Windfall Down East: Rockland to Tenants Harbor/Long Cove

In beautiful morning conditions we motored from our mooring to one of Journey's End Marina's floats. As Dan had rowed ashore the evening prior for recon, we had plans to eat, shower, shop, clean, top-off drinking water etc. Oh... and settle-up the overnight fee for the mooring.

Dan prepping the porta-potti tank for
over-the-shoulder, clandestine transport
to a dump-site. FYI it's fully septic safe.
We used a public bathroom and left
the place cleaner than we found it.

Getting to know David Allan,
JEM dock master and retired schoolteacher.
We picked his brain for good destinations.

Dave recommended
Tenants Harbor, St. George as had our parents.
This is from the chart on the wall behind Dan.
I find myself taking a lot of pictures of charts
when folks are pointing out details.

After securing permission to stay on the dock a while, we went into extreme leisure mode. I rinsed off our utility towels and filled a camping water bladder. (This bladder turned out to not be that useful) We topped off the onboard freshwater tank and I gave the exterior and decks of Windfall a rinse down; particularly the dodger as the windows were covered in dried salt.

Topping off the running gas tank from one of the storage gas tanks.

We really are a class act. We'd brighten any harbor!

Dock-Selfie Darin and Danny having a great time.

Next on the agenda was to avail ourselves of the pay showers in the Dockmasters office.

Showers were awesome. Just ask Dan.
#sailortan

We next made our way to Hamilton Marine. The Rockland store is amazing. Like going to Disneyland.

Dan picks out an additional winch-wrench.

LUNCH!!

Absolutely delicious Fish and Chips. Thank you Rockland Cafe!!

After lunch we walked a mile to the grocery store for some provisions.

What are we doing in the pet food aisle
and what is Dan doing? Arrrrrrr!

Back to the waterfront

Throughout our comings and goings we had had a couple of interactions with this woman. Her name is Jenny. She told us repeatedly, "You guys are funny."
Hmmm. Funny Ha Ha?

Anyway, we had a great conversation with her. She and her husband live on Rocket Science year 'round. He is a fishing boat captain in Alaska and between contracts he joins her. They sail around the world and then she hangs out for months at a time at whatever port they've traveled to while he is away.

Dan and Jenny

Model: Riptide 55

Designer: Paul Bieker.

Built: Shaw boats in Aberdeen, WA.

Finishing and commissioning were done at Seaview West and CSR in Seattle.

Construction: Carbon fiber/glass/duracore balsa /nomex composite

Jenny holding my nephew, Bailey's business card for
Bailey's Boat Service

It was a very calm and beautiful day. We set our sights on Tenants Harbor, St. George. Of course, the trade-off for calm is relying on the ol' iron-mainsail.

Dan capturing the above video.

Arriving at Tenants Harbor. Two hours before low tide.
We draft between four and five feet.
Tenants is very shallow.
Low tide at the dock is about five feet.

Dan not liking his prospects in Tenants Harbor. Quiet and beautiful, but shallow.

We docked for just a few moments;
long enough to leave some dark green bottom
paint on the dock anchoring chains.

Given the shallow conditions we decided to try our luck at Long Cove just around the corner to the north of Tenants Harbor as recommended in the Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast.

Brilliant advice! Long Cove is gorgeous;
quiet, spacious, and plenty deep.
There were also a few other boats anchored,
but there was so much space they were no
where near us.
Just close enough to share a feeling of camaraderie.