June 11-21                                    Southwest Harbor, Maine

John had rented a car for their stay in Maine and they arrived on schedule from the airport in Bangor with multiple bags, baby equipment, and a happy, smiling Lincoln.  We had acquired five large lobsters from David and Holly, the lobster catchers docked next to us.  With corn on the cob, new potatoes, and blueberry pie, they provided an exceptionally delicious meal.  John vowed he would eat lobster every day he was in Maine.

As he had done extensive research before the trip, John had made some plans for their stay.  They would use the car to explore the area, hike some of the trails, and eat a lobster roll every day.  They managed to accomplish all of their goals despite a pace and schedule mostly dictated by the needs of the baby.  At night, they stayed busy working jigsaw puzzles together with a speed and skill that was amazing. 

On Sunday, we had a jazz brunch at Top of the Hill, the recently opened restaurant at the entrance to the marina.  Debbie, the owner did a great job taking an old building and making it into a beautiful place with a deck overlooking the marina and the harbor.  Her mother, Roberta has a trio that provides really good jazz tunes that everyone enjoyed.  The food is outstanding and we believe Debbie makes the best blueberry pie in Southwest Harbor.

Sunny days had provided additional floral displays in the area.  As the lilacs began to fade, the rhododendrons came into bloom and magnificent bushes of pink and white flowers were seen in most yards.  Fields of lavender lupine flowers, tall slender plants that grow wild and are as beloved in Maine as bluebonnets are in Texas, added beauty to driving trips.

John and Jackie are loving, attentive, and patient parents who clearly delight in their beautiful child.  They were pleased that Lincoln responded so well to being with them on their first vacation since his birth.  He made all the trips and hikes, except one when he stayed on the boat with Grandmother and Queenie (Stephanie).  This last hike was rated one of the more difficult in the park and involved climbing ladders to scale the cliffs to the tops of the mountains.  They loved the experience and the views.

Stephanie took walks into town and usually returned with a purchase from one of the shops.  She and I made a comprehensive tour of the fashion and gift stores of Southwest Harbor and Northeast Harbor and found several items “we could not live without.”  A typical grandmother, she could not resist buying for Winn and Lincoln.  We loved having her with us on the boat.  She converted the small bow stateroom into a neat, organized space that seemed to accommodate her well.

After considerable research, conversation, and vacillating, David made an expensive decision to buy a new dinghy and motor to replace our old ones that had not been functional for more than a year.  Repairs had been costly and inconvenient.  Results had not been very successful.  The dinghy continued to leak and the motor demonstrated carburetor problems.  David chose a hypalon dinghy because it was more resistant to UV damage and a propane motor which would not have to be winterized and was lighter in weight.  Propane motors are new in the marine field but reviews have been very favorable.  The order was placed at West Marine, located near the marina, and we were assured both would be delivered the next week. 

We finally were able to take out the boat on Friday, June 19, a beautiful sunny day.  It was a short cruise to Northeast Harbor but the guests were awed by the views from the water.  Unfortunately, we discovered a new and very significant problem—our GPS failed to work properly.  As there are many shoals in the area, we were apprehensive to cruise out of waters we know well.  Back in the dock, we checked connections, read the manual, and went online for help.  Everything pointed to a satellite failure. Hinckley was notified as a disconnect may have occurred when the radar arch was lowered for storage.

David and Stephanie returned to Texas on Saturday.  John, Jackie, and Lincoln enjoyed the gorgeous weather to attend an art show in Bar Harbor and dine again on lobster rolls.  Miller, our friend from Dominica and a frequent worker on the boat, brought us Caribbean pork and beans for dinner.  Lincoln surprised us by suddenly starting to crawl as he played on the blanket on the floor.  A camera was quickly found to shoot a video of this auspicious event and send it to family at home! 

Sunday plans to dine again at the Top of the Hill and enjoy their jazz brunch were changed by constant rain.  The docks were too dangerous for us to leave the boat.  We enjoyed waffles and pork chops on the aft deck and watched it pour outside.  Shortly before five o’clock, a break in the rain permitted John, Jackie, and Lincoln to leave for Bangor.  They had been delightful guests and we were so glad they chose to take their vacation with us in Maine.

June 7-10                                      Southwest Harbor, Maine

One of my goals has been finally realized!  The Sunday edition of The New York Times is now delivered to the boat and I can indulge in my favorite Sunday morning activity of coffee, CBS TV programming, and reading the newspaper.  Boat projects and SGA work occupied the days for both of us.  We tried to have most of our work finished before the arrival on June 11 of John, Jackie, and Lincoln Usher with Stephanie.  It would be a new and different experience to have a baby aboard.