If it's 74 at noon, this must be Maine! Jewell Island and South Freeport

We're finally REALLY in Maine! This is gorgeous, just like the pictures. The southern part of Maine is sort of flat, sandy beaches. But when you get to the Casco Bay area, all of that changes, and the world becomes rocky outcrops, rocky islands, and tall, tall, coniferous trees. Just beautiful, the Maine we came to see.





Jewell Island is a relatively small island at the beginning of the Casco Bay. There is one small inlet where boats anchor. It's called Cocktail Cove, for the hordes of power boaters that reputedly swarm the place on the weekends. The island is only 30 minutes or so from Portland, and a popular destination. Fortunately, we had the place to ourselves with just 6 other boats. Even that felt crowded in the very narrow anchorage.



This morning early we went for a dinghy ride around the little inlet and did the walking trails through the island. Beautiful but lots of mosquitoes. Check out the "mosquito hand jive"...

During WW11, there was a military outpost at Jewell Island. The 2 8-story observation towers still exist, along with falling down bunkers, barracks, and miscellaneous military buildings.

They are not maintained, but the Maine Island Trail Assoc. does maintain trails all

over the small island for hiking. The views from the observation towers are great, as is the shoreline.

The tidal swell here is 9 feet. That means that the dinghy that we left in the water was sitting high and dry on rocks when we returned. Fortunately, another boater was in the same situation. We helped each other drag the dinghys back to their rightful places, in the water.

Speaking of water! It's COLD. We checked the water temperature because everyone here seems to love swimming on these hot summer days...."it's so refreshing!..." The water temperature was 67 degrees. These New Englanders ARE tough!

We have made changes to our bed covers as we travel northwards. We started in the Chesapeake with just a sheet and bedspread over us. A little further came the sheet blanket in addition to the regular sheet. By Long Island, we had added a second sheet blanket. Since we've hit Maine, we have ditched the 2 sheet blankets in favor of a regular blanket. Summer in Maine~



Out of Jewell Island around noon for a short hour's trip to South Freeport, home of LL Bean. Actually, the store (open 365 days per year, 24 hrs per day) is a few miles from the marina, so we didn't get there. Just as well, I'm sure. We had a lobster dinner at the local restaurant instead. Much better! Afterwards, a 20 minute walk through the historic district and then a dinghy ride to explore the harbor. There are so many beautiful sailboats here, older ones, nicely restored.



oh, and I almost forgot! We saw our first Harbor Seal in the harbor at South Freeport. There was a brown coconut bobbing in the water, followed by a long body. He was floating on his stomach, head above water, big doggie nose just above the waterline, watching us glide past him. They have big liquid eyes that seem to follow you. and lush, long whiskers. Very cute! I was so in awe that I didn't even get a picture. There will be more of them, I'm sure, as we progress further north. I've read that they are very inquisitive and will often come up and check out boats.

The plan is to go to Snow Island tomorrow, still in the Casco Bay area. It's a less developed area, only things to do are relax and see the area by dinghy.