Sept. 7, 2026 Boothbay, Maine

Mon.-Tues. Sept. 7-8, 2026   Isle of Springs to Boothbay Harbor 5 miles and 1.25 hours 

What should have been a very simple half hour cruise down to Boothbay Harbor turned into a bit longer trip.  We have reservations at Boothbay Harbor Marina for two nights. They actually called about 10 AM asking when we'd be arriving.  Said the slip was available and come anytime.   Short run but needed to plan for a swing bridge about 2 miles away that only opens on the hour and half hour. Figured we'd take our time rather than trying to rush things.   Decided to shoot for the 11:30 bridge opening.  Started pulling up the anchor at 11.  Had 125' of chain deployed and first 50' came up nicely.  Then the chain was covered with heavy thick mud, requiring extensive washing to clean off.  Still had 25' to go when Martha informed me it was 11:20 and we needed to get going.  Started pulling the chain in faster and got the anchor to the waterline.  Told Martha to head out as I cleaned and secured the last of it.  Came around the bend about 1/2 mile from the bridge at 11:30. Called the bridgetender and no go.  Too late.  Needed to circle around for half an hour in a fairly narrow area loaded with lobster pots and small boats able to skim under the bridge. Bridge opened promptly at noon and away we went. 

Beautiful old wooden boat fit under the bridge and passed us by

Cars stopped so we've inched our way closer and now just waiting for the opening

Always feels a bit tighter than it actually is going through these openings

Deep water is along the right-hand bank

Narrow channel, lobster traps, boats coming and going.  Must be Labor Day.

Twenty minutes later we were in Boothbay Harbor and headed to the marina.  After a week of anchoring out we were ready for a few days on land.  Couple of chores first.  Called the pumpout boat and arranged for them to come over.   Past due to defrost the freezer section of the refrigerator.   Time to refill the water tank.   Boat could use a better washdown but I'll wait until after we do the offshore run to Rockland for that.   

Several Windjammer sailing boats use Boothbay as their home port

Popular port of call for megayachts too.

We had skipped Boothbay during our Down East loop.  We had spent a few days during that trip exploring Bar Harbor and found it just too touristy.  Had heard Boothbay was also touristy, so passed it up.  Decided to give it a shot this trip and glad we did.  Cute town.  Yes, it's touristy but on a much scaled down version versus Bar Harbor.  They've managed to save a number of the older buildings on the waterfront which have been converted to shops and restaurants adding to its quaintness.  

Nice collection of lobster trap buoys in front of this store

Captain Sawyers Place - now an inn

Couple of the older repurposed buildings along Main Street

After a quick walk through downtown, we opted for an early dinner at Footbridge Brewery.  Good selections of diverse beers but even better they had really good BBQ.  Martha had a pulled pork sammy  and I had a smoked steak sammy.  Just a really good job on both and a much-needed change from our usual fare.  Tuesday morning started with a drizzly day.  Gave us an excuse to go out for breakfast.  Got some Maine blueberry pancakes.   Rain stopped by the time we were done and sunshine already popping out.  Turned into a delightful day- mid 70's. Had to move the boat to the outer dock to make room for a 65' Palm Beach yacht that was coming in.  Gorgeous boat!  Then some tourist shopping and eventually a trip to Hannaford's grocery store for some provisions.  Finished the day with another visit to Footbridge Brewery and then a trip to Downeast Ice Cream Factory.

The 65' Palm Beach yacht preparing to dock - long, wide and sleek

The footbridge is an iconic landmark in town.  Originally built in 1901 at 
the headwaters of the harbor it connects the east and west sides of the town

Seems with each passing day as we continue northward
we see more colors starting to show in the trees

Journey for September 7, 2026

Sept. 4, 2026 Deja Vu all Over Again - FOG!!

Friday-Sunday,  Sept. 4-6, 2026   The Basin to Isle of Springs  25 miles and 3 hours

Beautiful morning to start the day.  Weather advisory for fog in this morning.  6AM until 8AM.  No problem for us as no plans to leave until 10AM.  Slight haze when we first get up, but burning off as expected by 8.  Light wind and sunshine pops up.  Seems like a good day for a relatively short cruise.  Biggest concern is the projected 2-3' seas for the short time we head out into the sea to work around Cape Small.  Anchor comes up with soft mud that washes off fairly easily. Work our way back through the narrow entry - made a bit narrower as we're leaving at low tide.  Plenty of lobster traps here to navigate. 

We're seeing an occasional seal like this fella in the anchorage.
They just seem to be camera shy.

