Thurs-Wed, June 22-28 Burlington to Champlain Marina

Thurs-Wed, June 22-28  Burlington to Champlain Marina   

We took the boat to Mallets Bay and Champlain Marina for an extended stay.  This was a destination for Greeks Folly in that we planned to leave the boat here for 5 days, rent a car and drive to visit Peter and Bev Edwards in Boothbay Harbor ME.  We traveled with Peter and Bev in the Bahamas 2 years ago and have not seen them since. This was as close to Maine as we were going to get by boat, so the car ride was necessary.  The ride to Maine involved going through Vermont and New Hampshire and the White Mountains National Forest.  We have never been in this part of the country so we took the scenic route. Once again we drove in the rain, stopped in North Conway, at Zeb's Country store, then on the Boothbay.  Peter and Bev treated us to lobster-twice-, clams and corn on the cob so we ate like kings.  We also enjoyed visiting the town and exploring the local shops and galleries, and of course pubs and ice cream stores.  They also took us on a  cruise through the harbor on their boat.  There are lobster trap floats everywhere - everywhere!  Peter did a good job of avoiding them as well as showing us the coast, all the lovely houses and the cold water - 57 degrees.   Our visit was comfortable and we greatly enjoyed visiting with Peter and Bev and thank them greatly for their hospitality.  Tom particularly enjoyed the signage in these New England states.  

Once back at the marina, we did our usual chores of shopping, laundry, boat repairs and of course docktails with other boaters and loopers.  The major job that need to be done was to repair Short Vacation's windlass and to reinstall the new windlass motor on Greeks Folly.  Once again the rain made this a challenge.  One day it rained all day so the work had to be done in between the rain drops.  Another day, the job was more involved than expected.  Our stay here was extended longer that we expected too because of these repairs, so we are now anxious to leave.  The good thing about our stay is we always eat well - surf and turf one night, lots of appetizers another night, and grilling out all the time.

Signs we encountered on our trip to Maine:
 

This sign was in downtown Boothbay Harbor

This guy was outside our hotel, tough to miss

Mount  Washington Hotel, in the White Mountain State Park

Scenic drive....in the rain

Colletta outside Zeb's General Store with a fury friend

Inside Zeb's. Business is doing well for our
friend Peter at his general store

Our friends Peter and Bev Edwards, gracious hosts in Boothby
Harbor, Maine. Our first lobster dinner upon our arrival

Boothbay Harbor

 

Bev and I heading to their boat. Wobbly docks

Scenic Boothbay Harbor. Everything you think of when you
think of Maine scenery

Heading out in Peter's new boat. The second time he has had her
out on the water

This picture doesn't really do justice to the lobster pots. Fisherman set
these all over the harbor, in mooring fields, and in front of boat slips

A lighthouse we saw on our cruise. I mean really there are
picture postcard scenes everywhere

Our cruise to Christmas Cove was aborted when the storm clouds
rolled in. We headed back to Boothbay Harbor but got rained on
anyway.

More Maine scenery with a really hot chick

Drove thru this National Forest on our adventure

We found this Ice Cream shop, amazing isn't it, in the middle of nowhere
and couldn't pass up a good thing. The shop's name is Slick's.

This is the amount of ice cream you get for $5.00. These bowls are
large soup size bowls. Best value ever!

oh yea, when cruising these waters you have to be aware of float
planes landing and taking off next to you. They have the right
of way when moving.

Just so you guys thing that this cruising this is all fun and games
maintenance issues and repairs need to be addressed. Chubby
Greek boy stuffed in the anchor locker bolting the windlass motor
back up while John holds a rope up on deck so the 40 lb. motor
doesn't drop on me.

Finishing up the windlass repair on deck. Much more comfortable.
Success and the anchor windlass works !!!!
 

Departing Champlain Marina on Mallet Bay. Great marina,
great people.