Friday, August 12, 2016

Mussels, fog, and Vinalhaven Island

Back to Roque Island to wait for better weather to head back SW to the more populated coastal areas of Maine.  We spent low tide one morning picking mussels from the rocks at low water.  MMM!!!  Were they good!  I got a little local know-how to cook them. Steamed in wine, garlic, and a little onion. Mmm…

 Off at dawn for the 8 hour motor back to Mt. Desert.  We arrived in NE Harbor to fill with water and diesel.  The masses of lobster pots with their toggle are back.  After filling, we again left Mt.Desert and headed another 3 hours SW back to Buckle Island.  We were waiting for the right weather for the remaining 5-6 hours back to the Penobscot area.  If we can time it right and the weather cooperates, we hope to go 10 miles to sea from the southern Penobscot to the art colony island of Mohegan.  Link Monhegan The time we were there before, Latitudes sat on Jamie Wyeth’s mooring ball (he wasn’t on island). Our timing is important, because we want to be there on the 16th for their bi-monthly “Jamboree”.  This is basically a talent night at the island church, a beautiful old one room church lit by gas lights.  The first time we saw the Jamboree, in addition to the very good local talent, we were treated to performances by folks spending the night at the island hotel -  a flutist in the Philadelphia Symphony, an acclaimed opera soprano, and a noted pianist who composes scores for Broadway musicals. Wow. Hoping for such luck this time.

 For more mundane pleasures, while we waited for the rain to start in Buckle one morning, we again went mussel picking.  It is not as easy as you might think.  These rascals hide under seaweed and in crevices accessible only at low tide.  First you’ve got to find them.

 


Reward!

 

Some are still under too much water for my arms, so long tall Luke is employed to hang as far over the dinghy as possible and pluck.  (I did ask before I put this picture in the blog LOL!)

 


And the rewards of 45 minutes work – 10 pounds of shells.

 

Again – mmm.. even Smokey likes them and she is a typical picky cat.

 
 
We waited out a day of fog and rain, left early the next morning heading for Vinalhaven.  The day was sunny and clear at Buckle, but about 4 miles out, we ran into fog. As previously mentioned, I HATE fog. It was dense enough that Luke took Latitudes near the shore and anchored while we waited again for the fog to lift.  It did - sorta - and  we headed back out about an hour later.  All was fine, until, uh oh....a wall of fog.
 
 
Fortunately, we were only about 10 miles from Vinalhavel! The fog dissipated as we entered Carvers Harbor.  In the early day, while the lobstermen are out putting down their evil lobster floats and toggles, the harbor is relatively empty.
 
 
Later in the afternoon, when the lobstermen have returned, the harbor is entirely different!
 
 
The boat directly in front of  us turned out to be a good thing!  There are only 3 rental/guest moorings in the entire harbor.  They were all taken by the time we arrived.  No room to anchor here!  As we circled slowly and sadly, Luke suggested calling to the lobster boat Abigail N. sitting at the lobstermen's co-op and asking if he knew of any  available private moorings that someone may want to rent for a few nights.  He did - had one himself!  He made sure we found the right mooring, collected his fee for 3 nights, and we are safe and sound in Carvers Harbor. 
 
Main Street looks a bit dismal, but actually, there is a great little grocery store, a few nice shops, small hotel, restaurants, coffee shop, and a couple of museums in town.
 
 
This little restaurant sits, literally, above the water.  A reversing spillway allows the rushing water to run back and forth twice each day.
 

 
 
 
The old fire house sits on the docks.  This hook and ladder car, the water tank, and a few hose reels were all bought in 1888 for a whopping $5000.  The museum volunteer said that it took the community 2 years to raise the money.
 

 
Like much of the region, Vinalhaven also had an important granite quarry.  This old picture shows the granite being cut by Italian stoneworkers.  Just look at the detailed work these men are doing! And then it gets loaded on a train and hopefully gets to it's intended destination in the same condition.
 
 
Talent still exists in this little town.  This is the home of artist Robert Indiana.  He is the guy who did the LOVE sculpture - the block with the 4 letters.  A link to him https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_(sculpture)
 
His home is the old Oddfellows Hall. 
 
 
A more recent sculpture - HOPE - sits in front of the home.
 
 
 
And there is more talent!  Luke saw a flier for a combination art show/cello concert.  It was held in an old, small, renovated barn - capacity is about 50.  We knew it was going to be good when we arrived almost 30 minuets early and had to stand in line.  The artist is Richard Entel.  Formerly a town doctor, he also is an artist.  His collection Cardboard Menagerie, is a group of large animals, made of cardboard and broken violin pieces.  Pretty amazing work!
 
The giraffe
 
The elephant
 
Here is a link to his webpage  http://entelmenagerie.squarespace.com/
 
The cellist, Eugene Friesen, was amazing! http://www.celloman.com/ From Bach to original compositions that include cello music with humpback whale singing to African influenced music was all beautiful. Hopefully, this you-tube link will play.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5Bvr3R73BY
 
The computer gods are not very happy right now -going to quit and publish before I lose all of this!



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