July 23-30                            Southwest Harbor, Maine

David’s back problems have continued throughout the summer.  He contacted a physical therapist in SW Harbor and now is scheduled for therapy several times a week.  The clinic, a lovely facility, is located about five minutes from our marina and David immediately liked the therapist.  He seemed to have a good understanding of the problems and was insistent David do exercises on days when not scheduled for therapy.  He is hopeful this will improve his balance and mobility.

Wednesday night was a “date night.”  Time to leave the boat and enjoy time in a special place.  We chose the restaurant at Jordan’s Pond where we had been earlier in the summer but at that time, the renowned view of the mountains and the gorgeous deep-water pond had been obscured by fog. This night was clear and cool.  We were seated outdoors just as the sun was beginning to go behind the mountains, providing a soft luminous glow to the beautiful scene.

The restaurant is very large but we enjoyed an intimate space on the terrace which was surrounded by gorgeous flowers.  The lavender delphiniums were especially outstanding.  Maine’s cool temperatures and moisture are the perfect atmosphere for outdoor plants.  They grow larger and maintain a freshness and “perkiness” that is lacking in my plants in Fort Worth.

In addition to their delicious popovers and strawberry jam, house specialties, we enjoyed entrees of steak and lobster and pumpkin-seed crusted sea scallops with bacon-wilted kale and couscous (orzo would have been better but couscous seems to be an “in” food item.)  We lingered for quite a while enjoying the fading twilight as shadows fell on the pond and the mountains.

Miller came by on Thursday to say goodbye before departing for home in Rhode Island.  He had worked consistently all week to complete the polishing of the hull and repairing and painting a damaged area below the bow pulpit.  The weather was sunny and cool so he was able to do everything as planned before leaving.  Miller loves to sing as he works (a little off-key) in an accent that probably comes from his native Dominica.  He entertains everyone on the dock.  Once again, he brought flowers to me.  The man is a true charmer!  He will be gone for three weeks on a journey with Aga and Junior to Poland to visit his wife’s parents.

We have been salivating over a 70’ Marlow yacht with an enclosed pilothouse and a navy-blue hull which arrived this week.  The internet revealed that it sells for about $2,500,00.  We will continue to dream! On a dock visit to friends, Jill and Jerry, we met Patti, one of the owners of this splendid boat, and her pet Electus parrot.  This amazing bird is 26 years old, tamed to relate well to people, talks and will kiss on request.  Jill, an avid animal person was ecstatic to hold him and shower him with love.  Sebastian, the parrot, in grief for his deceased wife had plucked most of the feathers on his neck area.  He was a delight!

Happily ensconced in our marina slip, we watch boats coming and going, the ospreys nesting on the marker atop the breakwater, and the flooding and ebbing tides.  I am enjoying the mystery novels of Barbara Ross, who uses the Maine coast as the locale for her stories.  She is a very good writer whose books are suspenseful, realistic and informative.  She always includes food descriptions and has a recipe section after the conclusion.  Some recipes have been keepers.  Great summer reading!

July 16-22                Southwest Harbor, Maine    

      

Three days of fog finally ended and we had gorgeous Maine weather for the remainder of the week.  Naturally, we were eager to leave the boat.  We returned to XYZ Restaurant with Phil and Linda and enjoyed again their wonderful cuisine while discussing their plans to journey by boat to Nova Scotia.  Friends would join them later in the week and they planned to be gone for ten days.  We were invited to join them in our boat but decided we “had been there, done that” and were quite content being sloths in Southwest Harbor.

Stonington is a quiet village of quaint shops, small restaurants, and nineteenth and early twentieth century buildings and homes.  The beautiful harbor is dotted with large rocks which are dramatically revealed at low tide (more than 10 feet).  To reach Stonington, we drove again to Blue Hill and continued east.  At one point, we had a fabulous panoramic view of the sea, mountains, islands, and forests that make up the coast of Maine.  It was breathtaking but unfortunately my little camera could not capture it in all its majesty.

Stonington is “the lobster capital of Maine” and the bay is crowded with lobster boats.  Due to the significant tide, larger boats must moor out and use their dinghies to dock.  We had a great lunch at a lovely cafe with outdoor dining.  The lobster rolls were exceptionally good!  A nearby bookstore offered an eclectic selection with many titles by Maine authors.  I always look for books on sailing history that might appeal to Dave, an avid reader, but found none that had not already been added to his collection.  

With the great weather, we saw a marked increase in large boats coming into the marina.  The Huntress, a 180 feet yacht with a crew of ten came for five days.  At night, with all the lights blazing from its four decks, it looked like a giant hotel.  Other sleek, beautifully maintained boats arrived and we decided to get a closer view from our dinghy. 

