There are two guest mooring balls that are placed in the small cove. We tied up to one and Luke rowed the short distance to the little beach. This rather reminds me of some of our Bahamian pictures.
Then it is a slow walk up the hill to the lighthouse, along the path beside the old railway (formerly used to haul anything that needed to make it to the top! It was discontinued shortly after the platform failed to stop at the bottom, killing a lighthouse keeper's wife and child).
Finally, the lighthouse!
In 1985, after 200 years of manned service, the lighthouse was automated and abandoned. Fortunately for us, the Friends of Seguin negotiated a lease with the Coast Guard and acquired the lighthouse. Volunteers live there during the summer months. It must be a great place to live during the summer - the views from there are magnificent!
The Friends of Sequin made another big step a few years ago. The lighthouse has a rare, historical, and powerful Fresnel lens, the only first-order lens north of Rhode Island. This is a huge lens assembly about 3 ft in diameter, and 6 ft high. The U S Light Service directed that all US light houses must have this superior technology lens by 1858 to improve the visibility of its light houses. In the 1970's the Coast Guard wanted to convert it to solar power, and a high tech modern lens. 7000 signatures were gathered, convincing the Coast Guard to leave the lens there.
Next, to one of our very favorite spots in Maine, Five Islands. This is a postcard shot of small Maine harbors. One island has only a working lobster dock, a lobster house that sells fresh lobsters and lobster dinners, an ice cream store, and a small boat company that sells gas to the lobster boats (oh, plus a few picturesque Maine homes).
Another island has a few homes and a small yacht club that generously maintains 5 free guest mooring balls for transients (that would be us!). The locals a the homes here have a variety of beautiful little run-abouts.
But the best thing about Five Islands is our friends Gloria and Mike. We met them on our first visit to the Bahamas in 2008. Mike keeps five "recreational" lobster pots and has the freshest lobsters you have ever tasted! He and Luke personally plucked those rascals out of the cove for us while Gloria and I visited with their grand Bengal Cat, Ben. It was a great visit and wonderful dinner. Even Smokey got a little left-overs when we returned to the boat.
From Five Islands, we hopped our way to Boothbay. First, a stop at Damariscove Island. Damariscove Island is 1.7 miles long, 1.4 mile wide, and almost completely divided in two by a narrow strip of water. That narrow strip of water is where we anchor.
The swift current and narrow channel require two anchors - the usual bow anchor and a second stern anchor, set to the rear of the boat. Not a real challenge setting them (drop the bow, go backwards and drop the second one, and then pull both anchor ropes to set the boat in the middle of them).
Damariscove Island ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damariscove_Island )has an amazing history - it has been used by English fishermen and trappers for over 400 years, long before Jamestown or Plymouth. In fact, the pilgrims on the Mayflower stopped there for provisions before landing in Plymouth! By then, Damariscove was a year-round fishing community! When the Indian War broke out in 1676, (and lasted 56 years), 300 colonists fled to Damariscove for protection. After Indians boarded a boat there and beheaded the owner of Damariscove Island, the colonists largely moved on to Monhegan Island. Legend has it that the beheaded fellow and his dog haunt the island today. We didn't see him, thank goodness! The Island was deserted again, except for seasonal fishermen and the Coast Guard, during he Depression. The Coast Guard deserted their station there, too, in the late 1950's. Around 1985 the old Coast Guard Rescue house was sold to private owners who have restored it. They are the only residents now. That's Latitudes mast in the narrow channel in front of the house.
And back to that anchoring ..... we are glad they are there! It got a bit tricky getting that second stern anchor up. We were doing it, but with some difficulty and a lot of slow effort. The owner of the home paddle-boarded over to the boat and offered to help. He got on board with us and helped Luke pulled up the stern chain and anchor and get the stern anchor back to the bow. Very nice!!!
The 360 views from this island are the best! Here we are on the rocky ledge.
And yet another view.
Although there are no trees on the island, the paths on it are often narrow and lined with really tall bushes.
This stick and lobster pot "artwork" is pointed towards Boothbay.
But are we going there yet?? Noooo.... yet another stop; this time at Squirrel Island. Squirrel Island, a mile from Boothbay, has been an exclusive summer retreat for generations. The 94 homes are pretty much only resold within families.
The only businesses here are Town Hall, an ice cream shop, and a post office.
No vehicles, bikes, skates, or skateboards are allowed on the island, so the entire island is linked with paths.
Once again, the friendly folks of Maine maintain one free guest mooring, giving us the pleasure of exploring their island.
Finally, about 6 p.m., we wandered into the anchorages at Boothbay, setting down for the night. Smoke was more than tired of the constant stopping and starting of the hated engine. She, too, settled down in her favorite place - on our opening hatch just outside of the screened cockpit.
And just what has poor Luke been doing while I typed this saga? Laboriously changing a shredding V-belt on our main engine. Good thing he caught it, but a tedious and dirty job. I love Luke!
On to Boothbay in a bit, for some city life (that means tacky shops and ice cream). Actually, the town runs complementary shuttle buses all over town - like to the grocery store! We hear there is an aquarium in town and a wonderful botanical garden. We may well try to visit both during our stay here. Oh, and it's 70 today~
No comments:
Post a Comment