Mid October winds can be a bit cooler and stiff cutting right through your comfort zone. Up north old man winter's breath let's you know the sailing season is coming to an end this made evident with multitudes of boats heading south. Time to haul Sasha out on land or head to warmer waters. It's only 800 miles from Bar Harbor Maine to the Chesapeake where Sasha will spend her winter months. This easily sailed in a week but Hurricane Ian who after having left Florida made its weight felt all the way up into Cape Cod. Winds exceeding 35 knots packed with rain and depressing dark skies meant anchoring and staying put a better option. No sailor wishes to endure a virtual pounding in big seas. Being stuck onboard at anchor for days at a time the walls close in on you. When winds finally break and the sun peeks through you get excited to plan a shore trip or push off and glide south closer to home.

This summers sailing adventure was a life's dream that became more special having gone through multiple ankle surgeries. The ability to to sail, travel, walk and bicycle great distances without pain was a true blessing. My one regret was not having Susan onboard with me. It would have made this dream a better reality. We promised each other that all future adventures will be together and never alone.

Sasha is now 31 years old and is showing signs of her age. She will stay put on the hard through winter and summer as well. Her engine will be refurbished, some electronics upgraded and new standing rigging replaced. She deserves the attention and in doing so she will continue to keep us safe and perform well in the near future. And so this summers sailing blog comes to a close. My hope is these blog postings served to shed light to life on the water and the beauty that surrounds us. The waterways present our country's shorelines and coastal towns from a vastly different perspective more than any other means of transport. When on the water ones full senses come alive. The smells, sights and sounds all invigorate. lifes busy routine noises fade out bringing soothing peace and calm. While focusing on navigating and managing lines and sails one forgets those stresses heaped on while back on shore. Sailing Sasha this summer allowed for deep introspective thoughts the rare kind when you have time to think uninterrupted. Sailing is transforming not just in skill but in body mind and soul. I think everyone should sail. There probably would be less wars, less conflict and we would be nicer to each other. Well, its a good thought anyway. I am excited to be home again near family and dear friends. Catching up with others lives and how we all endured the past 6 months. I'm sure there are stories.

Be sure to click the photo gallery if you haven't already. More pics of Maine and New Englands coastline were added. Enjoy!

Through the many years being exposed to sailing I discovered its not all the same. Yes one would think stepping onboard raising the sails and feeling the wind energy push you about is sailing but its more than that. There are vast differences from dingy sailing to Hobie cats and fast planing hulls to small day or weekenders and full on live aboards. Each boat has its own identity, styling and performance qualities and purpose. Each boat develops different skills needed. Then there are the various waters sailor's prefer from small to large lakes, rivers, coastal waters and blue water cruising. Some sailors start out learning the lines on small boats and others jump into racing right off the batt while others prefer the overnight cruising comforts. Some go full circle having discovered the joys and challenges of each as they identity what serves them best.

Sailing for me has also been about the peaceful solance of silently gliding away from the busy noise of life. That sense of independent freedom of casting away the dock lines and shoving off leaving behind all that is familiar in search of fresh new destinations in which you determine. Sailing also aligns those things that give meaning by giving time to think and appreciate what matters more in this life. To be thankful of how far you've safely navigated through these years but also to see what is most important and what still lies ahead. I believe it all boils down to not the stuff you grinded yearly for but the relationships with family, friends and the people you love most. Sailing offers those peaceful moments of clarity in which you identify or discover who you really are deep down to the core. With this enlightenment you adjust and change to be the best version of you.

So what is sailing? Well as you see it's so much more than raising a sheet to the wind. If any of this resonates in your soul then my suggestion is you find your style of vessel, get out there and discover yourself, who knows what you may be missing or what you will find.

The coastline of Maine has definitely lived up to its billing. Not only in the vast beauty of its rocky cliffs and multitudes of Islands with nooks and crannies and coves to explore but also the weather. Having lived more than half my life in Florida experiencing its hot and humid summers I could only dream of being somewhere other where sweat and perpetual air-conditioning is not the norm. Coastal Maine has exceeded all expectations. Mid to low 70's during the day and 60's at night. One would think you would travel to Iceland or Norway to have this.

