A Three Hour Tour...

Thankfully our three hour tour went better then a more famous one...

Actually it was an hour and half boat ride each way and then three hours to explore Monhegan island...

Here is Boothbay harbor as we were leaving...

We could not have asked for a better day...

It was sunny and clear...
The temperature was about 68 degrees as we left port so the tourists were freezing and bundled up in parkas and such (as it is always cooler out on the water) but we loved it.

The view from the boat was wonderful until some tourists from New York got up and stood directly between us and the boat rail... We got up to see something the captain announced and the tourists from Massachusetts who were sitting behind us took our seats, we had to reach around them to retrieve our stuff! AGHHHHH... This kind of stuff is why locals can't stand tourists... These were all people who were 55+ in age... Would they act this way at home? Please remember when you are visiting somewhere that the people there are not like the workers at Disney world, there to serve and amuse you... They are going about their lives like you do at home... (Exiting soapbox...)

Monhegan island is a tiny and has a small year round population of about 65 people, that is invaded every day by three boat loads of tourists... A lot of them artists, birdwatchers, and the curious like Paul and myself... I kinda feel bad for them, but they seem to make good money for the inconvenience of it all...

My first impression of the island is that someone took a handful of houses and just tossed them randomly at one tiny part of the island... Here look at the map we bought of the island...

The area in white is a fairly densely populated village, and the rest is completely wild...

It is a very unique place...

The Island Inn dominates the landscape when you get off you boat at the wharf... I have decided I want to visit again and stay there a few days... It would be so worth it!

Look at the chairs... I would plant myself in one of these with a book and not move for hours!

 Paul and I went on a short hike then he wanted to explore more of the trails and I wanted to peek into the (very) few shops and galleries so we split up... That was when I remember my promise to take lots of pictures... (I am such a bad blogger!) So I took a few moments to snap these...

Folks, these are lobster traps...

This is an ANTIQUE lobster trap...

Despite what Hollywood would have you believe based on what you see on TV and in movies these wooden ones are heavy, the wood absorbs water making them even heavier and they need repair a lot... They have not been in use (at least by sane lobster men) in many years...

I'm glad we cleared that up...

There is a cafe' called the Barnacle right by the wharf that serves all kinds of treats, sandwiches and coffee... Even fancy espresso drinks if you are willing to refinance your mortgage to afford one! Seriously, you think Starbucks is expensive... Try buying a Mocha latte' on a small island off the coast of Maine!

 Here is one of the three boats a day that arrives and brings tourists to the island from late April until October... After that this boat runs a few times a week bringing mail and supplies to the island and ferrying the residents back and forth... But there is no regular ferry service, and these boats cost about $35 per person round trip... It takes commitment to live on this tiny island! (And possibly a boat!!)

Next to Monhegan is tiny Manana Island... It shelters the tiny harbor and used to house a research facility... Now it is populated by six goats... Apparently "goat spotting" is a favorite pass time as there was a bit of a stir when they wandered down to the water...

They are on the rock to the right of the boat in this shot...

Can you see them?

Apparently getting to see them up close was a big deal... And I have to admit I did watch them with interest for quite awhile after this...

Here is another shot of the Barnacle...  It appears the owners live on the top two floors and run the cafe' below... This seems true of the other six or so business we came across... It also seems like 90% of the houses are done in these cedar shingles... A very popular look in this area, but I have never been somewhere that all the houses were done in them...

Well, that's it for today... I hope you enjoyed seeing a peek at our day... We had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back a spend a few days!

Thanks for listening,