Long Point Light at dusk

We always look forward to P-town. The rigors of the rocky Maine coast recede and one senses the promise of more relaxed days ahead.

Back in Rockport we'd watched our float neighbor leave the harbor bucking into the leftover swell. Their mast pitched wildly and sheets of spray shot out from under their bow. "What's the rush?" we thought, as we put the kettle back on the stove.

There are times when it's great to be on a sailboat as opposed to a motorboat and dealing with a sideways swell is one of them. The wind on the sails acts as a stabilizer and the narrow hull is more immune to the tilting force of the waves. Once clear of the harbor entrance the ride was surprisingly smooth through four to six foot seas.

As we neared Race Point I started noticing little jets if mist shooting up into the air, sure evidence of marine mammals. A few minutes later Linda saw a whale jump completely out of the water and crash back down - National Geographic stuff - she still talks about it.

We anchored alone in our favorite spot behind Long Point and had fun watching the families of seals we'd seen here four years ago. They swim along the beach and then haul out on the shallow sand flats and sort of sing to each other. Apparently, this colony at P-town is one of the southern-most on the east coast, as seals prefer cold water.