Catching up

We tried to leave Rockland, thought we’d been there long enough for this stay.  Yes, we tried – the sky had been foggy, but the fog lifted, we could see across the Penobscot to Vinalhaven, so we left for a destination 8 miles out.  3.5 miles later, we turned around in dense fog and carefully plotted out way back home, fog horn blowing.  We watched all day for another opportunity to leave, but the fog hung relentlessly over the waters.  Rockland was sunny, but it was clear that the bay was not!

Smoke was delighted to be back at anchor after such a short trip.  She always runs to the bow of the boat after we anchor for a rub fest.  It was Luke’s turn.  Now, this is a shot of two happy boaters. 

Look carefully, though, at Smokey. Head thrown back, she is about as happy as she can get.

This strange plane flew overhead, apparently going to Owls Head Transportation airfield.

We have seen the super sail boats this trip.  First, the Salpertron sailboat, 145 feet, that blew past us.  A mere $18M.

Then the superyachts.  These are not charter yachts;  just for personal use of the owners.

As we sat at anchor in Boothbay Harbor, the world’s largest production superyacht, Evviva, passed so closely we could almost touch her (waaaay too close).  Her owner, the founder/owner of Bayliner Yachts, has built 4 more of them and is happily awaiting the order for number 5. A helicopter sits on top of this 164 foot yacht. A mere $23M.



A little about her, plus clear pictures...

http://www.superyachts.com/motor-yacht-7468/evviva.htvvm

Next, the super yacht, Silver Shalis, is owned by the fellow who owned the Twin Towers in NYC. Seems he took out terrorist insurance 2 months before 9-11.   Then, with the two airplanes flying into the towers, he claimed two attacks and collected almost $5B (yulp, billion).  THEN he got the contract to build the 7 World Trade Center!!  She is a paltry 179 feet.  A mere $7M, perhaps because she is older, built in 1987.  The rest of these yachts were all built in the 2003 – 20013 range.

But I don’t think we’ll surpass this one.  She was cruising up the Penobscot as we left Rockland.  This 370 foot monster is one of the worlds largest private superyachts.  Built for a telecommunications exec, Le Grand Bleu was sold to the 151^st richest man in the world, a 50 year old Russian billionaire businessman, investor, and politician.  Besides being the chairman of a major wealth management firm, he owns the Chelsea FC football club in England.   Le Grand Bleu has a 74 foot  sailboat on her deck!  Plus a 65 foot speedboat!  Look at the tiny lobster boat in front of her.  Whew. We let her go first….

 I am very positively impressed, however, with  her attention to being “green”.  The ship received the Environmental Protection Notation from Lloyds of London.  She has sewage and wastewater treatment plants aboard, a water purification system, and nitrogen and sulfer exhaust controls. A mere $90M (the owner, by the way, has at least 2 other superyachts, valued at $120M and $140M. Guess you can do that when you’re worth over $13B)

An 8 mile sail and we arrived at Hurricane Island.  This used to be an Outward Bound School’s summer sailing program  island, but that was closed in 2006.  The Hurricane Island Foundation is there now.   We picked up one of the guest moorings and took the dinghy about a mile to the beautiful White Islands, a tiny archipelago of 6 islands.  This is touted as one of the most beautiful Maine island groups.  Big Garden Island was previously owned by Charles and Anne Lindbergh.  They donated the island to the Nature Conservancy.

Clouds above Little White Island

We landed the dinghy on Big White Island.  Luke has perfected a pulley system for the dinghy.  A few ropes, shackles, pullies, and bingo, we can drop an anchor in the water, secure an anchor on the shore, and use the ropes to take the dinghy out into the water and bring it back again.  No more dragging the heavy thing and it’s even heavier outboard back across a rocky shore to the water after a falling tide.

This is a pan of the landing site of Garden Island.  It’s  very rocky.

These islands have everything.  Lush green grass

Trees that cover the interior of the islands

Here is a great long view of the islands.

Back at Hurricane Island, the inevitable fog came rolling in. 

The next morning we took the dinghy over to Hurricane Island to explore the trails.  Back in 1874 the island was home to over 1200 Irish and Italian immigrants working in the granite quarry and doing the fine finishing on work done on other islands.  The 125 acres island had a post office, 6 boarding houses, 40 cottages, pool hall, bowling green, a bandstand, a company store, and 2 major quarries.  But it all ended abruptly in 1915 when the Superintendent of Works passed away after 20 years at the island.  It was announced that the goods from the company store were being moved to the mainland.  This caused a panic and most families took the last scheduled boat to the mainland, leaving behind most of their worldly possessions.  The thriving town became a ghost town overnight.
There is a really good history about this period, plus pictures found at www.hurricaneisland.net, then go to "history".  There is still a lot of rusting equipment around the island.  The largest is the fly wheel.

The quarry – love the “no swimming” sign.  Obviously, seagulls can’t read.

Here is an overall view of the quarry

Old stones show where the cottages and other building stood.

The ice pond is beautiful.

We walked to the “sunset view” summit.  You get a wonderful view of the White Islands from here.  The wisps of the morning fog are still lingering in the trees.

After lunch we left for a night at Seal Bay, passing the Heron Point lighthouse.

Seal Bay is well named!  These fat rascals have been basking in the sun atop one of the rocky ledges.  It took us a few minutes to figure out the first fellow – his head is closest in the picture, brown snout upturned, and fins wrapped around his body as he relaxes on one side. The others are obviously enjoying the sunny day also.

After a lazy day at Seal Bay, we plan to head back to Rockland to meet our Florida friends.  No internet here, so I am preparing the blog to post when we get back to civilization.