Sort of hard to tell, but this is a seal leaping out of the water

Yes, we had to navigate our way around and through all
these lobster pots to get out of the anchorage

Perfect Maine scenery.  Old wood sailboat at anchor. 
The narrow channel out is behind him and going right

Out the last of the channel and into open waters. 
 Looks like a lovely day for a cruise

Out in the main channel with depths of 125-150' we have clear cruising down the New Meadows River.  Seas as we head into open water aren't bad.  There are 2-3' swells but with a good period so we're gently being lifted and lowered.    Round Cape Small with its long arching sandy beach anchored by the narrow passages at Bald Head and Small Point.  We see a slow moving fin sticking up off the port side.  Can't figure it out so shift the boat into neutral.  It continues heading for us at a leisurely pace and we're able to see one of the ocean's weird fishes.  An Ocean Sunfish - aka Mola Mola, comes right alongside the boat before giving a splash of his fins and dives deep under the boat.  We learn that while our fish was maybe 2-3' across they commonly grow up to 5-6' across and weigh up to 800 pounds. Certainly one of the stranger creatures of the sea as it appears to be all head without a rear body or fins.  

Lobstermen working their traps as we head down river

The last bits of fog wafting up off the beach at Cape Small

Our strange visitor - the Ocean Sunfish- laying on his side and basking in the sun

Fuller Rock Light off Small Point appears a bit hazy further out to sea. We're making a slight turn to port away from it and headed towards Sheepscot Bay. Sky above is filled with clouds and blue sky but ahead the surface is obscured.  It's noon now and there should be no more signs of fog but that certainly isn't the case. In fact, it quickly goes to virtually zero visibility.  We're in fairly open water, but shallower water and lobster pots have reappeared. Worse, we passed numerous lobster boats out working New Meadows River and have to assume they're out in these waters too. 

Fuller Light Rock looking a bit fuzzy

Sunny skies above but looking a bit mysterious at sea level.

Back to instrument navigating.  Navigation lights on, radar on, AIS working, we throttle back to idle speed.   As we slowly proceed, I'm watching the radar. Blip from a known small island shows as expected about a mile ahead but another small blip in between also makes a mark.  Double check the charts and no navigation buoys around that would ping back so make the assumption it's a boat.  Just not moving.  We continue to advance trying to stay off to the starboard side and inching closer.  We're literally no more than 200' away when the white hulled lobster boat appears through the fog and we pass within 100'.  Nerve wrecking to say the least.  Happens a second time but this time we've got a bit more distance between us and a more visible blue hulled boat.  We maintain our heading for the main channel up Sheepscot Bay where a sailboat going upbound is showing on AIS.  At idle we're still catching up to him but at least I know he's there and he us.   We're closing slowly on him and keep wondering when we'll see him.  Our AIS vector line has us passing on his starboard side so I feel no collision is imminent but would still like to see him.  Finally, his big white sails slowly make their appearance. We stay clear passing and then just as quickly they disappear in our wake like some ghostly mystery ship in a horror movie.  

Even at idle speeds it's amazing how quickly boats appear out of the fog

Catching up to the sailboat as we travel up the Sheepscot River

We're approaching the area we'll need to cut in for our anchorage, so I head a bit closer to the shoreside.   Amazingly the rough outline of the shore comes into view.  Not clearly, but visible.  Up ahead is a red buoy designating the entrance.  We idle through and the densest fog lifts, leaving a somewhat viewable anchorage.  This is another place we utilized on our Down East Loop. We pick a spot in 15' with good protection from the next several days of northerly winds.   By the time the anchor's down and secured the anchorage is fog free although it's still laying hard over the Sheepscot River. By 2 PM even that is gone!!   August and September are supposedly the best cruising months here in Maine as the chance for fog is diminished.  But it sure is a fickle thing.  Comes and goes as it pleases.  Thick as the buttercream frosting in a whoopie pie at times.  Other times just a light haze softly wafting about.   Hoping that will be our last foggy cruising day, but somehow feeling very doubtful.  

From inside the anchorage the fog still hangs over the river.

Martha got the drone up for a bird's eye view

No more fog but looks like a bit of rain in the distance.  Never got to us.

That shoreline gives us nice protection as the winds swap around to the north

Finally saw our first loons on this trip

Not the best sunset, but after a day like today, we're simply glad it's over.

Clouds keep messing with our sunset pictures.  This was Sunday evening's

Journey for Sept. 4, 2026

September 2. 2026 September in Maine - On to The Basin

Wed./Thurs.  Sept 2-3, 2026    Snow Island to The Basin   8 miles and 1.5 hours

Just an hour's cruise as we switch over to a new anchorage.   No need to hurry as we're waiting for the tide to come up a bit before leaving.   Finally start weighing anchor around 11:30. 125' of chain out.  First 50' come up pretty clean.  The balance is covered in mud, so extra time required before we can leave as a few links at a time slowly get reeled in and washed off. 

Martha working it as we leave.  One eye on the navigation app
and the other looking for lobster traps

Who would have thought the bottom was thick sticky mud 
 when the shoreline is nothing but rock?

Pleasant trip to our next anchorage called "The Basin".   Back south down Quahog Bay for a bit, then cut between Yarmouth and Big Hen Islands.   Round the point at Rogue Island and head north up New Meadows River passing Cundy Harbor before making the sharp turn to starboard at the narrow entrance to The Basin.  

