The Final Post

As it turns out blogging from a 120 ft. wooden Gloucester Schooner off the Coast of Maine requires more technical expertise than I possess.  So back home in Maryland, having sorted and edited some pictures I am making a final entry that sums up the June 5th thru the 9th.  The pictures will tell the story better than my words, but my propensity for chat requires that I express some observations and feelings about the sailing and our trip in general

The American Eagle is a magnificent ship.  After a fifty year history of fishing the Grand Banks she was rebuilt by Captain John Foss in 1986.  John is a member of the Maine Windjammer association with 30 years experience leading trips in the waters off the Maine coast.  John is a man with an enormous depth and breadth of knowledge about the geography and history of the Maine, sailing, and just about anything else you want to chat about.  He has a quiet dry sense of humor that will leave you smiling if you listen close.  The most impressive thing about John is the absolute control he holds over the American Eagle and the crew.  He is a commanding figure who never raises his voice above the level of conversation while exuding quiet confidence.  John does this with a wry grin.  His orders are requests and always followed by "Thank you."

The crew on the American Eagle reflects John's meticulous nature.  They are energetic engaging young men and women who are competent sailors and excellent hosts.  As a passenger on the Eagle you are treated like a guest in a 5 star hotel, while in the comfort of shorts and tee shirt, weather permitting.  Part of a trip on the Eagle is recreational eating.  The food is abundant and delicious.

My last comments are about my son Jake.  This trip was his graduation present.  The trip was for him and was his choice.  Selfishly it was about my relationship with my son.  I figured this may be the last time in this life I would be able to spend extended one on one time with my son.   Father and son will always be father and son but some lucky ones of us get to cross a bridge with our fathers.  For those of us who get the opportunity to make that passage we will never again be just father and son, we will  be father son and friend.  Thanks you John Wines for walking across that bridge with me some 40 years ago. Thank you Jake Wines for walking across that bridge with me against the backdrop of art that was 10 million years in the making, God's finger print in Maine.

Somewhere off the coast of Maine

This will have to be quick because the power and connection are limited.  It was a fantastic day of sailing with weather that is beyond beautiful.  Good wind, good company, great food and skies are azure blue.  I will use my limited power to post some pictures.  Jake and I are having a great time.

Aboard the American Eagle

Well we made it to the ship.  We boarded last night and met fellow travelers captain and  crew.  Most important the cook boarded last evening.  The windjammers out of Rockland are noted for recreational eating so "God save the cook!"  Jake and I experienced life below decks.  Berths in a schooner cabin are not the QE II and they take some getting use too.  We will both be into the rhythms life aboard by tomorrow.  More later.

Andrew Wyeth

The weather is finally cooperating.  Rockland is sunny and 69 degrees.  We board the American Eagle tomorrow night and sail the first thing Monday morning.  I'm not sure what kind of access we will have after tomorrow so this may be the last until we come home.  I will try to blog from the ship.

We went to the the Wyeth Center at the Farnsworth Art Center today.  The Wyeth family is 120 year of purely American art.  N.C. made a living as an artist and illustrator.  They say he was larger than life.  It took a train to kill N.C. and so one did in 1945. N.C's son Andrew is the most famous Wyeth.  We visited the Olson house today where Andrew made one of his most famous paintings Christina's World.  Andrew's son, Jamie is the ere to the family name and talent.  Examples of three generations of the  family's works are displayed in Rockland.

Andrew married Betsy James who was from this area and neighbor to the Olson family.  The paintings Andrew made in and around the Olson House are amazing. You can tour the house and view the perspective from which Wyeth did his work.  Today's pictures will center around the Olson House, a place I hold dear. The last time I was here Andrew was still living.  I was surprised to find he chose the Olson family plot as his final resting place.

A Whale of a Tale

Well, with great skepticism  we bought the tickets to visit the great leviathans of the sea.  We got on the Friendship V about 11:30 AM and rode about 25 miles off shore to the "Ball Park". So named because it is a great fishing ground in the Atlantic and the men who make their living in those fishing ground have recorded "Home Run" catches.  There are lots of fish there hence there are lots of fish eating whales there.  I will let the pictures tell the tale of birds and whales.


PS.  The picture for Joe Cigar Shop is in reference to yesterday's entry.  An excellent example of false advertising. 

Another Day in Paradise

Well the weather is not cooperating.  The whale watch was cancelled again.  We headed to Acadia and although not perfect, the weather allowed us to see the breathtaking views from Cadillac Mountain.  We walked around the summit until my knees ached.  It is nothing less than spectacular.  We explored Deer Island by car and saw the sun for about 90 minutes.  We scoped out a bar called Joe's Cigar Room.  The sign said fine brandy and cigars.  Surrendering to the weather, we went to Joe's to warm up and adjust our attitudes.  I walked in and ask the lovely woman behind the bar "Is this a place where a man can enjoy a good cigar and a glass of brandy?"  She looked at me with a big smile and said "No."  That about sums up the day.  However, the company of and the conversation with the graduate has been spectacular.

Not Perfect but Great Fun

After 14 hours of driving and a good night sleep the day began with great promise.  We had breakfast while the sun was shining and began to explore Bar Harbor with expectations of going to Acadia.  The wind rose, the clouds moved in and the lightning flashed.  We spent the morning in a small cafe drinking coffee as the rain fell.  We decided to head to Elsworth to take care of some AAA business.  When we got back to the hotel we discover a nearly flat tire.  Long story short, we spent the day fixing the tire and getting maps at AAA.  About 4:30 the weather cleared, the tire was fixed and we headed to Acadia.  We went up Cadillac Mountain and the fog rolled in.  At the top we had 40 mph wind and 10 ft. visibility.  We went down the mountain to Thunder Hole which had taken Beano.  These intrepid travelers were not daunted.  We head back to the Hotel La Mold for cocktails and dinner.  More tomorrow.

We Made it!

We made it.  750 miles in one shot.  Nothing great to report.  Just gas stations and highway.  We are in Bar Harbor in the center of town.  We are going to Acadia today and will have some good pictures tonight.  Traveling in Maine on a Tues night we went for an hour and a half and didn't see a single car.  Try that in DC!  Jake was getting punchy dad was suffering from sagging neurons.