Buying Lobster at Sam Olson's

Sam Olson's dock is down the hill from the Olson House made famous in Andrew Wyeth's Christina's world. Sam sells fuel, bait, and buys the catch from the Burton Pt. and Maple Juice Cove lobstermen - a fleet of perhaps a dozen and a half.

We buy lobster there during our summer vacation. Here is Annabel's first trip to see lobster - landed by the men of Nancy Elaine.

Images: from live well to crate, weighing the catch, peeking, Windwalker visiting Nancy Elaine, Nancy Elaine

Exploring the Back river with Annabel

HERE is the whole slide show. Click on the photos below to get the whole image.

Why I like my boat

I know...it's 52 years old, the battery isn't charging, six volts is a pain in the ass, it's not a saltwater boat, it's an indulgence.............

Images: all on the St. George River

Southbound, James, Tasha, Annabel, Muffy, Sanaa, Mom, Dad,James.

For the kids in Maine 2009 click HERE.

After the rain - Maple Juice Cove

August evening, at Stones Point after the rain (Yes, we were underway, at Port Clyde, with Georgia [2] and Annabel [5] aboard), Maple Juice Cove, St. George River, Cushing, Maine.

To expand, click on thumbnail. To see more pix click HERE

Issuma under sail - Ilha Grande, Brazil

Nice cruising grounds. For more go HERE

Port Clyde Draggers

Port Clyde is best known as the base for the Monhegan Boat Line and for the Marshall Point Light to which Forrest Gump ran. But Port Clyde is also home to the largest ground fishing fleet on the Maine coast.

As with all fishing communities there are memories of men lost at sea. 11 since 1941 (the last in 2005) are remembered at the Port Clyde Fishermen's Memorial at the Lighthouse.

The fleet is now a dozen or less. It is hoped that the new sector limits plan (replacing overall catch and day limits) will more rationally use the resource. And help preserve the fishery.

The Port Clyde Fishermen's Co-op markets its catch through Port Clyde Fresh Catch, built on the community farming model, and local pride.

Below are Skipper, Tide Walker, Leslie & Jessica, High Roller, and Iroquois.

The whole slide show is HERE.

Coast Guard Station Rockland

We missed the Eagle - it was pouring all day and I was the only one with rain gear. But when the weather cleared, we got the tour of Coast Guard Station Rockland. Here is the slide show.

Towing - it's not just for tugboats

Today my father, my friend John, and I grabbed Geraldine - a 23 foot hard-top pickup truck of a boat - in Thomaston and went downriver on the St. George. 7 miles south at Otis Cove we picked up a disabled 18' Parker for Jeff's Marine. (At Otis Cove we also checked out Art Tibbetts, who started on a new dock yesterday and had made substantial progress by this evening.)

We continued south to Maple Juice Cove to pick up Grace, my 18' 1957 Lyman which (despite a new blade cutter) had a lobster pot line wrapped around the prop.

We towed the two 8 miles north on the St. George River to the public landing in Thomaston where trailers awaited. Mine was on the trailer just long enough to cut the line. Then over to Jeff's to pick up Toaster, my 18' O'Day to tow it south to Maple Juice Cove. When we got to MJC we saw just behind us beautiful old sailboat pulling in for the might to its placid anchorage. I'll try to get the name in the morning.

One of these days I have to get to work. But it may not be tomorrow.

A shot from Lisa's spot

Hupper Island and Little Caldwell Island, from Stones Point Road, Pleasant Point Rd., Cushing, ME

The link to Lisa's shot is here.

Lady Debbie

Lyman Morse Boatbuilding, f/k/a Morse Boatbuilding is a builder of fine boats, and service yard for anybody who comes by with a boat - like Lady Debbie- a working dragger, one of the few on the Mid-Coast. Wood is good. It lasts a long time and if something breaks you just lay in another piece of wood.

Click on photos to enlarge thumbnails.