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.

Penobscot Bay to Mount Desert Island

It has been more than a month since we started our cruise from Yarmouth.  We have had generally good weather, and the first three days out were perfect allowing us to reach Tenants Harbor in Penobscot Bay.  Since then we have been visiting favorite anchorages and towns between Rockland and Mt. Desert Island.  We have also enjoyed meeting old cruising friends, and spending a week with friends who drove here from Houston.  A verbal recounting of the details would be boring (to write as well as read) so a few photos here instead give a feeling for our cruise.   (If you are interested in bird photos from Maine check out our Birding Blog also.)

South Island Light at Tenants Harbor, ME in the early morning.

Lobster boats at sunset in Tenants Harbor, ME.

"Windjammers" (passenger cruise schooners) on parade off the jetty at Rockland, ME.

Sunset in Pulpit Harbor, North Haven, ME. 

Cloud formations in Seal Bay, Vinalhaven, ME

"Windjammer"  "J&E Riggin" sailing through Casco Passage.

Rainbow at sunset from the anchorage at Devil Island near Stonington, ME

The other end of the rainbow lands on Devil Island.  The complete arc was to large to get in a single photo.

Goose Rocks Light at the east end of the Fox Island Thorofare.

Private schooner with immaculate brightwork (varnished wood) in Northeast Harbor, ME, one of many beautiful old wooden boats we see in Maine.

Anchorage at Somesville.  The closer boat was from Argyle, Scotland, and the further one from Victoria, BC, Canada.

Tropicbird a few days ago in one of our favorite anchorages, Seal Bay on Vinalhaven Island, ME.

Boat Work Times Two

As many of you know the time and energy any boat project takes is at least twice the amount originally estimated.

[If you could care less about boat work, scroll down now to the scenic video at the bottom of this blog.]

Along with the usual spring commissioning work, we finally had to do something about the paint on the hull topsides.  The 15-year old Awlgrip (paint) was cracked and peeling in places, and it had to be extensively sanded before painting.  

The first photo shows part of the hull near the starboard bow.  The "blotches" are where the old paint had to be completely sanded off.  (After holding a 20-lb. industrial sander over my head all day, I definitely did not need to go to the gym for a workout.) 

Portion of the starboard side of the hull showing areas where old paint was sanded off.  The whole surface was sanded at least lightly

The first error may have been deciding to do it ourselves, but the biggest error was definitely deciding to do it in the open yard from a ladder.   I didn't count how many trips I made up and down the ladder, but I sure feel it now in my knees and feet.  I will have it moved under cover and get a stage [scaffold] set up "next time" (if I am not too old for anther time).

After sanding, two coats of two-part polyurethane (Interlux Perfection) was applied with a roller.  The red stripes and white hull sides were done on separate days (4 days total). 

Starboard side from the stern after painting.  Note the reflection of the ladder in the glossy surface.  (The transom was not repainted as it had been repainted a few years ago due to some storm damage.)

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It's not quite like a professional spray painted job (~$9K), but it passes the 20-foot test (you can't see the blemishes from more than 20' away). 

This job extended our time in the yard, but we enjoy Yarmouth, and the Royal River Boatyard is a great place to work (try the video below shot at the yard in the morning quiet just before work begins).

 

Now only a few small jobs remain and we plan to launch on Monday morning (3 days).

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Photos and video shot with my iPhone4, and edited using iMovie.  This video is reduced resolution from the original HD.  Music clip from "Morning Has Broken" in Rowan Tynan's Album  "Dawning of the Day" available on iTunes.

I am still experimenting with video.  This low resolution version does not appear to be very good in full screen mode, but better versions are too large to download in a reasonable time. )

Back "home" in Maine

We arrived in Yarmouth three days ago, and took the winter shrink-wrapping off, and got electricity and the plumbing connected.  Now we are living aboard again, but blocked up ashore while working on various projects before launching.  It is like living in an RV except for having to climb a 12' ladder to get aboard.  

Tropicbird under the winter cover when we arrived.

It is great to be back in Maine.  The best part is the friends we have here.  The day we arrived two couples we know came by in the late afternoon, climbed up the ladder to visit.  We enjoyed refreshments and conversation in our cockpit as if we were afloat.   

However, we are having to adjust our thin southern blood to the temperature - 43° F this morning. 

Jane still in her sleeping bag warming up with a cup of coffee.