Fun bars along the harbor's edge. Sure wish we could have gone to one. HaHa...We went to several.

Some of the homes in town. 

The really posh big ones are scattered along the shores of the Island. The only way you can see them, is by water.

 

The old movie theaters are still there, and still running.

One of the oldest carousels in the US. they still have the arm that everyone tries to grab the brass ring.

One of our fun bartenders. That's a flower he was wearing in his beard.

Everyone wants to get out on the water. Do you think they have life jackets for all of those people. Do you think it's a little overloaded?

This was our first choice to rent for an afternoon to go exploring. Lots of $$$$$$$$. NOT!

On the way to check out the scooters, we spotted the jeep. We'll take it. The guy asked if we wanted the top up or down. Silly question!

Do you suppose they have any lobstahs in Lobsterville?

While out exploring, Stephanie guided me to Menemsha, a little fishing village on the Vineyard, for lunch. I'll give you three guesses as to what we had for lunch. Wrong....We had one of Stephanie's favorites, whole fried clams.

View of the lobsterman's shacks.

 

When we returned to September Song after a fun day exploring in the jeep, we found a Nordhaven rafted to us. We were told, that from time to time, if the moorings were full, that they would raft someone up to us. Turned out to be a nice couple. We had cocktails on their boat that evening, and I think we will be seeing them in Marathon this winter.

After a fun couple of days in Martha's Vineyard, we headed out, and cruised past where Stephanie's family had a summer cottage. Turns out, sometime after it was sold, it was torn down, and this huge, hotel looking home was built.

The next door cottage was still there.

I'm back!

Well, Stephanie, (AKA my computer wizard) fixed the problem I was having with my blog. She's the smartest lady I know.
I'm going to do this a little different than my usual, because I've got a lot of catching up to do, (Sixteen days) so I'm going to do it a port at a time.
Our first stop after leaving Portland, ME (goodbye Maine :-/ ) was Rockport, MA. Rockport is a gorgeous fishing village and artist colony, unlike Portland and some of the other towns we have been in, that are beautiful and fun, but not quite as scenic as Rockport. The harbor is small, and very well protected, with lots of lobster boats, and very little in the way of dockage, moorings, or marinas for our size boat. The harbor master was very accommodating, and put us on a wall right in front of one of the most photgraphed and painted buildings in the North East, Motif #1. The two days we stayed there, September Song was photographed many times by people along with the building. The tides here are still around 12 foot, and it was a real climb to get on and off the boat during low tide.

September Song (enjoy Rockport) out
Bob


September Song, docked in front of Motif #1 at high tide.

Me, climbing the ladder at low tide.

This gives you and idea of how far it is down the ladder to September Song. Hi honey!

Everyone else passing this spot was taking pictures, so I thought we should have our picture taken too.

Our view of the harbor at low tide, of the little boats they row out to the lobster boats moored in the harbor.

There are a lot of spots, like this in Rockport, that people paint and take pictures of.

 

This is one of the lobster shacks you can go into, pick out your seafood, they cook it, and you go outside, and find a scenic little spot to enjoy it.

People, inside the lobsterman's shack, picking out their seafood. You need to get there early, because by 15:00, they're closed.

This guy sitting on the rocks is doing it the old fashioned way to get his seafood.

Our view of Rockport Harbor, with the sun still shining on the buildings as it sets.

Visitors to the boat, looking for a hand out.

The streets of Rockport, MA.

Oh ya, got to have some of that home made ice cream.

More of what gets photographed and painted in Rockport.

Cassie and Godiva had to stay on the boat because of the climb to get off, so Godiva took it all in while taking a dog nap on the front deck. Her picture was taken several times by people passing by.

More of the views from September Song.

This was on the side of Motif #1. A great fisherman, a better man. Lost at sea 13 October 1988. Fishing isn't an easy life.

Another  photographed and painted building.

Did I mention....Home made ice cream!

Hang in there!

Hang in there! I'm having trouble with posting to my blog. Pictures won't post. I will figure it out, and catch you up soon.

September Song :-( out
Bob

Pointy end South

It's hard to keep up with the blog, but lets see if I can get you caught up with us.
We left Southwest Harbor and headed to another beautiful anchorage in Vinalhaven in Carver Cove. On the way to Vinalhaven, we wished we would have picked up some lobstah before we left. While under way, Stephanie waved a little cash on the bow at a lobsterman, (Miss Whitney out of Stonington) out checking his traps, and voila, we had six freshly caught labstah on board. Three for lunch after we anchored, and three for lobstah rolls for dinner. Still not tired of them yet! We headed out the next morning for Rockland to have our now fixed davit (BOAT...Bail Out Another Thousand) put back on September Song. After two tries, they finally got it back together, and now we can get Half Note (our tender and family car) off the upper deck, and into the water. I would have fixed it myself, but the hydraulic ram seals need to be replaced, and that took a hydraulic shop.
While we were in Rockland, we got a wonderful surprise. Doug (Gypsies in the Palace) had to fly to Kennebunkport to set up some repairs on their home there, so he drove to Rockland, picked us up, and we spent the afternoon in Camden, ME. It was great to see Doug. The only thing that would have been better, is if Tammy was with him.
After leaving Rockland, we headed to another anchorage in Harpswell. On the way there, we saw our first whale. It breached about 150 feet to our forward starboard. It was so cool, and SO Huge.
The next morning, we headed to Portland. Good cruising friends, Rusty and Nancy, (Summer Winds) have been cruising North, and were already in Portland, at the same marina we were going to stay at for five days. The first night with them, we headed down to Old Port, to an Irish bar for some catch up time.  We had a rental car, so the four of us did a road trip the next day out to Two Lights Lighthouse, the Lobster Shack, (Rusty's first lobstah, Nancy doesn't eat them????) and out to Portland Head Light.
Thursday, August 16th was my Birthday. What a great birthday I had! Thanks to all my Facebook friends and family for making my birthday so special. Especially my best friend, partner, Admiral of our ship September Song, and the love of my life, my beautiful wife, Stephanie. She took me to a little romantic place in Portland, ME. A three hour seven course dinner, lots of laughs, and a very special night. Thank you my love. How did I get so lucky! I love my life!
Also, while in Portland, we were lucky enough to be able to see Henri, Amy, and the kids (the Brady Bunch) one last time for lunch. (Henri introduced me to lobstah omelet with hollandaise) We hope it won't be as long as this last time before we see them again.
Another great surprise was that John and Colleen Clayton (cruising friends from 2009 in the Islands) drove to Portland, and we spent the afternoon on September Song fly bridge catching up, and the evening in Old Port. It was great to see them again!
We left Portland yesterday morning, and we are now docked in a beautiful little fishing village and artist colony in Rockport MA. 
We said goodbye to Maine yesterday, and to all our friends and family there. It was, and you were all were so great. Goodbye Maine :-/
Remember to click on Older posts to see the rest of the pictures.
September Song (pointy end South) Out
Bob


Our davit in pieces. BOAT stands for Bail Out Another Thousand!

Our last night, the marina had an open house at their new building.

 J.J. and Steve, the two guys that repaired our davit. (Before the party!)

Another foggy morning when we left Rockland, but it did lift after a couple of hours to a beautiful, calm, clear day.