A few weeks ago I opened the paper to see a notice of a boat trip, a sunset cruise around two of the islands off of Boothbay Harbor. The proceeds were to benefit the Pemaquid Watershed Association. For an end of summer event it seemed perfect!
Taber and Katie decided to join me, so we got the tickets, and on Sunday, September 8th, we headed down the peninsula to Hardy Boat, where we would board the boat.
The weather had been iffy all day. Rain squalls and wind moved through, leaving one to wonder if we would be going. But, around 3 in the afternoon, the wind blew the rain out, and it cleared off. Grabbing winter jackets, we left Spot to guard the fabric!
At Hardy boat our boat was still out on trip, so we waited on the Shaw’s Wharf, which is a combined dock/restaurant/bar.
New Harbor is a small, narrow harbor, just up from Pemaquid Point.
It is filled with boats of all kinds,
but, most are working boats.
The harbor opens to the ocean due east, and is very protected from weather and sea.
Boats and docks are piled with lobster traps.
And boats come and go.
A man reaches down to get his mooring,
and then is seen leaving the harbor.
While most boats are heading in,
a few are leaving the harbor-
perhaps they dropped their lobsters,
and are heading home to their own dock and mooring.
Our boat is seen coming in.
She rounds the can-
the old “red right returning”
comes to mind!
She pulls up, passengers debark,
and we get aboard.
Tide is still pulling out,
and from the boat one gets another perspective!
On this side of the harbor there are old warehouses,
and summer rentals built on pilings
We head out of the harbor, and turn north.
The original plan was to head out around
Pemaquid Point and head down to Damariscove Island and Fisherman’s.
But it was blowing too hard around the point,
so we headed up the coast,
into Muscongus Bay.
Our wake curved behind us,
the land in shadow.
The sky was filled with clouds.
As we passed the can on our right, and entered Muscongus Bay,
the sea flattened out.
Muscongus Bay runs from Pemaquid Point to Port Clyde, just south of Rockland. Muscongus is a Native American word that means “Fishing Place”. The St. George River empties into it in the north, the Medomak River in the south, as do several others in between. The waters of the rivers are warmer than the Gulf of Maine water. And the bay itself is fairly shallow, which also makes the bay warmer than the outer water. The bay, and Muscongus Sound, are filled with coves, islands, and sand bars. It is an ideal habitat for lobsters.
Today, the bay is filled with lobster traps on the bottom and on the top with buoys.
Each person’s pot buoys are painted with their own colors,
and or numbers, and these are registered,
so that one can not haul another’s traps.
We headed up the coast to Round Pond, away from the land.
The water shimmered as the sun sank.
There was little traffic,
just one small day sailer heading home.
After about an hour we headed into Round Pond, which is about half way up the eastern side of the Damariscotta Peninsula. It is a small circular harbor, nearly totally enclosed by land. The village of Round Pond is actually part of the town of Bristol. It is built on a fairly steep hill, crowned with a church. It is the epitome of a New England village- old houses, painted white, with shutters of green or black. Quiet in the winter, the town and harbor bustle in the summer.
The harbor was filled with boats of all kinds.
Lobster boats piled with traps lined up next to yachts built by Hinkley.
Every house or cottage seems to have a
boat of some kind moored in front of it!
This is a sailing community!
After a slow circle in the harbor,
we headed out again,
heading south toward New Harbor.
This time we headed down Muscongus Sound, between islands and the mainland.
A bald eagle flew over head.
Islands were everywhere!
As we came to the end of the sound, Muscongus Bay opened up before us.
The tide was still out,
leaving seaweed covered rocks exposed.
We passed a small beach,
a rarity along this rocky shore.
There are many sandbars among the islands of the sound.
Nearly every point with deep water
seemed to have a house on it,
with boats moored in front of it.
In one protected cove was a small community.
In Maine, if one wants to be off of the grid,
one can be!
The seascape along this coast is
incredibly lovely.
Looking back, the sun still was bright on the water.
But, the sky was changing,
tones of pink and lavender suffused the sky.
As we entered the harbor we were treated to an
absolutely gorgeous sunset!
A wonderful end to a wonderful trip on the water!
There truely is,
no place like home!
________________________________
We would like to thank the
Pemaquid Watershed Association
for making the trip possible.
For more about them see their webiste:
http://www.pemaquidwatershed.org/