BOSTON TO THE VINEYARD AND END OF THE DOWNEAST LOOP!

Boston to Martha's Vineyard

Today is day 76 of our trip, and it is the last day.

Trip Log 80.5 nautical miles
Total miles for trip 2255.3 nautical miles, or 2594 statute miles.

Up with the sun and an early start.  We were thinking of staying another day, but the weather forecast isn't the greatest and is prompting us to move along today.  So good bye Boston, she said wistfully.

It was sunny and warm all day, the wind increased all day -- fairly calm through Boston Harbor and Cape Cod Canal, we had the current going with us thru the Canal and then we hit the wall!   Going thru Buzzards Bay was the roughest part of the entire trip by far.  4 foot waves every 3 seconds made for a miserable trip, until we came around to Woods Hole.  Then it was only sloppy across Vineyard Sound.

We had to wait in the harbor about an hour for the Lagoon Pond Bridge to open for us and soon we
were tying up to our dock, we're home!

Overall it was a good trip, but not one that we would do again.   The engine issue hung over Michael like a dark cloud for much of the trip,  in areas the stops were few and far between.   It would have been nice to have a buddy boat traveling with us.  We were lucky, again, to have pretty good weather the whole time.  We had some good times, we met some lovely people, we have good memories, and we are glad that we made the trip.

Sunrise at Constitution Marina, Boston Harbor

GLOUCESTER TO BOSTON

Wednesday, September 3rd
Trip log 27 miles    total miles 2174

Sunny, little chop, some wind but comfortable, almost straight shot across Massachusetts Bay to Boston Harbor, went into Constitution Marina and tied up.

Always glad to see the Boston skyline, always good to see Howie and Cathy, great to be back in Boston and almost home!

leaving Gloucester

Arriving Boston

PORTLAND TO GLOUCESTER -- BACK TO MASSACHUSETTS !

Trip log 72.6

This was kind of a long run,  8 hour trip which was very very foggy at the onset, running with radar, and intense watching for 3 hours, then the weather cleared and seas went from smooth w/swells, to small chop.  We saw one boat visually, and there were several on radar that we never actually saw.  Why is it always foggy in Maine??

Easy trip after that and sunny.  Came thru Annisquam River and 3 bridges into Gloucester Harbor.   Favorable current north to south @1:30 pm supposedly, but current was against  us at Railroad Bridge and strong against us at Blyman Canal bridge.     Called harbormaster and got the last available mooring for the night -- Mooring SC-1 (Smith Cove 1) which is a great spot so remember. Fueled up almost 200 gallons.   Then it rained.

We were maybe going in to meet Spud & Mary Alice Mansur for dinner, but nixed that because of the rain.

Instead of going all around Cape Ann, you can route thru the Anisquam River and Blynman Canal.

Railroad bridge on the Blynman Canal

Blynman Bridge highway bridge

Views of Gloucester from our mooring

note the rainbow

Gloucester Sunset

BOOTHBAY TO PORTLAND

Saturday, August 30th.    trip Log 35.9

Windy, wet and rough, for our 3 hour trip to Portland.  Got to Portland about 1 pm, and as soon aas we docked the man on the boat next to us stopped by to see if we wanted to go to the market with him, which was nice as we needed some things.

The marina is in South Portland, across the bridge from the main part of the city,  about 1.25+- miles over bridge to downtown portland,  marina is $2/ft and $3/elec; .10/ft disc Boat US.    We stayed a few days and hiked into Portland twice. Walked around the local area, had a relaxing visit.

Monday, Sept 1st is Labor Day, as early as possible.

Portland is a busy commercial port, as well as an historic city.

ROCKLAND TO BOOTHBAY

August 28th

Trip Log 39.1 nautical miles

A little windy but sunny, lots of pot buoys to dodge again, but overall a nice trip.  Got a slip at Rowe's Wharf for the night at $50 a night with water a power.  Right at the end of the harbor next to the bridge, a great spot.  Bathrooms nearby.  Harbor Festival for a couple of days, wasn't very active but there were fireworks.

This is a new little marina they have shoe-horned into the spot, mostly for seasonal boats, transient if space available, I don't the could take a much bigger boat than ours.  Owned and run by two sisters, about our age I would guess,  who manage it themselves.    This slip has 4 feet at low tide so I wonder if we are in mud.

Boothbay is a fun town with interesting shops and restaurants, lots of cruising boats as well as local boats, and a picturesque village.

This is the footbridge that crosses Boothbay Harbor, up at the shallow end. 

MAINE - BELFAST TO ROCKLAND

Trip log 23.4 nautical miles,      total trip to date 1999.8 -- round to 2000 NM!

Left Belfast destination Rockland, no fog, down Penobscot Bay  in 10-15 knot winds, light chop, o-ring okay.  Tied up at Rockland public landing $2/ft   visited the little museum at the visitors center nearby.  Did some laundry.  There is a big cruise boat blocking our view of the harbor which is too bad.   Went for a walk down Main Street and Back.  Jim and Jan are cruising with us until I guess tomorrow, and they came in a little later and picked up a mooring.  We all went to Rockland Cafe for lobster dinner.     You have to have lobster in Maine!  Only one  night here, we will leave in the morning.   Not taking enough pictures!

Rockland is a busy mix of cruisers and fishermen.

seal in the harbor

CG here, too

we have never walked out to this lighthouse, maybe next trip. . . .

Owl's Head lighthouse

cool weather for August, but I guess not for Maine. . .

MAINE - STONINGTON TO BELFAST

Tuesday, August 26,  day 67

The heat exchanger reassembled on Monday after waiting for a part, everything seems okay so maybe our problem is solved.

Said goodby to Stonington and headed to Belfast, about 25 miles -- calm hazy weatherdodging pot buoys;  about half way to Belfast we hit the fog.  Few boats around, continued  with radar on into Belfast Harbor, as soon as we docked, the fog cleared.   Hiked around the lovely town, did some marketing, went out for lunch.   Jim and Jan came in and picked up a mooring and had dinner with us on the boat.  Dockage $2/ft $ $5elec.   Belfast is a lovely town.

Huge travel lift -- note Michael standing between the two wheels on the left

NORTHEAST HARBOR TO STONINGTON

Wednesday, Aug 20th, day 61
Trip Log 22 nautical miles.

Beautiful sunny calm day for a short cruise from Northeast Harbor to Billings Marine in Stonington. Of course, this is Maine, there are lots of pots in channel to dodge.   Got to Billings Marina, got fuel,  and tied up. The work on the engine, while probably minor,  may take a few days, as we probably won't see a mechanic until Friday.

Jim and Jan showed up, they picked up a mooring for a night and we had dinner on our boat.

We sort of hung around Billings, walked into Stonington a couple of times, went to a craft fair/farmer's market, cleaned boat, etc.  

Stonington is a picturesque quintessential Maine waterfront town with lots of Main lobsterboats along the waterfront.