A lovely evening cruise in the dinghy past the large boats in the marina, past the moored boats in the harbor, past the Coast Guard Station, and into Soames Sound, bordered by dense forests and stately homes, is a great way to spend time.  We took Pretzel with us and she soon adapted to the dinghy and was eagerly surveying the scene.  We did not see any seals (which populate the Sound) but we did see the 90 feet sailboat with a blue hull which belongs to Charles Butts of Corpus Christi and HEB food markets.  He is a long-time summer resident of the area.

Another trip to Ellsworth, ten miles from Southwest Harbor, was necessitated by the loss of my cell phone.  Intensive searching for five days had been unsuccessful and I was reconciled it was gone forever.  A trip to AT&T revealed the phone was insured (we had forgotten this) and could be replaced with a better model for a nominal deduction.  I would receive the phone in two days.  The following morning, I picked up a small cookbook on top of the microwave and there was my cell phone hidden underneath.   I will keep the new one and return the old one to the insurer.

Ellsworth is the location of Shinbashi, our favorite Asian restaurant.  Their spring rolls are wonderfully light and delicious and their pineapple fried rice is exceptionally good.   We seldom look at anything else on their extensive menu.  

Stephanie and Joe will come for a week in August and we are already planning places to go and things to do.  They are always wonderful guests and love coming to the boat and Maine.  The escape from horrendous Texas heat will surely be welcome.

July 12-15                                        Southwest Harbor, Maine

Traffic continued to grow heavier on Main Street and the road leading into the town.  Parking near camping, hiking and beach areas was at a maximum and cars lined the roads.  No vacancy signs were hung at most of the rentals and the shops, restaurants and ice cream shops were enjoying good business. The rhododendrons and lupines were no longer in bloom but we were enjoying wonderful displays of day lilies, peonies and daisies. 

  

Influenced by my love for the local library, I volunteered to work four hours setting up for the annual Used Books Sale.  My job consisted of helping to unload tables, place them on the small front lawn and bring up boxes of books from the basement to have ready for the sale on Saturday and Sunday.  I soon realized I was probably not the best one for the job.  Heavy lifting is more than I care to do at this point in my life.  However, I lasted for several hours and was greatly relieved when they called an early halt to the work.  I did not volunteer to return at 7:00 AM to carry boxes of books outside to place on the tables.  Fortunately, they had enough help for the job without me.

XYZ Restaurant is locally renowned for its cuisine of the Mexican interior.  Their menu features dishes from Xalapa, Yucatan, and Zacatecas (hence the name) and is reservation only.  Their small sign on a road across the harbor from our boat designated a small building hidden in a forest of pine trees and ferns.  The interior was charming with simple furnishings and minimal decorations.  It was upscale for Southwest Harbor and no one was seen in shorts.  Service was exceptional and the food was delicious and different.  My pork dish with a mole sauce was highly spiced and David raved about his avocado cream soup.  We had a great evening enjoying the cuisine and the subdued ambiance.

We left the boat early on Saturday to have breakfast (do I write too much about food?) at Sips Restaurant in Southwest Harbor before the annual Flamingo Parade.  My omelet with mushrooms, gruyere cheese and crabmeat was wonderful.  We enjoyed watching a steady crowd of people in all shades of pink, sporting boas, flamingo headwear and beads.  It was a celebratory group eagerly awaiting the highlight of the day.  The parade began at 9:30 AM and lasted about thirty minutes.  It featured local fire trucks, police cars and floats from local youth, church and business groups.  It was unbelievably tacky but immensely charming and endearing.  Almost all the parade participants threw candy and some of the children made a real haul.

After the parade, I joined the crowd at the library book sale.  The weather was cool but increasingly sunny and the book sale seemed to be going well.  A craft sale and children’s play area across the street attracted a number of people and, despite the temperature, children were excited to play on the water slide.  It was a festive occasion which benefited a number of non-profits in Southwest Harbor.

July 9- 11                   Southwest Harbor, Maine

Miller continues to work on the boat (we have decided we may be his retirement plan) repairing this and that and painting the stripe at the top of the hull damaged two years ago when the boat was dropped as it was removed from storage.  Meticulous and adept, he spends considerable time in preparation before beginning the painting process.  The results are amazing!  The only other person I know who rivals his skill in painting is our son, Dave, who just completed restoration of his own sailboat after several years of intensive labor. It is finally in the water in Malibu, California. (see bottom photo)

Jill and Jerry, friends from past summers in Maine, came for drinks and snacks on Sunday evening.  They are a delightful couple from Boston whose condo faces the harbor. They celebrated the Fourth by watching the fabulous Tall Ships parade just off their balconies.  Very familiar with Maine, they gave us considerable information about our area and its many attractions and amenities.    We loved learning about their recent trip to Europe and their genealogical searches in Romania and Russia.  Phil and Linda Hardberger suddenly appeared on the dock having just returned from a three-week trip to South Africa.  Too tired to join us, they promised to see us later.

