Southwest Harbor, Maine, and a new experience for Wind Horse. Having now covered close to 60,000 miles, this is her first acquaintance with a mooring ball.

You will find here the typical Maine brew of pleasure and work on the water.

It is Hinckley country. Long overhangs rule, and varnish–high gloss of course–abounds.

The facilities are modern (just kidding with the photo) and we are giving consideration to overwintering Wind Horse here.

There are all manner of lobster boat designs. Most slow down as they pass.

Often they come close by for a better look. This in contrast to the picnic boat drivers who also pass close, throwing a huge wake, that rolls even Wind Horse with her booms and flopper stoppers set.

There are boats, scenery, and birds galore to ingest on the dinghy ride into town.

And a dock for visitors and locals, and not an inflatable in sight.

This must tell you something about the area.

The dock is well marked, and there is a stop for the free bus to Bar Harbor.

The walk into town is lovely.

A quiet street, beautiful gardens,

And a world class fire hydrant.

Downtown is compact, but there is everything you need.

Including homemade pies, with all organic ingredients, several of which are now carefully stored in our freezer.

If you are into classic Detroit iron, this is the place.

More important, this is also the place for ice cream.

There is a park for the children.

And good fishing from the marina docks.

Here’s is an old friend, Zopilote, more properly the Spirit of, with Joan and Bruce Kessler aboard. If any sea-going couple is responsible for the rise of the cruising trawler phenomenon, Bruce and Joan would be our nominees.

There is a nav marker just off the marina, with a nest, whose inhabitants take an interest in the passing dinghies and yachts.

These two photos were taken just before dusk, with the 1DX body and 100/400 zoom. It will be interesting to see how this combination works in more light.

There are two Friendship Sloops doing day charters. This is a design with which our family has intimate experience.

At $50.00 a head for a two hour sail, it is a bargain.

There are a variety of craft of course, and good communications. Our Pepwave router has connections with two wifi signals, AT&T and Verizon. But this Perini Navi sloop, with is five satellite domes, has us beat.

There is whale watching nearby.

With sea birds to shoot on the way out and back.

With the sun in control of the sky, and a glassy sea, some interesting scenes will inevitably arise.

At the end of the day we are treated to a lovely combination of sunset and moonrise.

You can see why the sunset cruise on the Friendship sloops go for a premium.

We are at anchor now, across the bay, snuggly surrounded with lobstah pots. A rare (for us here) heron overflies, making sure we are OK.

If there are a few clouds creeping in, at least they are intermittent.