Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Harbor Island Adventure

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
10 comments
I'm coming to you from the Wasatch Mountains in Utah with a mini photo documentary about an afternoon spent last week on a barely inhabited island in the Gulf of Maine on the outer fringe of Muscongus Bay.

We'd been out on a morning boat trip out to Eastern Egg Rock (more about this soon) and were hungry for lunch, so we put ashore on Harbor Island, a privately owned island with just one house on it. The owners were not there but Maine Audubon has permission to land and picnic and hike there. One steadfast rule: no skipping stones from the beach. This seems simple enough to abide by—until you see the stones on the beach. THEY ARE THE WORLD'S MOST PERFECT SKIPPING STONES. And I've got to tell you it was hard to resist. But we did. The owners want the beach to remain pristine.

After devouring our lunches, we enjoyed our choice of activities for the next three hours: overland to a blueberry heath, around the outside of the island, or a hike-free option of sitting on the beach (and not skipping stones). I helped lead a group around the outside of the island.

Here are some images from the afternoon. Sorry no great bird pix to share, but some nice people pix.


The house on Harbor Island near our landing spot.


The trusty Puffin V was our cruise ship.


Eric and Sue rowed us all ashore, 9 at a time, in classic Maine dories.


Three-fourths of my family went on the next to last dory. Phoebe did not like the tippiness factor.

Two dories passing in the bay at Harbor Island.

Once ashore, Sue gave us our afternoon options and paired us up with two buddies each to ensure there would be No Birder Left Behind.

Hiking around the rocky fringe of Harbor Island.

BOTB with lobster buoy sculpture.

We found the nest of a gull: probably a great-black-backed gull.


Phoebe and her dad went wading in the cold water until their feet went numb.


Jared scanning the water for guillemots.


Alan and Carol relaxing together after the hike.

Julie Z. and Liam played in the sand.

Liam performed a comedy routine with seaweed.


Aprés hike nappers on the beach.


Eric rested after the hike, too.


Soon it was time to head back out to the Puffin V.

The Thompson/Zick family was on the last dory off the island. Soon we were headed back to Hog Island.

10 comments:

On June 24, 2008 at 12:17 PM Rondeau Ric said...

Hey Phoebe, we have a pontoon boat, nice and flat, not tippy.
Anne can use her cane onit.

In case you have the opportunity to visit.

Ric

On June 24, 2008 at 1:54 PM entoto said...

I dig the seaweed hat! Liam, fashion plate.

That looks like a lovely day. You did peak my interest with talk of a blueberry heath.

On June 25, 2008 at 12:43 AM Anonymous said...

That Jared sure is one good looking man!

On June 25, 2008 at 6:21 AM Jayne said...

What a day! It all looks so beautiful.

On June 25, 2008 at 10:26 AM possumlady said...

I just need to leave a gushing fan letter regarding the cover of the latest BWD! I actually gasped when I retrieved it from the mail.

There is just something about paintings (and photos for that matter) showing the time between dusk and twilight that I've always been attracted to. I may have to buy that print!

Good job!

On June 26, 2008 at 10:31 PM Mary said...

Oh, Bill! Fabulous photos and story. All I can gather from it all is FUN. Glorious fun.

On September 30, 2008 at 7:20 PM Anonymous said...

nice hat.. maybe seaweed will become a trend!

harbor island is one of my favorite islands on the maine coast, the cave just on the interior of the far side of the island is my favorite part.

On March 23, 2022 at 5:21 AM Yacht Charters Nassau said...

Harbour Island Yacht Charter - Book Harbour Island yacht charter, Harbour Island boat charter, Harbour Island yacht rental & Harbour Island boat rental at Yacht Charters Nassau. Contact us.

On March 23, 2022 at 5:21 AM Yacht Charters Nassau said...

Harbour Island Boat Charter - Book Harbour Island yacht charter, Harbour Island boat charter, Harbour Island yacht rental & Harbour Island boat rental at Yacht Charters Nassau. Contact us.

On December 21, 2022 at 12:34 AM Evo Yachts Dubai said...

Thanks for helping us to know about the maintenance of boat. Buy cheap and best yacht for sale dubai and have fun on it for new year eve.


[BACK TO TOP]