Lament for the Maine-less Summer of 2008

Alas, no gas...

With gas prices topping $4+ a gallon during the summer of 2008, my Maine vacation travel plans were scuttled. Like who knows many others, I had to settle for a "staycation" instead of a vacation, deeply disappointed I was unable to camp out on Mt. Desert Island and sail the Maine coast. Nevertheless, there was plenty of delight and contentment to be found in my "wanna-be Maine-like" small backyard, which has become something of a "Downeast" urban oasis, especially in the quiet early morning hours. Early birds announce the day in their variegated ways — from subdued and doleful mourning doves, to the sharp chirpings of a couple of cardinals, and the occasional incredible improvisations of a gaggle of starlings. On some days, when the wind is just right, faint Ivesian church bells Westminster-chimed their way away from some as-yet-unknown Olney area church. An occasional train horn's minor 6th (and sometimes diminished 5th) chords and weighty rumble would remind me from afar of Dad's coming home from work in N.Y.C. on the Pascack Valley Line's 5:55 pm train (one I myself used to ride with him when I worked in Lower Manhattan). [Coming up the huge bank of escalators into the lobby of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers indelibly imprinted in my memory.] Later on, the setting sun's red-orange rays slice their sharded way through the sylvan scene, briefly backlighting the sunflowers' large leaves. Fireflies morse codes lazily along the darkening greenery's edges. May as well be an evening in Maine...

What's in the garden? 3 tomato plants, a small stand of sunflowers, a fledgling blueberry bush (got 7 blueberries from it this year), a nice of day lilies, several hostas, an ivy-covered wall, a large bush, proliferating peppermint plants and a good-sized oak tree -- each variously work their ways upward, outward and/or onward. The extremely sociable Maine Coon cat, JaMaine, waits on the back porch -- which, come to think of it, looks a bit like a dock shed atop 2 pilings. The scene becomes especially delightful when a summer thunderstorm comes through, when you can watch and listen to it through the screen door on the back porch. But alas, Hummer languishes in the basement, and I fear we might never sail the Maine coast again. Hopefully I'll find someone who wants to go sailing on a lake a couple of counties over (many were asked, but there were no takers).

"You hear the call of the sea?"
Indeed, it's hard to ignore.
Lord, teach me how to stay back
when pressed within to explore.

2007 Maine Coast Vacation

Pied Beauty (1877)
Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

Glory be to God for dappled things —
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches' wings;
Landscape plotted & pieced — fold, fallow, & plough;
And all trades, their gear & tackle & trim.
All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled, (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.

***

"The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea." - Tagore - Bengali poet and novelist

***

My sister Deb and her husband Jim decided to vacation on Mount Desert Island instead of taking their usual summer trip to Florida. I'm guessing it was a combination of Deb's childhood memories and their son Spencer's accounts from prior trips that won them over. Jim and Deb dropped Spencer off in Philadelphia and traveled on ahead of us, while Spence and I did a walking tour of my neighborhood and prepped for leaving the next day. Packed the car, and got Hummer secured atop the car and left for the Pine Tree State. Encountered some thunderstorms here and there on the trip up (delightful), and when we got to Maine, the rain came down in nor'easter fury. Arrived at Quietside Campground in W. Tremont on MDI late at night -- Jim and Deb having arrived a short while before us -- and we all proceeded to set up camp with 3 tents on 2 adjacent campsites (#30 and #31).

Have to admit: the weather wasn't always the greatest. But all that did was help us to enjoy the subtler elements of the Maine woods on a coastal island. Aside from making her campsite kitchen as homey as could be, Deb went about snapping pictures all around the campground and the places we all visited. You can see many of them posted here.

Jim, Spencer and I cycled over to Seal Harbor and explored the dock area. The sea never fails to fascinate and captivate the imagination.

One of my key goals for the trip was to learn how to sail. We finally were given a nice sunny afternoon and went over to Echo Lake where we put Hummer into the water, rigged her, hoisted the yard 'n mainsail, then (with Jim at the helm) took her around Echo Lake a couple of times. Photos can be found here. Thank you, Jim, for showing me the ropes. Gotta say I was giddy with excitement to get out on the water and be borne along by the wind in a boat that I was able to build. Spencer went out after me and was a much quicker study than I in the art and science of sailing.

