Rest of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York

September 14, 2025

I want to start this article with an apology.  If the writing is not properly revealing the beauty and  enthusiasm of the trip, it is because we received some bad news.  A dear friend of 50 years has fallen ill with some serious issues.  Amy, we love you and you are in our thoughts and prayers.  Dear Lord, please help this wonderful woman.

Belfast Maine

I completed the last article from a marina in Belfast, Maine.  Little did I understand that after hitting the publish button, the best part of Belfast was going to reveal itself.  

Pre-trip expectations were that the seafood would be fresh, abundant and affordable.  For the most part, it was fresh and abundant, so much so that we started looking for menus with a good old fashion chicken sandwich or quesadilla instead of Lobster this and Lobster that.  The challenge became on the affordable front.  A Lobster roll was anywhere from $25 to $40 and only contained 4oz of lobster.  If they put a piece of Lobster in your omelette, you are looking at $40 for eggs.

Then we discovered Young's Lobster Pound! As I was typing away on the last article, I could see Young's across the harbor.  It was a dilapidated building with obnoxiously large print announcing its name.  I was going to ignore it but a fellow Looper insisted I go there, so we did.

WOW, this place was exactly what we had dreamed of.  A Lobster pound is a large, tidal enclosure or a tank where lobsters are stored and kept alive before sale.  Young's was this on steroids.  There were thousands of lobsters everywhere.  

  

They were selling steamed 1 1/4lb lobsters for $18.00.  We got "The Bucket List" for $80 that consisted of 2 - 1 1/4lb Lobsters, 6lbs of clams and mussels, six jumbo shrimp, six fresh shucked raw oysters and two ears of corn.  It was the best seafood I have had in a long long time.

The process was cool.  You walk up to a bin of live lobsters and pick what you want.  They throw your choice into a mesh bag and straight into the steamer it goes.  Once cooked, they cut it open for you and present it for you to carry to the table. Fast, efficient and delicious.

Camden

Leaving Belfast, we jumped to Camden Maine ... another place of significance to my youth.  As a family we would tow a tent trailer around the north for vacation and Camden was a frequent stop.  It is a great place and I recommend it to anyone.

In a fit of inspiration, we hiked out to the state park and hiked to the top of Mount Battie ... one of my favorites from my childhood.  It was ~10 miles of hiking that day but totally worth it.  Yudee as usual was an amazing trail guide and celebrated our success doing zoomies back down the trail.

Segment 5

Organizing the trip months ago, I broke it in 5 segments allowing me to plan better.  Maine was Segment 4 and everything after until we get back home is Segment 5.  Like a horse with the smell of the barn in front of him, we have moved quickly down the coast stopping at only the most noteworthy of places.  Our jumps for this segment are now averaging 61 miles.  The weather is getting colder and there are fewer opportunities to make ocean jumps.  We are grateful for terrific weather and navigation apps. 

Boston

Portsmouth NH was fantastic but Boston really took the crown.  Our marina was right next to the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides). We did the whole museum tour thing and it was worth it.  What an amazing piece of US history.  The Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat in the world. 

We all know why she is called Old Ironsides, because the British cannon balls in the war of 1812 just bounced off her.  But why did they bounce?  The designers made her exterior skin from green (fresh) white oak.  Something that was thought impossible at the time because it would eventually shrink causing gaps and thus the boat would sink.  However, the green wood had the flex necessary to absorb the power of the cannon ball and deflect it away.  And the boat never sank.  Old Ironsides took many victories shocking the dominant British Navy.

We also got to visit with my first cousin Pam Smoot.  Foolishly, we didn't take any pictures, but just assume she is as lovely as me! We enjoyed a great meal with her in the North End and she prepared for us a home cooked meal the next night.

Wellfleet Cape Cod Massachusetts

From Beantown (Boston) it was across Cape Cod Bay to Wellfleet to visit Terri's brother, Bill and sister-in-law, Delcy.

We wanted to spend up to 3 days with them but the weather window indicated that we needed to keep moving so one day later, we were back on the boat.  They spoiled us rotten for 24 hours including a quick trip up to Provincetown Ma. (AKA, P-Town).  This place is reputed to make Key West look like kindergarten and it did live up to the hype.  Crazy.

Boat Time

Jumping back across Cape Cod Bay and through Cape Cod Canal landed us at our Looper friend's in Wareham Ma.  Dan and Sue were aboard the vessel "Boat Time" and we interacted with them frequently.  When they came up the Chesapeake they even stayed at our home for a while.  In acts of raw kindness, they wined and dined for two solid days.  The "chowdah" and clams were amazing. What fun.

Mystic Seaport

Locating a great anchorage in Mystic Connecticut, we stayed two days at this beautiful place.  I often recommend "mini vacation" spots we have discovered.  Mystic is definitely on this list. The food was great, the atmosphere was fun and the sights to see entertaining.  One of the biggest things to do there is the Mystic Seaport Museum.  It is actually a working shipyard restoring ancient wooden ships. 

Homeward Bound

From here (Port Jefferson, Long Island Sound), we expect to rocket straight home with the notable exception that we will park the boat on the upper Bay and drive to see our friend Amy.  Tomorrow we bounce to Port Washington, then Staten Island and hopefully jump all the way to the Delaware Bay in a single hop.  Once there, it is up the Delaware Bay to the C&D canal which puts us back in home waters.

Final Thoughts

Amy is a reminder to live, love and laugh today for tomorrow is unknown.  Make amends in your life as necessary.  Hug those near you and make the most out of what God has given us.

With love,

Aubrey and Terri