Wind on the bow as we round Rogue Island.  At least the 120' deep water
is keeping the lobster traps away

Passing a sailboat as we head up the New Meadow River. 
 Both working to navigate the lobster traps

Cundy's Harbor.  A small working port with a wharf and a restaurant

Narrow entrance to The Basin runs you right alongside the shore

 

 Entire trip we're having to be mindful of the lobster traps.  Either there's not as many as last year, or there's more of them further north than down here, or we've simply gotten used to them.  But we navigate pretty uneventfully, always keeping a sharp lookout and plotting a visual course through them.  Once in the basin, we pick our spot among the several boats already here. It's a bit larger than I was expecting and certainly not the solitude we were expecting, but it will offer good protection from the 25 mph northerly winds and rain we expect tomorrow. Starting to feel like fall.  Temperatures never out of the 60's today and we've seen the first fall colors in some trees. 

Got to say that the weatherman up here is pretty bad.  Been forecasting rain and strong winds for a week.  Had some rain overnight but no wind at all to speak of.  Then nothing but occasional hazy mist during the day.  As Martha notes, we'll take better weather than forecast anytime, as opposed to getting surprised by a forecast nice day turning ugly.  Very valid point. Made for a laid-back day.  Some TV, some cards, some reading, some eating.  

Work our way through the last of the lobster traps as we head
  straight ahead for an open spot to anchor

Oh My!!  Not even Labor Day and colors starting to show.

Journey for September 2, 2026

August 31, 2026 Anchoring In Maine's Casco Bay Area - Snow Island

 Mon.-Tues. Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2026  Freeport, ME to Snow Island   20 miles and 2.7 hours

Report on the Whoopie Pie for dessert last night.  The thing was huge.  We cut it in half and then quarters.  Martha and I each ate a quarter.  About all we could do.  Will save the other half for another nite.  It was pretty good.  Cake was moist and chocolatey.  Filling was a buttercream style.  Some of them are marshmallow based which we don't think would be as good.  I'm trying to picture a school aged kid getting one of these pies as a "treat" in his lunch bag and eating the whole thing. Talk about a sugar rush!!!  

Whoopie Pie - the official state treat of Maine

Buttercream filling on ours - some have a marshmallow creme

No skimping on the buttercream here

Enough about Maine's official state treat - on to cruising details. We like these planned short trip days where there's no hurry to get going.  Took our time hoisting the dingy back onboard, had a little breakfast, dropped the mooring ball lines and headed over to the marina dock for a pumpout. Martha at the controls trying her hand at docking with a little more challenge than usual.  Wind blowing at the bow, but current pushing at the stern. Normally we'd dock into the current, but the pumpout fitting is on our port side that needed to go against the dock. Working both the breeze and current while docking was a first for Martha. Wisely took an extra maneuver to safely back away and re-group before making a successful second approach and eased it right into position.  Good job Martha!!!

Pumpout dock straight ahead. Spin 180 degrees and lay her up on the port side 

Maine's best cruising grounds are broken into 4 sections.  Casco Bay starts around Portland and goes east for about 20 miles, The Midcoast with Boothbay in the center and perhaps 15 miles wide, Penobscot Bay about 25 miles across with Rockland and Camden on the western boundary, and Mount Desert Island Region about 25 miles across with Bar Harbor at its center and Acadia National Park completing it to the west.  That's as far as we'll go.  The coastline continues northeastward but with much less development, terminating up the Bay of Fundy with it's crazy 20+' tides.  

Tending his lobster pots

Plenty of lobster fishing boats out and about up here

This starts basically a week of anchoring out for us.  First stop is Snow Island.  Fight the incoming tide as we exit Freeport and make way through the narrow entrance.  Then nice cruising southwest winding around and between numerous islands before finally heading out into the ocean.  Long period swells creating nice gentle rollers. Make our way around the tip of Harpswell Island and then Bailey Island, before heading north inland and up Quahog Bay.  Turn in behind Snow Island to an anchorage we visited during our Down East cruise last year that we had given high marks.   Nice protected and picturesque anchorage.  Came in at close to full tide with 10' of extra water.  Couple of other boats here and a few more joined us for the evening but plenty of room for everyone.  Good news is lack of any lobster floats in here since water is so shallow.  

Incoming tide and turbulence going out the Freeport channel 

Nice private island, house and beach

Sailboat squeezed in between two islands.  Braver or dumber than me?? 

   

Drone shot of As You Wish resting easy in Snow Island anchorage

Birds eye view of the anchorage as evening falls

Martha doing her best to become a certified drone operator

Surprising to see some serious rock ledges materialize as the tide went out.  Read one review where an anchored boat wound up sitting on the rock ledge when the tide went out overnight.  Had to wait for the next high tide to remove it.  Nothing much to report whenever we're at anchor.  These are primarily fairly isolated areas but good for rest, relaxation, recouping, and reading. 

Couple of small islands protecting our cove

Same scene as the tide was going out. Good reminder to watch those navigation
 charts carefully - never know what lies just a few feet below the surface

Birds eye view of the setting sun

Water level views of the sunset

Journey for August 31, 2026