After several days of rest, the Hardbergers invited us to their beautiful boat and we were delighted to view pictures of their wonderful trip to wildlife preserves near Cape Town as well as their journey to Victoria Falls.  With excellent guides, they observed many kinds of animals in their natural environments whose lives were relatively uninterrupted by humans.  Nature’s rules prevailed and if an animal was wounded or attacked by another, no one interfered.  We loved hearing about their adventures.

Despite the foggy evening, we drove to Bass Harbor for dinner at the charming Seafood Ketch. The mussels in a Dijon mustard sauce and clam chowder were great.  Immersed in conversation, we were oblivious to the exiting of other patrons and finally realized the employees were cleaning around us in preparation for closing.  A delightful evening and a fun reunion with good friends!

July 1-July 8                         Southwest Harbor, Maine

Several days of fog preceded the arrival of our cousins from Texas, Julie and Greg Galier and their thirteen-year-old son, Tripp.  We made numerous trips to the grocery store, planned menus and activities, cleaned, scrubbed, and made everything ready.  Having guests or hosting a party usually provides us with motivation to do the things we postponed “until later.”

The Galiers were scheduled to arrive in Bangor at 8:30 PM on July 1.  The fog became denser and we were concerned about driving in such conditions.  The problem was solved when their plane in Fort Worth was delayed due to maintenance issues, they missed their connection in Washington, were given vouchers for hotel and food to spend the night, and were re-scheduled to arrive the following morning.  We would chill the eight lobsters, cooked and ready for dinner, and make lobster rolls for the next day.

Julie, Greg and Tripp are experienced travelers and they took the delay in stride.  They were greeted by a perfect sunny, cool Maine day and were eager to come to the boat.  Lunch was on the deck of Top of the Hill Restaurant with beautiful views of the harbor and delightful music from a local jazz trio.

Greg, who is six feet seven inches tall, could easily stand erect in the salon and aft deck.  His head barely touched the ceiling in the master stateroom and he admitted being a “little cramped” in the master head but he accommodated all very well.  Tripp easily made himself comfortable in the bow stateroom.  They were delightful, easy guests and we enjoyed showing them the Seal Cove Car Museum, Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor, and the Asticou Gardens.  They toured Soames Sound in the dinghy and we made a boat trip to Bass Harbor and Northeast Harbor. Each day provided another opportunity to indulge in Maines’s great seafood. They took the car one day to do some exploring on their own, went to the beach, and mingled with the huge holiday crowds in Bar Harbor.

Tripp, a tall, handsome, and very bright boy was unusually adept at entertaining himself.  He frequented the basketball court in Southwest Harbor and found plenty of guys for a pick-up game.  He thought nothing of running the almost mile from the boat to the court several times a day to join a game.  At other times, he stayed occupied with shows and games on his electronic devices.  Always polite and respectful, he has a great relationship with his parents and was an exceptional guest.

The Fourth of July was a perfect day for celebrations.  Julie and I decorated the boat with bunting and banners, Greg grilled hamburgers and hot dogs on the bridge and we watched the active marina scene from the aft deck as other boaters gathered for a great view of the fireworks.

The duel display of fireworks, one from the water and the other from the shore, was magnificent.  It lasted for more than thirty minutes and was a non-stop show of dazzling color and spectacle.  Our bridge provided a great view of both displays.

On June 6, we returned to Bangor and said farewell to Julie, Greg and Tripp.  They were immediately missed.  The weather, beautiful every day of their visit, steadily clouded and grew colder as we made the trip back to the boat. Upon boarding, we immediately realized we had a problem.  Our head sensors had failed to alert us to the necessity of emptying the holding tank.  One head overflowed and we had the unpleasant task of cleaning wet floors and baling water to provide temporary use.  We were grateful this had happened after the departure of our guests. It would have been very embarrassing and terribly inconvenient.  A quick pump out the next day solved the problem. 

June 26-June 30                 Southwest Harbor, Maine

We again attended a performance at the Acadia Repertory Theater in Somesville, about four miles from Southwest Harbor.  Located in a former Masonic Temple, the simple wooden structure is an intimate venue for this popular summer event.   Two actors performed in The Gin Game, a long-running hit on Broadway that starred Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn.  The Maine actors were very strong in their comedic-dramatic roles and we greatly enjoyed the play.

Following a trip to Ellsworth, we made a short journey to the small town of Blue Hill.  Known for its artistic and creative residents, it is a lovely place with several shops and stores featuring local handicrafts and art of exceptional quality.  E. B. White, the noted author (and one of my favorites) lived near here for many years and his delightful One Man’s Meat features many essays about its citizens.  The Blue Hill Fair, which still exists, will be remembered by readers of White’s classic children’s book, Charlotte’s Web.  We lunched at a  casual seafood restaurant and  David enjoyed the oysters from the Bagaduce River, a local specialty.

L. L. Bean has a large outlet in Ellsworth and needing nothing, we still had to stop and explore their store.  It is quintessential Maine from clothing to household accessories.  No real bargains but fair prices for excellent quality.