Having arrived in Portland mid June the time here has passed quickly. I knew that if I were to see more Sasha would need to get on the move. And so I raised sails and explored Penobscot Bay visiting Rockland and the many islands that offer a peaceful refuge from ocean swells and prevailing winds. Working our way North and onto Bar Harbor we made our way into Arcadia National Park. Sailing along its shoreline the impressive size of its mountains gave concern to my bicycling legs and lungs. As a flatlander I shivered to think how daunting a task this would entail. Would I risk absolute failure or a possible heart attack attempting to climb Cadillac Mountain? Fortunately tour buses equipped with bike racks were the answer and great solution!

While in Bar Harbor I was able to meet with extended family. Jimmy Papai is Susans cousin's son who works summers as park enforcement. He just came back from a 75 mile marathon run in Utah. Meeting up for a day sail enabled me to hear more about how humans can run 75 miles, Incredible! On that days sail Sasha finally did it. She snagged a lobster pot in her prop. Only a dive under in frigid water freeing the propellor would send us on our way again. Now We can actually say; been there done that! Two days later I was able to meet Drew Weisner and his lovely wife. Drew owns Dexter's in Thornton Park, Orlando. A great client of 26 years. Drew grew up in Bar Harbor. His mother still owns property here. It was great to sit and hear about his memories. The Harbor was in full bloom as the Tourist season is at its peak. People and cars pack the streets, Parks, Restaurants & Bars. Large sailing schooners were full to capacity as they danced around the harbor with full sails on display. Cruise ships were dropping off more folks desperate for a lobster rolls or dinner. The harbor was very active as Lobster fisherman and their boats maintained thousands of lobster pots scattered about the harbor and offshore. Much respect for the hard and difficult work they do regardless of weather.

Later Sasha departed in route to Boothbay Harbor where my dear neighbors Bob and Krys Stewart from Sanford happened to camp a few days in the nearby RV campground. Though I have been sailing since mid May they have been RVing around the country since March. Wow, you go guys! How wonderful meeting up with folks from home and the old neighborhood. Tomorrow I raise sails again in route to Portland to take on a new crew mate. My good friend and cycling buddy Theo Hollerbach will be keeping me company as we sail to ride coastal harbor towns on our bikes. Taking in new sights, getting lots of exercise and tasting Maines coastal flavors. Soon the sailing season will come to a close as fall brings in lower temps. Sasha will need to sail south back towards the Chesapeake where she will slumber through winter months. Until then I relish all the blessing of this northern latitude.

Posted in the gallery section are additional pictures of Maine, enjoy!

You can also track Sasha's current location and breadcrumbs by clicking on this link. https//share.garmin.com/PeterOwens

Its been nearly three weeks since sailing the 150 mile oceanside trip from Cape Cod to Portland. The first noticeable difference was the cooler temps. Mornings and late evenings can get chilled requiring extra layers or a blanket. Putting hot coffee on first thing helps get the morning brrrr under control. Sasha timed her sail to South Bristol in time to meet Susan and Elliott's arrival by Jeep. Our cute little artist cottage is only 100 yards from the cove Sasha is anchored.

It has been great having Susan here to experience the Maine summer. Susan's Jeep has been used for day trips to source local organically grown foods, beers, wines and of course seafood and Lobster. Local farms sell freshly grown or raised products unique to this region. Local fishermens co-ops are the best source for fresh and reasonably priced catch. Most will even cook for you to take home. Loving this concept! During the weekends Susan, Elliott and I seek out road trips taking us along coastal harbor towns. Most of these places are home to the lobster men whose boats go out daily to harvest catch. We have enjoyed Maine's many wooded preserves for hiking often leading out to rocky cliffs with ocean views. Most trails are only a few miles but challenging due to varied elevations, still great for the legs and lungs.

