Splash!

After 12 days we finally got to "splash"!

We knew it was close when the traveler lift started sneaking up on Latitudes.

And Latitudes will be in the air as soon as the stands are removed, ready for her short ride back to the water.  Those granite blocks behind her are at the water's edge.

SPLASH!  She is gently lowered back into the water.  The lift operator waits while we check for any leaks, make sure the engine starts, etc, etc.

Everything checked out ok and we motored to the Rockland Municipal Landing to empty the antifreeze from the fresh water tanks, rinse them, and fill them.  Plus we gave Latitudes a MUCH needed good washing!  She looks soooo much better now.  After that 4 hour little chore, we motored 1/2 mile to a sheltered anchorage in the Rockland harbor.

Luke was happy.

Smoke was happy.  This is why we always put out 3 chairs....

High winds (small craft warning) plus heavy rain will keep us here a couple of days. It's ok, because we are finally back in the water.

Visit to Acadia with sister-in-law Beth

Sister-in-law Beth showed up in her RV for a few days in Acadia.  She has the identical make/year as we do, just a lotttt bigger!  We left early Saturday morning and drove up to Acadia to spend the day with her. It was gray and sprinkled a bit but that didn't stop the fun.

Now, that doesn't mean that Luke didn't work on Friday!  More painting of the hull and it is finally finished!

But spending the day with Beth was much more fun!  Beth packed up a picnic lunch for us.  We ended up at Echo Lake Beach at lunchtime.  The strangest little island was out in the water.  Looks a little man-made...you can see it a little to the left of the middle of the picture.

It's a loon's nest!  The park system has put several of these in the lakes to help ensure the safety of the chicks.  This little lady has moved right in.

And she is a beautiful little lady.  We didn't catch her red eyes but you can see her white spots along her back.  We didn't see any chicks so I guess she is still sitting on the eggs.  It is early spring up here.

Cruising further south along Desert island, we stopped along a rocky beach called "Sea Wall". Soooo Maine!

Beth and Luke went for a hike at Ships Point. 

Folks are walking in the shallow water left at low tide.

A boardwalk ran along the trail.

Last was the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. A couple offered to take our picture, so we gave them 2 of our cameras.  This is what happens...

Latitudes has sailed past Bass Harbor Lighthouse many times in these waters, but the view from the shore is certainly different.

Beach Roses, in full bloom, help the rocks line the shore

Here is Bass Harbor itself, with boats on moorings, docks, and all sorts of lobster fishing paraphernalia.  The dock is filled with stacked lobster traps.

I can't believe we didn't get a picture of dinner, but we had our first Maine lobster dinner of the season!  Y.U.M. A local lobster shack across the street from Beth's RV park served up 3 perfect 1 1/2 pound lobsters, ears of corn, a pound of steamed mussels, and 3 large slices of blueberry pie (Luke's included ice cream on top!)   mmmmm....We love Maine!

A new granddaughter and Making progress

First the best news!  Luke's daughter Lisa welcomed her second child, a little girl, last night!  We plan to facetime with the family later today to congratulate grandson Simon on becoming a big brother (he's 10) and meet the new little lady.

We are still in Rockland and still on the hard.  But that's ok.  We are making a lot of progress, both in cleaning the interior of the boat (soooo much easier this year!) and outside maintenance (like sanding and painting the bottom of the hull).  We have checked the instruments and they seem to be working well also.  Early to rise, with sunrise at 4:50, Smokey walking all over us, and sunset at 8:20, long days to work long hours! With luck, we hope to be in the water early next  week.

We are enlisting some help with the outside maintenance from the boatyard this year.  Luke and one of the yard workers are studying the intricacies of which patches on the boat need sanding. 

It isn't all work, though.  We arrived just in time for the Rockland Summer Solstice Street Party! It was really well attended this year. Pizza, hot dogs, bbq sliders, and bloomin' onions were the food offerings.  Lots of kid oriented activities like face painting.  The local child's dance class had performances and there were several much-too-loud "bands".

Luke liked the old cars.  This 1923 vintage car is entered in The Great Antique Car Race, as a representative of the Owls Head Transportation Museum.  The race starts soon and goes from Buffalo NY to Halifax Nova Scotia! It's not really a race but a rally. Luke asked what was the criteria for "antique", and was told 1970 or older. So I guess that makes us "antique"

Yes, they really do grow this large up here!   Pretty scary, we're told they like fiberglass boats a lot!

While the mid Atlantic areas have been sweltering, the day time highs here have been mid to high 70s, and the night time lows in the low 50s, mostly with Maine blue skies.

I am off soon for an unexpected dental visit...ugh.  But  I got a good reference from someone here, the dentist is within walking distance, and he could see me next day.
Later this week we plan to catch up with sister-in-law Beth in Bar Harbor.

A dog, a skunk, and my car...

The summer Maine adventure has begun!  We left home finally on Wednesday with plans to visit two couples we know along the way.  Our first visit was wonderful, a nice visit, and great dinner.  Our second visit was wonderful, a nice visit, and great dinner....until time for one friend and her dog to leave.  Seems that the dog spooked a skunk that just happened to be under our car.  Yes, the damned skunk sprayed the undercarriage of the car! pewwwwww!!!!!!  It's been almost 24 hours and the scent is lessened but it is definitely still there.

But we've made it to Maine.  My stomach was in knots as we arrived at the boat yard, afraid of what we'd find.  BUT!  Almost no mildew!!!!!  Something in our determination in putting out 3 types of desiccants, drying out the bilge, making sure we no leaks at the hull to deck joint, and requesting larger ventilation holes in the shrink wrap must have worked. What a relief.

Now we have to finish moving in, do our provisioning, check the instruments, etc on Latitudes.  It will be at least a week before we get in the water.  So near but so far...the view of Rockland harbor from our high elevation on Latitudes in the boatyard...

But we'll get there!