Ready to Go
20 May 2008 | Portland, ME
Changeable
Photo: Fish Market dock, Portland
This morning broke clear and cool, 10C, with light winds from the southwest. We left Pepperrell Cove at 0650, and headed NE to Portland. Around 1000h, the wind started to fill in, so we turned off the engine and soon were sailing at 6-7 knots in 15 knots of wind, and dodging lobster pots every 100 yards, it seemed. We're definitely back in Maine.... Clouds came over, and the wind picked up, gusting to 25 knots as we came alongside the fuel dock at Dimillo's Marina in Portland. As the wind was on-jetty, coming alongside was easy, but getting unstuck was a little more difficult once we finished fuelling and shifted to our berth for the night. The wind has calmed once again, and our weather ouija guru says that as of tonight, Thursday looks like our day to start crossing the Bay of Fundy. We may stage at Jewell Island just outside Portland to make our departure a little easier, unless it rains tomorrow in which case we will likely stay put.
We are hoping that we may see some whales during our crossing; the USCG has been broadcasting sighting reports of large congregations (some up to 45 whales) of whales, and we hope they are right whales! They have been reported 100 miles SE of Boston and, as the radio broadcast notes, "whales may not remain in their reported position...". No kidding. Anyway, we hope to see them, just not too close!
The crew has all run ashore for showers (hot showers always rank near the top of the luxury list when cruising), and everyone is pretty much ready and raring to head across the Bay of Fundy. The boat is in all aspects ready, so now all we have to do is wait a bit for the weather window to open, and our last long leg of the trip awaits. As we draw nearer home, time seems to be accelerating, and as much as I and we want to be home, part of me still wants to point the bow south and keep this marvellous voyage going just a little bit longer...I'm not done having fun yet!
Hey! I finally caught up in the blog!