Nemo’s Dlog 2007

Walked ashore this morning, the town was kind of quiet. There was a nice NW wind in the harbor, so we thought we’d have a good sail Southeast but shortly after we started the wind died. It was drizzly and overcast and dreary. We had an uneventful motor to Christmas Cove and picked up a mooring.

We took a nice walk ashore and explored. Rainy evening.   I napped.

Today after a shore visit and stop at the bakery we left to start heading home. It was a bumpy lumpy ride right into the wind down the Muscle Ridge Channel. There was one boat tacking back and forth forever but the rest of us boats motored into it. I spent most of the time on the cockpit floor, and some time next to Melissa half on her lap. I mostly slept. Rich couldn’t let the autopilot drive as there was so many lobster pots.We decided to stop at Tenants Harbor and not Port Clyde as the wind was from the SW and the seas were so rocky. We went ashore, Cod End was closed for the season (though someone came out later to get their money for the mooring) but the store was still open which was good because we needed some food. We had steak for dinner, and a quiet night.

We stayed in Rockland today, weather wasn’t great and my people wanted to try the Suzuki restaurant for sushi for dinner anyways. We went ashore for breakfast at the Brass Compass Cafe and Rich bought a new circuit breaker for the radar at Hamilton Marine. It’s been been flaky about not turning on and in Maine radar is very handy. I napped, but that seemed to fix the problem. It is actually kind of hot today but windy.

We sailed over to Rockland today, had a very nice sail until about 1.5 miles out when then wind picked up to 20-25 and the seas likewise. My people shortened sail and turned on the engine.   Our friend’s mooring had someone on it, that was okay though as we got a mooring from Rockland Public Landing that was closer in (so less bumpy) and a shorter dinghy ride to shore.  

We went ashore for a nice walk, and late lunch at the Black Bull. Dinner  of pasta back on the boat later after showers.   It was cold so my people got out extra blankets for the night. I helped keep the Vberth warm though.  

This morning I had good shore time while Melissa went to the library to take care of some work email, and we stopped at the store. On the dock as we were going back to the boat we saw a woman lobsterwoman going out to her boat.   Not until we were pulling out of the harbor and so was she on “Mattie Belle”, that my people  realized it was Linda  Greenlaw, of   “The Perfect Storm” fame. She was the female swordfish boat captain on one of the other boats talking to George Clooney’s character on the radio.  She  has written her own book about  swordfishing, “The Hungry Ocean” which we have aboard, so it would have been  cool to get her autograph.  She has also written a book about lobstering, and a cookbook, and a new novel.   She grew up and now lives on Isle Au Haut.   Anyways, she seems like a neat lady, I bet she likes dogs. 

Wind was on the nose so we motored to North Haven.   Found a mooring, but couldn’t hail J.O. Brown’s Boatyard on the radio so called them on the cell.   Not particularly friendly.   We went ashore and the town apparently shut down at labor day - the restaurant there is only open July and August, and nothing else was open and not many people were around.   The market had closed for  good.   Even the dock at the boatyard had a sign “No visitors.”   One of the reasons why we stopped here instead of Winter Harbor was the cruising guide said it was a neat little town.   It sure looks quaint from the water.   But we won’t bother stopping  here again, at least  not “off season”.  

At least we did see a schooner sail through the thoroghfare:

And there was a cool sunset: