A visit from from friends and sightseeing on the Penobscot

First some sightseeing on a gray Monday.  We took the day "off" and headed inland to one of my favorite little towns, Damariscotta. SO much to offer in 3 or so blocks of town.  We started by walking to the bridge at the end of town.  From one direction, you can see the rapid running creek and the green Maine.

On the other side, the small harbor.  It's hard to believe, but at one time this small town boasts an amazing shipbuilding past.  From the Damariscotta Shipbuilding Association website ---

Beginning as early as 1770 and continuing until 1920, the shipbuilding era on the Damariscotta River spanned a remarkable 150 years. Over 32 shipyards have been documented, mostly in the upper section of the river including Great Salt Bay. Square riggers, including clipper ships, and schooners were everyday sights and launches were often big community events with great fanfare.

Ships built here sailed the entire globe with destinations near and far, exporting timber, salted fish, bricks and ice and returning with coal, spices, tropical fruits, and other trade items. Little remains of this era although occasionally at low tide you might spot a few pilings or stone and granite walls once associated with some of the larger boatyards.

Just up one street is the beautiful St. Andrews Episcopal Church, built in 1883.  It is the first example of cottage Gothic revival church in the country and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We also enjoyed ice cream, coffee, hot dogs, book stores, yarn shop, and various other shops all along the town.

From Damariscotta, we headed back towards Rockland with a stop in Friendship.  Friendship is a small lobstering town.  Steep roads lead down to the docks. 

There are about 3 different lobster co-op docks along the harbor.

Most have tantalizing signs like this - live lobsters for sale!  And cheap!  They are usually about 2/3 market prices.. And even better prices can be had if you can catch a lobster boat at work in the water.

All docks stink but one in particular caught our noses...this boat bottom is literally full of fish.  The men are scooping them up and dumping them into a basket which then dumps them into a big barrel.  There were already 15 barrels of fish sitting on the dock. Asked the destination of all those fish, we were told that they are porgy and are used for lobster trap bait.

On Tuesday, we caught up with our friends Ange and Ray, along with daughter Nicole.  They are visiting Maine and us for about a week!  They were wise enough to start our day off with a visit to the Breakwater Winery in Rockland.  A lovely old home/winery and wonderful wines.  Yep, I bought a bottle!  We recommend it if you get to Maine.

Next, the Owl's Head lighthouse.  The view from the grounds...

Ange is remembering that it's a long way to the top!

But everyone made it.

Lunch of fresh haddock sandwiches at Luke's in Tenant's Harbor.

Our next lighthouse was Marshall Light, in Port Clyde.  I tell this every year, but Marshall Light is the lighthouse used in the movie Bubba Gump.  A memorial overlooking the sea has been added.   This is in memory of all of the local St. George men lost at sea.

The view is great

Wildflowers are everywhere.

The walk and the lighthouse.

The 4th promised to be beautiful, so we made plans to meet in Rockland and take everyone to Camden aboard Latitudes (along with some cruise time).  Camden has a fabulous firework display every July 4th so we made reservations for a mooring near the fireworks barge.

Here is the Rockland harbor as we leave.

Past Owls Head lighthouse by water.

Ange and Ray have this evil habit of bring donuts every time they visit us, either on the boat or the RV.  This was no exception, and we love them for it!  Nicole and I indulge in our first ones...

We were treated to several schooners on the Penobscot bay.

The lighthouse at Rockport.

After our cruise, we all went to shore in Camden.  Ange, Ray, and Nicole headed back to their hotel, etc, and we did some sightseeing.  Here is the Camden harbor from land.

Camden also hosts a July 4th celebration in town.  We stopped to listen to the local band play patriotic songs.  Don't be fooled by the empty chairs up front.  The day was hot, the chairs in the sun, and the crowd was under either a large tent top or the shady trees.

We  all had a wonderful dinner at the Hartstone Restaurant.

AND!  It just happened to be Nicole's birthday!

We all took the launch back to Latitudes and watched the fireworks, up close and personal!  They were fabulous! I love fireworks.  Smokey doesn't.

On the 5th, we all set sail, back to Rockland.  It was about 20 miles.  The first half of the trip was quiet downwind sailing.  The second half was into the choppy waves and growing wind, watching endlessly for lobster floats.  Nicole was a great help!  Too choppy to get any good pictures.

Sadly, our visit with Ange, Ray and Nicole is over.  We are waiting out rain and wind today at anchor in Rockland.  Tomorrow will be provisioning in earnest for the next couple of months, laundry, and dropping off the car for the next few weeks.  We don't plan to be back in Rockland until the third week of August, when daughter Heather will be here!