The Maine coastline has hundreds of islands either in the bays, rivers or just offshore. It is truly a sailors paradise. Amazing how many remote islands without land bridges have commercial enterprises or residential homes. These remote islands are truly a buffer from the hustle and noise of the bigger cities. Who knows maybe one day? During the week we both are keeping busy. Susan brought her portable office to keep in touch with staff and maintain bookkeeping practices. She also setup her portable loom and yarns. Maybe a sweater in the making? Her dulcimer also begs practice, hoping to hear some mountain tunes. I work on boat projects that keep stacking up. The ever demand to repair, upgrade or to maintain all systems on a boat is never ending. If its not broke now it will be in time. Having a temporary address allows for Amazon deliveries of spare parts and general supplies. I'm often confident but also lucky that I can fix most things. Lucky that our voyage or safety are not impacted, lucky that I have spare parts and tools aboard. Lucky to find a fix when that part is not on the boat. The confidence comes after the repair. Thanks mostly to youtube videos and some good rum onboard!

Just this week, sadly we said goodbye to our beloved adventure buddy Elliott. His diagnosed enlarged heart finally gave out. Though we rescued this little 5 pound fur ball he in time rescued us. Funny how life is that way. Susan will be heading back to Florida tomorrow. She misses her dad who has a 96th birthday coming up. Daily video calls to dad help melt some of the distance but nothing like being there in person for an endearing hug!

My good friend and biking buddy Theo Hollerbach from Sanford will be joining up late August to cruise Maines coastline and get in some bike milage. Certainly after running 4 businesses and a political campaign he will be ready for sailing and sundowners! I'm told that Maines betters months are September and October before getting colder. Late September Sasha will head south to her winter home in the Chesapeake. Until then it's more fresh lobster and seafood, decent sailing weather with cool nights and bright stars.

See photo gallery for more posted pics.

Click on link below to track current location
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Its been over two weeks since leaving Philadelphia. My time visiting my old friend Hal Welsh was a high light on this summers voyage. I sailed from Philadelphia down the Delaware river around Cape May and overnight into the New York Harbor. Dropping the hook in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey which completed the 245 mile journey. Within a day of cleaning up and going to shore to provision, my Friend Joe whom had purchased our San Juan 21 only months prior had flown in to join Sasha and I for a chance to experience cruising. We immediately crossed over into New York past our favorite green Lady and up through the east river past Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Traveling with the tide we flew at 12 knots past Rikers Island and into long Island Sound. Anchored in Port Washington we dinghyed to shore with bikes in hand only to find hills that tested our Florida flatland legs. Needless to say a good nites rest was had by all.

The next week we traveled all through out long Island Sound. From Port Jefferson to Mystic to Newport. Joe's time had come to end so I dropped him off in Warwick RI for his return flight out. Now back alone aboard Sasha a few days of projects needed attention and since the weather window to Portland was several days out, seemed a good opportunity to install the new deck wash pump. This would make rinsing a muddy anchor and chain easy reducing the mess in the anchor locker.

With projects done the window to move arrived and off we sailed down the Narragansett bay onwards through Buzzards bay. A 70 mile sail at 7.5 knots. Sasha loves the wind at her beam and just dances off the waves. We anchored in a small protected cove that night only to proceed through the 6 mile Cape Cod canal the next morning. What a lively canal with active bike trails on either side. Fisherman on the rocky banks trying their luck in the rushing tide. As I write this now Sasha is ocean bound making the overnight sail up past Boston Harbor and onwards to Portland Maine. We will anchor outside the city docks. Reprovision and wait for Susan to drive up from Florida where we will meet up in South Bristol only 50 miles north and close to Bar harbor. It's been 6 weeks since we parted and I am so happy to see Susan again. Absence surly makes the heart grow fond. In just a short time we will celebrate our 30 years bond of marriage. So much happens in that span of time and each fourth of July I'm reminded why we took this oath! Something about love, travel and adventure! Happy fourth of July to all who follow our adventure!

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