Tennants Harbor to Southwest Harbor

    This time we stayed 4 miles off shore to avoid the lobster traps.  There are fewer of them in 150 to 200 feet of water, but they are still there!  Knowing the wind was going to increase early we pushed the boat along at 10 knots and had a pleasant ride all the way to Southwest Harbor. 

                     
                                                           Rugged Maine Coastline
                                                                                  

                                                                                  
                                                              We can see Mountains!!!!

                                                                               

                                                                                   
     Since the XM satellite weather was reporting several fronts coming through we decided to stay for a couple of days until things settled down.

                                                     Note the "salt" on the rails!
                                                                                   
                                                                                     
      Dysarts Marina is owned by the same Dysarts that own the truck stop out side of Bangor and they run an efficient operation in both places.  This is a popular marina because of their down home friendliness, reasonable prices and great location.

                                                                                      
                                                 Dysarts Marina Southwest Harbour
                  

                                                                                     
                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                   

      Several of the boaters I spoke to routinely booked in here for one to two months during the summer. Its typical New England Scenery with rolling hills, clear blue water, fresh clean air and down home hospitality.  Two of the boaters were from Texas and both remarked how refreshing it was to take a deep breath and feel cool clean air enter your lungs vs the heavy thick humid air of the Texas summer.

Pulling Lobster Traps

 

     The trawler Spirit of Zopilote, well known to readers of Passagemaker Magazine was here and apparently makes this a regular stop. Bruce Kessler is an ardent boater and has travelled around the world in his trawler. He shares his experiences with attendants at "Trawler Fest".

                                                               
                                                                          "Zopilote"                               

     Talking with the other captains it was apparent that they all were frustrated with the lobster pots being in the navigation channels and everyone (except me!) had just gone ahead and put line cutters on their shafts.  If they went over one, the line simply got cut and didn't foul their props. This was of particular help getting into port after dark.
     Two successive fronts are moving through the area tonight.  If things have settled in the morning we may try a straight shot to Eastport..Most of it is in open water and it is an 80 nm mile run but we have plotted a couple of "outs" in case it gets too rough.  It's been a long haul and we are ready for it to be over so we can relax and enjoy easy summer cruising in Maine....we'll see!