It’s a Maine Thing - Hezzy’s Sidewalk Talk

One of my favorite summer activities officially began yesterday when my 22’ motorboat took the annual splash into Frenchman Bay. Yes, the fuel is sky high, but the pleasure and escape that I get out of the experience is worth every cent.

With the boat moored close to shore and an easy row to get to the dingy, I am looking forward to a summer of boating fun to share with my family and friends. And you, dear reader, get to be part of the experience when you read my regular posts! The osprey nest that rests on top of the crane at the nearby boatyard always offers lots of entertainment which you’ll hear about on occasion. Whether our escapades are by heading out to the islands for exploring, simply going to Bar Harbor for an ice cream or early evening anchors with friends to share in beautiful sunsets, being on the water sums up the Maine experience.

I’ll keep you in touch with my capers on the water. It’s the wonderful world of boating where things can go so well, or at any given moment go terribly wrong….motors konk out, lobster traps get caught in the prop, ledge comes out of nowhere. When you keep in touch through my blog, you’ll be the first to know what I’ve been up to. No, not I’m no so crazed that I’m reporting from the water…that will happen when I’m back home at my desk. Keep in touch with Maine and enjoy the journey we’ll take together!.

My son was home this weekend from Boston with a friend so we decided to head out for some time on Frenchman Bay. For those who are not familiar, this is the body of water that surrounds Bar Harbor on the western side, to Sullivan Harbor at the head of the bay, along the Gouldsboro shore to the Schoodic section of Acadia National Park on the eastern shore. Many a photo has been taken and paintings created using this beautiful piece of Maine’s coastline as the subject matter. Cadillac Mountain looms over the bay, flanked by the other familiar mountains of the park. The craggy shoreline adds a mysterious and interesting dimension to the panorama. And the islands near the Bar Harbor shore are lined up in a row, a result of the last ice age that happened here almost 10,000 years ago. The profiles of the islands off of Bar Harbor look like porcupines, thus the eponymous name, Porcupine Islands. The upper part of the bay has beautiful tidal areas, interesting islands for exploring, like Bean Island, and the ever-so-famous Tidal Falls, reversing falls where an incredible volume of water plunges over a large piece of ledge where seals and eagles inhabit during the tides. The graceful profile of Schoodic Mountain shadows the north-eastern quadrant of the Frenchman Bay lending a feel for the wilderness that lies behind the body of water. The views, lack of people and island passages makes this section of the coast of Maine a particularly special place.

On Saturday we left Hancock Point in the mid-morning when the water was still and glasslike. With the mountains of Mount Desert Island reflected on the water it created a lovely morning image that we know so well. A nearby lobsterman was bringing in his morning catch with a zillion seagulls screaming overhead. A couple of other boats were way off in the distance, but other than that there were no other boats on Frenchman Bay. What a treat!For the 15 miles down the bay, along Acadia National Park, all the way to Egg Rock, with the exception of a few boats, we were the only souls taking in the calm, beauty and peace of the morning. We cruised around the Porcupines Islands, headed along the north shore of the privately owned Ironbound Island, still owned by the original Blaney family, made our way past Burnt and Long Porcupine Islands, over along the quiet shore of Jordan and Stave, passing my favorite island house that is on Yellow Island, which the most fantastic views of Mount Desert Island, not to mention the life-form of six Newfoundland dogs that inhabit the island during July and August with their lucky master. How do we know? All six of the dogs race down to the dock whenever a boater floats by in the summer regaling with their barks and antics.After leaving Yellow Island and heading up into the Frenchman Bay, the wind began to pick up, which is a daily ritual generally right after lunch, so cruised over to the eastern side of Calf Island, where we were in the lee and away from the wind. A couple of kayakers had paddled out to Calf Island where we saw them walking long the deserted, sandy beach. Eventually we headed back towards Hancock Point, with a strong southerly wind pounding against the transom pushing us back towards the cove where we moor. It created an almost surf-like condition, but propelled us to the backside of Bean Island where it was calm and quiet. It was here that we motored up really close to almost 100 harbor seals and their pups who were basking in the sun on a long, exposed ledge. We turned the engine off and just watched them for quite some time.

It was a wonderful end to our first day on the water for the summer. To cap off a great day we had a succulent lobster at Tidal Falls, the lobster pound owned by the Frenchman Bay Conservancy.We will keep you abreast with our ongoing water fun. There is never a dull moment, always great things to see. And guess what, we fly as well. Regular jaunts along the Maine coast and inland Maine in a Beechcraft Bonanza also provides lots of amazing visuals of this great place. I’ll bring you along for those rides as well. Matter of fact, we might be flying up to Bangor and points beyond from Rockland within the next few days. You’ll hear all about it!