August 11-17                 Southwest Harbor, Maine

Glenn and Ann left early on Sunday morning.   We regretted seeing them leave. They had been a delight.  We returned to the boat to do some cleaning and prepare for our next guest.  Stephanie would arrive later that afternoon.  Joe would come on Wednesday after he completed his business meetings in Fort Worth.   I had not seen Stephanie since June and it was wonderful to have her come for a lengthy visit.  Of course, she was thrilled to be coming to Maine and returning to the boat.

As promised, we had ordered lobsters for dinner.  The bakery workshop was operating and we were able to buy a freshly baked blueberry pie.  Stephanie was excited to enjoy the magnificent Maine cuisine we had bragged about since last summer.

Monday was another day of fog, rain, and cold.  We stayed onboard.  Miller returned and he and David began pursuing the persistent and worsening leakage problem that was discoloring the cedar lining of the closet in the master stateroom.  All sorts of hypothesizes were considered.  Was the leak coming from the icemaker on the aft deck?  Was the leak coming from a source in the adjacent engine room?  At one point, Miller actually sawed away part of the closet floor to determine if it came from an unseen source.  He finally concluded it was coming from the exhaust and could be solved with a dehumidifier.  David and I were dubious but we did not have a better answer.

The rain stopped on Tuesday afternoon and Stephanie and I went to Northeast Harbor to shop without the men.  We slowly perused the lovely shops and made calculated decisions about our wardrobes and gifts for folks back home.  That night, we introduced Stephanie to lobster rolls.  She insisted on blueberry pie for every meal.

Wednesday presented another boat project—but one with an easily discernible solution.  The water pump, needed for a water source when we were cruising (and which had not worked well for several months) was found to be inoperative.  Miller, a fount of inestimable knowledge about boats, quickly contacted the local plumbing company and ordered a replacement.  The good news was it was available immediately; the bad news was it was in Bangor.

Stephanie and I opted to drive to Bangor for the needed part.  It would give her an opportunity to see the beautiful countryside.  The day was sunny with a magnificent blue sky.  We stopped in Ellsworth at the L.L. Bean Outlet for more shopping before continuing to Bangor.  The part was waiting for us and we quickly retraced our route.  A few miles before reaching Southwest Harbor, we stopped at RAT’S.  RAT'S (the initials of the owner) is a local legend for fresh seafood sold from a secluded converted garage surrounded by thick groves of pine trees.  It is accessible from a dirt road about ½ miles from the highway.  We had been told he had fresh cherrystone clams (we consider the local clams to be “muddy” in taste).  The clams were soaking in sea water and were the largest we had ever seen.  One was the size of my hand.

Joe arrived at eight o’clock and, as promised, we had magnificent lobster, delicious clams, and freshly baked blueberry pie waiting for him.  Miller (who calls himself a black Chef Boyardee) insisted on cooking the lobster and clams in sea water on the dock.  He assured me it would taste better than if cooked in regular salted water.  He was correct!  We enjoyed perfectly cooked and very tasty seafood.

On Thursday, we took Stephanie and Joe for a tour through the park and enjoyed lunch on the terrace of Seafood Ketch in Bass Harbor. Friday was a gorgeous day with little wind.  We took the boat out and again cruised to Seal Harbor and Northeast Harbor.  After our cruise,we quickly decided to drive to Bar Harbor for lunch. 

The town was packed with people from a docked cruise ship.  We escaped the crowds by choosing the beautiful, historic Bar Harbor Inn for lunch.  It was an excellent choice for both food and ambiance.  Sitting on the terrace, we had a great view of the harbor and  an assortment of boats coming and going.

 The repertory theater at Somesville was presenting A Murder is Announced, an Agatha Christie mystery play.  We were delighted Stephanie and Joe seemed eager to attend.  Held in the rustic s Somesville Masonic Hall, the play utilized well the excellent acoustics of the building.  Seating was an assortment of chairs that might have been donated by patrons or purchased from the local Goodwill.  Most looked as if they were from the Fifties and could have enhanced the living or dining rooms of local inhabitants. The actors were superb, the set was creative, and the play was entertaining.  We were pleased we had attended.

On Saturday, after a quick perusal of the local crafts fair in downtown Southwest Harbor, Stephanie dropped me at the bank, said goodbye, and drove our rental car to the airport for her noon departure to Boston.  As a “working girl,” it was time for her to return to reality.  She left reluctantly and we missed her immediately. When I returned to the boat, David and Joe gleefully told me they had solved the mysterious leak in the closet.  Joe had opened a wooden panel and discovered an exhaust hose was leaking condensation.  He tightened the hose clamps and the leak stopped.  Hours later, there was no sign of moisture.  Not only handsome, Joe is brilliant, too!

We decided to utilize the dinghy for a “cocktail cruise” of Somes Sound. We were fortified with wine, prosciutto, crackers, and life jackets, as we made a leisurely voyage up this exquisite little fjord,” which is surrounded by heavily wooded hills and beautiful homes.  The area is ‘picture-perfect Maine.” We were excited to see several sea lions flipping smoothly through the water.