Cousin Hank drove up to Bar Harbor and met up with us. Then Susan said good bye and Pratique started up north for a cruise of the northern coast, into Canadian waters.
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| Winter Harbor |
After a nite in Winter Harbor, we shot northeast past the beautiful Roque Island and its crescent beach, and anchored in Bucks Harbor, the site of one of many great lobster dinners to come that week. An eerie sight near Bucks is the 26 towers of the Navy's VLF submarine transmitter station near Cutler.
Next stop was Machias Seal Island, which interestingly is claimed by both the US and Canada as their own! Fortunately no battles for control while we visited! We anchored off the east side of the island and watched the Atlantic Puffins fly all around us.
After Machias Seal Island we set north for Grand Manan Island, Canada. We passed the west side of the island and rounded the north tip, heading into the North Head Harbor by late afternoon. Because of the huge tidal range in this area and into the Bay of Fundy, it is necessary to either pick up a mooring or tie up along side one of the commercial fishing boats, a practice which is not discouraged. We were told of open, large moorings that are on first come-first served basis and picked one up for the night.
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| Approaching Grand Manan |
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Beautiful North Head Harbor, Grand Manan
At right, Pratique and Peregrinus on moorings |
Next day we met our neighbors on the adjacent mooring, Odette and Francisco on their beautiful Amel Super Maramu 2000. Here's their blog:
www.peregrinusduo.com.
We shared after dinner time on their boat, and the four of us went whale-watching during the day on Pratique. No whale sightings but several ocean sunfish (Mola-Mola) and basking sharks, both of which are really interesting and bizarre creatures!
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| Basking Shark |
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| Mola Mola |
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| Awesome Double Rainbow |
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| Back in the Harbor |
