Casco Bay, Maine

Today I sailed 50 miles NE to Cocktail Cove in Jewell Island.

I was intending to go tomorrow but the winds were favourable and this cruising lifestyle is all about being flexible and following the winds. In fact I was half thinking to go to York and then Portland but in the end i went past both and figure I can catch them on my way back down. Several people have told me that Portland is very popular so I am thinking that it will be easier to visit later in the season. Meanwhile, Cocktail Cove is a quiet, beautiful spot to lay over in.

Isle of Shoals

I sailed up to Gloucester Saturday and to the Isle of Shoals yesterday. The island is owned by the Unitarian Church and has a big Hotel that is used for weekly retreats.

As well, there is a daily ferry from Portsmouth that brings day trippers out to tour the facility.

Walking tours are given to the many historical sites.

The Stone Chapel dates back to 1800.

The Rev. John Tucke Monument commemorates a charismatic leader who died in 1773.

The solar array, which provides power to the residents, was added in 2014. There are lots of activities here including an art shop.

You can paint with watercolors or oils.

They also have a marine lab overlooking the harbor.

Here they have touch tanks with samples from the Maine area.

Of course the bird life here is a short walk away.

Momma gull did not like me getting too close to her chicks.

The sunset here was magnificent.

I will spend another day here and hopefully catch a good breeze up to Portland on Thursday.

Anchoring in Boston harbor

What is a photo of me in front of the Empire State Building got to do with anchoring in Boston you say? OK I will get to that. Several months ago my sister from NZ wanted to come and visit me in the USA so i had to find a good place that would be convenient and I chose Boston. The problem with Boston is that it is very expensive here. It is a university/medical town that is full of young, up and coming business people. It has a vibrant community downtown and the public transportation system is second to none with a Uber ride anywhere costing just $5. The city has a rich history, whale watching that is probably the best in the world and of course how could you forget the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Anyway what I am leading up to is to say that Boston is a must see cruising destination. Despite the cost, it is worth visiting. Yesterday we got back from a visit to NYC and DC which are so convenient to visit from here rather than staying at hotels there. I have been here in the Boston area now for over a month and these are your options if you want to come here;
1. Stay at the Constitution Marina in the heart of downtown Boston for $100 a night.
2. Anchor out on a free mooring at Spectacle Island and dinghy the long 4 miles into the Atlantic Wharf dock. There is a ferry that goes to Spectacle Island but the last one out leaves at 3pm.
3. Stay in Gloucester for $30 a night and catch the train to Boston for $20. I did this for a week and I enjoyed the town.
4. Stay in Salem. Again it's a bit of a nuisance commuting downtown but not too bad.
5. Provincetown. Ferry is $85 one way so too expensive to visit Boston.
My favorite is the marina because of the people I have met here. Most of the residents live here year round but it gets seriously cold here during the winter so they plastic wrap their boats.
Tomorrow I am heading up to Maine so hopefully I will have good winds.

Boston harbor islands - Spectacle Island

I moored next to Spectacle Island which is one of 34 islands in Boston harbor that is managed by the National Park Service.

I sailed down from Salem today under a sunny blue sky next to the Boston skyline.

I am looking forward to seeing the Boston skyline at nighttime all lit up. The mooring here didn't have a pennant which is an extra line at the top of the float for connecting to the boat so I attached it with a pair of lines either side of the boat.

An amazing view of the sunset here

Salem, Massachusetts

I am on a mooring between Marblehead and Salem and whereas Marblehead is very pretty, it is very much a sleepy suburban area compared to Salem. In 1692 over 200 people in the Salem area were accused of witchcraft and eventually 20 were executed.

There is a cemetery downtown where they are buried and also a memorial to them.

I saw many tattoos, nose rings and black clothing among the visitors to pirate, Halloween and witchcraft venues centered downtown.

If you are not interested in this dark side of town, the Peabody Essex Museum is a must see.

Along with the Custom House.

And the Derby Wharf National Park that has a replica of an old wooden trading ship called the Friendship.

Gloucester to Marblehead, Massachusetts

Yesterday I sailed away from the small fishing village of Gloucester.

I was in no hurry so I sailed all the way with just my genoa in 10 knots of breeze.

There must be at least 2,500 boats on moorings here in the harbor one side called Marblehead and the other western side called Salem.

Gloucester, Massachusetts

This once thriving fishing village is very much a quaint tourist town nowadays.

There is a monument on the foreshore dedicated to the 5,368 fishermen who have lost their lives on over 1,000 ships and the names of each of them are inscribed on the walls in the old wooden Town Hall.

Inside city hall is a museum but a much better one is inside the Hammond Castle just on the outskirts of town that is a modern built castle replica with a moat.

If you are interested in history, the Eastern point Lighthouse stands guard over the entrance to the harbor and was built in 1890.