Monday, July 14, 2025

July 13, 2025

 







Carrie Rose is on mooring #5 in Buck’s Harbor at the north end of Eggemoggin Reach. The harbor’s U-shape is created by the appropriately named Harbor Island that separates it from the Reach. The harbor is known for four things: a quaint marina, it’s outdoor shower tucked next to the fuel tanks, an upscale restaurant up the road and the barely submerged Harbor Ledge in the middle of the harbor. 

As the ledge has been a rude awakening for many a boater it now has a large white buoy with a flashing white light attached to the top. Still, located mid harbor and surrounded by many boats and moorings, the buoy is easy to overlook. 

 

There are many hazards to navigation in Maine. The charts are full of them. Even on familiar routes I make a point to inspect the chart each time we venture out. In fact, familiar routes can be the most dangerous. There is no room for complacency; think of the Costa Concordia disaster.

 

We left Northeast Harbor for Buck’s Harbor on a sunny day. There was no fog and the seas were calm. Though we are capable of cruising in zero visibility I haven’t felt up to the challenge this year. I know it is inevitable, so I keep up my radar and navigation skills. But we have come to a consensus that if staying in the harbor an extra day or two will find us a sunny day to travel, we will stay put.

 

Today a group of Friendship Sloops came into the harbor. There was a strong S-SE wind, so they must have had a raucous downwind sail up the Reach. One after another came in, grabbed a mooring with varying degrees of difficulty and looked relieved to be safe in a protected harbor. The looks on their faces reminded me of many a boisterous sail on Lake Michigan.

 

Tomorrow was to be our last day here. The multiple weather apps convinced us to take our own advice and we signed up for another day. That means I can take one more outdoor shower all the while looking out the hole in the wall straight at Carrie Rose swinging on her mooring . . . priceless!


Buck's Harbor, Maine

2 comments:

Labar said...

How’s the weather, temp-wise? Is it a chilly shower??? Facilities look clean & new… nice find. 👍

Dean Raffaelli said...

Upper 60's and fog, but the sun is trying hard to break through. The shower is warm other than the 15 knot breeze blowing through the cracks.