Blueberries and Irene

August is the month when Maine blueberries are ripe, and also the month when the tropical storm season really picks up steam.   This August we have managed to survive both a tendency to overdose on blueberries and Hurricane Irene.

Maine wild blueberries ripening at Jordan Pond, Mt Desert Island.

Maine blueberries grow wild (although on some farms they are ."encouraged") on bushes less than knee high in rocky barren ground   The berries are small, half the diameter of commercially cultivated blueberries.  However, I believe that plants like blueberries provide a fixed amount of sweetness and flavor to each berry.  The tiny "wild" berries concentrate the flavor in a smaller fruit.   (If you have ever had a wild strawberry to compare with the supermarket variety, you know what I mean). 

Blueberry "ployes" (pancakes) on the griddle aboard TROPICBIRD.

Pancakes are our favorite vehicle for the ingestion of blueberries.  The ones we make on the boat are a whole-wheat/buckwheat cake.  The package of mix claims they are French Canadian in origin, called "ployes".  the mix is made here locally in Maine.

 This August we also departed from our usual summer schedule, got off the boat for a few days, and made two "road trips".  The first trip, in early August, was to Peacham, VT to attend a memorial service for Jane's Aunt Thora who passed away recently at the age of 96.  The memorial service was also somewhat of a family reunion bringing together scattered  cousins Jane had not seen in many decades.  Peacham, in the Northeaster part of Vermont, is the home of Jane's mother's ancestors at least back into the 1840's.  It is a small town in beautiful rolling hills that tourism and "development" has largely bypassed (you can't buy a "Peacham" T-shirt).    The service was in a wonderful old Congregational church, supposedly the third oldest meetinghouse in Vermont, built in 1806.   The drive from Maine through the White Mountains of New Hampshire (no Interstate) was also very scenic.


Later in August, we went to Greenville, ME on Moosehead Lake, to visit a friend I have known since graduate school.  Moosehead is a beautiful large lake (40 mi long) with many islands, and is surrounded by mountains and the wilderness of Maine's "north woods".  

Unfortunately, we had only a couple of days, but we did get out on the lake in Bruce's restored 1938 Richardson 28' runabout.  It has a 1941 Chrysler 6 cylinder engine that runs great at 70 years of age (probably in better shape than I am in, born the same year, ).

We also got to tour the "Steamboat" Katahdin.  Built in 1914 by the Bath Ironworks (which now builds the latest in US Navy guided missile destroyers).  It was used for various purposes over the years including towing huge rafts of logs down the lake. Now powered by Detroit Diesels it is a National Historic Landmark and takes tourists for excursions on the lake.

When we returned to our boat from Greenville, we learned that Hurricane Irene was on its way.  We got provisions and headed for Cabot Cove in Pulpit Harbor on the north side of North Haven Island.

Cabot Cove, Pulpit Harbor, North Haven, ME as Hurricane Irene approached.  Strong winds from the SE were blocked by a ridge to the left.  Only a few gusts can be seen rippling the surface as the stronger winds blew overhead.

 

It is a great "huricane hole" only about 300 yards wide and less than a half mile long, protected by a low ridge along the southeast side.   It is good we got there early since there is not much room to anchor.   The worst winds we had were probably only a little over 20 knots though it was gusting to 40 outside. 

After the storm was over we revisited Rockland briefly to get provisions.  Then sailed southwest toward Casco Bay passing several of the famous lighthouses of the Maine coast.  

Owls Head Light with the Camden Hills in the distance as we leave Rockland and start down the Muscle Ridge Channel.

Marshal Point Light and Port Clyde.

Sailing past the Cuckholds Light off Boothbay Harbor.

The Seguin Island Light off the mouth of the Kennebec River.  This is the light that guided the big schooners more than 100 years ago.  A sailboat is at one of the day moorings at the island.

We arrived at The Basin on the New Meadows river, one of our favorite spots, where we met some cruising friends have spent several days.

A quiet morning in The Basin with a few wisps of fog drifting in from the river.

We are now at Snow Island in Quahog Bay, only a few miles from Yarmouth, getting ready to head for the Royal River Boatyard in a couple of days to be hauled out for the winter.