Harbor walk, York, Me.

June 3rd
Well, I don't know if there was a better choice than Cuttyhunk, but we certainly learned how small Cuttyhunk is. In the off-season (which it was during our visit) there are 15 residents, including two elementary school children and a teacher. Add the harbormaster and assistant, and a few others, and that's it. And during three nights there, I think we met just about everyone. All very friendly, but we were anxious to move on. But we did have some nice walks, and saw some areas we had never visited before on walks. On day two, we thought we could probably leave, but after one hour of bashing into the short steep seas of Buzzards Bay and making only two miles, we accepted defeat and turned tail, scooting back in the entrance channel 15 minutes later.
But today, in light northerlies, we set out and picked up a vacant mooring in Pochasset Harbor, just 2 miles from the entrance to the Cape Cod Canal. This set us up nicely to catch the early morning flood tide that would sweep us through into Cape Cod Bay. We enjoyed a chat with a local boat owner who seems to specialize in cruising Newfoundland and Labrador, adventurous cruising!Then ashore for a walk and time for dinner.

June 4th
We were up early today, dropping the mooring at 0615 hrs and off to the canal, catching the current at its peak. We were swept through at 9 knots, and had breakfast as the scenery swept past. The canal was lined with fishermen (Americans seem to be extremely keen fishermen) watching over six landings of very substantial fish. Not sure what they were, possibly Bluefish or striped bass.
In Cape Cod Bay we set sail in the light winds and spent the day looking for signs of whales. No luck, we were too far inshore. We dithered about our destination, finally settling on Gloucester. We called the Harbormaster, and were tied to a mooring by 1515 hrs. Ashore we stretched our legs and enjoyed a walk on the nicely restored Main Street. Gloucester is still very much a working harbour and town, but it is a great stop. Just about everything a cruiser needs is accessible with a short walk.

June 11th
OK... I have taken a break, so here is executive summary. From Gloucester we had a beautiful sail in yet another south-west wind, rounding Cape Ann and across Scantum Basin to York, Maine. We were here for the first time in the fall and enjoyed it, so decided to come in again. It has some beautiful walking trails and excellent restaurants, so is a great stop. And we sampled both during a two night stay , waiting out a contrary wind. Dinner at York Harbor House Inn was excellent in its quiet elegance and comfort. Then on Monday, we set out for a long day up the coast and by days end motored in the mouth of the Sheepscott River and into Love Cove for a quiet night in perfect shelter from the strong southerlies blowing in the pines surrounding our anchorage. Next day we headed over to Robinhood Marine where we picked up a mooring and met with friends Bruce and Nancy Montgomery for a great day and evening of dinner. Next morning we contemplated the forecast and decided that it was best to push off and take the last of the still strong southerlies to push us further on. In late afternoon we were overtaken by a thick fog, leaving us in light winds groping our way up the St George River and into Maple Juice Cove where we anchored with the shores completly hidden from our view. In the morning we woke to a nice spring day with warm winds and clear skies. Back down the river, through Port Clyde Harbor and out into Penobscott Bay, we headed east in the last of the winds, or so we thought. All day we sailed north-east, up Muscle Ridge Channel, across the bay, through Fox Island Thoroughfare, across Isle aux Haut Bay, through Deer Island Thoroughfare, across Jericho Bay and into Buckle Harbor, a favorite anchorage, for our last night. Next morning we were unloading the boat and off to PEI, our spring cruise of 1153 nautical miles.