Maine Blog

2010-08-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

Installed a nice, old-fashioned, wooden screen door today. Wonderful it is to work with wood with one's hands! The installation reminded me much of Dad when he did carpentry around the house and as a child I'd "help" him. [Of course, when I got into my teenage years I wasn't really in the frame of mind to want to help.] Didn't realize it, but he was teaching me stuff I'd be using and doing later on in life, which of course I've been discovering / recovering quite a bit lately. "Too soon old. Too late smart." What a wonderful Dad he was to us! The memories intensified when I went over to the Bargain Barn -- a lumberyard outlet for, and across the street from, the Hancock Lumber Company (on Poland Spring Road in Casco). After pulling two 12-foot pieces for the cabin loft floor and looking for some other pieces, salesman Chris directed me to the back lot of the building where he said I could pick through the "reject" pile of lumber and take whatever I wished ... gratis. Wow. [Working with wood is a lot like working with people, which reminds me of a far-better Carpenter than I, Who seemed to delight in working with "wood" He found in the social "reject" pile.] Found 4 or 5 workable boards for the loft area. A short while later I was about to buy a box of 2 1/2" finishing nails when he said, "Wait a minute. I think I've got these -- loose -- out by the lumber." Sure 'nough, he did. He grabbed about a pound's worth, put 'em in a brown bag ... and didn't charge me for 'em. Double wow. Got the lumber loaded atop the car and headed home.

Heading 'round the bend on Lower Coffee Pond Road, a trio of gold finches flashed and darted in front of the car -- bright yellow bodies flanked by black wings in frantic flapping motion. Got back to 43 LCPR and was surprised to hear, then see, 2 woodpeckers tearing away at the Central Maine Power pole adjacent to the cabin. Don't know if that's a good thing -- nice to get the bugs out, but then there are all those holes left behind. Took some video as they made their rounds (literally) up and down the pole.

The birds I've seen and heard to date in the neighborhood:

gold finches
woodpeckers
blue jays
crows
mourning doves
black-capped chickadees (Maine's state bird)
white-throated sparrows
loons

red-breasted robin

hawks

Sauntered over to my neighbor's property to take a look at how he set up his jet pump and water tank. Both are located a short distance away from his well and a much longer distance from his house. Got some ideas and hope to get started on getting my well water running again.

One thing that's really surprised me is that I expected there would be a lot of bugs around here during the summer -- especially the ubiquitous, huge and notoriously pesky Maine mosquito. There haven't been that many (relatively speaking, of course) and that's been a really pleasant surprise. One bug I've seen a lot of is the dragonfly ... what a fascinating creature! As I was photographing it, this little red number actually blinked both its big eyes a few times -- lids moving from the bottom upwards.

2010-08-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

A beautiful day for the 2nd Annual Lobster Bake Event, hosted by the Naples Grange #94 (http://www.naplesgrange.com/). Naples is near Sebago Lake in the lakes region of western Maine. Had a couple of soft-shell lobstahs (a 1 1/4 and a 1 1/2 pounder -- wit' seaweed!), drawn butter, a cahb a' corn, an excellent 3-bean salad, a baked potato (alongside an onion), a hot roll, a slice of watermelon and a large cup of ice tea. Fantastic! Sat under the big tent and listened to some live music and other entertainment and chatted it up with folks around the table and those nearby. A true delight to sit down at the table of a town I've never been to -- sitting there on the village green to share a meal with perfect strangers and jus' get' to know each other in the process.

Learn the fascinating story about granges in Maine with this MPBN video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEz5Cm0BkUQ

Walked back to the car on the other side of the causeway bridge (it opens to let tall-masted boats through) and stopped in to the bridge operator's "house" to chat things up. His name is Don and he explained how the bridge opens (it turns horizontally instead of going up vertically). He's also an animal control officer for the area (Raymond and Casco), and I had to ask him about there being moose in the area: "of course there ah." He's seen them in Raymond (which is the next town southeast of Casco). So that means there's a possibilty I may spot one someday. I asked Don if I could take his picture and he said "sure," at which point he stood up, turned his back to the camera and dutifully posed with his hands on the bridge mechanism control board. Later on in the conversation he let me take a photo of him facing the camera.

Been trying to identify the birds in the treetops around my cabin: so far I've seen and heard blue jays, chickadees, white-throated sparrows, crows, woodpeckers, mourning doves and finches; and have heard the loons up on Coffee Pond. There are a couple of bird sounds (I think they're birds) that are occasionally heard, and they've really got me stumped.

2010-08-13T15:37:00.000-07:00

In a lot of ways, Casco, ME reminds me of Russell, NY -- the town where my Dad grew up as a child before tragedy hit the family. But Casco is a lot more vibrant (then again, I'm comparing mid-August southern Maine with early-November upper New York state). Casco bustles with a really nice small-town feel and has all the same quaint components as Russell: the band-stand in the center of town, the country store, the village church, the community center, the small library, shaded streams to fish, etc.

Slow down. Simplify. Savor. Settle in. Share.

