A quiet celebration of small sail and rowing boats took place at Lamoine State Park on July 28- Aug 1. This fifth annual Small Reach Regatta has grown too big for it’s former hosts and so moved a few more miles downeast to our spacious State Park on Frenchman Bay.  Sponsored by The Small Reach Regatta Club and Traditional Small Craft Association Downeast Chapter, the well organized event drew small boat enthusiasts from at least (by casual count) eight states. The typical craft was of wooden construction, traditional design and about 15 to 20 feet in length.

The Regatta was not advertised as a spectator event, but kept quiet; for the benefit of the participants. I had no idea it was happening until it was well under way. Next year I’ll know better.  Most boats were trailered in and by the time I got there most were back on their trailers for the evening. Still, it was a nice opportunity to feast the eyes on the craftsmanship afforded by close inspection. The boat below for example, is actually two halves bolted together along a bulkhead so that it can stow in a smaller space. Other boats were just like fine furniture or works of art. My pictures don’t do them justice.

There are more Regattas this month. The Eggemoggen Reach Regatta, about an hour away from Bar Harbor, will happen on the 7th. It is a serious race among sailing wooden boats at least 26 feet in length. The wooden boat culture of the Maine coast is due in no small part to the presence of Woodenboat Magazine and the Woodenboat School,  located at the finish line of the Regatta, near Brooklin Maine.

Nearby Castine is hosting the Castine Classic Yacht Regatta on August 5th in cooperation with the Eggemoggen Reach Regatta. Boats will race from Castine to Camden. When it’s time to get to Brooklin, the fleet will engage in the Camden Classic Yacht Race on August 6. At the end of August (27-29) the Shipyard Cup will take place in Boothbay and will not be limited to wooden craft.

The largest gathering of large schooners in the United States, Maine’s windjammer fleet is impressive. You might want to consider including this as part of your vacation in Maine. Most are based in Rockland,  or Camden, Maine.    They gather a few times a year.     Operating a windjammer is a lifestyle job, the boats gather and work together for parades and festivals.   If you feel like you missed out on something being born into the wrong century, here is your chance to experience what it was like to be out at sea.   You won’t get the rough waters or problems with storms and such, as they sail in protected waters during bad weather.

Worried about your first time on a big sailing boat?  You can take one of the introductory adventures.   One  windjammer operates out of Bar Harbor,  the Margaret Todd.   She’s the ship on our banner picture.   The Margaret Todd and Schooner Olad out of Camden Harbor are the only ships going out on 2 hour  adventures.   If you have small kids, you might consider a friendship sailing sloop rental or other small boat for your own custom adventure or the Rachel B. Jackson, all out of Southwest Harbor on MDI’s quiet side.

The other large vessels require you to invest more of your vacation time, but spending a night on a schooner is what it’s all about anyway.   At their page you can spend hours investigating the various accommodations and differences between the ships. Here’s a link to some video’s about the experience

Imagine spending from 2 to 7 days at sea; but this is a gentle sea, with islands and calm harbors for sleeping, and the best food, all cooked for you.   Yes, there is a bit of work involved, if you want it.

You can pick a themed sail.   With various trips focused on topics like: lighthouses, nature or animal photography, visit a music festival, join a race or a parade of windjammers.    Other trips feature: birding, knitting, astronomy & geology or a pirate adventure.  Or maybe it’s your dream to have a family reunion aboard one of the vessels like this group.

Here is the windjammer fleet website

I couldn’t help but be drawn to one of the last gathering of the season in one of the most beautiful places along our coast….The Windjammer Fleet Rendezvous on   September 13-18th, where all the windjammers gather in Eggemoggin reach with photography workshops.   Imagine all those beautiful boats in a beautiful place and in the most beautiful month of the year..oh all the pictures you could take.

While you’re out around Rockland way, make a stop at a new museum.   It’s called the

Sail Power and Steam Museum.

Sometimes it can be challenging to arrange a trip for your teen aged kids where they will have as much fun as adults on vacation.   Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor can do that for you.

