhale the sweet air.  A bright moon or a star-filled sky are common. And, of course in August we had a "blue moon".  It has been very good.

The trails on Long Island are sponge-like.
Comprised of moss and pine needles they
softly accept your step and the trail leads to
this point on the Atlantic.  Not bad, eh?

Nature is with us as we cruise and anchor.  Birds of course dominate, but the mammals are always nearby as well. We saw porpoises, seals, terns, jumping fish, hawk fish and one eagle.  The porpoises are not as playful as dolphins but they are here in large numbers and do swim close to us.  Seals show up in harbors, out in the open water, and on rocks. 

Get the radar on.....here comes da fog!!!
This time we were already in harbor, thankfully.

We have “discovered” over 40 anchorages and harbors.  In some, we have stayed as many as four nights, but two nights is our norm.  Some have good beaches and others are granite pools.   Still others are fjord-like.  I will not soon forget the intense color of the evergreens on Swans Island.  Of course, the further we go “downeast” the coves are more likely uninhabited and/or very remote and offshore.  Each one of them provides a specialness, and from some we have a stone marked with the date and name to remind us of the really good ones. 

Belfast sidewalks include some 30 chairs and benches
created by local artists. I could have written
a post devoted to Belfast with it's fun,
funky and growing prosperity.

Note to our hometown of Newport: find out how
Belfast lures in new businesses so well.

After weeks of cruising mostly offshore or along the coast we turned inland in late August and visited Castine and Belfast.  Belfast is hard to resist.  The town is doing very well ever since MBNA headquartered its vast credit card processing operation here.  That move has in turn led to other major new economic development.  Moreover, it is a fun and funky place with terrific local shops, galleries, eateries, and even a first-run movie house.  All in all, a very kewl place.  

CODA in the Mud Hole.  This anchorage, near Rocque Island,
 is challenging to enter, but entirely secure on all sides.
We climbed the steep terrain to use the trails and snapped this shot.  

We left our goal of Canada for next year.  We came within 30 miles of the border and decided we needed more time to do it well.  I am especially keen to visit St Andrews and hopefully Nova Scotia.  There is some regret in not making it this year, but we took so many meandering turns that we were pressing for time by the time we reached Rocque Island.  Note to self: goals need more certain plans to be met.

SOME STATS:

92 days aboard

700 nautical miles (less than 50 in fog)

43 anchorages, moorings or slips

No lobster pots snagged!!!

Numerous new acquaintances, some we will see again up here or down south

Five cases of wine

About 300 gallons of fuel

No injuries, but many bruises, physical and egotistical

Two mechanical issues, quickly solved

No groundings

No man or dog overboard

The three of us with Bella stealing the show as usual.

Thanks to all of you for your support and interest.   The blog had almost 1,500 page views from the 30 odd subscribers and lurkers.  Biggest day was 47 hits.  It’s been fun. So long until next year and we look forward to seeing many of you soon.