Island Hopping ....The Last Cruise

It was a flat-arse calm, September morning on Penobscot Bay and we were now not far off Deer Isle.  All the elements were aligned properly, a cloudless sky, an incoming tide and the bay as still as a mill pond. 

We had left Belfast Public Landing, about 40 minutes earlier, not long after sunrise.  Having just cleared the No Wake buoy, located at entrance to the inner harbor, I opened up the throttle leaving The Monument behind us.  Very shortly we were in The Middle Grounds and quickly bearing down on Islesboro's Turtle Head. 

With our four stroke, 50HP Merc doing it's thing and with the water barely showing a ripple , we made good time as we rounded Turtle Head, quickly making our way down the Eastern Gut which separates Islesboro and Cape Rosier.  Soon our primary destination was insight, Barred Island.  Barred is a beautiful double headed island, with each of its heads separated by a gravel bar that becomes exposed on a dropping tide. However our incoming tide had turned about an hour before we arrived and there was still plenty of time before the bar became submerged again.

 

Coming around the eastern point we approached the bar slowly, cutting the engine to gently drift onto the rounded stones of the shore.  We, of course, have beached many times on an outgoing tide which is fine but it does have an accompanying concern about grounding out.  We came really, really close one time on Sears Island and  were very fortunate that we managed to re-float our boat.  But no such worry this time...no unplanned, extended stay.

No boating experience for us is complete without our boat dog and once on shore we kept very close tabs on Andre as the island is sensitive, ecologically speaking.  We made sure that we stayed on the bar rather that exploring the wooded parts of the island, wanting to leave no impact on it's natural setting. Our shore time was very brief and  after a light snack,  not on the urchins,  we boarded and continued on to some of the many other islands in that area.

 As it turned out we weren't the only ones on the bay taking advantage of the warm sun and the calm waters...

I've always thought the the lobster boats with a mizzen sail (?) on the stern were very cool. They are not a rare sight but are still somewhat unusual.

Moving on we came across this very small island that seemed to have all the comforts.  And on a day like this one made island life very appealing.  I'm not sure that I would feel the same way during a northeaster.  But it was lovely nonetheless.

What is really nice about a small boat is that it allows you to get up close and personal. With the motor trimmed all the way up a couple of feet of water will do. And will allow you to enjoy the sights and sounds of the nature that surrounds you.

Even though this nest was unoccupied, you can't help but admired the imagination of the builders.

Below is just another example of small island life on Penobscot Bay.  Small in size but large in life.....

Time for one more stop, this time at Pond Island Preserve with it's fine beach and Deer Isle in the background... This is one we've been to before on numerous occasions and is a favorite of ours, as it is for many other boaters and kayakers.  A great spot to stretch your legs.

It's just a short cruise from Pond Island back to Islesboro and as we neared Turtle Head and our final leg returning to Belfast we passed a couple of hikers standing on what I've always thought looks like a ship's prow, the cutting edge of Islesboro.

Closing in on Belfast and with the Northport shoreline looming larger, we converged with The Thunder Bay, "thundering" down the western gut,  heading toward her home port of Rockland. It's not often that the TB gets up our way but it's always great to see her.

We made it back to the boat ramp just as the bay started to chop up.  And we'll be sure to return again next summer for more small island hopping.

Mid Summer Belfast Bay Cruise

With a very light SW-rly breeze, an incoming tide and flat water, conditions were just about as good as they can get for a small boat on Penobscot Bay, a very small portion of which is considered Belfast Bay.  One advantage of small boating is that is can be done quicker than you can say "red on right returning" . A simple hookup to the trailer..a short hop to the boat ramp and soon you find yourself under Rt. 1 looking to Little River Dam...

 

Moving down shore we were soon abreast of the summer community of Bayside..

 

with the many upturned, small  boats looking much like sunning harbor seals...

 

As I said before, flat water, and that means a quick, full throttled hop to Islesboro and Grindle Point Lighthouse and base of operations for the Islesboro Ferry..

 

Working our way toward Broad Cove, there's no mistaking what this harbor is about (other than transporting flat-landers to their summer places on the island).. And for those of you flat-landery, touristy folks who don't know what this is..

 

Here are a couple of clues...

this..

 

and this..

 

We were soon back into Belfast for some observations of the busy goings on in our now bustling inner harbor.

