September 19                                 Sandwich, Massachusetts

The weather gods finally smiled on us and we had a lovely cruise to Sandwich Marina, at the eastern entrance of the Cape Cod Canal.  As the little restaurant nearby is notoriously bad and we did not have a car, we opted to dine on the boat.  Samantha is a very good cook and she made a delicious pasta dish.  We dined on the aft deck with a great sunset lingering for hours.

September 20-23                                       North Kingstown, Rhode Island

We found it difficult to believe we had once again entered the Cape Cod Canal after spending several summers in Maine.  It was almost like coming home again as we saw familiar sights along the way.  We passed Newport to take the western channel of Narragansett Bay to the secluded harbor at North Kingstown, Rhode Island.  We were greeted warmly and assigned a great dock with a wide channel view.  The marina was filled with boats and we soon were visiting with nearby boaters.  Dinner was at Tate’s Italian Kitchen in Warwick, a small, very charming restaurant popular with locals.

The following day we received our car from Enterprise and gave our guests a tour of Newport.  They were not interested in seeing the interiors of the mansions so we made a lengthy drive through the town.  Although the height of tourist season had passed, the streets and shops were packed.  Samantha suggested she and I have a manicure-pedicure at a local salon to remove the “rough edges” from our boating experience.  This proved to be a delightful experience.  The guys explored Newport and found a large West Marine which provided some needed supplies.

Dave and Samantha left on the train for Manhattan the following morning to spend several days exploring that wonderful place.  With reservations at an Airbnb in Brooklyn, they were excited about seeing some different sights from those of mid-town and upper Manhattan.  We returned to the boat and began final cleaning for our departure the next day.

Miller arrived early from his home a few miles from the marina and graciously provided help to load the luggage and help us leave The Bottom Line in his capable hands.  He will complete the wood finishing on the aft deck and watch over the winterizing procedure before the boat is shrink-wrapped for protection during the winter.  As always, we left with gratitude for the wonderful opportunity to spend months on or beloved boat in beautiful and interesting places.

September 16-18                           Boston, Massachusetts

The wind again was a factor in making an idyllic journey but it was time to go to Boston.  We carefully secured furniture on the aft deck and throughout the boat.  The journey was rough but we managed to endure the rocking and rolling to finally reach Boston Harbor.  Dave insisted on piloting all the way and, as one would expect from a professional captain, he did a marvelous job of bringing us safely through the traffic to Boston Waterboat Marina, one of our favorite places.

After a short rest and time to acclimate ourselves to the area, we dined at Legal Sea Foods, known for their outstanding fresh seafood.  Samantha is a raw oyster fan and she, Dave and David consumed several dozen assorted oysters.  

As we were docked near the North End of Boston, Dave was eager to show Samantha that interesting and historical area.  Unlike the Italian neighborhoods in Manhattan, Boston has retained much of its original population and businesses.  Clean and safe, it is a delightful area to explore.

David and I were delighted to visit our boating pal, Jerry Orloff in his fabulous condo near our marina.  He has a wonderful unobstructed view of the harbor and Logan Airport from his balcony.  It is a place where one could sit and observe for hours and must be spectacular at night.  Jerry treated us to a delicious dinner at Mamma Maria, one of Boston’s best Italian restaurants and just a few blocks from his home. It was a delightful evening and a highlight of our trip!

September 15-16                           Portland, Maine

We carefully watched weather reports to determine if wind would be a significant factor in our journey to Portland.  We faced days of wind more than 15 knts and despite our misgivings, we decided to continue the trip.  It was a rough trip with furniture on the aft deck sliding all about (Dave had suggested securing all before we left but his Dad insisted it would be OK.  WRONG!) 

The beautiful iconic lighthouse at Portland Head was a welcome sight and we easily docked at DiMilo’s Marina, located in the heart of the city waterside area.  We had a great view of a magnificent sail/motor yacht nearby with a hundred plus mast reaching far above the others.

Dave and Samantha quickly explored the area which is filled with quaint shops and restaurants.  Dinner was at an outstanding Asian Restaurant.  

Breakfast was on the balcony of Becky’s, a local favorite and worth the wait to enter.  Afterwards, David and I boarded the cute little tour bus and again saw the sights and learned the history of Portland.  Dinner was at Scales, an outstanding seafood restaurant.  The calories were building up fast!

August 23-September 14             Southwest Harbor and Rockland, Maine

Work proceeded on refinishing the teak siderails and bow pulpit of the boat.  Miller insisted on ten coats of varnish with sanding after each coat.  As the price was the same, we agreed.  He came promptly each morning and began work.  It was soon apparent the work was exceptional.  We agreed to refinish the bar area on the aft deck to make all the exterior wood look the same.

