Lobster Fest

The trouble with traveling and working is that sometimes the weather just does not cooperate and gift you with nice days when you are NOT working.  The other obvious problem is that there is just too darn much "work"!  We have been trying for weeks now to sail to Isle au Haut - it still hasn't happened.  This weekend was no different.  It was Lobster Fest in Rockland  but no matter Mother Nature still decided to provide fog and rain.  I can tell you it did not slow the festival down one little bit!  But we try not to go out in fog if we can help it.  So... we stayed in Rockland one day and went to Monhegan the next by ferry boat.  In the back of this photo you can see one ship that is not like the others - the one turning their string of lights on.  That is an Arleigh Burke Class Naval Warship.  They are anchored in the Harbor.  Apparently the midshipmen like lobster too!  The naval warship arrived in time for Lobster Fest and stayed till the end.  There was a beauty pageant and the midshipmen were sent out to escort the "beauties".  Several people with boats in the harbor thought they would get a bit closer to the ship to "check it out".  They were met with a stern warning to not approach within 500 feet of the vessel and midshipmen in smaller boats with guns were dispatched.  Word got out - stay away from the Navy ship.  We did however feel well protected having them anchored right at the harbor entrance.  Its not every day that you have such direct protection from the Navy.  

Cormorants sunning themselves on the rocks

 Monhegan is a remote island about 12 miles off the mainland.  Our original thought was to go there on Talaria as we were heading back to North Carolina.  But... several folks have told us that you can't drop your anchor in the harbor and there are only a couple of guest moorings which are impossible to get.  The harbormaster stays at the pub and ignores both the VHF and his phone.  Best you can do is pick up a mooring and then trek around the island trying to locate the harbormaster (who is usually on his barstool)!  Couple that with other folks who do listen to the radio or see you come in and then scam you - they take your money when they have no authority to do so.  You are then in a tight spot when it turns out it wasn't their mooring to rent and the owner returns!!  Not joking that has happened.  Armed with that information we decided the best way to visit the island is via ferry - like the tourists.  

Allen's Island - privately owned by the Wyeths

On the way to Monhegan Island the ferry went through a cut between the Wyeth families privately owned islands - Allen's Island and Benner Island.  Allen's Island is the largest at 450 acres of spruce forest.  The family maintains a small mooring field between the islands and allows sailors to stay for the night.  But you may not come on the islands without permission.

Wyeth Family Summer Home

Allen's Island 

They are beautiful islands - their own little piece of paradise.