Mike, the Official Greeter
Mexican Train on the boat------
July 7, 2010 Freeport, ME Temperature - HOT HOT HOT
We made it into Maine after talking about it for over a year......maybe two years. Actually, the coast from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and southern Maine could be the coast of Lake Michigan. We've seen little towns, trees, sand dunes, and water. We're not swimming (silly us) so we can't tell if the water is fresh or salty. I'm sure the famous rocky shoreline will begin soon.
Our ports-of-call have all presented different levels of peaceful sleep:
*On the Annisquam River/Blynman Canal our mooring was on the north end of the river which almost put us in Ispwich Bay. It was BUSY! We all thought that hundreds of power boats and skidoos were rushing in and out of the river and zipping by us. We were rocking and rolling in their wake until sundown, but then it got quiet. It was a peaceful/tranquil night of sleep.
*The dock at Newburyport (the first dock we've been on since June 15th) required a trip up a river and under a bascule bridge. We were there on the 3rd of July with all the party people. We enjoyed their music and laughter and didn't have any problems going to sleep. Sometimes the stress of the journey and the stress of the mooring/docking just takes all our energy. (I really admire Matt's and Tomeaka's friend in the Caymans, Judy, for all the different places she sails and all the situations she finds herself in.)
*July 4th found us in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on a mooring with no other people around. It was a beautiful deep water place to be with a picturesque New England scene off the bow. That's what we thought when we went to bed. WRONG THOUGHT! At about 4 am the lobster boats started passing by which created hugh wakes. The noise of Tequila slapping down on the water and then the boat rocking and rolling violently had us up and dressed by 6:30 am and on our way to Portland, Maine, by 7.
*In Portland we stayed on a dock at the Sunset Marine. They gave it the right name. We saw a beautiful sunset over the city of Portland and had fun playing Mexican Train on Mike's new table until it got too dark to see the dots. (Just a note about Mexican Train - we change the rules on each round to satisfy everyone's likes. Mike has the most difficult rules. Is that a surprise?) This is a busy port with a hugh cruise ship arriving at 7 am, so the slapping under the transom woke us up early.
*South Freeport was an adventurous trip up the Harraseeket River around 30 islands and thousands of lobster pots. Mike was helming and trying hard to stay on course, but it was difficult with all the swerving around the pots. S. Freeport is a beautiful quiet harbor, and we've decided to stay at for another day. The L.L. Bean main store plus 200+ outlet stores are here which aided in the decision to layover.
Mike and Marlene have settled into boating so easily. Mike learns another skill everyday and has been crowned our Official Greeter. He waves and smiles at everyone-----even the power boaters who are zooming by us and creating big wakes. His policy is to not discriminate.
Marlene has taken over the job of chart reader which really helps Lou follow the buoys into new ports. I'm so glad that Cyndi was here for a week and now the Cosgroves are here. How will we manage without them?
Last winter when I was reading the guide books for Maine, I read about Maine lobster pots, fog, and a very rocky shoreline. So far we've encounter the lobster pots-----lots and lots and lots of them. Here are a few things we've learned about the lobster industry:
*Lobster fishermen have specific territories where they drop their pots. Each licensed fisherman is allowed 800 pots. They cannot get a license until someone retires.
*Lobsters hatch from eggs and molt their shells as they grow. The first year they might molt 7 times, but then only once a year as they grow older.
*Each pot, really a cage, is attached to more pots in a row. The fishermen don't mind blocking the entrance to a harbor at all.
*As the lobster boats come to collect their catch, they must measure each lobster from behind the eyes to the shell to make sure the lobster is a legal length. If it's too big or too small, the lobster gets thrown back in. If the lobster is a female with eggs, the tail is notched and she's thrown back in. There are huge fines if the rules are not followed.
We seem to be in a seal fishing grounds. It's fun to see them poke their heads up and dive back down. We haven't seen any sharks although it has been reported that they hunt the seals.
During breakfast this morning, we sat on the deck and watched an osprey fishing for her chicks. The nest is off our stern. What a neat place to be.
It is difficult to find wifi so there may be some gaps in the blog. Thanks for keeping up with us.
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