All throughout the week, uncertain weather caused us to change our plans to do a lot of sailing. We took a day trip over to Little Deer Isle with bikes and boat in tow, and Deb and I motored Hummer off the southern shore of LDI near Blastow Cove while Jim and Spencer biked down to Stonington of Deer Isle. Deb and I motored out to Scott Island (once the home of author Robert McCloskey and the setting of his book, One Morning in Maine), as well as to Sheep, Eaton and Little Eaton Islands, and got as far east as Weeds Point before going back to the landing near Blastow Cove. During our explorations we came across a large rock formation jutting out of Penobscot Bay and dubbed it, "Deb-Maine-Ayuh." The current was fast and powerful around it that it was a challenge to try to get a picture of Deb atop it. I was also a wee bit concerned about Hummer hitting some submerged rocks all around. Didn't want a shipwreck.

Dad (a k a "Faz" to our in-laws and "Pop-Pop" to the grandkids) popped by the campsite for a brief visit. He came up to visit with some long-time friends who live out in Machias on the eastern-most part of the state of Maine. Dad savored the mornin' cup'a blueberry-flavored coffee which is a fixture on the breakfast menu while camping on Mount Desert Island.

Spencer and I took Hummer out from Bass Harbor, motoring through the fog to Bass Harbor Light (where Jim and Deb were exploring). Deb got some great shots of us in the boat as we explored the coastline of MDI's southernmost tip. We went out to the bell buoy and circled back. I was struck with the wonder and mystery of coastal fog and how it heightens one's sense of hearing. We docked for a brief turn at the dock next to the Swans Island ferry and then went further into Bass Harbor to film a Matrix-like scene. Here's the set-up: from the back of the boat I passed an oar slowly over Spencer's head as he slowly leaned back over the bow to avoid it as we were doing a 360 degree full-throttle "donut spin" (the outboard motor turned hard to the portside). The concept: clever. Its execution: a hoot. The cell-phone memory card: insufficient to the task! Alas. Nevertheless, a mutual memory remains, and perhaps someday we'll get another chance to film that scene.

On yet another day we paid a visit to the Oceanarium on Route 3, a few miles NW of Bar Harbor and saw lobsters of all sizes, colors and even growth stages. The Oceanarium's primary focus is to responsibly conserve the crustaceon, sustaining its viability as part of the fishing industry. One particularly informative display was that of how a lobster trap works:

1. Lobster attracted by bait in "pocket" (A), finds opening in "head" (B) leading into "kitchen" compartment (C).

2. Lobster wanders around kitchen to find way out. Easiest to climb inner head (D) leading into "parlor" (E).

3. Lobster can get out of parlor once in a while but even then usually returns.

We saw a "berried" female (eggs attached to her underside), tiny 3/8" long lobsters swirling in a saltwater holding tank, and others in lobster "condos" (PVC pipe segments)which keep them from going at each other. From there we went to the West Street Cafe in Bar Harbor for their lobster dinner special. A walk through the town's shops for gifts and souvenirs closed out the day.

On one of the last days on the island, Jim and Deb took Hummer out from the Manset Dock into Southwest Harbor. After they returned they took their bikes onto the ferry boat that goes out to the Cranberry Islands and went to Islesford. Meanwhile, Spencer and I tokk Hummer out around Greening Island to the south shore of Sutton Island. Deb (his Mom) was able to take a great photo of us under full sail as we sailed west back to SWH. After returning to the dock, I took Hummer out for a solo run past the southern tip of Greening Island, traveling about a mile. Going out with the wind was easy, but then it died down and I had to apply "spruce breeze" to get back to the dock. Not a problem, as the PassageMaker Dinghy glides and tracks well while rowing. As I listened to the sound of the bronze oarlocks turning in the sockets and the water gently lapping against the hull beneath, I was really glad I had installed the oak oarlock risers the year before.

Jim, Deb and Spencer left a couple of days before me, and I spent my last full day on the Maine coast on Deer Isle, visiting the Haskell cabin where we stayed as a family when I was a young teen, as well as the Pilgrim's Inn, where my brother Ed and I stayed years ago as a Christmas gift from our parents. Also stopped in to see Ken and his wife Martha, whom I had met last year while looking for a public boat launch site.

Made a campfire on the last night at Quietside, and later listened to live flute and guitar music wafting from the adjoining #31 campsite.

