Southwest Harbor, Mt Desert Island

Hi everyone,

We're spending three nights in Southwest Harbor.  Our to-do list here including topping up fuel and water, showering, laundry, provisioning, eating Maine lobster and seeing at least a little of Acadia National Park.

Zen Again in Southwest Harbor

Yesterday morning was spent watering, showering, laundering and fueling at Hinkley Yacht Services.  In the afternoon we dinghied across the harbor to Dysarts Marina's dinghy dock.  That took a mile off the walk to the supermarket.  It was still over a mile to the shop.  The distance and the prices led us to limit our shopping to the bare minimum.

Hinkley Yacht Services jetty

Office

Showers here!

Back near Dysart's we had an early dinner at the Upper Deck.  Maine lobster at last, complete with bibs.  Yum!  The Maine craft beer was good too.

Upper Deck bar

Lobsters at the Upper Deck

Upper Deck balcony view over the harbor

Where the BAD lobsters go?

Hinkley is a famous yacht builder - both sailing and motor.  The moorings in Southwest Harbor are full of them.  Very pretty boats.  Not all those below are Hinkleys...

Today we dinghied back to Dysart's and walked into town for coffee.  From there we walked to the Causeway and onward to Acadia National Park's Flying Mountain.  Pretty buildings, waterscapes and landscapes.

Church in Southwest Harbor

At the Causeway

Into the National Park

Climbing

View from the peak

Nice Cabin

Nice House

Nice Mini-Mansion

Our entire cruise up the US New England coast has been fantastic.  The OCC Port Officers have been great.  Below is a graph of our 2024 US East Coast Cruise.  The left column of speeds and wind are interesting.  Note the oscillating boat speed on the tidal Connecticut River at Essex.

Graphs

A key upgrade during our mini-refit in Deltaville was adding a 1600W inverter, induction hob and kettle.  They've transformed cooking aboard, hugely reducing propane usage.  The graph below shows electrical usage over the last two weeks or so.  The large negative spikes in current show when we're cooking (or just boiling the kettle).

Electrical

We're now preparing to depart for Canada.  We've twice called US Customs & Border Patrol and been advised we don't need (and basically can not) clear out of the US.  Their instructions are to 'just leave'.  So that's what we'll be doing.  Hopefully the Canadian authorities will let us in without any documentation!

Along the way we've passed 50,000nm logged during our 14 years aboard Zen Again - twice the equatorial circumference of the Earth!

Trust all's well where you are.