10th and Final Week In Maine

Well the Final Leg Home for our Maine Shakedown Cruise

Well we made Tennants Harbor after Rockland and had a decent motor sail through Muscle Ridge Channel - we passed by the Owls Head Light that we could not see the day before and realized that turning around the day before was absolutely the wise move.  From Tennant Harbor we sailed to Maple Juice Cove on the St. George River.  This was truly a gem of a place to anchor and we ended up taking a walk on a fisherman's road that took us to the Olsen House (of the Andrew Wyath  - Cristina's World Fame).  We walked down to the cemetary near the fields of the famous painting and were treated once again to a wonderful patch of wild blueberries.  I would strongly recommend this cove for a pleasant anchorage and great walk.  Next we sailed to Harbor Island at the head of Muscongus Bay.  We grabbed an empty mooring - this is a very tight anchorage with deep water requiring a fairly lengthy scope if you had to anchor.  While sitting on the beach two matching Cape Cod 30's showed up and rafted on the mooring behind us.  These ended up being a wonderful three generation family that had two grandsons who had spent many summers visiting this Island.  They took our family on a several hour hike around the Island especially the caves and cliffs on the South Western side of the Island.  It was certainly in the top three of Islands we explored during our 10 weeks.  The day was crystal clear, hot, and perfect.  Liam and James were outstanding as young men and tour guides.  The night was cloudless and just a breath of wind. 

After Harbor Island we sailed to Love Cove in Ebenecook next to the Boothbay Regional Boatyard.  Here there are 3 free moorings set up in a cable area so that folks don't anchor improperly.  We grabbed one of these blue foam freebies and spent two days here.  The first night our dear friends the Pizzalato's came for dinner.  We drank, laughed and ate into the night.  Taking them back to the BRB by full moon light was fabulous.  The bay was mercury calm and the sky cloudless with a spotlight moon that lit up the shore and the water.  The next day we decided to go to the Hendricks Head Historical Museum in Southport Island.  This museum open from 11am -3pm three days a week was a true gem and should not be missed.  The house was built in 1800's and given to the historical society.  Member of the Island community then filled it with their local antiquities that ranged from fishing memorabilia,  to the newspaper from the day Lincoln was shot (found in someones attic).  There was also the civil war drum carried by the Maine 3rd that someone was using as a waste basket, and a room filled with period furnishings from the early 1800's.  We then took the dinghy for a ride through the Townsend Gut to try and make it to Boothbay Harbor the back way.  Once under the swinging bridge the water was too rough for the dinghy (some of us ended up with really wet tushes).  On our way back we watched the swinging bridge open for a beautiful wooden sloop that ended up being our friends (Duncan, Josie, Emma and Sam).  We had them join us at Love Cove and raced ahead to save the last free mooring for them.  We had a wonderful evening with them and our kids just loved hanging with theirs.

We are now at Sebasco after swimming in the salt water pool, showering, doing Laundry, eating a massive amount of french fries (best in Maine) and now playing games.  We plan on being on the Gosslings for a couple of days starting tomorrow to finish up our Maine leg of our adventure.  It truly has been a wonderful experience that has allowed our family to grow together as a team/crew, and taught us valuable lessons about ourselves and each other.  Chris and I have tried to hold hands each day and enjoy our coffee in the mornings (discussing the choices each day) and our glass of wine each night to celebrate this tremendous opportunity to be together and adventure.