My last morning on the Maine coast started off with the usual classic "Downeast Maine Woods M.D.I. Breakfast" of fresh-picked wild Maine blueberries scrambled eggs, grits, bacon and toast, washed down with a hot mug of blueberry-flavored coffee. Not far from where I was sitting, a red squirrel neighbor took his breakfast as well -- seated in a nearby balsam tree.

On the way through Southwest Harbor I stopped in to say goodbye to Ralph and Frances Reed, owners & proprietors of the Quietside Cafe & Ice Cream Shop (where we ate several times during the week). Drove straight through to Philly.

2006 Maine Coast Vacation

July 16 - 26, 2006

Gracious next-door neighbor Bryan Smedley helped me get Hummer on to the car's roof rack and I left Philly around 11:00 am -- off to Maine. T'was a very, very hot day, but the car's A/C made the trip quite comfortable. Arrived in Kittery around 6:00 pm, stopped for a fast food dinner, got to Nubble Light as the sun began setting and tried to sleep (not too successfully) at a rest stop on the Maine Turnpike.

Resumed the journey at 4:30 am, drank in the sunrise and got to Ellsworth by 6 am. Arrived on Mount Desert Island and got to Southwest Harbor, stopped by the hardware store, then went over to the Manset Dock. Harbormaster Gene Thurston offered me a float mooring and the use of his dinghy ($50 for Hummer's 10-day residency) and helped me get the boat off the car and into the water. From there it was over to the the Bass Harbor Light. Met a dear Texas couple who've been married 51 years. He taught at Columbia University and she was a 1st grade teacher. Got to the Quietside Campground, set up the site and took a nap. The sun beat down on the tent mercilessly and there was no shade and asked Sue about changing my site. Back to the harbor in the evening, numbered the boat and ran the engine.

My one night at that site did not go well. Got really, really sick and was very grateful there were bathroom facilities close by. All night long and on into the morning. Tried drinking Earl Grey tea to stop "earling" but to no avail. Didn't know if it was the food I had the night before, the heat, or some foreign marine material I had ingested (didn't wash my hands after working on the boat). Things started getting better by early afternoon, but again the sun began bearing down vociferously. Migrated my camp over to another site and was grateful for the shade. As I was getting things in order at the new location, the first of two huge thunderstorm were rolling in. Took refuge in the tent as lightning strikes silhouetted the Maine island woods on the tent walls and thunder ricocheted all around. Nice. Not a small amount of rain fell. It was glorious, in spite of some of the inconveniences.

The next morning I feasted on wild Maine blueberries found around the campsite then headed over to Manset to take Hummer out. Bailed out about 2 or 3 inches of water from the previous night's thunderstorms then headed out past Greening Island, past Bear Island and over to Seal Harbor. Explored it a bit. Then it was out to East Bunker Ledge (a bit scary out there with rocks maybe not so far beneath the surface). Traversed the Eastern Way then went past Sutton Island, past Bear and Greening then back to Manset. Watched them put the mega-lobster boat Amy Sui back into the water.

The next day (July 20) I took Hummer out to the southwest side of Great Cranberry Island – enough to see the South Bunker Ledge in the distance, but was prevented from going further by a fog bank. Saw a 30 to 40 foot log drifting ominously in the ocean, possibly loosed by the storms.

Because the next day's weather was so iffy, I spent it traveling up to Trenton then over to Stonington, Deer Isle; Goose Cove Lodge (looking for the Felstead House), and met Ken (who cares for a number of properties on the island. Asked him about boat launches on Deer Isle (they are few and far between) and he suggested a possibility of a place to launch from.

On July 22 I took Hummer up the western side of Somes Sound and down the eastern side. Took the boat ashore in (a nice sandy patch) and took a lot of photos (one of which was eventually posted at CLC Boats website). Delighted to be greeted with a wave from a young brother while photographing Man 'O War Spring. Watched a flotilla of small sailboats sailing near Hall's Quarry and dreamed of doing the same next summer (after I build the sail kit).

The next day I asked Harbormaster Gene Thurston about the safety and feasibility of taking Hummer to Isleford to which and he responded it would be best to go from point to point. Did so, following the coast down to King's Point, then to Great Cranberry Island, then to Isleford. Made it to the harbor but didn't take Hummer all the way in as I was a bit wary of the weather. Went over to Bear Island then back for a tour through Southwest Harbor.

