Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Cundy's Harbor, Casco Bay Maine

Since Sunday we have been visiting Cundy's Harbor in Casco Bay.  This area of the Maine coast is made up of long peninsulas and lslands that run north/south.  Unlike Mescongus and Penobscot Bays, these indentations in the coast don't offer much in the way of east/west passage which means that in order to go east to west you have to head all the way back out into the Gulf in order to get to your next destination.  And to add insult to injury, with the prevailing winds blowing from a southerly direction, you are very likely to find yourself motoring into a smart SW wind as you head back out.

Cundy's Harbor is primarily a fishing village with few summer residents "from away", or not Maine native,s as they are often referred to.  Our friends Barbara and Steve, from near by at home in NJ, purchased a small home on the banks of Cundy's Harbor a few years ago and have been splitting their time between the NY area and Cundy's ever since.

It's interesting to speak to them about how they are viewed by the local Mainers, as they are definitely in the minority.  I expect that most of the locals have never visited New York and might very well feel out of place in the busy metro NY area.  The area around Cundy's is very peaceful and most of the boat traffic is lobster boats.

Barbara and Steve's place is right next door to a lobster bait business with all of the comings and goings you would expect in a busy working harbor and very different from Camden or other harbors that cater to tourists.  No Tee shirt stores here.  Cundy's is still much the same as it was 40 years ago.  

As you can see from this shot, the homes are set very close together and line right up with the high tide line.  No risk of beach erosion here as the homes are perched on top of granite outcroppings.
The view from their home is lovely as from our boat.  Not bad at all.
Any which way you look, the view is to die for.
Early this morning we had a passing shower and the rest of the day looks like it will be very pleasant.

Later today or Wednesday we expect to head up to Bath which is 5 miles out into the Gulf and another 10miles up the Kennebec river.  There is a terrific museum there, the Maine Maritime Museum and of course, Bath Iron Works where they have been building ships continuously since 1884.  Even today they are one of Maine's largest employers and the home of the largest crane in the world that can lift 100s of tons.

Of course, a trip up the Kennebec has to be done with a mind toward the tides as the ebb runs very fast and can make a two hour trip up the river to Bath take twice that long.

Well, it's time to get to work.  More to come on all of this in a few days.

More to come on that.

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