As we wound our way through the islands and entered Eggemoggin Reach, the sun broke through the clouds and a spectacular cruising ground appeared before us . Several sailboats were plying the waters with crew and passengers all waving as they passed by. This is very protected water. As we approached the western end the lobster pots disappeared and beautiful Penobscot Bay opened up. Really it was like being on a lake with several islands sitting tranquilly in the clear dark blue water.
I had planned on stopping at a small mooring field that Beth and I, and my brother-in-law Danny Collins had previously stayed at when we had a 32 foot Carver, named Debonnair. The easy cruising seduced us into continuing on down Isleboro Island to Rockport. Maybe if I had rechecked the tide I might have changed my mind, but I doubt it. It was the first good cruising day we had in weeks of fog and inclement weather but it got somewhat rougher. The tide was incoming and we were going out along with an afternoon breez against the tide. This made for some moderate swells. Nothing bad but enough up and down that poor little Sophie got seasick and let me know by vomiting on my jacket.. (at least it wasn't on the seat!)
We pulled into Rockport just behind one of the several ferries. We were directed to a rather open and unprotected mooring ball. This left us rocking and rolling with each idiot sport fishing and Sea Ray boat that blew by, above the posted no wake speed. The ferries, though seemingly travelling faster than I would have liked, really didn't rock us that bad, but the dragger that fished the bay knocked us all over the place. Thankfully we were in bed so other than picking up a few overturned lamps, there was no damage.
Next morning....fogged-in Rockland Harbour
In the morning we took the dogs in the dingy and found a local park for them to play for a couple of hours before the rain hit. After returning them to the boat, we went to explore Rockland. What a nice little town. Everything was within walking distance of the landing including an organic fresh food market, very artsy galleries, eateries from McDonalds to sushi, and fresh home cooked seafood. We ate at Hill's seafood, across from the park.
Starting with Portland brewed "Allagash" beer (a very light colored wheat beer with a kick!), Beth relished her full bellied clams while I savored the sea scallops. The portions were big enough that neither of us entertained the thought of dessert.
The best part of Rockland for us was the Farnsworth Gallery. They had on display many of the works of well known Maine painter, Andrew Wyeth. The most intriguing painting was of a lightly bearded Scandinavian man with a black toque apparently lying asleep in a dingy placed in a barn, but he wasn't asleep. He was dead! He was a fishing buddy of Wyeth's. They had enjoyed many years of sleeping in the dingy, rocked by the incoming ocean swells. The man was given a viking funeral in that dingy.
We spent two days in Rockland because of the inclement fog and rain. Given the threat of a thunder storm the following evening we decided to head to Boothbay rather than stay on an open mooring.
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