On July 24th, Dad came over to the campsite from where he was staying (The Bass Harbor Inn) and we headed down to Manset. Headed out to Greening Island where the outboard prop hit a lobster buoy rope and sheared the pin. Finally got to deploy the now infamous "Spruce Breeze" technique, plying Somes Sound with the Shaw & Tenney 8 ½ foot oars for some 2 miles or so back to Manset. Landed at The Moorings Restaurant's dock (newly built) and had lunch there. Left Dad there as I rowed back to Hummer's mooring and picked up Dad in the van. Got a compliment on Hummer from a 10-11 year-old who was playing by himself near the dock. "That's a nice boat," said he. Replaced the outboard's sheared pin on the dock (could have done it out in the ocean, had I known) and a newly-minted 5-trap limit lobsterman named Mark graciously helped me car-top Hummer.

On the 25th Dad and I took Hummer over to South Brooksville and Bucks Harbor (actually, we launched from Betsy's Cove after a man walking with a woman and their dog helped me get Hummer to the water). Dad and I went out the harbor into Eggemoggin Reach and we made it all the way out to and around Pumpkin Light. Faced a fairly strong headwind going out and practically flew back to Bucks Harbor and then to Betsy's Cove. Again, two lobstermen graciously helped me car-top Hummer and then Dad and I walked into the gift shop near the top of the hill (next to the church) that was once the country store immortalized in Robert McCloskey's book, "One Morning in Maine." Had dinner in Stonington, ME and caught up with Ken again (Deer Isle resident and properties caretaker) and his son-in-law Mark and then headed back to Quietside Campground on Mount Desert Island.

Left MDI (reluctantly) the next day, but not before getting a haircut in the Island's only barber shop in Bar Harbor.

Maine 'n me? A-yuh. We go back a ways.

"Maine is beautiful -- but rugged. Just like life."

Our entire family (except for my brother Ed who wasn't born yet) stayed for a week at Dave Haskell's cabin on Deer Isle when I was about 13 or so. Distant memories of wading on the shore, seaweed, rocks, sea stars, fog and a live lobster moving around inside a paper bag while I had my hand inside (I thought it was dead). Let out quite a yell from the rear-facing back seat of the station wagon.

Took a road trip up to Boothbay Harbor, ME while I was in college. Three or 4 of us went up in a classic 1960's-era Volkswagen Beetle and it must have been a spring break in either 1972 or 1973. While exploring the coastal Maine woods, I found a fresh water spring and vividly remember from it drinking it. Tasted ever so pure and so cold. Poland Spring and others have made a mint off the phenomena.

Worked as a counselor at the New England Music Camp during the summers of 1971, '72 and '73. I still have the camp song planted in memory: "on the shores of Messalonskee" The camp was/is right outside of Waterville, ME, and I remember occasionally going down to Mt. Desert Island on my days off. My old car barely made it up of Cadillac Mountain (it overheated when we got to the top).

Lived in Fort Kent, ME from 1973 to 1975 -- teaching high school instrumental and vocal music at the town's Community High School (School Administrative District #27). Also taught at the University of Maine at Fort Kent, directing their College Community Chorus. I remember the 14-hour straight drive I'd do on occasion from Westwood, NJ to Fort Kent, the Maine woods along Route 11, St. John Bible Church and the Goupilles, biking into Canada without ID to come back into the U.S. with, etc.

Sometime around 1997 I went camping with Maurice Drew Baynard and David Ellison at Quietside Campground (Site #28). Took a 1/2 hour flight around the eastern half of M.D.I., did a good amount of biking, but never did any boating, even though I had brought along an inflatable dinghy.

Stayed at Oak Hill Cottage near Mt. Agamenticus (outside of York, Maine) a few times (3?). D. Kyle Canty (twice? during the summer) and once with my brother Ed (New Year's trip). Basically just hung around southern Maine. Went out on a lobsterboat out of Perkins Cove to see how lobstering is done (lots of photos of that trip). I remember Kyle and I jumping off a rocky ledge into the surf near the Portland Head Lighthouse and clamboring back up (with some difficulty) the barnacled rock face, grateful to get out of the icy cold salt water. Caught 2 fish in Perkins Cove and also had a sea gull grab my line in mid-air -- much to his dismay. Reeled him in after he pancaked onto the water, hoping to pull the hook but was warned by those around me to just cut the line and let him go. Did so and watched him fly away with some unwanted orthodontia in place. ("Watch out for lightning, buddy.")

