Lobster Central

Portland is Maine’s largest city and located in Casco Bay, another island, rock ledge, lighthouse and lobster pot filled waterway.  Curiously, one nasty ledge was called Junk of Pork; we’d like to know what that was all about!  As we rounded the marks into Peakes Island, a little out of Portland’s busy harbour, we were greeted by a curious little harbor seal.  We never did see any seal colonies but oh well, you just can’t have it all….

This is why we liked Maine

Portland is a very busy harbour, being the only ice-free (brrrrrrr!!) one in the Bay.  (Did we happen to mention that we were wearing our fleecies, thick sailing jackets, gloves and beanies now?  GS was in her thermals too!  We wanted cold – we got it!)  Still, that didn’t stop us from exploring Portland; on land it was a little warmer.  Bruce took us safely over to DiMillos where we could leave him for $10 a day – cheap babysitting really!  From there we explored the cobbled streets of the old port and took a trolley tour to learn about the city’s heritage, drive passed the home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and visit a working historically listed lighthouse.  Although lobster could be had from the fish markets for $6 a pound (uncooked), we decided over a few brews at Gritty’s (yet another Irish pub) that we would try a curry.  Yes – it was worth it and the naan was melt-in-your-mouth.

We didn’t get to the Museum of Art but, in some ways, it came to us.  Portland supports a thriving College of Art.  We saw more tattoos and piercings per female and more skin heads than you would have expected – that’s art!  Street and shop signage was amazing and sculptures graced every available vacant space.  Portland was trendy, vibrant and compact.  We loved it!  But it was time to hit the road.

Art on the Sidewalk
(and it really is a piece of Berlin's famous Wall) 

From: Portland, ME  Lat/Long: 43 39N  70 12W  Date/Time: 15/9/10: 0830

To: Isle of Shoals, NH  Lat/Long: 42 58N  70 36W  Date/Time: 15/9/10: 1645
Time Taken: 47nm (8.5hrs)  Distance (this year): 1029nm (191hrs)
Distance Total (since 2008): 4669nm (890hrs)   Fastest Speed: See Note**
Weather: Winds NW 10-15kts G20kts; Seas 3-5ft; overcast; bumpy into the night
(** Did our usual 5-6kts; did a little sailing today too; cutter rig works well)