Nice Pictures Keith ! It's amazing how quickly time flies. Bob told me he was in Stonington last week at the place where you camped. Yesterday he got back from camping on one of the islands and had an interesting time. It was actually pretty close to where you and Nancy were camping by Stonington. Here's a recap of Bob's Maine island camping adventure:
"I sailed from Belfast out to Butter Island on Wednesday. The wind was blowing about 15 to 20 miles an hour once I got out there
Butter Island was a fantastic place to Camp. I stayed two nights. My initial plan was to continue on to Merchants row but because my phone drowned I had to come back to Belfast to replace it. I'm planning to go back out again tomorrow.
It took me seven and a half hours of beating up wind to sail from Belfast to butter. My Lowrance said I went 17 miles but I don't think it's counting all of the vertical up and down of the waves. Personally I believe that I sailed about 40 miles.
Even sailing back yesterday pushed off about 10:45 and there was almost no wind. I was making about 2 miles an hour until I got closer to the Northern end of islesboro. At that point when I came around the point the Southwest wind blowing up Penobscot Bay was probably turning another 2 to 4 foot set of waves and 15 mile an hour winds or more - there were white caps.
Yes I did use my motor both days on the way there I had the motor on I was pedaling and the sail of course. I was also hugging the side of islesboro in order to try and stay out of the wind as much as I could until I made the Crossing from islesboro over to the islands. That night I was so tired I could barely struggle up the beach but there were four kayak campers who were also there and came down to helped me.
Ironically I ended up taking the amas off the boat for the first time so that I could carry them up above the high-water line. I used my beach Wheels underneath the Hull after I pumped out what seemed like gallon after gallon of water. The beach at Orchard Beach is quite steep towards the top.
The other Beach and camping area on Butter Island is Nubble and it's beach is much gentler.
I continue to be amazed at the spirit of our fellow kayak and camping enthusiasts. Two couples in Sea Kayaks were also camping at Orchard Beach my first night there. Three of them had been School teachers and they decided in their forties to go back to medical school to become nurses. As with everyone else that I've met in Florida kayaking, they were truly friendly and helpful people.
When I think of it, the TI has not only allowed me to have terrific adventures on the water, it's also put me in touch with a group of people that I probably would not have met otherwise. " Bob
Jim
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