July 5-12                                        Southwest Harbor, Maine

Sunday was a very cool day which preceded a week of beautiful, sunny weather.  Living on a boat is a great experience for us.  Our boat is large enough to provide all the comforts we desire but small enough that we can manage it ourselves without need of a crew.  With three staterooms and three heads, we can provide guests with space and privacy.  We have a very comfortable king-size bed and separate heads (except when we have guests), the galley is ample with a microwave, oven, and full-size refrigerator.  Our salon has a large wrap-around sofa that provides the BEST place to watch TV.  Two people can comfortably recline (and frequently fall asleep).  The aft deck is great for dining and observing the surrounding scene. We have plenty of space to be very comfortable.  Although our boat is not of modern design (it is thirty years old), we are very pleased we chose it.

We are also pleased we chose to leave the boat during the winter and spring months at Southwest Harbor, Maine.  We have some issues with the storage company but getting to come to Maine without a long trip from Baltimore has been a wonderful experience.  As we have been at Southwest Harbor several times, we feel very welcome at the marina and comfortable in the area.  Our prolonged stay this year has given us additional knowledge of the area and enhanced our appreciation of the special people who live here.

Although Bar Harbor is the main attraction of the area, we prefer Southwest Harbor.  It is less touristy, very picturesque, and offers some excellent shops and restaurants, all distinguished by casual STYLE.  There is nothing tacky!  The local bakery is famous for its fabulous pies and pizza.  A small pie shop is usually sold out by 2:00 PM and the popover shop is crowded every morning.  Southwest Harbor is a charming community with a welcoming spirit and we feel very privileged to be a part of it this summer.

On Tuesday, we attended a performance at the Acadia Repertory Theater in Somesville (about five miles from SW Harbor).  It was a tour de force for two actors who played the roles of patrons in an English pub. The performances were great.  The play was dark and much more dramatic than we expected.  It was quite strong emotionally and left us with a feeling of intruding on the intimacy of others' relationships.  We love live theater and will plan to attend future plays.

During the summer months, the very active Southwest Harbor Library Association presents a number of events for bibliophiles.  Most feature Maine artists.  I attended such an event featuring Cathie Pelietier, an author of adult and young adult fiction.  Her newest book is A Year After Henry.  She was exceptionally interesting in discussing her work and the book publishing business environment today.

Following Blake’s admonition, I made it my mission to clean and organize the compartments on the bridge, sadly neglected for five years.  It was quite a job but I was successful in removing and discarding multiple items from the previous owners (snorkeling equipment, fins, masks, etc.).  David completed a long-planned goal of putting shelves into the engine rooms.  These are utilized to hold his version of a “marine Home Depot” with multiple tools, screws, bolts, fittings, etc.  He did a great job and we can now find items we need without searching through drawers and bins throughout the boat.

We are enjoying our new dinghy and the propane motor is performing well.  Sunset cruises in the harbor have become frequent excursions.  The water is smooth as glass and the shifting light reminds one of why multiple artists have come to Maine to paint their landscapes.  I know the winters here can be gruesome but the summers are fantastic!

June 29-July 4                              Southwest Harbor, Maine

We were pleased Winn adapted so quickly to the boat.  He readily mastered the stairs going below and was soon happily exploring from bow to stern.  He never tried to venture alone out of open doors onto the deck.  On a rainy, cold day when we were kept inside, he was easily placated by toys and TV.  We enjoyed watching his antics and listening to his inquiries.  He especially loved walking the three blocks into town and getting ice cream cones and playing in the park.

A new experience for all of us was a visit to the Classic Car Museum in Seal Cove.  Formed from the private collection of Robert Cushing Paine, a wealthy Bostonian who loved this area, the small museum of mostly Victorian era automobiles is one of the finest we have seen.  Magnificent touring cars, sporty convertibles, wooden trucks and buses, and splendid prototypes of vehicles that had limited production were on display.  Staffed by volunteers, the modest entrance fee supports youth projects on MDI.

Friday was a gorgeous day and we were fortunate to have reservations for a two-hour tour of “Mr. Rockefeller’s Roads,” For more than twenty-six years, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. employed 300 men from the area to build carriage roads and bridges on his considerable property.  As part of this time was during the Depression when employment was scarce, he endeared himself to MDI residents.  Since those early times, the family has steadily donated land to Acadia National Park (a recent gift on the occasion of David Rockefeller’s 100^th birthday was 1,000 acres of some of their most pristine and scenic property.)  The carriage roads are open to horses, bikers, hikers, and, of course, carriages.  We rode behind a lovely team of horses as we explored the interior of the park without distraction from automobiles.  Winn quickly tired of the experience but remained patient. 

Blake takes great delight in his son, watches him carefully, and never shows any frustration with his very active two-year old.  Winn is a loving child and always open for new experiences.  We had a wonderful week with them.  

Blake was very helpful in setting up David’s new phone and completing some small projects.  Most of all, they were both great company.  Their departure on the Fourth of July seemed much too soon.  We were pleased they arrived in Fort Worth in time to see the fireworks from Stephanie and Joe’s place overlooking downtown and the Trinity River.

We watched three firework displays (mostly simultaneously) from the bridge of our boat.  This required some seat shifting and neck craning but it was worth it!  For more than thirty minutes, a spectacular display of brilliant colors exploded above us.

