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Burnt Coat ME to Jamestown RI

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Aug 15 we left Burnt Coat Harbor and headed to Bucks Harbor, a protected port
in Penobscot Bay. Cool weather and rain are coming in so we buttoned up our
enclosure (Thank you, Cedric!), traversed Merchant Row and picked up a mooring
by noon. We have always enjoyed this spot and the folks at Bucks Harbor Marine
are friendly and welcoming. A quick walk to the local store and an organic hen in
the oven and a cozy night below was enjoyed by we three.

Our next port of call is a visit Barbara Ganley at Fort Point Cove,
upper Penobscot Bay as it heads to Bangor. We spent a fun,
yakkey, informative and delicious evening ashore with her in her
quaint cottage with a view across the Cove, where the Rose was
anchored. Although severe storms came through and we watched a
brilliant display of lightening, all was well when we went back
aboard the next morning. Her home settled us into the hum of
land. In the morning, Richard took a quick trip to Hamilton Marine
and we headed out under clearing skies for Belfast. In Belfast we
are visiting Alex and Diane Beck, fellow SSCA members and
hooked up with new friends, Katherine and Lael of Painted Skies.
The weather is blowing and wet as we join for breakfast in fowl
weather gear at Dudley's, but we had a grand time. We visited
the Beck's new land based home, trading stories and sailing tips
from some wonderful veterans. They have been where we wish to
go. Thank you!

A snotty morning told us to spend some time here and Barbara
joined us again to transport us about this friendly town. We
shared a chatty lunch, some chores and a trip to Remy's. We
visited with Irv and Marsha on Hang Out, had dinner aboard the
Rose with Katherine and Lael and the next cloudy morning Aug 20
we left Belfast, down the Bay to Rockport, a new port for us. On
waking the next morning in 46 degrees we decided it was time to
seriously start south. We came back into Rockland briefly for
fuel, pumpout and water. There is a fuel barge which comes to
your location, a very convenient service and the best price
around. Then off to the quiet of Port Clyde, a small, snug working
harbor with a beautiful lighthouse. We put up our enclosure,
cooked sauerbraten to worm the cabin and enjoyed a good bottle
of red wine to warm our souls.

We then spent a few days in Salem with brother Peter and his wife, Ginger. We
did succumb to the pull of Boston, took the ferry for a day of city touring. It
was a great day as Richard showed off the historic sites, his old stomping
grounds and the local culinary attractions. The town was teeming with college
students and their families as the school year begins, the weather was crisp and
clear and the bustle exciting. We returned to Salem by train after a great
dinner in the North End at Mama Maria with sore feet but happy hearts.

We came into Kittery, our port of entry
and exit of Maine waters and stopped to
have the last lobster with Maddie and
Barbara, Mom's buddies from Riverwoods.
What a fun time we had! Penny cried as we
departed these beautiful shores and
waters. We shall return.

Leaving Salem we headed south to traverse the Cape Cod Canal with correct tide,the day was crystal clear on
September 4th. We landed at a secure mooring in Scituate, a new harbor to us north of the canal. The town is
quaint and the harbor well protected, friendly people, great launch service....what more is there to ask for! The
next morning was very cool but we made it through the canal as planned doing 9 knots...who said this was a wet
snail! We are back in Buzzards Bay in Marion, one of our favorite towns, picking up our guest mooring at dark
with the friendly help of David, a local sailor guy doing the neighborly thing.

We head south for the familiar waters of Jamestown, across from Newport, on
September 11th, a day we all remember for another reason. That was a day that lead
to us doing what we do, keeping us in touch with the finiteness of our lives.
Uncomfortable weather was coming in so we zipped up our enclosure, turned on the
radar and rolled along down the bay The winds were building but we were safely in by
noon. Great seafood sausage from Menemsha warmed us at dinner. The next day we
touched base with our friends, Ann and Bill Corbin, across the bay in Newport for the
Boat Show. We spent the next few days combing through the debris for valuable
tools and information and exploring the camaraderie of fellow boaters. The Black
Pearl entertained us once more and Richard brought in another year of his life on
September 13th. Thank you for the blessing of this crew ! Tomorrow is another
day......

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Travels of the Viking Rose

Aug 23 we motored past Muscongus Bay, working our way to Casco Bay. We did
a drive by Monhegan Island on the way but did not find a mooring available for
an afternoon walk. The cerulean sky overhead was full of mare's tails and the
air cool and crisp. We shall come back another time to explore this remote and
interesting island of artists and lobstermen. We settled in Linekin Bay for a
very peaceful anchorage on the back side of very touristy Boothbay Harbor.
Otis enjoyed a fun romp in a shore side park.

We returned to visit our friends, Jack and Gerda and
their daughter, Joanne, at the Portland Yacht Club ,
partaking of the Clubs BBQ night festivities and meeting
some of the racing variety of sailors. Richard hooked up
our heater in anticipation of cool weather. We traveled
to Jack and Gerda's home in Otisfield, a beautiful spot
looking across at the White Mountains, and had a
wonderful dinner under the trees and the stars.
Amazingly the weather has turned HOT! We returned to
the boat briefly and then visited Kathleen Perry on
Cousins Island. Aug 26 we are stocking the larder once
more, have them all aboard for sundowners and head
south the next morning.

Thursday finds us headed to new territory, Woods Hole and Martha's Vineyard. We
had hoped to anchor in Eel Pond, to explore, but the bridge passage is so narrow that
we felt unsafe entering with the angle of the bridge and our rigging configuration. We
continued on to Vineyard Haven. The water was choppy and the wind raised our sails
with no lobster pots in sight. We arrived at a mooring close to town, explored some,
but settled in for an early evening aboard. We shall explore this new venue tomorrow.

The weather was shaking a bit so we have decided to sit here a while. We took the bus to
Oak Bluffs, a touristy location but with charming Victorian cottages around the
Tabernacle, once a religious retreat. The next day we explored Edgartown, more touristy
with ferries and day trippers. The terrain all around is interesting and the trees unlike
other coastal areas we have seen. Hilly, hardwoods, pines, dogwoods, warm weather flora
due to warmth of the water, an island of a mixed bag of vegetation. The people are a bit
transient with cultured summer inhabitants and seasonal workers blending their spaces
together. Beauty and bustle blended well on this small island. Avid racing sailors in classic
wooden boats were weaving through the anchorage to catch the last light and wind.

On September 9, we moved around the island to Menemsha , a small
fishing village and family community with great ambiance. We bought
delicious local seafood, witnessed a wonderful gathering of musicians
and felt the flow of camaraderie. The art and spirituality in the village
was a refreshing stimuli after the past days of commercial tourist
ports. The next day we headed to Cuttyhunk back on Buzzards Bay.
Here we climbed unoccupied hills looking for spots of interest and
found only great vistas looking across at other islands and the
mainland. There was abundant wildlife, including a multitude of rabbits,
deer and coyote which Otis wanted to get to know better. Our
anchorage was quiet and restful, the people warm and welcoming. We
hope to return to explore further.