Harpswell, Maine

Pony docks with lobster traps

Our destination after Kittery was Portland but we were making good time and decided to go a bit further.  So... we went on to a little place in Casco Bay called Harpswell, Maine.  The further we go the prettier it becomes.  We are seeing more and more big rocks in the water.  And Islands - lots and lots of Islands!

Boats on mooring balls at Dolphin Marina

 It is becoming very important to be diligent with our navigation.  Not only are there many rocks but there are also many ledges.  A ledge is like a shelf in the water where the water depth changes very suddenly.  

A pony dock

 A couple of the places we have been to have wanted us to tie up to a "pony" dock.  This photo is of a "pony" dock.  I had never heard of or seen a pony dock before reaching Maine.  You will often see them piled high with lobster traps.

A small seal

 As we were sailing along I looked over and saw this small seal swimming along beside the boat.   And of course, before too long we saw a shark swimming by as well!

 All along there are Islands with lighthouses.  At one point all the lighthouses were automated.  The lighthouse keepers houses were auctioned.  Some lucky souls bought some pretty neat places.

 And as I mentioned there are now more and more rocks - many of them are quite large.  Careful navigation is a must!!

Maine!!!

May 31st and we have reached Maine!  Kittery, Maine, the first port in Maine is right across the river from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  We arrived around 3:30 in the afternoon and found our mooring ball at the Kittery Point Yacht Yard.  

Our neighbor sitting on his mooring ball!

 

Kittery Point Yacht Yard on arrival

It was a beautiful, sunny day when we pulled in but within 30 minutes the fog started rolling in.

Kittery Point Yacht Yard 30 minutes after arrival

 What a difference an hour makes!  We were thanking our lucky stars that we were safely in port.  But we kept thinking what if we had been delayed by an hour?  

 As the fog rolled in it started out light but within 45 minutes you could barely see the boats moored right next to you!

45 minutes we can barely see the neighboring boat

 We knew there would be fog in Maine - we did not know we would be greeted by fog within in the first hour of being in Maine!  What a greeting!

Rockport, Massachusetts

Loading the lobster traps on the boat

From Newport, Rhode Island we sailed up to Rockport, Massachusetts.  Most folks head for Gloucester which is a great place.  We chose Rockport which is just a bit further because it is easy to get in and out.  This is the land of commercial fishing - lobstermen mostly.

Rockport Wharf

 Rockport looks like a very quaint town.  A fishermens town.  But... our outboard motor is not running so we are stuck on the boat.

Rockport Wharf

They have very high tides here - 6 feet or more.  Hence, the ladder to get up from the water.

This is the entrance to Rockport - it is a very small harbor.  The mooring balls are for the Yacht Club but the town will let you tie up to their "pony" dock for a fee.  We have been doing day sails since Cape May, NJ.  We did one overnight run but without an enclosed cockpit it was cold, cold, cold!  So... we gave up on that and decided we would get settled in at night where we have heat.  Too early in the season for this part of the country.

Sailing Capital of the World...

Castle Hill Light

It was a short sail from Block Island to Newport, Rhode Island.  Yet again we were going to have to take a day and wait out yet more bad weather.  Fortunately, for us we made some new friends along the way who happen to live near Newport.  So the delay was not bad at all! 

Mansion

Newport is known as the sailing capital of the world.  There are some beautiful boats there!  High dollar boats owned by famous yachtsmen.  America's Cup sailors.  Newport was also once the summer destination for the very wealthy - Vanderbilts and Astors.  A few past presidents had summer homes in Newport as well such as JFK and Eisenhower.  The mansions still stand and some are now open to the public.  

Fixer Upper on a Rock

 Newport is a sailors town for sure.  There is a "Seamen's Church" where sailors can go to get a shower, do laundry or get a bite to eat.  There is also a newer "Sailor's Institute" that also provides services for sailors.  Long, long sailing history.  

Mooring field in Newport, RI

 

 

 We felt a little like step children here however. These boats have matching dinghies!  All the boats shine and sparkle while we were looking a little worn from travel.

Block Island, Rhode Island

Submarine!!!