June 22-28                                       Southwest Harbor, Maine

Miller, Troy from Ellis Boat Company, and various guys from Hinckley were in and out of the boat during the week before David’s return on Thursday.  Miller is an amazing craftsman and painter.  He varnished the doors into the aft deck and continued to work on the bridge to remove and replace badly applied caulking.  A major repair involved leaking from the hatch onto the carpet on the aft deck.  Troy was making necessary adjustments to install the new AC unit for the master stateroom (do you hear dollars going ching, ching, ching?)  The new unit, although the same brand, has modern technology which does not interface with the old system.  We are fortunate to be in an area where skilled and knowledgeable workmen are available.  We have had some experience with those who were not and it has been expensive and inconvenient.

David arrived on Thursday with Blake and Winn.  Although he reportedly had talked incessantly from Philadelphia to Bangor, Winn continued to talk all the way to Southwest Harbor. Occasionally, he would transform from a little boy into a howling wolf and would threaten to “huff and puff and blow the house down.”  Other times, he demanded that I “yook, yook, gwanmommy” at some sight on the way.

Our neighbor lobsterman had saved us four beautiful lobsters and Debbie had made us another blueberry pie.   Although it was late, we made our usual welcome dinner which was much appreciated.  David was excited to be on the boat and eager to resume his projects.

On Friday, we walked to West Marine and viewed our new dinghy and motor.  Although not part of their usual service, the staff inflated the boat and transported it to the marina for launching.  With Winn in a new life jacket, we took a voyage around the harbor.  David was pleased with his purchase and found the 15 HP propane motor to have sufficient power for our purposes.

 After returning to the boat, David realized his phone was missing.  Searching was futile.  He concluded it had fallen from his rear pocket while on the dinghy and was probably at the bottom of the harbor.  Our call to report a lost phone brought good information—the phone was insured!  A new one would be delivered to David on Tuesday.

We made a visit to Northeast Harbor to visit a lovely children’s shop recommended to Blake by Stephanie.  He bought Winn another pair of Tom’s shoes and a red plastic lobster toy that kept him fully occupied.   Northeast Harbor is a small, unassuming village that is summer home to many wealthy families.  The harbor is visited by large sailboats and yachts.  The extensive gift and kitchen shop displays the same china as Neiman's and the clothing stores have the epitome of casual chic.We met Christopher Smith, a noted wildlife sculptor who has a shop only open in the summer.  He lives and works in Caldwell, Texas when not traveling the world showing his sculptures.   (Look at his website and admire his work.)

No trip to Mount Desert Island is complete without a visit to RATS, a popular seafood supplier who does his own clamming.  Hidden about a quarter of a mile off the main road to Southwest Harbor, he has a charming little home and a ramshackle building for his store.  His mussels and clams are the largest and sweetest we have found.  We always enjoy conversation with RAT (Robert Allen Taylor) who is a genuine character.  Browsing in his store, I found an old copy of Bride’s Magazine with an article featuring RATS as one of the highlights of this part of Maine! Five pounds of large, sweet mussels were our dinner entrees and not one was left!

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.

May 30-June 6                             Southwest Harbor, Maine

We had been in frequent conversation with Mark at Hinckley Boat Storage in Southwest Harbor to make sure The Bottom Line would be fully commissioned and docked for our arrival on     May 27.   A mishap occurred when the boat was being lifted from its storage dockage and minor damage required repairs.  Our arrival was delayed and plane tickets had to be changed.  On Saturday, May 30, we finally departed for Maine.  After three delays enroute, we arrived in Bangor, checked out the rental car, and headed for Southwest Harbor.

Our late arrival meant few restaurants were open and we were starving.  We stopped at Sips and were greeted warmly.  After an excellent dinner, we headed to the marina.  Micah greeted us and helped us take the heavy luggage to the boat.  We were ecstatic to be aboard our beautiful boat! 

The next day our joy was tempered when we discovered we had no heat in the master stateroom.  The unit, original to the boat and almost thirty years old, had died.  A new one was ordered but would not arrive for several weeks.  Fortunately, a small portable heater was sufficient to keep the space warm for our expected guests, John, Jackie, and Lincoln, who would occupy the master stateroom when they arrived on June 11.

Sunday and Monday were cloudy and rainy.  We worked to get the boat clean and ready for our expected guests from Texas, our granddaughter Kennedy and her friend Taft.  We left early on Monday to go to Walmart for grocery shopping and then to the airport to meet the kids.  Sips was our choice for dinner.  It was “open mike” night and an array of local musicians, mostly over seventy, were performing.  They were seasoned professionals and the music was delightful.  The next night, we treated the kids to a lobster and blueberry pie dinner on the boat.  They were appropriately impressed!

Taft and Kennedy are very much in love and they enjoyed having time together.  They were wonderful guests and seemed happy and content even though we had several days of cold, damp weather. They were appreciative of the charm of Mount Desert Island with its mountains, Victorian architecture, and coastal views. Lilac bushes were in bloom and presented a spectacular display of white, pink, and fuchsia flowers.   Avid puzzle people, Kennedy and Taft quickly worked two puzzles but mainly they played Jeopardy on their phones, read books  brought with them, and looked lovingly into each other’s eyes.  One day was spent hiking several trails in the park, another touring Bar Harbor, and then a morning touring Northeast Harbor.  After four days, they left for Texas and were looking forward to resuming their summer plans.  It was delightful to visit with our busy granddaughter, a source of great pride for the entire family, and a soon-to-be freshman at Baylor University.