My brother Ed and I stayed for a couple of days at the Pilgrim Inn on Deer Isle -- a Christmas present from my Dad and Mom. Not sure what year that was -- maybe the early 90's. Found out the inn dates back to 1793. Nice place -- high-end dining.

2005 Maine Coast Vacation

Once again, my nephew Spencer and I were able to spend about 8 days on Mt. Desert Island off the Maine coast. This time my Dad was able to drive up as well and we were able to get together several times for meals and sight-seeing. So what did we do? Camped out, cooked out (notably Downeast breakfasts each morning — bacon, eggs, grits 'n coffee), biked down (thank you) Cadillac Mountain (1350 ft.) all the way to lower Main Street in Bar Harbor (about 4 miles). A motorist following us said we reached a Lance-Armstrong-like 30 m.p.h. I traveled about 25 miles in Hummer (my wooden skiff) — all the way up through Somes Sound to Somes Harbor (from Manset in Southwest Harbor), plus voyages to Bear Island, around Greening Island and over to Northeast Harbor — usually while Spencer went fishing. He caught 6 mackerel in Southwest Harbor (thanks Neil for the fishing advice and bait!). While in Southwest Harbor I had an encounter with with a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and cutter, and posted the story here. (Some of the encounter is on videotape, which I thought may have been the problem). We took an early evening swim in Echo Lake (much warmer than the ocean's 54 degrees), did early evening "donuts" with Hummer in Eagle Lake, ooh-ed and aah-ed at scenic Maine coast vistas and villages, ate lobster (me and my Dad, but not so much Spencer), saw three gray harbor seals (one each in Somes Sound, Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor), red squirrels and red-headed woodpeckers. We enjoyed pizza, small barrel-bottled artificially-flavored sugar water, ice cream and frozen blueberries from Gott's Store, and took in two breakfast specials at The Wharf in Bass Harbor. All three of us took a trip over to Deer Isle where we were able to visit with Dave Haskell (a friend of my Dad's who rented his Deer Isle house to us Hepburns years ago — for $5.00 a week. T'was a homecoming of sorts. I went down onto the beach where I played as a child with my 3 sisters (my brother wasn't born yet) and realized this was probably where I first fell in love with the Maine Coast. What a fantastic time we had. A special thanks to the Suffern family for their hospitality in letting Spencer and I tent on their property in N. Berwick on the way up to M.D.I.. Photos posted here.

2004 Maine Coast Vacation

Spent about 8 days camping out again in the Maine woods on the "Quietside of Mount Desert Island" at the end of August. This time I had my 12-year-old nephew, Spencer M. with me, so it was a different vacation from the ones I've spent in the past (more active / less reflective). This was his first time to the state of Maine and I'm glad to report (although hardly surprised) that he fell in love with the place. We did lots of beachcombing, island exploring, biking through Perkins Cove and Bass Harbor, slept in the car twice on top of Mt. Agamenticus (on our way up to and then on the way back from our key destination, Mount Desert Island). Did some fishing (didn't catch anything) took "Hummer" out onto Long Pond and then into 3 different harbors (Bass Harbor, Northeast Harbor and Bar Harbor). Got quite a distance out into the sea. Spencer used a kayak that Sue McIsaac (the owner of Quietside Campground) graciously lent us for the week. Oh, what a thrill (again) to be able to answer the "call of the sea." We must have traversed about 15 miles+ of blue water off M.D.I. It's an exciting (and eerie) thing to see 2-foot-wide reddish-purple jellyfish floating a foot or two beneath the ocean surface and to continue feeling the internal heave experienced while riding the ocean's swells — weeks later! Cool.

Bass Harbor Light
Far in the bosom of the deep,

O'er these wild shelves my watch I keep;

O ruddy gem of changeful light

Bound on the dusky brow of night,

The seaman bids my lustre hail,

And scorns to strike his timorous sail.

Sir Walter Scott

Spencer was a bit shook by a VERY large fish that passed silently under his kayak — shades of Psalm 107:24: They saw the works of the LORD, His wonderful deeds in the deep. Did some souvenir hunting/gathering, had lobster 3 times (that would be me, not Spencer) — twice at 2 Bar Harbor restaurants and once as take-out from a lobster shanty in Kennebunkport). Spencer tried it but didn't really care for it, although he did bravely pick a live one up out of a tank and then cautiously placed it back in without incident. Cooking out at the campsite was a treat and a lot of fun: can't beat having scrambled eggs, bacon and grits — or hotcakes (sometimes with blueberries) — and blueberry-flavored New England coffee for breakfast made in the Maine woods. Dinner was either hamburgers or grilled cheese sandwiches, along with fresh Maine corn-on-the-cob, or eating at some fast-food joint up in Ellsworth. We discovered peanut butter and tortillas for lunch by observing another visitor making one at Bass Harbor Light and found some raspberry-flavored and blueberry-flavored honey sticks. Even had a glass of blueberry soda! Ever try teaberry leaves? Found some at the campground and marveled at the fragrance.