But I'm getting "wow"-ed and "double-rainbowed" almost to the point of embarassment. Almost ...

Found out the sister of a good friend from a camp I worked at years ago (Streamside) lives just a few miles from my cabin and so I went to visit the farm she and her husband have. It's perched on a mountainside with an utterly astounding view of Maine's western mountains and I believe that's Mt. Washington in New Hampshire -- way off in the distance.

Got my USPS mail package matters settled with the Post Office today (I put all of the names of my extended family on the list as possible names for receiving mail at 43 LCPR should they need it in the future -- hope they don't mind). Redeemed my plastic bottles for a $.50 coupon at the quaint little AG grocery next door. Bought some deli hamburger, bacon and cheese by the pound. Drove by the Hancock Lumber Co. which reminds me of Dad's Dad's mill along the Grass River. Fascinated with their lumber mill on Route 11 a couple of miles out of town.

Casco has 15 sizeable bodies of water within its borders (lakes and ponds), as well as streams, brooks and a river or two ... or 3!

Last night I went out at 2:45 am to see if there were any meteors from that shower I'd heard about. Was not disappointed: saw 3 nice shooting stars. I also think I caught a faint glimpse of the Northern Lights which are supposed to be quite active with the solar flares of late. While watching the sky outside the cabin, a forlorn-sounding Maine loon (or maybe 2 of them?) sounded out 5 times out near Coffee Pond. "Double-rainbow." Went out the next night (around 3:45 am) and saw 5 shooting stars and heard the loon call once. Beautiful to see so many stars and the Milky Way (thought of Abram / Abraham) and lamented that while in the city, we don't really pay much attention to them. They're hard to see because of the city lights and there are so many other things going on at the horizontal level.

BTW: while I was watching for the stars and Lights, JaMaine pulled open the front door and slinked out, scurrying under under the cabin (which is pretty much just an open space). I quickly got a light and coaxed him back to me and whisked him inside -- but it was a scary 4 or 5 minutes. I'd like to think he's too much of an indoor cat to run away, but don't want to find out. Frankly, I think he was a bit of a scurredy-cat under there. The coolest thing: he goes after the occasional bug that tries to come through the cabin and the hunt is a hoot. Sheer entertainment.

One of my neighbors left some freshly-grown string beans, a zucchini and some reddish greens (beet thinnings) outside my cabin. It was Chip, who I met the day before, from whom I heard some unsettling things about a former resident in the area. Lots of animosity and legal proceedings that went on surrounding that person here in this small, close-knit community. When I got back from my successful hunt for the wild blueberry bushes Chip mentioned, the beans, zucchini and beet thinnings were arranged on a board by my front steps. "Double rainbow ... all the way." Posted a short video on Facebook. Stopped by to thank him and his wife and talked for a good while. As I left, they gave me a fresh-grown tomato. Wow. Walking back to my cabin along the darkened road, I looked up and saw the Big Dipper through the trees towards the west while a half moon adorned the southwest sky.

I looked out the cabin window early on August 17th (3:45 am) and saw the sky flashing. Got out of the sleeping bag and went out into the strangely warm night air. Sitting on the front steps, looking toward the northwest, the sky put on an extraordinary show -- somewhat muted but simultaneously amplified by the fog. Scores of crickets and frogs provided nice ambience, along with an occasional "thunk" from acorns falling in the forest. Mmmmmm ... Maine ...

Attended the Naples Grange #94 Lobster Bake on August 14, 2010:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aixuvMVa9qw

2009-08-30T05:16:00.000-07:00

Maine Coast Vacation 2009

It was touch-and-go for a while there (economically and schedule-wise), but I was able to get up to Little Deer Isle, Deer Isle and Mount Desert Island for a week-long vacation with my sailboat, Hummer. Two of my goals in life were realized over the past couple of years: 1) build a sailboat, and then 2) learn how to sail it. Both were fully accomplished back in 2006-07 and since then I've been chompin' at the bit to get back up "Downeast" to continue with my sailing education. Able to do so in grand fashion with some wonderful new friends and amazing weather (for Maine!).

Struck up friendships with the new Southwest Harbor Harbormaster, Dennis Dever, a couple of Southwest Harbor lobstermen (Shawn Clements [we had a few extended convos] and Gene Thurston), a couple of artisan boat builders (master craftsmen Richard Stanley and Tim Goodwin). Also got to take an extended look around inside the iconic Ralph W. Stanley's Wooden Boats Shop in Southwest Harbor. Also met Rob and Linda (a couple who sailed their sloop up from Virginia), who graciously responded to my request for help in learning how to sail. Thanks, R. 'n L. — I am indebted to you both!

