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We had such fun in Mt. Desert Island, NE Harbor, Somes Sound and SW Harbor. These were our ultimate Maine destinations but it is time to turn west and start our trek back home. We are ready (we think!) but, gheeze, we are going to be so sad to leave this beautiful state.
We wanted to stop in a cove which we visited with our buddy boat friends, Vicki and Norm, two years ago, Carver Cove on the north shore of Vinalhaven Island. It was as we remembered it, a large beautiful anchorage.
On the way we passed by the town of Stonington. Stonington was a town that we thought we might anchor in but after reading the info on it we decided to pass. The lobstermen have a tough time in Maine these days because the town docks are decreasing the dock space for them in order to provide room for the more lucrative pleasure boats. I guess I don’t blame the lobstermen being angry about this but Stonington is a working harbor and wants to stay that way. So, according to the books ‘Stonington’s lobsterboats are the loudest on the coast and the men at their helms seem to take perverse pleasure in buzzing nearby yachts at predawn hours or cutting across their bows’. No thank you, been there done that, not going to do it again!! It was, however, very picturesque. The reason it’s called Stonington is that there was/is a very large granite quarry nearby which somehow turns out huge blocks of granite for various purposes, including dock pilings. We continued west through the Fox Islands Thoroughfare to Vinalhaven Island where Carver Cove is located.
A beautiful Windjammer
Stonington
The last time we were here these rocks scared me (LT) but our navigation software is very good about pointing them out. Phew
Carver Cove is a big, wide harbor with a muddy bottom so it was easy to anchor. We were sitting on the back deck when a guy in a small sailboat came by towing a small boy on a surf board. He asked if we had a spare $20 and if we would like to buy his boy who was a pain. We all laughed and it was obvious he and his son were just having fun. By the end of the evening there were about 9 other boats in the harbor and it probably could have held 5 times that.
There were a handful of homes surrounding the cove, small and large
Just another beautiful sunset! A dory storing fishnets
We stayed there for 2 nights and then left for the town of Camden. Again, along the way we passed by the small town of North Haven on the island of North Haven, where we stopped for dinner two years ago. It was another beautiful little Maine village.
Scenes of North Haven
But, our most favorite town so far is Camden. Maine has so many wonderful towns but for us, this is the best. It is full of flowers, lots of small shops and restaurants, rolling hills, mountain backdrops and friendly people. The town park was amazing with tailored greens and stone art works. We had such fun wandering around the town and visiting the shops. Our last stop was at the bakery for a couple of fat pills before getting the launch back to Rickshaw.
Downtown Camden
Pedestrian friendly town! Harbor Dogs
You might be surprised to learn that we have had enough lobster (for now that is). We ate at a small Thai restaurant and it was fabulous. The owner/cook, named “Sue” was from Bangkok, and goes home every winter. She cooks to order for her half-dozen tables and was a delight to visit with.
The harbor was open and a bit rolly (you can see this is a theme in the Maine harbors) and so we were ready to hit the road on Sunday morning, 8/22, headed for the Port Clyde Harbor.
