Sailing Vacations
A Maine Windjammer

Good morning everyone. We saw these Canada geese in Jericho Bay. I don't recall seeing geese on the bay like this. We have seen them overhead but not resting on the water. I am used to seeing them resting on the ponds and stream and in the salt bays protected from the ocean swells. I guess they were just flying bye! Have a great day. Be well. Do good. A particularly stunning sunset over Spruce Island.

Good morning everyone. Well as so many of you have noticed the blog has been on vacation for almost a month now. I guess it was time for a break and a chance to just be in the moment. Writing succinctly is not easy. Jim quotes a journalist who once said, "I would have written less but I ran out of time." I apologize to those of you who enjoy seeing the goings on here. Thank you for your patience and understanding that my writing inspiration comes like waves in the bay... depending on the wind and the tide. Since the beginning of September I have been savoring every last minute of sailing and scenery and wonderful guests. Each day the wildlife has been turning towards winter as Arctic nesters arrive and Maine's summer birds travel on. The woodstove has been running more frequently although there seem to be plenty of warms days yet to come. Temperatures are supposed to be in the high 70s on shore here today. With just a few more cruises remaining the sand is pouring thro...

Good morning everyone. We are finishing a week of two very cool three day cruises. We finally received some much needed rain mid-week.We do not travel far on a three day cruise but for everyone aboard we experienced a world light years away from the mainland. I was talking with a newly wed couple last evening about how lucky we are to have this chance to get away. The reflections in Kathleen's glasses kept catching my eye. I could see the whole schooner and the clouds over the bay at sunset. I see more through other peoples eyes than perhaps they might realize. How wonderful for this young couple to be starting a new life together. How amazing are the three brothers taken a few days to just hang out together. Sawyer and Courtney made some new younger friends who live in a whole different world in suburban D.C. The whole of this crazy world came together aboard Mary Day this week and for just a few short days we were at peace with ourselves. How cool is that? Have a great day. Be ...

Good morning everyone. Welcome to summer in Maine when we get a chance to see some of the most unusual visitors. One can never guess who will show up. Just yesterday I was driving up Route 1 in the slow moving traffic. I was more than a little surprised to see the neck of a guitar hanging out the drivers side window of an on coming vehicle, fingers dancing about the frets. And I was worried about folks driving motor homes through town with one eye on the road and the other eye capturing the sights and sounds of Camden through a video camera. I am not even going to go into the fashions of the day! Don't for a minute think that we don't see some unusual guests aboard the schooner. Friday morning we were greeted by a stowaway that was hiding in the folds of the foresail all night long. "Just cunning" as my grandmother would say. From what I can tell from my very limited knowledge of bats, this would be a little brown bat (as opposed to a big brown bat) because of its ve...

Good morning everyone. Most of our guests from this last week have returned home. I hope they took my advice to savor the sweetness of the week. I know Zeke and Zelda are so happy to be back home in the garden along with their newborn Zachary and all the relatives. Many congratulations to the newly weds. My those zucchinis work quick. Have a great day. Be well. Do Good.

Good morning everyone. Another delightful day here in windjammer world. After Wednesday night’s picnic we pushed across to Mackerel Cove, Swan’s Island. Of course we had to get up to visit the Earl of Swan’s. Earl was waiting to greet guests and talk about his garden and island living. This is the height of Earl’s social season so he couldn’t visit long. He had plans to go for a boat ride to North Haven for lunch with summer friends Becky, John, and Betty. Earl sent a bouquet of parsley and basil back for Ina and a very special something for Zeke. More on that in a moment. Under way just before lunch with a light SSE wind that carried us out through Jericho Bay and down the east side of Isle Au Haut with the ebb tide. I am not sure what possessed me to stop at Great Spoon I. but it seemed like a crazy idea that might just work. We anchored up in the bight and got folks ashore with ease. Getting to the top of the island didn’t take long. I have admired the wildness of this remote offsh...

Good morning everyone. The weather continues to bless us with sunny days and clear nights. We had a brief fireworks show Tuesday night as a cold front passed off the coast. Last night we sat on deck telling "Zeke" stories and counting shooting stars. The annual Perseid meteor showers peak tonight so get out and watch the magic. We enjoyed a wonderful picnic yesterday afternoon in the shade on a sand/shell beach surrounded by pink granite and a wonderful view of Mt Desert and the schooner. Zeke went a little crazy at the limbo contest. I am not sure we should have let him try a sip of whine. He was a regular party animal (?vegetable?). There are some photos I just can't share... this being a family vacation after all. Zeke and I will have a long heart to heart today. If he plans on making it 'til the end of the cruise he really needs to clean up his act. I will also tell you that he was involved in a bit of a scandal when he suddenly disappeared, replaced by a rans...