Shout-outs also to my neighbor, Bryan Smedley (for helping me get Hummer car-topped for the trip to Maine) Linda (the Little Deer Isle postmaster who caught me up on the helicopter crash in Swain's Cove a few weeks before), the woman working at the Little Deer Isle Information booth (sorry I didn't get your name), college professor and Scenic Flights of Acadia pilot, R.W. Estela (indeed, flying is a lot like sailing -- thanks for expanding my horizons about flying, Cessna engines, the Deer Isle archipelago, Maine lighthouses, etc.), Sue McIsaac at Quietside Campground, Shane (Mount Desert Island High School senior — for helping me get Hummer off the car and into the water, then helping rig her the next day), Jake (for your help in getting Hummer out of the water and onto the car in Manset, 2 anonymous Stonington lobstermen (for your help in getting Hummer out of the water and onto the car), Bob (for helping me rig Hummer and your showing me the ropes -- hope things worked out OK for your boat), David Gardner (the moose antler seller who taught me a lot about moose antler-tology), Frances and the fantastic crew at Quietside Cafe in SWH (always a pleasure and delight!), Anne Tergesen (the Wall Street Journal reporter who patiently answered not a few questions [what a neat job where they'll let you get away from NYC to Southwest Harbor, Maine to write an article]) and Philly neighbors, Jose and Antonio for helping me get Hummer off the car and into my backyard.

Photos are posted at www.yubm.org/2K9_Maine_Photos.htm and http://www.yubm.org/Hummer%202009.htm.

Videos are also posted at www.youtube.com/mainemanayuh.

Had a fantastic, rejuvenating and joyous time in the Lord and am struck with the similarities and parallels between the environs, economics and rural village social dynamics of the Maine coast and those surrounding the Sea of Galilee (a marine environment surrounded by hill country, a Woodworker, fishermen, boats, etc.).

A harbormaster needs an incredible array of skill sets: nautical, managerial, practical (e.g., carpentry, electrical, bookkeeping, accounting), etc. Dennis Dever has been goin' at it in Southwest Harbor for about a year now (taking the job on after Gene Thurston went back to lobstering). Had a few conversations with him throughout the week (the first as I was getting a 2009 dock permit) and Dennis is enjoying it. Working out of an office (housed in a trailer) at the Manset Town Dock he deals with lobstermen, fishermen, truckers and (during the summer in particular) tourists. He oversees a fairly large harbor area with all of its attendant (and numerous!) challenges: moorings, emergencies, maintenance, etc.

Lament for the Maine-less Summer of 2008

2009-06-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-16T05:28:00.002-07:00

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

2007-07-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

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.

2005-08-17T06:58:00.000-07:00

"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 Northwest Harbor, 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 drinking from 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 and I wanted to get a bumper sticker that read, "My Car Blew Up On Cadillac Mountain").

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). The three of us 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. Here are all 5 parts of a video I took from a 45-minute flight around M.D.I. back in 2002:

Pt. 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEjlOqdJ9ao
Pt. 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O27SY3qNcBM
Pt. 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5amC-SlmSo
Pt. 4: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y777lh4s19U
Pt. 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbZT_8fkpDA

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

2005-07-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

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

2004-08-31T13:31:00.000-07:00

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

2003-08-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

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.

2002 Maine Coast Vacation

2002-08-31T12:36:00.000-07:00

AAAAHHHH . . . A MAINE VACATION - I had the delightful opportunity to get away for a week to my favorite spot on the Lord's planet: Mount Desert Island (about two-thirds of the way up the Maine coast). Had an awesome and invigorating time camping out at Tent Site #30 at Quietside Campground (on the southwest side of M.D.I.) doing some hiking, biking, sight-seeing, beach-combing, taking the bike on the ferry out to Islesford (yet another island), taking an hour-long sight-seeing flight in a single-engine 180hp Cessna SkyHawk, cooking breakfast and dinner in the Maine woods, rowing around Bass Harbor (dodging incoming and outgoing lobster boats), eating lobster, studying tidal pools, collecting a hefty number of M.D.I.'s characteristic red granite rocks, seeing millions of stars in the sky, watching red squirrels literally throwing themselves with abandon from tree-top to tree-top with their high-speed chases. I dubbed their acrobatic display "The Itchy and Scratchy Show," and they went at it every morning. Fun to watch. Other creatures and features observed, photographed and taped: lobsters by the dock, a bold little chipmunk in Camden, ME, a bed of starfish, crab dances, a number of lighthouses, rocks crying out (seriously!), et al. A real sense of wonder and awe came over me as I worshiped the Lord Who made such incredibly intricate and delicate beauty. All dat . . . plus -- I bought a small 8-foot rowing skiff. It is still being worked on by Charlie Clark, a boat-builder who also works at the campground. We tested it out in Bass Harbor on my last morning on M.D.I., and the craft is light and very portable. -- it zips along nicely on the water. Can't wait to pick it up next summer and use it to row around as many scenic harbors and shores as I can. I'm refreshed and revived and ready to return to the things the Lord has assigned me this upcoming year in Philadelphia and points beyond. The Maine motto is: "MAINE: THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE" I concur indubitably. Down below they-ah is a pick-cha of the unfinished skiff-ah taken at the shahp (still workin' mah Downeast accent). Lots of pictures from Maine can be found "he-ah". I think you'll really enjoy 'em.