Great Cranberry Island

We woke up to a calm morning with many options of where to go next.  The views from the harbor of the mountains invited us to head for Mt. Desert Island, Schoodic Peninsula was visible in the distance, and right next door was Great Cranberry Island. We had never been ashore at Great Cranberry so we went for a dinghy ride to the island.

Stepping ashore visitors are greeted by a tree festooned with lobster buoys framed against a backdrop of the dramatic scenery at the entrance to Somes Sound. 

The Cranberry General Store is located near the public dock and has an astonishing variety of groceries along with coffee, ice cream, and a cafe. The delicious smells from the cafe made us regret that we had already had breakfast. We were very proud of our willpower in resisting second breakfast. 

The paved road leads past beautiful houses with great gardens and interesting lawn ornaments to a trail leading to a rocky beach. 

We stopped in at the museum where they host a wide variety of community events from lectures, book signings, readings, art shows, movies, and and karaoke.  The island has a rich history of quilting and I asked for permission to photograph the intricate stitching on one of the quilts on display.  The amount of work and artistry on display was impressive. 

 

Little Cranberry Island

The trip from Buckle Island to Little Cranberry Island was calm so we had to motor the entire way.  The schooners without engines use a yawl boat to push them when the weather is calm.  

It was a treat to see Bass Harbor Light on a clear day, most of the time when we have made this passage it has been foggy. 

Little Cranberry Island has a few guest moorings. This is a popular harbor and they were all taken so we anchored just outside the mooring field. The town of Islesford on Little Cranberry Island is a mix of year round residents and summer visitors and tourists. The wharf and the lobster boats co-exist with the water taxis and private boats. There is a barge/ferry for vehicles that brings some fairly heavy equipment out to the island. 

We went for a walk around town to admire the houses and flowers. The islanders take great pride in their gardens. Wandering around town is as good as a garden tour. 

At one point the island had cranberry bogs and a huge mosquito problem. A drainage project eliminated most of the cranberries, but the mosquitos survived. Signs throughout town warn of the resilience and determination of these insects! 

In the evening a dramatic fog bank started rolling in to the harbor. 

The fog held off long enough for us to enjoy yet another amazingly beautiful evening.  One of the nice things about being on the boat is that we have the leisure to spend time to watch an entire sunset. 

The next day was rainy and cold so we spent the day on the boat reading, doing miscellaneous boat chores, and relaxing.  I decided to bake bread in the afternoon but it was so chilly inside the cabin that the dough would not rise.  I ended up filling all of our coffee mugs with hot water, placing them in an insulated box,  and balancing the pan of bread dough on them. This worked and we had fresh bread with our dinner. 

Buckle Island

We had a chilly, but comfortable, downwind sail under mostly cloudy skies to Buckle Island, one of our favorite places.   We arrived in time to settle in and enjoy a beautiful sunset. 

In the morning we woke up to dense fog.  

The fog cleared up mid morning so we made the most of the improved visibility to go kayaking around the small islands near Buckle.  We were entertained by a flock of common terns fishing under the watchful eye of a bald eagle. 

After kayaking we went ashore to walk around the island.  Buckle has a magical feel with dense woods, trails that wind around fallen trees covered in mushrooms, and hidden surprises.  There is a door in the middle of a stand of trees, and the fairies have houses scattered throughout the island. 

The view from the harbor frames the mountains on Mt. Desert Island and beckoned us on to our next adventure.