September's the best month in Maine, because the air turns crystal clear with an undercurrent of crispness, the tourists have all gone home so roads and waterways are uncrowded and uninhabited islands completely deserted, and there's the bittersweet feeling of the end of summer that makes every moment of sun and fair winds precious. Here's our boat, newly in the water after a too-busy summer. Several systems: autopilot, refrigeration, water, are on the blink, but we're going anyway. We want to store up memories for the coming winter. You can see the mission of our boat very faintly on the stern: Memory.
So the first week of September, we set sail to Penobscot Bay, sailing a long 11 hours from Yarmouth to get up there quickly, because we only had a week. Although our dog Cody wouldn't get out from underfoot, becoming a hazard on deck, he forced us to get off the boat frequently to hike on islands. Here's a view after a long climb up Fox Rocks on Vinalhaven, looking down on Long Cove. You can see why Penobscot Bay is one of the most interesting places to sail in the world. In almost any vista, there are hints of hidden, mysterious, and beautiful coves.
Here's Cody just savoring his precious moments off the boat, where his feet have the purchase to make him secure, even in water. This beach is mostly periwinkle and mussell shells, glinting yellow, white, and lavender from a shiny black background when wet. And they sound like heavy rain when pulled back into the sea on receding waves.
On Pickering Island, an almost two mile stretch of land near North Haven, there's only one human habitation: a one-room log cabin. The indoor/outdoor fireplace here gives an idea of the cabin's age (about 70 years, I'd say) and how much the owners love the island. Feathers, unusually-shaped rocks, animal skulls, and driftwood adorn the mantlepiece.
And it's wonderful to come home to the Fall garden, with ornamental grass (miscanthus sinensus) pulled down over the brick walk by heavy pink blooms.
Your fall garden looks so inviting. I can taste the crispness in your air. Makes me want to double-check the wood pile and get ready to curl up for winter.
Down here in Texas though, it's still in the 90s.
Posted by: mss @ Zanthan Gardens | September 23, 2007 at 05:55 PM
You have capture your memory trip beautifully. I want to join you.
Posted by: Tabor | September 24, 2007 at 09:45 AM