Fall in Belfast

We had enjoyed Mt. Desert Island (they pronounce it like dessert but spell it otherwise) but it was time to move on.  We decided to visit Belfast and headed for the Eggemoggin Reach, passing four other Island Packet Yachts along the way.  The seas were calm and it turned out to be a great day for watching the world go by.

Okay, technically it’s still Summer but waking up this morning the dew and fog told another story…a beautiful, picturesque story.  Apparently they had given us the usual “Cruise Ship” docking space but it was a fun welcome for Jay Sea Dee.

John had boat duties to take care of so Jonathon and I headed to town.  Over 150 years ago Belfast had over a dozen shipyards that built over 300 whaling ships.  Today it is not much of a tourist town but we like the local feel of it.  It is a real artistic community.  Last night we went to the movies in this century old building with the elephant on top.  The owners purchased the elephant from a defunct business so it would remain “in town”…apparently there is more to this story.

Cadillac Mountain…The Hard Way

The weather has gotten much cooler this week…we are wearing our hoodies and/or fleece most of the time now.  Even with the bad start we had the other morning, we weren’t going to give up on Cadillac Mountain.  So according to the NEW bus schedule, we had to be at the stop by 8:57 and we were there at 8:45…and we waited and waited and waited some more.  So we decided we had missed the bus again and started walking to town when low and behold…the bus showed up.  We climbed aboard and asked to be dropped off at the loop road which leads to Cadillac Mountain and adds two miles to the hike but we had had enough of taking the bus anywhere.  Yes, four and a half miles later we summited the 1,530 foot Cadillac Mountain.  It was a view to behold even though the sun was hiding behind clouds most of the hike.

There is no bus system to Cadillac Mountain but there is a Oli’s Trolley that gives one hour tours to the summit or takes you back down for $5.00 per person.  Feeling good we declined and headed down the trail which would be much shorter than following the road all the way up.  They use cairns (stacked rock formations) and blue painted stripes to show you the way on the trail.  On the way down I tripped on some gravel and landed knee first on a sharp rock.  Thank God I had some band-aids and we carried on at a much slower pace.  Once back to the Loop Road, we hopped another bus to the visitor center where we got first-aid supplies from the buses first aid kit…I think I will live .  We also spotted a yellow caterpillar that I just had to photograph.

We caught another bus back to Bar Harbor and headed straight to the restaurant Blaze for a burger and fries…it has been a while since we had enjoyed one of those!  Well, sitting next to us was Susan Sarandon and her son.  It was hard not to get up and ask for an autograph but we kept our cool.  I got a photo as she left the restaurant going back to her car.  She looked great but more petite than I thought she would be.

What is today?

Like most sailors we can usually tell you if it’s Monday,Tuesday, or Wednesday etc., but not the date like August 30th, 31st or even September 1st.  This was unfortunate for us as we found the bus schedule into Bar Harbor but what we didn’t know was that it changed as of September 1st…yes, BEFORE the Labor Day weekend ended (because most of their bus drivers are also school bus drivers).  The bus routes are halved and from Southwest Harbor to Bar Harbor, it only comes every 3 hours now.  We had packed up our packs and wore extra padding for socks…ready for our climb up Cadillac Mountain.  By the time we got to Bar Harbor (3 hours later) we did not have the time to hike up the mountain and get back in time for the last bus back to Southwest Harbor.  So we hopped another bus and headed to The Atlantic Brewery company outside town where the famous  Mainely Meat (yes, spelled just like that) restaurant is.  They have a 15 foot high Smoker and they fill it with meat daily.  It was delicious!  We then had another hour or so bus ride back to Bar Harbor and missed our bus to SW Harbor by 15 minutes so had to hang out there for 3 more hours waiting for the last bus home.  It pays to know what date it is.  Being the experienced travellers we just go with the flow and make the best of it.  They had an art –n-craft show in the Park.  We went to the Fiore shop which carries Artisan Olive Oils from all over the world and Balsamic Vinegars from Modena Italy.  Because of all the time we spent in the Med we have come to LOVE our Balsamic Vinegar and EVOO (extra virgin Olive oil). They have stainless steel “Fusti’s” lining the walls with many, many flavors of both and tasting cups to partake.   once you decide on which flavors you like, they bottle and seal it for you on-site.  We walked down to the Harbor to see the Margaret Todd Schooner Ship and then through town where we found Lobster Ice Cream.  We sat in the Park and enjoyed the sunset.  There are many Inns here which came from the wealthy in Newport, RI who frequented Bar Harbor as well and built these magnificent mansions which have been turned into Inns.  These same families donated much land and property to establish Acadia National Park. 

Ode To Sailing

Oh how we Love to Sail and Northern New England has been so good to us.  You could spend a lifetime dunking in the coves and crevices of the Maine coast.  The scenery is breath-taking with the ragged coastlines and the color changes in the shorelines from the tidal changes.  There is almost always a lighthouse to see and wonder about its history.

Due to bad weather we spent a couple of nights anchored in Long Cove, part of Tenants Harbor.  Oh what a beautiful spot for nature enthusiasts.  Just sitting in the cockpit you hear the call of the small duck as curious about you as you are about them, and the gulls, and the other assorted birds of the area.  Even though we were in a huge Bay the lobster boats would see how close to Jay Sea Dee they could get and what kind of rocking and rolling they could create…starting before dawn.  Whatever works for you guys

 

Onward to Vinal Haven with no engine and the sails blowing gently with the wind.  I had picked out Seal Cove so we could anchor.  We were one of two vessels there and had the serenity and scenic beauty of another of Maine’s treasure coves. 

Another day of sailing.  As us sailors say “saving another dinosaur” (when we don’t have to turn on the engine and can be under sail).  It is Labor Day weekend so the harbors are filling up fast.  Northeast Harbor said there was only one mooring available and we were still hours away.  So we headed to Southwest Harbor on Mt. Desert Island.  We will spend many days here exploring Acadia National Park.  They have a great bus system on the island so we can catch a bus from here to one of many other Harbors around the Island, including Bar Harbor.  I can’t wait to enjoy the charm of this island.

The lobster buoys caught my eye today.  There was even a pink polka-dot one.

Boothbay…one of our favorites!

The town of Boothbay was developed as a fishing village and a safe harbor for ships in bad storms.

Entering Boothbay you pass Burnt Island Lighthouse.  This lighthouse was built in 1821 and automated in 1988.  You can visit the island and lighthouse as part of a guided tour.  We also saw Ram Light Lighthouse located off the Ocean Point shoreline.  It was built in 1883 and automated in 1965.  Prior to its existence, the rocks of Ram Island were marked by lanterns tended by locals.

If you call ahead to the Rocktide Inn you can tie up to their floating dock and enjoy a free night if you eat at their restaurant which is a treat in itself.  Such a deal!!!  And you are just a short walk over the footbridge into town.  Or the Rocktide Inn offers a free trolley into town.

After checking in we went to look for some lunch…the Maine kind of lunch…and we hit the Jackpot at  The Lobster Dock.  They serve up a mean Lobster Roll and were featured on “Throwdown with Bobby Flay” show.

Here are some pics of town: