2022: Maine Part VI - Southwest Harbor - Ship Harbor Trail

11 August 2022

Depart: Bar Harbor Municipal Dock 11:30

Arrive: Bar Harbor anchorage 12:30

Distance: 1 nm

After saying farewell to the Idaho crew, we had time between family visitors to do some clean up on the boat. We traveled a short distance away from Bar Harbor to drop anchor for the night. After exploring the possibilities for places to drop anchor, Clark and I decided on a place where cruise ships anchor. Travel time was very short, but it took almost an hour to decide on a place to drop anchor.

We ended up near the "Norwegian Pearl" anchored in around 50 feet of water. Due to the large change in water heights with the tide changes and the concern of closeness to lobster pots, other boats, etc., we have never found any of our prior anchoring experiences to be as challenging as in Maine.

"Norwegian Pearl" at anchor nearby

During the day we watched as the cruise ship used its lifeboats to ferry folks to shore; whether that was crew only or passengers was impossible to see.

Later in the day another big vessel joined us. Clark looked up the name and found the boat to be owned by Michael O'Keeffe - an Australian. (He told me it was the actor Michael O'Keefe, but he was incorrect.) The vessel cost the owner the equivalent of $20 million US dollars and costs $1 to $2 million dollars a year to run, and here I thought our boat was expensive in upkeep!

150' length yacht "Moatize" joined the anchorage

I spent the day swapping out bed linens, replacing towels with clean ones, running the vacuum, and doing any other cleanup necessary after one set of visitors leaves and another set comes. Since I had no means by which to do laundry, I found creative places to stow it out of sight until it could be taken care of back home in New Jersey.

We did take some time to relax getting ready for the next wave of activity with family.

Sunset Picture taken near Bar Harbor, ME

Fog rolling in near Bar Harbor

12 August 2022

Depart: Bar Harbor anchorage 10:15

Arrive: South Port - Hinckley Mooring ball 12:00

Distance: 13 nm

Early morning I saw the "Norwegian Pearl" heading in towards Bar Harbor. Later in the day I saw another cruise ship had taken up the spot "Norwegian Pearl" occupied the night before. 

Our son Chris and his family would be joining us today. Google Maps said it would be a 7-hour trip for them, so we had the whole day to reposition the boat and get ready for their arrival. We had agreed to meet them in Southwest Harbor on the other side of the Mount Desert Island from Bar Harbor. 

We enjoyed watching the traffic in the area.

Pod from a cruise ship ferrying folks to / from shore.

Many-masted sailboat

"Light Houses & Nature Cruises" vessel

With my chores done, I sat up top with Clark for the trip to Southwest Harbor and enjoyed the views of the area. 

We had made a reservation at Hinckley to use one of the mooring balls for tonight to make it convenient for picking up our guests. When we got word from Chris that they were near, we dropped the line to the mooring ball and pulled up to the fuel dock to collect people and luggage. Clark had checked ahead with the management and gotten the okay to come in as no one would be using the dock after closing time. 

We had everyone use the public toilets, then quickly gathered everyone on board, and got back underway to retie at the mooring ball for the night.  They joined us in time to see a lovely sunset.

Lillian at sunset in Southwest Harbor

13 August 2022

Depart: Hinckley Mooring Ball 11:15

Arrive: Mill Dam anchorage 12:30

Distance: negligible 

First thing this morning, a small boat came up behind ours to check his lobster pot close to our stern. Jack, Lillian, and I were watching as he pulled up the trap to see if he had anything inside. Alas, the answer was no, but he saw me holding Jack in my arms watching intently, so he reached into his container and pulled out a lobster from a prior trap to show off his prize.

No lobster here

but he has one in hand from prior trap!

Mega-yacht docked nearby

We considered staying at the mooring ball for an additional night, but we all agreed that finding an anchorage away from boats making intolerable wakes would be preferable. Though it was less convenient to access shore, we agreed to up anchor and move somewhere quieter. It was a good decision. 

Since Chris and Heather came by car, we had the luxury of transportation with wheels! However, we had 6 people and a car that sat 5! Not only did we need two trips by dinghy to get folks to shore, we needed two trips by car to get folks to "Ship Harbor Trail" that we wished to explore. 

Lillian and I got to the trailhead first and had what felt like a very long wait for everyone else to arrive. While we waited, we checked out the area.

We found the start of the trail!

Saw an interesting dragonfly

and spied this old car leaving the park 
shortly after we arrived. The man
driving said, "It's fun to drive!"

Eventually, the rest of the gang arrived and it was time to do our hike. Unlike Jeff, Heather likes to pick "kid-friendly" hikes which made them more Nana-friendly as well. Though still rugged terrain, I at least found them manageable.

Tide Pool

Chris used an app on Heather's phone to identify this invasive species rose bush. It was certainly plentiful throughout the trail.

Rugosa Rose

More Rugosa Rose

Lillian 

Jack enjoying the hike!

Carefully watched my step to get out here!

Checking for critters in the tide pool

Phew! Back on the main trail again.

Group shot - Jack still having fun!

After our big hike, we decided to eat dinner in town. Of course, we found a place serving lobster. Because we had more folks than fit in a car together, some of us went to the restaurant by dinghy and the others by car. When Clark and I pulled up to the dock in the dinghy, the others were there waiting for us.

We tied up at the "Lower Town Dock" to access the restaurant.

I hoped I would not be climbing that ladder to get 
to the restaurant!

Thankfully, they had a dinghy dock we could tie to.

Chris, Lillian, and Jack
walking on the dinghy dock.

Starfish on the dock supports

We waited in line, selected (if desired) the live lobster to be sacrificed, and then sat at a table to be served our meals. Clark was the only one to opt for a whole lobster. Had others of us known that it would come to the table pre-cracked for easy eating, more would have selected that option. 

Lobstah Rolls! 

Clark and I left by dinghy; Chris left by car, and Clark later picked the "car" crew up at the marina's dock. We all got back to the boat in time for a sunset picture or two.