Christmas Cove


Friday dawned clear and cool in Christmas Cove with light northerlies. But in the absence of fog, we quickly got underway. Out of Christmas Cove, we headed due south for a quarter mile, then did a "U" turn north up through the pretty passage with the curious name "The Thread of Life", taking us to into John's Bay. I have no idea where the name came from.
Around Pemaquid Point, we crossed into reef-strewn Muscongus Bay where we passed between Eastern Egg Island an Eastern Egg Rock, down through Old Hump Passage, through Davis Strait, passing Port Clyde, another favorite stop. Out into Penobscott bay, we bashed into the freshening wind and headed into Muscle Channel, emerging at Owl's Head.
With the wind now falling to calm, we continued motoring north up the bay past many more beautiful anchorages until in late afternoon we nosed into the very crowded Bucks Harbor at the west end of Eggemoggin Reach. We picked up a mooring from Bucks Harbor Marine, dinghied ashore to register and take a short walk through the tiny village. Given the size of the village, the quality of the tiny grocery store is outstanding. Unfortunately, since the next day would be our last cruising day, we had to exercise severe restraint to leave with just a loaf of bread and quart of milk. We continued our walk with a stop at the Yacht Club, then back to the boat for the night.
Another early start as we cast off the mooring and headed out down Eggemoggin Reach. Just 35 miles to go, but the weather still wouldn't cooperate. We motored down the Reach, enjoying the respite from dodging lobster pots. The north end of both Penobscott Bay and the Reach are pot-free, not due to any conservation efforts, but because lobsters are not attracted to the muddy bottom.
By the time we reached the bottom of the reach, the weather had returned to its reliable self... the wind came up on the nose and a cold rain began, all timed to coincide with running out into Jericho Bay and the highest density of pots we had yet seen.
Across the Bay, through Casco Passage, across the bottom of Blue Hill Bay and we were in Mt Desert's Great Harbor, and by noon we were tying up to the docks at Jock William's Boatyard, the same dock we left from in Sept. 14th, 2010.
Our cruise has taken us down the US East Coast to The Bahamas, Jamaica, Colombia, Panama, Honduas, Belize, Mexico, back to Key West Fla and up the US East Coast, a distance of 8118 nautical miles.
Friday afternoon was spent reviewing the work to be done to restore Estelle to her former glory, a three page list.
Then Saturday was spent yet again packing up the car, so that by late night, the car was totally jammed again. By Sunday evening we were back home in PEI.
No more cruising this summer. Family obligations mean that our fall and winter will be spent in Beautiful Whistler BC where we will be celebrating our daughter's wedding and skiing.
Future cruising plans are, as usual, loose, but we are looking at the Canadian Atlantic Provinces, our home waters, where we have not cruised for the last ten years. Time will tell!