First Real Cruise of '15..Finally.....

What a Saturday to be out on our boat heading to our “secret location’ , on  the first REAL summer cruise of ’15.

Tied up along the ledges with about 35 feet of water 2 feet out from the edge and with a lovely brunch to be enjoyed with our traveling companions..

Today is a different story. Enjoyable in it’s own right with the much needed rain and with a pot of baked beans for later.

Using of course “Mother Mabel’s secret recipe”..

And so there is “this secret” and “that secret”…

Sometimes it’s best that way………

Shakedown Cruise...Lake Megunticook

It was time. 

After a long winter and a cold, windy, rainy Spring, we were ready to begin the 2013 boating season with our shakedown cruise. 

We picked one of our favorite spots, Lake Megunticook and we chose Sunday last.

The day was bright, blue with a cool wind that was strong enough to produce small whitecaps on the lake. The town had not put the ramp floats in yet and we were the only ones at the Rt. 52 landing. But soon enough the boat launch and parking lot will be fully utilized, to become somewhat of an obstacle course for those of us whose trailering skills are constantly being challenged.

After a winter's worth of storage, my main concern (as always) was the motor. Once the boat was out of the garage and with  freshly charge batteries installed, I very briefly fired her up. But it is always a big relief to hear the purring of the 4 stroke when it's actually in the water instead of sitting in the driveway.

Once out on the lake we discovered that we weren't alone after all. One other boat with a couple of fishermen trolling for rainbows which I had been told were being caught on the surface. Unfortunately I did not bring along my fly rod but did have a spinning rod stored in the boat which was not long in becoming un-stored.

It was great to be back on the water..sun on my face and fish on the scope.

(But alas none brought to net.)

And let me not forget my wonderful companions..

My wife Pat, Zed and Ray.

It wasn't long however before the boys were longingly looking toward the nearest shoreline for perhaps an overdue rest stop.

While they were doing their thing I came across this..

Clearly someone has been very busy this spring.

With the sun dropping and the wind seeming a little more chilly we headed back to the launch, fully satisfied with our shakedown cruise and eagerly anticipating many more to come.

Mid Winter Dreaming Of Lakes Of Blue And Seas Of Green

Boating is our thing. We like it. No that's really not accurate. 

We love it! 

Add in a generous amount of fishing and, in my mind, you are as close to Paradise as you can get on this good green and blue planet. 

I say "in my mind" because the wife doesn't quite share my enthusiasm for the fishing part but she's a very good sport about it. And when she's along I try not to become too greedy about it. 

But dragging a Grey Ghost behind us from my fly rod and with Big Ray by my side,

....or drifting and casting a dry fly onto still evening waters,  is about as good as it gets. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it....

Salt water or fresh...either or.

We are very fortunate because we live only two miles to the Belfast boat landing. On many occasions we have dropped everything we're doing, especially easy if what we're doing is mowing the lawns, packed a picnic basket, loaded up the Jeep with two excited dogs, and head out for Penobscot Bay. Perhaps our destination will be one of the deserted islands which on that day we call our own or maybe a drift down the Passagassawakeag River from the old Belfast and Moosehead Lake RR trestle to the head of Belfast Bay. We lovingly call it

 Riding The Passy.

Or maybe do some exploring around Islesboro, just to take in the ever changing sights on 

Penobscot Bay.

On those days when the salt water conditions aren't conducive to a 17' boat with only a 50HP motor, we'll strike out for the warm, friendly and close-by waters of 

Lake St. George 

 or Lake Megunticook 

or Swan Lake.

  On any of these fine bodies of water we'll do some swimming, floating, or tubing. And maybe a squeeze in a brief moment of bass fishing on the fly. Or perhaps we'll just shut down the motor and let the warm breeze push us around a bit.

So even now, during the middle of January, with winter barely month old, my thoughts are increasingly drawn to blue water and calm, green seas. 

More than likely, this coming May we will find ourselves exploring some place where we have never been before. Worrying about rocks laying just under the surface of some new lake or the shoals and tides around some new island. But for sure we will be returning to those special spots, fresh or salt. The places that we always return to year after year. And which, make us smile invigorating our bodies and lightening our spirits.