Tenants Harbor to Seal Cove

Friday, 14 August 2015

We left Tenants Harbor around 0815 this morning, skirting to the east, and rounding Southern Island.  Edith, I hope you enjoy this photo.

Our lives are full of memories; the joy and sorrow of making them, and the joy and sorrow of the memories themselves.  Edith sent an email today with fond memories of her time spent in Tenants Harbor, and the good folks she knew there.  The ashes of a loved one are scattered here.  At 92, Edith is still making fond memories.

We headed to the SW, then turned to the west below Mosquito Island. Even as calm as the Atlantic is today, the swells crash along the rocky banks of the peninsular.  It must be an awesome, horrific display of power when the seas are up.

We wriggled towards the southwest, in an easy to follow channel, dodging various rock ledges, down to Eastern Egg Rock.  

I didn't realize when we passed through here weeks ago just how rare puffin sightings are in this area.  Eastern Egg Rock has a colony of puffins that was encouraged here a few years back, with hopes of renewing a nesting colony.  It seems to be working.  

The light was all wrong to try to get photos.  The surf was rolling in, the current was running, and I spent my time trying to steady the camera while bouncing on the swells, and simultaneously missing lobster floats.  Well, at least I missed the lobster floats.  I also photographed a few swells.

We continued to the southwest, around Thrumcap Island, and then headed north, running to the east of Inner Heron Island, and then towards the point of Rutherford Island.  We had another Nordic Tug sighting at South Bristol, a dark blue hull.

We continued northerly, up the Damariscotta River until we rounded Hodgsons Island, and headed south into Seal Cove.  Does anyone here notice I LIKE SEALS!  

We entered at high tide, but there would have been plenty of water for our draft at a real low, going a litttle towards the shoal on the left when crossing the 5' bar.  We anchored below this gorgeous home.  I could live here!

We watched a man gathering mussels or clams at low tide in the south end of the cove.  For awhile he appeared to be knee deep in mud, a position, I remember from the other day.... but, he looks like he's worked free now, and has moved a distance away, only shin deep in mud now.

Warren Island to Tenants Harbor

Thursday, 13 August, 2015

This morning dawned clear, with every trace of rain and fog gone!  We turned east as we exited the mooring field, and followed Gilkey Harbor around.  

We saw the most in-water seal activity that we'd seen as harbor seals bobbed and fished all around us.  We also saw several porpoises in the area.

We took a westerly course across West Penobscot Bay, and cruised through the mooring field at Camden, a pretty little town with more boats than we've seen in a long time.  It was a little sad, almost like culture shock from being back in crowded boating areas!

We continued south along the coast, which got me wondering how many lighthouses there are in Maine!  

We eased around the breakwater at Rockland, Maine, and into the harbor.  The harbor at Rockland in huge; lots of moorings, as well as other areas to anchor.  We fueled up at Journey's End marina, who has slips on either side of the USCG docks.  The fuel docks are on the south side.  We laid to for several minutes until the Nordic Tug CALYPSO, who was at the dock, backed up a little, giving us room to come in off their bow.  The Rockland Boats and Homes show is this week-end, and a lot of work was going on with folks getting ready.  As we eased out of Rockland, there were four yachts on their way in.  

We went through Fishermans Passage and Muscle Ridge Channel and then turned west to Tenants Harbor.  We did a drive-by of the town in the back of the cove, and as we came out a young man in a small boat zipped up to us to see if he could help us.  We asked him about moorings, and he lead us to one from the yacht club, which they rent out for $30/night.  

Tenants Harbor has a lot of sailboats and a smaller number of working lobster boats.  They are all tucked on moorings deep inside the cove.  The transient moorings are more to the outside, unless you've made a reservation well in advance.

Maine is going to be a hard place to leave!

Will someone please identify this smallish bird?  About the size of a Guillimot.

Thanks to Laurie's Mom!  This baby is a juvenille Black Guillimot.  Hmmm.  Which may be the reason he's the size of a Guillimot.... and looks kinda like Sibley's picture, too!  Thanks to the birders who enrich my life!