We drove to Bangor on September 11 to meet Dave and Samantha, our son and his wife.  They were eager to see Maine and the weather cooperated to give them three glorious days exploring Southwest Harbor and the nearby vicinity.  Of course, they dined on lobster and blueberry pie on our aft deck.  Not at all shy, they each ate two and a half lobsters. 

We boarded the dinghy for one last trip this year into Soames Sound.  Dave and Samantha are sailing enthusiasts and they were awed by the magnificent sailboat owned by Charles Butts.  With its cobalt blue hull, pristine wooden deck and super structure crowned by hundred-foot masts, it is a sleek beauty that looks fast even when anchored.  Our trip included visiting Northeast Harbor before returning to Beal’s Lobster Pier for a great lunch of lobster rolls and sweet potato fries.

On Friday we departed early for Rockland, Maine. The boat had remained docked throughout the summer but its engines responded quickly and smoothly as we cruised out to sea.  Dave was the captain and chose to go through the islands rather than outside.  This provided a memorable journey of the beautiful coastal scenery of Maine with its lighthouses, granite shores and densely forested areas. Hundreds of lobster pots were in our path but Dave skillfully dodged them.

With only occasional fog, we arrived in Rockland in early afternoon.  I walked several blocks to the downtown area and visited again the Farnsworth Art Museum.  Their collection of Maine art and artists is highlighted by wonderful watercolors by Andrew Wyeth.  Friends of Dave and Samantha joined us for dinner at a favorite local seafood restaurant.  It was a festive occasion with great food and good conversation.

August 12-22                                   Southwest Harbor, Maine

The finish on the teak railings starboard and port and the bow pulpit had become discolored.  We knew the best person for the restoration job was our friend Miller.  He had the time and needed the work so we quickly made a deal.  Miller has the attention span of a child with ADHD but he has amazing skills and knowledge.  With a small heat gun, he methodically melted the old varnish, scraped the wood clean, sanded and began applying new varnish.  Soon the teak resembled fine furniture.  The job will take several weeks as he plans to apply ten coats of varnish.  Again, we suspect we have become his “retirement plan.”

Beal’s Lobster Pier is located near the marina and is a popular destination for seafood lovers.  Fishermen unload their catches at the docks and within hours the cooked results are on the plates of hundreds of diners.  With boating friends, we joined the long line outside and moved quickly into the cavernous space that comprises this rustic facility.  Diners can select their own lobsters or crabs which are then placed in net bags and steamed.  Service is quick and efficient.   We marveled at the ease and skill of the many workers who served the diners.  Many other lobster pots are in the area but Beal’s is considered the best. 

Stephanie and Joe were scheduled to arrive on August 15.  After a delay at DFW, they missed the last flight from Boston to Bar Harbor.  They quickly rented a car and made the journey to Southwest Harbor in four hours.  It was almost midnight when they arrived.  We admired their tenacity and determination in making such an effort and were delighted to see them.

The following day we returned the rental car to Bar Harbor Airport, drove through the throngs of tourists in Bar Harbor, had a great lunch at The Lighthouse Inn in Seal Harbor and went up the gorgeous winding road past carefully managed woods and moss-covered rocks to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden.  I knew Joe, Stephanie and David would enjoy this exceptionally beautiful place.  

The gardens were planned to be at their best in August and we were not disappointed.

Lilies, zinnias, dahlias, larkspur, and many other plants were in full and spectacular bloom.  Privately owned since its creation in the 1920-1930’s, it had been maintained despite the demolition of the Rockefeller 100 room mansion in 1960.  David Rockefeller left the garden and adjacent properties to the Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve.   Two years ago, it was opened to the public on a very limited basis.  With walking sticks, David joined us on the trek up the hillside to the terrace overlooking the harbor, its islands and the ocean beyond.  It was a sunny day and we had great visibility.

We returned to Northeast Harbor to peruse the shops and have refreshment before going to the auction preview of items from the Rockefeller estates.  Another example of the philanthropy of David Rockefeller, the auction proceeds would benefit local charities.  Some beautiful furniture, Lalique crystal, English prints, woven rugs, personal possessions, and many, many items typical of estate sales were interesting more for their provenance than for their value.  It was reported the sale on the following day was very successful as bidders were cognizant they were benefiting charitable causes as well as acquiring memorabilia from one of America’s most prominent families.

We had a “delayed” welcoming dinner of lobster, corn, potatoes and blueberry pie on the aft deck.  They were properly appreciative of my pie made from fresh blueberries and served with vanilla ice cream. 

The following day, we left early for a journey into northern Maine and across the international bridge to Campobello Island.  Armed with our passports, we quickly entered Canada and immediately saw the large red and green home of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt. As we waited to join a guided tour, we chose to have lunch in the charming café in the Prince Cottage on the estate.  The fish chowder and chicken salad were exceptionally delicious and we enjoyed the expansive view of the bay.

