Fog blanketed the surface of the water this morning, making it impossible to see the other boats anchored nearby. (This is a second-hand report; I was not up to see this.) By noon, there were only large cumulus clouds and a few high stratus clouds, the sky was blue and the sun was beaming down on the water and land. We jumped in the kayak and paddled to the shore of Vinanhaven Island south of our anchoring spot and hiked along the trail in the Huber Preserve. Spruce and firs dominate, but there are also beech, maple and oak trees. Various species of ferns are scattered over the ground, and the bright red of bunchberry dogwoods and the innumerable shades of green of low-lying plants contrast with the brown trunks of the trees and the soft brown of the path, which is criss-crossed with roots and occasional bare granite. The trunks of dead trees are festooned with colorful, plump fungi. We could see the remains of a stone wall, the toil and art of creating it being consumed by the forest.
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| White spruce cones and roundleaf sundew along the trail |
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| Bunchberry dogwood |
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| Bracket polypores |
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| Seal Bay by the trailhead |
We are truly amazed at the number of wonderful places to anchor along the coast of Maine and the plethora of coves for exploring by kayak. Right now, we are totally surrounded by the tall spires of the conifers poking up into the dusky sky as night falls.
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| Kayaking in Winter Harbor |
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Mantra from the kayak
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| Seal Bay |
Everyone is extremely friendly here. Many people from surrounding boats (all from Maine) have stopped by to greet us, and we were invited to the boat off our starboard side for drinks at 4 p.m. We enjoyed a couple of hours of conversation about sailing and boats along with wine and great snacks.
Just before we went to visit Briar Patch for drinks, I started a load of laundry. I hung it on the lifelines to dry as the sun was still shining when we returned, but shortly after that clouds rolled in, and the clothes are not nearly dry. The shirts and shorts and underwear are hanging in various places down below. There is no chance that they will dry overnight in this damp climate, so I am hoping for more sunshine tomorrow.
This evening's sunset has featured an ever changing show of pinks and lavenders and mauves with patches of the last of the daytime blue peeking through.
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| Sunset from Mantra's deck |
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| Sunset from Mantra's deck |
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| Sunset from Mantra's deck |
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