Boothbay Harbor to Seal Harbor, ME

Friday, 24 July 2015

Today our trip almost overwhelmed my sensory absorption capabilities.  The scenery was spectacular!  I can not put into words how beautiful this place is, and the photographs just can not convey the thrill that I get looking at the view.  

We took on a little fuel in Boothbay, where the fuel is expensive, choosing to top off later on.  We were done fueling and walking the dogs a little sooner than we anticipated, which put us slightly ahead of the rest of the Nordic Tugs.  That is fine with me, since I run a little slower, and was sure the others probably wouldn't have plotted in the same route I had to Seal Harbor... so many islands, so many choices to run!

I heard the other tugs on the radio, when the group spotted whales (which we missed) and I called them to see puffins, which stay in one place!  The puffins evidently nest around Eastern Egg Rock Island.  Three of the tugs ran up our way, and I held my breath, hoping they would all see some of these rare (to us) birds.

The group split again as we took the circuitous short-cut through the lobster float gauntlet, managing to miss them all, but, a few were close calls.  We passed the town of Port Clyde, a spot we will have to come back to!

About the time we emerged from under Mosquito Island, we were in front of four of the tugs that had chosen to come up Muscle Ridge Channel.  We cruise a little slower than most folks choose to, so we asked them to come around.  They all chose not to, since we were still in a gauntlet of lobster floats, so we increased rpms a little.

We saw ENCORE at a distance, and I suppose she waited for us in Seal Cove as we came through the Fox Islands Thoroughfare, because somehow she ended up falling in behind us.

We circled around towards the back of Seal Harbor where four of us anchored, and one boat chose to not come quite as far inside to anchor.

We saw a small seal surface with a fish, and sea gulls diving, hoping for an opportunistic meal.  The seal went under a few times, avoiding the aerial attack, and resurfacing to struggle with a fish that just didn't want to be swallowed.  It appeared the seal eventually won.

Kim, from the MARNICK, and I, and the two dogs, ventured out in the dinghy, but, didn't get far before the rain chased us back to the bigger boats.

I need some help from my birder blog readers... Scott, Lila, Debbie, this means YOU!  Please identify this bird.  They are very common up here, about the same size as the puffins, forage underwater, and are everywhere.  I just don't know what they are.   OK, got answer:  Black Guillemot.

I really need some of my birder friends with me.  There are LOTS of birds I can't identify.  Thankfully, there are still a few I can!  I saw PUFFINS!  Wish all my friends could be here!

Boothbay Harbor

Thursday, 23 July, 2015

What a nice area Boothbay Harbor is!  Whether you come by boat, or by car, there is a lot to do from the shore-side, including taking boat trips!  The area is in a gorgeous location, there are lots of places to eat, a trolley service around town, and lots of little touristy shops.

In the morning, Ellen walked to the local grocery store, about 2 miles away, and caught the trolley back.  Linda walked the dogs, and then went exploring by RIB.  A seal swam by looking at the dogs, and we saw a couple small, dark porpoise.

In the afternoon, the dogs napped while Ellen and I caught the trolley into town and had lunch.  I had Maine lobster, and Ellen had scallops!  Yummy!  Then we walked around town, with its shops and buildings built along the hillside.

There are lots of boat trips available.  If I were taking one, it would be the "Kennebec River" trip.  I had already mapped out a circuitous route for us to take on the MERCY, and low and behold, they run that as one of their scenic trips.  I would have gone with them this afternoon, but discovered it too late.  To enjoy my trip, I'd have needed a jacket, binoculars, and a camera.

Walking around town, I didn't need the binoculars or camera, though slipped in and out of my long-sleeved shirt all afternoon.

We walked back along a bridge over a tidal creek, to the side of the harbor where we'd left our dinghy tied up.

In the evening, we gathered on one of the Nordic Tugs, and had fun getting to know the folks better.  What a great group of people!  We'll enjoy their company a few more days as we explore around Maine.

This fellow landed on the sailboat mast next to us, and then pulled a fish out of the water between the two boats.  So, I saw him get the fish at less than 30 feet away.

Isle of Shoals, NH/ME to Boothbay, ME

Wednesday, 22 July 2015

During the night a front passed, and behind the breeze that whipped up, drier air.  Not only could I see stars at 0400 this morning, but, the day is clear this morning, with miles of visibility.

Isle of Shoals is composed of several small islands, with a couple of them linked by stone breakwaters, making for the protected anchorage that we were in last night at Gosport Harbor.  As we pulled out of Gosport Harbor, we rounded Duck Island, where we had heard there were seals.

I watched through the binoculars at all the rocks in the water surrounding one part of the island, realizing that it would be tricky to get a whaler through them.  Then, I realized I was looking at seals!  We made a couple of those "dumb tourists" maneuvers as we turned around and approached a little closer, though the coastline wasn't real conducive to our morning approach.  We decided that we'll have the chance for better seal photography at other places, because, now, we are in Maine!  OOOBoy!

We cut SE of Boon Island, with its lighthouse, and yes, more seals!

We saw seals out in the middle of our transit, and three different sunfish!  The water here is gorgeous!  and cold!

We entered the gorgeous Boothbay Harbor, detouring to the west of the smaller islands coming in.  Boothbay is full of boats at docks, and on moorings.  It is a big lobstering community, now turned tourist.  It is a pretty place.

We grabbed at mooring belonging to Carousel Marina after calling by telephone.  Then we launched the RIB, and went in and paid at the marina.  After the dogs had been out for a bit, we continued with our harbor tour before returning to the boat for the evening.

About 9:00pm a neighboring community shot off fireworks, which is always impressive when you see them over the water.