I wonder if this is where the above is heading (the lobster not the lobsterman) for its  date with the cooker?

 

The inner harbor is packed with mostly pleasure craft of all sizes, types and shapes..

 

But fortunately Belfast still retains a portion of it's old, working harbor nature..we haven't given up the ghost totally to the Thurston Howell III types..yet..

 

And that's it..

Back to the ramp and quickly loading the boat back onto the trailer..

a great cruise was had by all... small boating at it's finest..

"Our" Islands..Sears...

Dear Islander, I envy you: I'm very fond of islands, too.."  Edna St. Vincent Millay

     

It wasn't that long ago....

Has it really been that long a leap from the warmth of summer to the cold of a January day, in the new year? Not a long leap at all but more of a quick jump from July to January, or so it seems.  Back on those high days of summer, plans were being made... routes drawn... ferry schedules perused... tide tables considered.  All of this considerable "work" , is really more a labor of love. And love it we do. Whether we travel to the islands on our boat or as passengers on one of the many ferries that ply the coastal waters. Either .. or .. is good in our book.

So I thought that since it may be a while before we get to feel the salt spray in our face, I'll spend sometime reviewing a few of the islands that we, as Millay says,  are "very fond of" as well.

It's always best to start closest to home and since we call Belfast home , that starting point will be our "go to" island when time is short... Sears Island.

 

Sears Island is only 5 miles by boat from the Belfast Public Landing and usually it's a very pleasant boat ride but when the ocean breezes pick up those measly miles can mean a wet, bumpy ride.

We usually head over to Searsport first to check out the ships docked at Mack Point and then follow the westerly shoreline of the island. Years ago, before the causeway was built, there was just a gravel bar that was exposed at low tide. And I've heard tell that some intrepid souls actually drove over the bar only to get stranded on the island after losing track of time and tide. At high tide small boats could actually shoot over the bar and make it to the backside of Sears. It was shallow and rocky in spots but it could be done.

Often times we will beach our boat on that western shore, hopefully on an incoming tide which eliminates the potential of being one of those stranded, lost souls as in days of yore.

 

Our pups love to run around a bit and do some exploring on the mix of mud, sand, seaweed and rocks.

 

And since that side of the island doesn't seem to get as many beachcombers as the eastern side,  we pretty much have it to ourselves.  One of the many great things about salt water boating is that you never know what a new tide has brought onto shore.  We will spend some time strolling around, looking for bits of sea glass or a shell of some sort,  enjoying the great view of Turtlehead to the south.

 

And on a warm summer evening its a great spot to watch the sun dipping below the Belfast horizon.

The waters surrounding the island is a favorite of the local fishermen to set their lobster pots, with a good cluster of them hugging the southern point of the island.

On the eastern shore you can find one of the better beaches around, which over looks Cape Jellison and Stockton Springs Harbor. This is a fine spot to hang out. And on those really hot summer's days, take a dip or rest in the afternoon shade.  

There are also the remains of an old wharf which is used as a nesting area for local seabirds including ospreys. 

So Sears is our first go to spot and we are very fortunate indeed to have it in our own backyard.

Next up Islesboro..

Fort Point State Park Pier..Picnicking and Fishing

On a fine morning a week or so ago, with the tide running just about perfect, I decided to take a boat ride to Fort Point State Park. 

Located in Stockton Springs, the park is situated on 120 acres, much of it bordering on the head of Penobscot Bay and at the mouth of the Penobscot River and built on the remains of the Revolutionary era, Fort Pownall.

Being very fortunate to be able to travel by boat rather than the road trip up Rt. 1, coupled with the fact that there is a public pier available to boaters, made the trip that much more enjoyable. 

(No worries about beaching the boat on a outgoing tide.)

I've been past the pier many times on my trips up the river in search of the elusive striper but never have I decided to tie up there.

The pier is around 200 feet long with a nice float and ramp and as you can see with no overcrowding and no signs prohibiting one of my favorite activities,  fishing from a pier. 

Located at the same spot as the old steamboat landing 

it offers a sheltered anchorage and groomed picnic area.

Perhaps that is exactly what is in the offing in the very near future with a bit of aforementioned fishing thrown in for good measure.

Picnicking and fishing..a pretty fine combination wouldn't you say?

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.