Yesterday: No internet in Castine - so NO DOG BLOG. Yesterday was a spectacular day. We headed out of Rockland Harbor and did a little dance into Rockport Harbor before heading around between North Haven Island and Vinalhaven Island on the Fox Island Thorofare (I love that name! Gets my juices flowing just thinking about foxes!) Then we headed up Penobscot Bay past Cape Rosier to Castine. I HAD SEAL SIGHTINGS!! I am lovin' this animal contact thing. I will say they have been a tad shy with me. Not ready to jive and dance the terrier twirl. We had seas that were lake flat - and except for dodging so many lobster pots that my eyes crossed, it was a pretty easy ride. AND I did not have to cross my little legs and hold it before we rounded the bend into Bagaduce River and in to Castine Harbor.
At Castine we tied up at a place called Eaton's Wharf. It is quite a place. The last time it had a coat of paint was - well, never. It sits on 100 year old pilings out in the river that has a 12+ foot tide. I got a nose bleed just getting up to the dock to take a leak. The dock was complete with a lobster pool and the little guys dancing over one another. Those suckers can really move! The walkway out to the drive was through a shed lined with a million mooring lines dangling from the rafters. It was lit with Christmas tree lights - as was the work shed. Interesting.
I met Dobbin the rat terrier who's human is Ken Eaton who seems to own the place and work it with all his offspring. Quite a crowd. All the cruising guides have lots to say about Ken, Eaton's and Ken's boat: "The Hardest Working Boat in Maine", they call it. Hasn't had a rag or brush to it since about 1845. The Castine Health Department should condemn it. If it sinks, they will have to call in the guys with hazmat suits and booms to minimize the environmental damage.
Dobbin and I got it on on the docks - but when I chased him up the ramp and into the deathtrap of a shed, What's Her Name came after me and dragged me back to the boat. Oh well - so much for getting into a little trouble.
We walked through the town along its main street that leads to the Lighthouse - yup another one. This one close up. Then another forced march back to the boat.
The care givers managed to get reservations at the only restaurant in town, Stella's. But alas, no leftovers. They did meet the Town Clerk there - who was moonlighting as our hostess and last night, as the waitress. Did seem to have a hard time with what exactly was for dinner - but it all came together. And there was a dixieland jazz trio playing their hearts out there.
It was a rolling night and we work up to fog with a dismal outlook for travel. But Ken said - Nah - should be fine through the Eggemoggin Reach and Casco Passage: so off we headed just after the crack of dawn leaving Ken looking for a missing Whaler and 2 wrenches. And it seemed he was more concerned about the wrenches......
The ride was a mix of heaving fog and lifting fog, coupled with a heavy dose of lobster pots EVERYWHERE. We made a path that looked like skywriting overhead: zigging and zagging and loop the looping.
We finally made it to Bass Harbor and Mount Desert Island and rounded Bass Harbor Head to get the full roll of the Atlantic as we rode the waves up the bay and finally into Northeast Harbor.
I was ready to hit the head (so to speak) as soon as we reached Alan Joseph's gas dock. And there was grass and all sorts of smells. I was in heaven while we gassed up and took a pumpout of the boat after my pumpout.
We are now ensconced in Northeast Harbor Marina and ready to head out to explore the island on the Island Explorer Shuttle Bus. Bar Harbor here we come!
Stay tuned for more adventures.
Hi to all my doggie buddies: Zack, the Duffster and Leia. Keep your head high and PFD close by!
W
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