"I promise I won't ask you to do another overnight sail, honey" (Until next year)

Eventful at best, a little bit stressful, but in the end another adventure and a test of our sailing ability, of David's perseverence, and the strength of our marriage. An overnight sail from Onset, MA to Tenants Harbor, ME.

Onset Sunset

A boat just like Island Girl - traveling from Boston to Cuttyhunk then to Dutch Harbor

We dropped the mooring in Onset about 7am Tuesday morning, called our friend Alice (she promised to see us off through the canal just after the railroad bridge) and headed out to the canal.  There is no set schedule for the railroad bridge closing - "whenever", and lo and behold just as we turned east into the canal, we heard the announcement over the vhf radio.  We circled around just west of the Mass Maritime Academy for about 20 minutes to 1/2 hour - and heard/watched two trains pass over the bridge.

Mass Maritime Academy

Train bridge down

Train bridge up and we can now go through

 Watch the video of it going up. The whole thing drops to almost water level for the train/s to pass over the canal.  I heard tell it's the "garbage train" from the Cape (lol). (ed. note - video takes too long to download - if you're on fb you can find it on my wall.)

No traffic, a strong current and we were through the canal in less than an hour traveling at about 10-11 knots all the way through.  I jotted down a few things I noticed - beautiful houses with lots of windows facing the canal along the coast, people fishing, people jogging, biking and roller blading along the bike path, the trailer/camping grounds.  No other traffic other than a boat named SHEILA headed for Portland that really rushed through ahead of us.

Early morning sun on the water just as we were leaving Onset

Alice? Are you there?  Yes, we see you!

Sheila - headed for Portland - they were really in a rush!

On the other side, not much wind, so we set a course for Monhegan Island (39 degrees) and settled back to enjoy the trip.  Eventually the wind picked up and we were able to sail for about 2 hours until it died again.  Mid afternoon I spotted a whale, and ran all over the boat trying to take pictures, managing to only catch glimpses of it with the camera.  But I did see it come up out of the water at least twice.

Exiting the canal

the WHALE - you'll have to look hard to see  it, but it's there.

Late afternoon we noticed the clouds building ahead of us moving SE from Cape Ann (Gloucester).  We were still sailing at that point - the winds started to freshen to more than 20 knots, and we decided rather than tear a sail in a thunderstorm squall we would rather roll in the jib and drop the main.  We altered course about 40 degrees to the west and managed to avoid the storm other than getting some wind (about 20-25 knots) and some rain.

Because we altered course the storm passed to the east of us.  

And of course - a rainbow - and we saw both ends! 

 We watched the lightning and heard the thunder for a good hour.  No more sailing for a couple of more hours.  We munched on veggies and dip, and took some short catnaps, always listening for thunder and watching the sky for dark clouds and lightning.

The engine began to overheat so we pulled out the jenny, altered course for Gloucester (26 miles away) as David proceeded to go down to the engine room and remove a handful of seaweed from the engine intake.  Phew - sigh of relief - that's all it was.  Engine back on, return to course to Monhegan Island, roll in the jib.  30 minutes later - engine over heat.  David does the same thing, but there's no sense in pulling out the jib, he'll just remove some more seaweed.  Yep - that's what he did, and again back on our way.  45 minutes later - the gauge starts climbing over 180 degrees.  Same drill - this time David says he feels something hard is blocking the intake - like a piece of wood or something.  And he is only able to dislodge it, not remove it.  He has solved the problem, but only for another hour or so, and again I hold my breath as he proceeds to close the intake valve, and let the water drain into the bilge.  He removes the strainer and lo and behold, yes - a piece of wood.  He has to break it into pieces to remove it, hoping he has it all, puts everything back, and YESS! we are on our way again.

This is what caused all the problems! 

 No problems for the rest of the night.  Thank goodness!  as we had to motor all night since the wind was on our nose, and very light.

 Our two hour watches were spent studying the temperature gauge and praying that it didn't go over 180 degrees.  During that time we dodged two more thunder and lightning storms - they seemed to be all around us, but directly above us I could see bright stars.  The Big Dipper never looked so big and bright, the Milky Way more milky and mysterious.  Weird.  It was cold too.  I had three shirts on (one with a hood) and wrapped myself in a comforter.  David had two coats on and wrapped himself in a blanket. We were also completely enclosed.  Well, what do you expect - we're on our way to Maine!

As dawn approached we made the decision to go to Tenants Harbor since they have fuel.  The fog rolled in - THICK, and with out radar doing loop-de-loops we couldn't count on it to tell us EXACTLY where another vessel is, just that it's somewhere near us, either in front, or behind, and to the left or the right.  Frustrating, but we managed to figure it out.  The pots weren't as abundant as we remembered, but still, it required some maneuvering on David's part.  He is a wonder at the helm.

 Tenants Harbor - as quaint and picturesque as any Maine port.  Lots of lobster boats - they don't stink! They are anchored all around us.  They store the bait in storage bins in the water.  The bins float just below the surface and are tied to the stern of the boats or to the mooring.  The boats are colorful, with their brightly painted lobster buoys.  Some lobstermen also have a floating dock tied to a mooring near their boat where they store more pots and gear.  One enterprising lobsterman has even built a lean-to on the float.

The lobstermen and women work very hard.  There is a woman on board this boat.

It is low tide - notice the long dock and how high above the water it is now.

After our nap we had our obligatory lobster salad roll.  YUMMM.  A buttered, grillled hotdog bun stuffed (and I mean stuffed) with lobster meat dressed with the right amount of mayo. A tour around the harbor in the dink, then back to the boat to enjoy a peaceful, relaxing evening (in a long sleeve shirt) aboard our boat and our home, OBSESSION.

These guys were swimming in Penobscot Bay this morning - never suspecting they'd  be our dinner tonite.

Dinner - well what do you expect?  Lobster and corn on the cob.  Enjoyed with a glass (or two) of wine.With sliced strawberries, peaches and blueberries (of course).

I love our boat, I love my husband, I love my life.  Tomorrow Port Clyde.

Transiting the Cape Cod Canal

ps - moorings cost only $25.00 here.

pss - just as I'm finishing this David spotted what he thought was a seal or a porpoise just off our stern.  Hope I can get a picture of him later.  If I was Christen I would name it - along with the ladybug

I found on the bow when we were entering the canal, the biting flies that attack our ankles

We are prepared for you FLIES!

 when we're on the helm,  the whale I saw in Massachusetts Bay, the dolphins we spotted entering Tenants Harbor,and the small duck I watched trying to fly this afternoon.  Oh and don't forget the mosquitoes that come out every night, buzz in our ears and leave behind bothersome itches!  Any thoughts as to who of our friends/relatives are what?