Redemption

We are tied to mooring ball #2 at Buck’s Harbor Marina. It is located at the northeast end of Eggemoggin Reach. The harbor is U shaped due to the appropriately named Harbor Island being in the center of a scooped out portion South Brooksville. As is typical in Maine there are many well found yachts here. 

 

The harbor is all moorings. We all swing with the wind and the tide generated currents. Tree covered granite hills a hundred or so feet high surround the harbor. Houses peek through the forest cover here and there. The marina is perched on the edge of the water. Its guts are out for everyone to see. 

 

One of the main attractions here is the two outdoor showers: your head and feet are visible. Most cruising boaters are elated to take a shower in any circumstances. The marina is owned and run by a delightful and low key family. Their lanky white and black dog could give a shit about any of us and that makes her even more endearing.

 

Their small shop has t-shirts, a few boating supplies, craft beer, and most importantly, The Island Lady brand of ice cream. It comes in small cups that are frozen rock hard. All the better for it slows the consumption down to a crawl even when it is warm.

 

Above the harbor is a small village but that is an exaggeration. There is a store which is attached to a famous restaurant called Buck’s, no surprise there. Due to its affiliation with the restaurant this out of the way store has a quirky selection of fine wines, Italian specialty items, and hand made goods. It is worth the walk up the hill.

 

When the restaurant is open, many of the transient boaters vacate their craft around dinner time and return some hours later a little louder than when they left. For some reason we have never been able to secure a reservation and have given up despite the insistence of our local friends that we must eat there. Not to be conceited but it is hard to find pasta made better in a restaurant than I can make on my little butane stove.

 

Of course, just around the corner we could anchor for free but there is something compelling about this little niche of the world. It seems to redeem my faith that we are not going to hell in a handbasket. Do not ask me why, I could not tell you and I am perfectly prepared if the opposite turns out to be true.

 

The young spirited owner was on his own today. His family, who usually runs the marina, were off doing various things. He was shirtless with bright Bahama shorts on and there was Reggae quietly playing on the deck that overlooks the harbor. As we sat in the sun eating peach and chocolate ice cream, I could have sworn I heard Bob Marley’s Redemption Song playing in the background . . .  

Northeast Harbor, MDI, Maine