The Roosevelt cottage was one of sixteen on the island before World War I.  Residents were mostly wealthy folks from New York and Boston who joined residents of several large and luxurious hotels in parties, dances and sporting activities.  Franklin went there every summer for thirty-eight years until he contracted polio and was crippled.  The house is large and comfortable with spacious rooms for the family of five children who traveled with tutors, assistants and servants.  The property is maintained jointly by the governments of Canada and the United States.

Our trip to Canada was on two lane roads and we passed numerous small farms and charming homes.  Many residences were surrounded by beautiful gardens of blooming flowers and the lush green of lawns and forests.  We drove through blueberry country and saw the reddish tint of the barrens which had been harvested only a week before.

As our guests had not been to the Seal Cove Auto Museum, we planned another excursion to that interesting place.  Our boating friends from Boston, Jill and Jerry joined us.  The amazing display of mostly early twentieth century automobiles was educational as well as fascinating.  Many manufacturers were not known by any of us and their luxurious designs had not been seen.  We enjoyed a late lunch at Seafood Ketch in Bass Harbor—always a favorite.

We were delighted to receive pictures from Kennedy and Winn as they began their school years.  Kennedy will be a senior at Baylor University and Winn starts kindergarten at Fort Worth Country Day.

Stephanie and David enjoyed puzzles and Joe and I walked the dock to admire boats.  A new addition to the marina was a 110' sailboat with three crests on the bow and a flag designating it as a vessel of the Royal Yacht Squadron.  Google revealed that the RYS is the most exclusive yacht club in the world.  Prince Philip and King Juan Carlos are members.  One afternoon we saw a crew member in navy cotton suit with a bow tie.  A black limo and liveried driver met the yacht's guests.  We were impressed.

We were pleased to have Stephanie and Joe with us on Monday evening as we celebrated our sixty-fourth wedding anniversary.  We returned to Havana in Bar Harbor for this special occasion.  It was fun to contrast the setting and dinner with that from years past and to remember the people and events of that day.  Miller brought wine and flowers, Jill and Jerry gave us a lovely card and Stephanie and Joe generously paid for dinner at Havana.  We were spoiled and we loved it!  Early the following morning, we reluctantly bade farewell to Joe and Stephanie.

July 29-August 11                                       Southwest Harbor, Maine

We were delighted to welcome Suzanne to Maine on August 3.  This was her first visit to Southwest Harbor and only her third visit to the boat.  Her overnight flight from San Francisco gave ample time for rest before she caught her connection in Philadelphia and arrived in Bangor at 10:00 AM ready for breakfast with Mom and Dad.  We went to Dysart’s Truck Stop near the airport.  It is a local favorite and serves very good food.  The owners are Mary and Ed Dysart who also own our marina in Southwest Harbor. 

On Saturday evening, we attended a play at Acadia Repertory Theater in Somesville.  Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a Tony Award winning comedy, was well performed and very entertaining.  Loosely based upon episodes and characters from works by Anton Chekhov, the play was alternately funny and poignant.  Unfortunately, our literature educations did not include Chekhov so we missed some of the “inside jokes.”  Most of the audience seemed to miss them, too.

One of our dinners on the boat was stuffed lobster with a wonderful Hollandaise sauce.  Julia Child would have loved it.  Wish I could copy it for our First Friday dinner group but lobster in Fort Worth is not the same as the soft shells we have in Maine.

One of our library dinner auction purchases had been a guided tour by a trained botanist.  We were fortunate to have a two-hour tour of a special section of Acadia National Park with an abundance of varied ferns, trees and mosses.  With the aid of volunteer help, thirteen different botanical habitats have been created to demonstrate the variety of plants and trees in the park.  Our guide was delightful and we definitely enjoyed and benefited from the experience. 

The cool weather disappeared and we had several days of heat and high humidity.  A dinghy trip into Somes Sound was our first of the year.  That beautiful area is perfect for a late afternoon-sunset cruise.  Despite knee surgery last fall, David demonstrated he was capable of safely boarding the dinghy from the aft platform of our boat. 

On Tuesday evening, we went to Northeast Harbor to attend a chamber music concert by the Borromeo String Quartet in the lovely Tudor style Neighborhood House which lacks air-conditioning.  Suzanne and I left at intermission to sit outside in the stifling heat.  Just as David emerged at the conclusion of the concert, the thunder and lightening began.  A night of rainfall finally broke our most unusual heat wave.

Suzanne’s plane to depart on Wednesday was cancelled and we were pleased to have her company for another day.  She is always a delight and it was special to have her all to ourselves.  In addition, she is the best “galley cleaner” in the family!

