July 24-26      Southwest Harbor, Maine

We were eager to finish work on the boat and repair on the dinghy motor.  Troy, Joe, and Rob from Ellis Boat Company were diligent in trying to meet the deadline we had stated so we could leave on July 27.  We were grateful to Troy for determining the problem with the ice maker and making it work at last.  In addition, he replaced a macerator motor (not a very pleasant job) and installed our new water pump so we had on-board water when at sea.  Rob was the painter who methodically sanded and re-painted the exterior door frames.  Joe was the skilled craftsman who constructed the beautiful new teak covering for the bow pulpit. .  The anchor chain apparently had been engaged at some point without being disconnected.  This caused severe strain on the bow pulpit, making it split and become weakened.  This may have occurred before we bought the boat and the damage gradually had become apparent.  Instead of fiberglassing the bow pulpit after the repair, David suggested putting teak on it.  We were very pleased with the finished work.

The dinghy motor was a difficult project since the fuel remaining in the tank over the winter had become “gunk” and the filter and carburetor were damaged.  It was an expensive repair and we were unhappy it had been necessary.  We contacted Seaport Marina and were granted a small credit for work that had not been performed as charged on their invoice.  On Thursday, we finally were able to take a cruise of the harbor in our dinghy.  The motor started well but some sputtering ensued before it finally began to run smoothly.  We will use it more frequently to fully clear all the contamination.  On our dinghy cruise,  David pointed out a large home with a façade very different from others.  It was built by a resident from The Netherlands and the exterior looks as if it were transported from Amsterdam. 

Although Maine measures about 230 miles from top to bottom, it has a coastline of more than 3500 miles with thousands of islands and peninsulas.  Some of the islands are privately owned and have been in the same families for hundreds of years.  Family ties to land in Maine are very strong.  We were told that when Acadia National Park was formed, many owners were forced to sell their ancestral land and the animosity still lingers almost a hundred years later.  Since the action was taken under a Democratic administration,  this part of Maine remains staunchly Republican.

To thank Phil and Linda for the many things they had done to make us welcome, we invited them for dinner at a local restaurant.  Fiddler’s Green, a casually up-scale local favorite, was the perfect place to enjoy a delicious meal of freshly caught seafood and organically produced vegetables.  It was quiet, the service was excellent, and we enjoyed having an opportunity to learn more about Phil and Linda.  Both led interesting lives before their marriage more than thirty years ago and, through the ensuing years, continued to have amazing adventures and achieve significant accomplishments.  In an earlier boat, they completed the difficult Circle Cruise, up the East Coast, through the Eire Canal and Great Lakes, and finally returning to the Gulf of Mexico.  Both have traveled extensively throughout the world and are knowledgeable of the history and cultures of many countries.  To our amazement, we learned that several years ago, Phil emulated the famous flight of Charles Lindbergh by flying alone from the United States to Paris, France in a single engine plane!  With extra fuel tanks installed all around him, he was literally flying a bomb! 

Miller, a tall, lanky, handsome dockhand finally had the opportunity to wash our boat.  He had planned to do so earlier but the work was delayed by the painting project. The boat is always rinsed after every day of cruising, but it was in need of a good wash with soap and a brush.  I happily relinquished this labor-intensive task to Miller.

 Miller came to the United States years ago from Dominique and speaks English with a beautiful accent influenced by his French heritage.  He comes each  year to Southwest Harbor from his home in Rhode Island.  He quickly became friends with David and was always there to assist him in any way.  We became quite fond of him and were impressed with his willingness to work.

Our final dinner in Southwest Harbor was (WHAT ELSE?) lobsters served with lemon butter and corn on the cob.  The lobsters were again delivered by Micah, the dockmaster, who acquired them from a returning boat.  The lobsterman refused payment for four 1 ½ pound lobsters!  We probably shall never again have such a delicious lobster feast (until our return next year to Southwest Harbor!).