We got to Cliff and Sue’s house next to Moose Island right at high tide. That was very significant because that is when you can step off of your dinghy right on to their dock. They were our neighbors when we lived in Philadelphia over twenty years ago and they would be our neighbors again for the night. We were anchored right off of their house. They just settled on the house the day before. The ladder that we would need to climb down to the dinghy when the tide went out wasn’t even installed yet! We helped with a couple of things that we had some expertise with. Bill helped them hang the dinghy that came with the house on the davits, and replaced the lines that hang it, knots are really his expertise. I picked up apples that had fallen to the ground under their apple tree – that is as close as I could get to having some needed expertise!! While sitting on the rocks by their dock we saw an otter run by. Now I have yet another animal to add to my list of wildlife I have seen in Maine!

Two of their kids were also visiting so we all went out to dinner together. By the time we got back the sun had set and the tide had gone completely out. Our dinghy had been high and dry for a number of hours already, now it was about forty feet away from being able to float. Luckily Cliff and his son Adam helped us carry it over the seaweed and back into the water. There was just enough light left for us to get back to the boat. The house is in a beautiful spot, with an incredible view. The picture above is Moonraker as seen from the master bedroom window, over the vine covered porch! It is not, however, the calmest anchorage in the bay. We’ve had worse but it was a rough night. At around 2 am Bill had to get up and raise our mizzen sail to see if he could stabilize the boat a bit. It did help, but not enough.

This morning we went back and picked up the kids, Adam and Erica, and Erica’s boyfriend Spencer. Cliff and Sue were already on their way back to Philadelphia for a meeting and to pick up more stuff to bring north. I guess technically they aren’t kids, but I’ve known Adam and Erica since they were very little so they are still kids to me. We took them for a power boat ride at first, and then anchored for lunch. The wind picked up and we had a very spirited sail on the way back to their house. Adam took the helm for the sailboat ride back and Erica and Spencer handled all the lines when we tacked. I think everyone had a good time and we were glad we could share our sailing adventures with them.

I also keep forgetting to mention that I have posted pictures of Maine on our Photo Gallery!