July 21-28                 Southwest Harbor, Maine

Blake and Winn were due to arrive on Saturday at 5:45 PM.  Unfortunately, their plane from DFW was delayed, the Philadelphia connection was missed and they finally landed after 10:00 PM.  Winn was happy and talked incessantly all the way to the boat.  The long wait gave us an opportunity to see more of Bangor and dine at Massimo’s, a delightful Italian restaurant in the historic downtown area.

Weather reports indicated we would have several days of intermittent rain and fog so we took advantage of a clear afternoon for a scenic nature cruise from Northeast Harbor.  The guide was a naturalist with a store of information and an engaging personality.  He encouraged Winn to aid him in demonstrating the mechanics of a lobster trap and identifying the specific parts of lobsters.  Winn was an enthusiastic learner and was never shy to vocalize his answers and opinions.

The guide was excited to tell us our tour had been exceptional for we saw very active seals moving on the rocks of Bear Island, a bald eagle flying from its nest, nesting ospreys, diving loons, and flying cormorants.  In Somes Sound, we viewed the oldest home in Northeast Harbor, a magnificent shingled cottage style mansion belonging to Charles Butts, the 90-year-old CEO of HEB grocery stores in Texas.  We were awed by the sight of Mr. Butt’s 145’ sailboat under full sail (it is usually on anchor) and rapidly passing us in the sound.

Our tour included a stop at Little Cranberry Island, part of Acadia National Park.  Accessible only by water, it has less than 100 full-time residents but several large summer homes.  We visited the small but interesting museum of the island and the shop of an excellent potter.  Winn was delighted to find a pen of chickens (he has two at home). The fog rolled in but soon lifted for the remainder of our journey.

Blake always takes charge and he immediately decided our TV service was inadequate.  He ordered and installed gadgets that allowed us to receive Netflex and other channels.  Our existing Direct TV is great for quantity but lacks quality.  Lots of infomercials and junk channels.  We are delighted with this new addition.

 Fog and drizzle were prevalent but we found opportunities to venture out almost every day.  Other than running errands, walking to the library to play with their extensive Lego collection, visiting the ice cream store (Moose Tracks and Maine Black Bear were Winn’s favorites) and enjoying the cuisine of local restaurants, we were content to remain in the cozy surroundings of the boat.  Micah brought us six soft-shell lobsters for dinner one evening and I made a blueberry pie.  Soft-shells are easier to crack and sweeter but they are very juicy.  One needs to wear a tent to keep dry!

Blake remained occupied with business in Fort Worth and the ongoing remodeling project of his new house.  On Friday, their last day and hungry for Italian food, we went to La Bella Vista in Bar Harbor and enjoyed a special lunch in a beautifully appointed dining room overlooking Frenchman’s Bay.  Winn and I left early to peruse the shops for a stuffed toy to carry on the plane.  After much consideration, he finally chose a small black bear and a brightly colored gecko.  These occupied every waking moment until we left him and his dad at the airport for the return flight to Fort Worth.  We enjoyed having their company for a week.  Both are easygoing, fun and considerate. 

July 16-20                             Southwest Harbor, Maine

Beautiful sunny weather was interrupted by a cold, rainy and foggy day on Tuesday.  We were concerned this would continue and spoil the visit of our friends from Texas.  Claudia and Rod Stepp would arrive Wednesday on a cruise ship for a brief stop in Bar Harbor.  To our delight, the day dawned cool and sunny.  A great Maine summer day!  We met our friends in Bar Harbor, passed the usual tourist shops for a brief tour of the remaining “summer cottages” (52 had been destroyed in the 1947 fire) and made a quick visit to St. Saviours Episcopal Church to view their outstanding stained-glass window (10 from Tiffany Studios).

A tour of Northeast Harbor and several of its beautiful shops was fun for Claudia and me while the guys found coffee and local conversation.  The scenic drive around Somes Sound brought us to Southwest Harbor and lunch at Top of the Hill.  It was delightful to have lengthy conversations with our long-time friends and show them The Bottom Line.  Afterwards, we returned them to Bar Harbor for an early departure on their ship heading to Nova Scotia.

Jill Cohen and Jerry Orloff, friends from Boston, arrived on Thursday evening for libations on the aft deck before going to Havana in Bar Harbor for dinner.  They are a fun couple and we always enjoy their company.  The following evening, they were guests of honor at a gathering of friends in the lovely marina home of Mary and Ed Dysart.  Jill and Jerry frequented the marina for years in their boat Mandamus and are dearly loved by others who are long-time summer residents.  Mary is the consummate party animal and always has games, entertainment and food to make a successful gathering.  Jerry “officially” marked his retirement from the legal profession by publicly burning his I.D. card. (Something he had promised to do when the decision was final).  Although their boat is still in storage, we are hoping they will return again soon.