We left Port Washington, NY and sailed to Clinton, CT for a couple of nights.  More weather was moving in and we decided we needed to get on up the Sound and sit out the rain in Clinton.  That is the thing about cruising you are always timing your travels with the weather.  They say the most dangerous thing on a boat is a schedule!  Unfortunately, for us I am still working and although we allow ourselves plenty of time there is still always a little time pressure.  Once the weather moved out, we headed out.  Our intent was to anchor at Fischers Island and head to Newport, RI the next day.  There is an area where the current runs swift called the "Race".  It is another area you have to time with the tide.  Well we reached Fishers Island really early and it looked like we would reach the "Race" at the perfect time so we changed course and decided to go on to Block Island, RI.  Block Island sits about 15 nm off the coast of Rhode Island in the Atlantic Ocean.  As I mentioned the Coast Pilot (information for mariners published by the US govt) warned of submarines operating in the area.  But... we never thought we would actually see one.  But there it was out in the Atlantic on the way to Block Island!!  Michael was really hoping to see one and so we were thrilled!

This is the entrance to an anchorage/mooring field called the Great Salt Pond on Block Island. 

Block Island, Rhode Island

Forty percent of the entire Island is set aside for conservation.  One of the last 10 places in the Western Hemisphere preserved.  In the summer it is a popular place.  Unfortunately, our outboard motor was not running so we did not make it to shore. And then again the next day we had to make a run for Newport as weather was bearing down on us! 

Mooring field in the Great Salt Pond, Block Island

Sunset - Block Island

We will be returning to Block Island and this time we will go see the town.  Beautiful little gem out there in the Atlantic Ocean!

Long Island Sound

Whenever I think of Long Island Sound I will think of lighthouses.  There are many - which is good as they are usually on a large rock just out there in the water.  Sometimes they are on an island.  And they often have a lightkeepers house beside them.  As soon as we got into the sound we went to Port Washington, NY.  The town has mooring balls that they let you tie up to for free!!  Not only do they give you a free mooring but they direct you right to it and assist if they can.  So incredibly nice!  And free and right outside of NYC - a train ride away from NYC actually.  They allow you to stay for 48 hours for free and after that it is a small fee.  A nice little gift!

 Long Island is the largest and longest Island in the contiguous US.  It is 118 miles long! 

We knew traveling this way that we would encounter rocks, fog, whales and possibly submarines.  The Coast Pilot published by NOAA mentions all these things.  As soon as we entered Long Island Sound we started seeing rocks.  Big rocks.  

 But fortunately for sailors the obstructions are well marked - whether it be a rock or a wreck of some sort.

 And often they are marked by lighthouses - a good thing with all the fog.  Sometimes a stick is the only marker - but at least the object is marked. 

Beautiful place and alot of fun to travel through.

9/11 Memorial and Museum

These memorials sit at the spot where the Twin Towers stood.  They are large pools with water running into the large square then the smaller one.  Along the sides of the pool are the names of all those who perished that day. 

The names are hollow and folks come and put flowers in the slats for their loved ones name.  

 The museum is underneath the memorial - under where the actual towers once stood.  There are remains of the buildings there.

 This is part of the actual tower. 

I thought this plaque was great with all the interesting facts about the Twin Towers.

This makes it hit home - the photos of every one of the folks that died on that day, in that horrific way.

 And this - knowing that what is left of folks is there behind the wall.  Sends chills.

 This is what is left of a fire truck that responded on that day.

 Part of the wall - it was like a sea wall to prevent water from the rivers seeping in. It was part of the foundation of the building.  The museum connected the two towers - you actually walked under both memorials.  I thought the memorials and museum were very well done.  Sad day - but glad we went.

Brooklyn

Talaria in Brooklyn, NY

So there is a a spot on the way to Long Island Sound called Hell Gate.  The Harlem River and East River meet here and the current runs swift.  You have to time your transit through there to catch the tide going the right direction.  In order to time the tide we spent a night in Brooklyn, NY.  The marina was right across from the Ferry Terminal in Manhattan so it was very rocky.  The ferrys travel at one speed - wide open. 

This is our view of Manhattan by day.

And this is the view by night.
 

Sun setting across the East River

Next morning we set off for Long Island Sound via the East River.  The security is high here as you pass by Manhattan's financial district and the United Nations Building.  When the UN is in session you cannot go on that side of the river at all.  And even when they are not in session you have to stay 175 yards away from the building as you pass by.

Colorful water tank in Brooklyn

 

Brooklyn Bridge

The first bridge to go under is the Brooklyn Bridge.  And then the Manhattan Bridge - they are one right after the other.

Manhattan Bridge

 

Manhattan

I thought these buildings looked cool as we were traveling down the East River - you can see they look like they sway.  Not stick straight.  

This building with what looks like three panes is the UN building.

 This is Rikers Island and the prison.  Interesting that it is right by the airport!

 And here we are in Long Island Sound - NYC is still in the rearview mirror.