Every night ended with a roaring campfire (as well as one during our first morning there), as Spencer loves starting 'em. Don't forget the roasted marshmallows, which allowed us to end almost every evening with a sugar high. Mosquitoes? Numerous and aggressive but deter-able with DEET or smoke from the campfire. Weather? Fantastic! Bright and sunny everyday (except for one overcast day) — "severe clear" as the pilot would say — and it only rained the morning we had to leave.

Saw 4 lighthouses: Nubble Light, Portland Head Light, Bass Harbor Light (represented in the animation above) and the Bear Island Light (outside of Northeast Harbor). What a treat to wake to either the mournful sound of the Bass Harbor Light foghorn off in the distance, or the sound of the campground's chickens and rooster clucking and crowing in a little ways away (sometimes they'd come over to visit our campsite to see what they could find in the ashes of the previous night's campfire. While exploring Bar Island I determined to completely submerge myself in the somewhat icy ocean waters and after wading out a bit from shore managed to discover afresh why Maine locals say that only tourists try to go swimming. T'was refreshing indeed. Had a good supply of fresh Maine blueberries (brought some home) as well as some pure Maine maple syrup.

Found an old wooden lobster trap in excellent condition for $5.00, and at a really great antiques store in Southwest Harbor I bought a 3rd (annual) hurricane lamp. Enjoyed our somewhat regular runs to the Southwest Food Mart and occasional off-island trips to Wal-Mart. [ As Spencer was wildly wheeling a shopping cart alongside me through Wal-Mart's aisles, we suddenly came upon a woman in a wheelchair who looked directly at me and stated rather matter-of-factly: "Like you never did that when you were young." That spun my head a bit! ] Said it last year, and I'll say it again: vacations really don't get any better than this. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for allowing us this awesome opportunity and privilege to witness the awesome glory of Your work in creation and for the the grace and favor You gave us in going on this expedition. Pictures posted here

2003 Maine Coast Vacation

Spent a good solid week camping out in the Maine woods on the "Quietside of Mount Desert Island" at the end of July. Balsam-scented sea breezes, lighthouse foghorns up close and far off in the distance, couple of lobster dinners, blueberry-flavored Downeast coffee, fresh Maine blueberries, Earl Grey tea alongside evening campfires, hurricane lamp-lit tent walls, cerulean blue sky stretched out above sparkling deep blue sea — and answering the call of the sea by sailing around Southwest Harbor and out into Somes Sound in my 2003 "Hummer." Wow! Vacations really don't get any better than this!

Able to do some biking, exploring, lobstering (!), sight-seeing, prepping "Hummer" (a few finishing coats of paint and adding nautical hardware), resting, reading, writing, talking 'n interacting with a whole lot of folks. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the grace and favor You gave me with everybody: with Sue McIsaac (campground owner whose hospitality was so gracious), with Charlie Clark (the man who built my boat with some custom oars, taught me a lot about boat-building, sailing and the sea and then helped me launch it), with Linda (a Southwest Harbor shop owner) and her husband John Stanley (a lobsterman who thought it not robbery to take an eager student out into Somes Sound to pull up 20 lobster pots, showing Hep how it's done), with David Mills (lobsterman / tour guide at the Oceanarium and Lobster Hatchery), with Dave the lobster boat builder ("There ain't nothin' here to see," said he. "Nothin' except that beautiful brand new 32' foot fiberglass lobster boat you have they-ah in the shop," said me), with Gene Thurston, the Harbor Master of Southwest Harbor (he allowed me to moor "Hummer" overnight after her maiden voyage. Also, there's Sarah (thanks for the steak portion!), Steven (thanks for your friendship and sharing your boat-building and sailing knowledge), Eric (thanks for your help with my boat — was told that you're also a lobsterman), Emily (thanks for your patience as I gathered my stuff to leave) and a number of others. Pictures may be found here.