Exuberant Sailing: October 2017

Confessions of a Lapsed Blogger - Maine Gardens

There is something special about summer in Maine. It is definitely short and thus gaardens must display their glory in a matter of weeks instead of months. Flowers growing amidst the rocks, window boxes, and formal gardens are everywhere as gardeners celebrate the short growing season. Most of these pictures were taken in the Thuya Gardens outside of Northeast Harbor, but others came from Camden, The Abby Rockefelleer Gardens in Acadia National Park, and the botanical gardens outside Boothbay. Please enjoy as no comments are necessary.

Confessions of a Lapsed Blogger - Maine, Part Two

Here are more of Burt's pictures from Maine. He always has his camera in hand and took over a thousand pictures while we were in Maine. These are some of his favorites.

We were fortunate to be able to spend almost two weeks in Acadia National Park. Biking, hiking, and just gazing at the spectacular scenery. It is the high point of our sailing year.

Coming into Northeast Harbor, for most of the time, our base for exploring Acadia National Park.

Northeast Harbor on a serene day from our mooring.

Looking north at Jordon Pond with the Bubbles in the distance.

We hiked South Bubble and this was the view looking south towards the ocean.

The cliff walk along the Atlantic shore.

More from the Cliff Walk.

Duck Brook bridge on the carriage trail that we enjoyed biking.

The summit of Cadillac Mountain. We hitch hiked to the top and then took a five hour hike to the base. Days later I saw where this hike was considered one of the top 17 in the United States. We weren't surprised.

Cadillac Mountain from near the summit.We stopped to pick wild blueberries nearby.

Continuing down - our lunch stop is the knoll in the far distance.

More of the hike.

Near the bottom the terrain changes from wind blown granite slabs to almost a rain forest.

The two room school house at the remote fishing village of Frenchboro. Each painted buoy represents a fishing family. As through most of Maine, fishing refers to lobstering.

Hiking through the conservation lands on Frenchboro.

The craggy southern shore of Frenchboro.

South shore of Frenchboro with a boulder beach in the background.

Hiking the blazed trail.

Moss growing on the trees.

Carver's Harbor on Vinlhaven Island is a busy lobstering port, but if you dinghy into the pond adjacent to the harbor, it is very serene.

Our final destination in Maine was Seguin Island. with its famous lighthouse. The keepers are volunteers who sign on for a summer, welcome visitors, and maintain the grounds. This year the keepers were fellow cruisers.

The fourth order Fresnel lens in the lighthouse.

A marine railway extends to the top but visitors walk a trail instead.

Confessions of a Lapsed Blogger - Maine, Part One

My motivation as a blogger is again reflected in the title. Below you will find a collection of Burt's favorite photos documenting the five weeks we spent in Maine. This year temperatures were a bit cooler, fog , a bit more prevalent, and rain a little more common. We still had a wonderful time exploring favorite locations and added in a few new ones. Maine is a special place, and we hope these pictures (and those in the following blog) convey the experience.

Our landfall in Maine, Boothbay Harbor.

More of the waterfront in Boothbay

Monhegan Island where we were lucky enough to snag a mooring in an otherwise difficult to access harbor. Exuberant is in the foreground, taken while we hiked Manana Island which forms part of the harbor.

Village at Monhegan

The original Coast Guard fog bell, once on Manana Island, seen in the distance, and now on Monhegan. If it looks familiar, think of the Wyeth's. This was one favored location for their painting excursions.