An early morning departure from Bar Harbor, Dick, Betty, Bonnie and Charlie, will assure an early arrival in Rockland and allow time to get off the water before the winds pickup.
Even with the fog, the lobstermen work. The fog, the photograph, just cannot show the magnitude, the number, of lobster floats on the water.
There are many many light houses along the Maine coast. This is one of the many.
Probably the best place to observe the surroundings is to sit on the bow and watch the shore pass, the lobstermen working, and the many boats that are out on the water.
Schooners appear to be a popular way to travel and see the New England, Maine, coast.
The pictures do not adequately show the number of lobster pot floats. They are everywhere. Each lobster pot, or string of pots, is connected to TWO floats. The larger float is set so that it will be above water at high-tide. The smaller, tag float, is set to be afloat when at low tide. Between the tides there is a line floating, hovering, between the floats to adjust for the water level between high and low tide; as much at 11-15 feet. You must try to avoid these lines, these floats, when on the water.
By 1400 we pull into Rockland and go to the fuel pier. SONATA needs a drink . . . and receives some 410 gallons of diesel @ $2.30 per gallon.
Departing Rockland we are reminded of the work that is accomplished by the Coast Guard. This is a yard full of bouys to be used as replacements as needed in the local waterways.
Leaving the port of Rockland, we pass another gaff-rig schooner on our way to Boothbay.
The Rockland southwest shore departure light house; and people at one time lived here to maintain these lighthouses.
Entry into Boothbay, Maine, was a challenge. Lobster floats/traps, everywhere, navigation bouys to find in the sea of floats, and many many boats of all shapes and sizes going in different directions.
After arriving at the Carousel Marina we were again off to lunch at the marina. Bonnie is departing SONATA to join us.
So many boats in the harbor, on moorings, at anchor, on the piers. What a sight!
Fog. Yes, again fog on Boothbay as we depart for Freeport, Maine. Freeport is only 14 miles away, but we must again go into the ocean and pick our way throught the fog, lobster bouys, and other boats.
The fog lightens some as we come into Freeport and dock at Brewer's Marina. It was interesting that between Boothbay and Freeport we must have passed or encountered some dozen or more boats in the fog. Visibility was 1/8 to 1/4 of a mile . . . or less . . . and NO ONE had running lights on (SONATA did) nor was anyone sounding fog signals (SONATA did). A surprise!?!?!
In front of SONATA was a lobster boat, with its traps. Traps are rectangular boxes made from vinyl-coated wire mesh. According to Linda Greenlaw who is currently a lobsterman in Isle au Haut, Maine, the traps come in three sizes, "3 footers", "40 inchers", and "4 footers." She prefers the "40 inchers" due to the weight. Each trap has three bricks on the bottom so they sink correctly and have a plastic "door-piece" that has an opening that allows small lobsters to get out . . . the "door-piece" is held in place by "hog-rings" that will rust away and allow the door to fall off. This is to allow all lobsters to escape should the float be cut off and the trap lost. Generally speaking, a lobsterman can have 800 traps and place them anywhere(!) they want. It is illegal to possess a female lobster. A female lobster lays some 20,000 eggs in fourteen days. A lobster then molts some twenty-five times in its first five years of life. A marketable lobster is approximately seven years old. This information is from Linda Greenlaw's book THE LOBSTER CHRONICLES. Her other book, THE HUNGRY OCEAN tells her story of being a Swordboat captain. Linda Greenlaw was the captain of the HANNAH BODEN and sister ship to the ANDREA GAIL; Sebastian Junger's book, THE PERFECT STORM.
With all the information about lobsters, lobstermen, thought you should see both the lobster boats and the lobstermen. These lobstermen came into the fuel dock where SONATA was tied to obtain some gasoline for their boat.
This young man, Alex, was so good to us. He runs the harbor launch service in Freeport, he is happy to give you transportation to LLBean or town as the case may be. He took good care of us during our stay in Freeport.
On our way to Portland from Freeport we were again in the fog. This gaff-rigged schooner crossed our path along with a tug and barge (barge had a school bus on board) and several other boats.
When we first arrived in Portland at DiMillos Marina, the Coast Guard was to our port. The Coast Guard went to see as we tied up and a couple of hours later the ANTARES came in and moored. After lunch Dick and Betty prepared for their departure only after the delivery of a second battery to SONATA by West Marine. The #2 battery shorted and the second battery was replaced with the assistance of Eric from DiMillos Marina staff, and Dick. An 8D battery carries a weight of in excess of 160 lbs. A challenge to move around.
After the tour of Boston, after walking to the top of Prudential Skywalk Observatory, and after the Madonna Della Cava Festival . . . we stop for dinner.
This is old time Boston. A festival in the middle of Hanover Street. Note the detail in who the sponsors are, Local 223, Mama Rosie's, Local 175, construction companies . . . lots of good food for sale . . . make a donation. Recorded 1959's music being played in the street. What a place!!!
The Gold Dome of the State House, the Legislature.
And the Charles River where hundreds of thousands each year on the 4th of July listen to the Boston Pops near the Longfellow Bridge play rousing music ending with the "1812".
Then of course Dick, we have the Red Sox, Fenway Park.
Boston. What first springs to mind when someone mentions Boston? Paul Revere, the Old North Church; both are right here. Paul Revere's home is just down the street from this location.