A favorite,  biking Acadia’s carriage roads.    Everyone who has visited us has enjoyed this bicycle adventure.   Where else can you bicycle 100 miles on carriage roads without cars, and get scenic vistas, the breeze in your hair.   Bicycling can be tough on the roads around town, but bring your own or rent from one of four shops on the island, and you will have a care free adventure, and sleep well that night.    A physical challenge, the carriage roads climb high up the mountains of Acadia.   Because the trails loop around and inter-connect you can create an easy and a challenging loop that connect together at the end.   I remember that we just sent the young ones in the group out around the witch pond loop, while we slower riders met them at the bridge – they had managed to get 7 more miles than us in the same time, but we were all tired and happy at the end.

Kayak adventures:    Less sporty, that’s okay.   As long as you can get in and out of a kayak, you can manage the physical challenge.    Kayaks are easy for folks of various abilities to join together and get out on the water.    Got a football player in the crowd, they will be as challenged as your light weight book worm, as they have to paddle all that muscle on the water.    Kayaks are simple, and can be mastered in about 30 minutes.    The perspective and quiet-ride are not to be missed.    Want more of a wilderness experience?   Try hiring a guide to take you camping among the many island of Frenchman’s bay.   It can be as wild, or a simple as you wish.    One of the best parts of kayaking is that you choose the level of involvement.   Want a three day adventure or a two hour cruise, it’s up to you.

Arrange your own Free Island Tour.   Taking the Island Explorer bus to a hike, and making it back home all on your own.     Leaving about every 20-30 minutes, the Island Explorer Bus can make a trip from one side of the island to another an adventure in itself.    There are three loops where you can tour the scenic parts of the park, and plan to return and linger longer at a later time.    Rather than just hoping in the car and getting somewhere fast, make the journey part of the pleasure.   Everyone can be looking at the beautiful sky, waves and scenery as you tour MDI.   Did I forget to say it’s free?

Shopping with good food in between.   Wandering around the streets of the business end of Bar Harbor, it’s easy to forget that your mom and dad are about 20 steps behind you.   You’ll find the most young folks at Ben and Bill’s.  It has both chocolate and ice cream, and ca not be missed.    Everyone want to try lobster ice cream don’t they?    There is the Opera House internet cafe that has chess, coffee and good smoothies  at 27 Cottage Street.   Pizza is good at Rosalie’s  or get your pizza with a movie at the Reel Pizza place (see more below).     Epi Sub & Pizza Shop has good sandwiches and is also on Cottage Street.   The Criterion Theatre and Arts Center is now a non-profit organization with events/movies and other entertainment.   Check out their website for whats happening when you are in town.

Movies are a choice for rainy days, or when your older kids need some alone time while on a trip with the family.   I cannot say enough good things about Reel Pizza in Bar Harbor, they just do it right.   They have couches and comfy chairs to watch the movie in.    They provide just the right kind of food you want to eat while watching a movie.   They also have good choices of movies to watch  including main street and independent films.    I always approve a trip to this business establishment.   The criterion theatre mentioned above also often has movies showing.

Hang out at the Rock beach near the town pier.   At the right time you can walk out to the island.

Minature golf….at Pirates Cove.

White Water Rafting …..see our blog about that, it’s a day’s drive away.

Sailing. A Windjammer trip is desirable for any age, but can be somewhere where your teens can be all by themselves.   Especially if  you have mixed age groups or your teen feels like everyone else but them gets to do something special.    They won’t be alone, because the captain makes sure everyone is happy.    You can also charter a smaller boat for a two or three or four person friendship cruise out of Southwest Harbor.   Sailing in and around the bay and a bit on open ocean is a great adventure (and an opportunity for great photos).

Take the Mailboat to the cranberries or to Frenchboro or Swans island.    There is a wonderful thing about being isolated and away from things.    Experience life on a small Island even if only for a few hours.    The teens can walk ahead and explore.     Not much to do, just walk, sit, hang out, toss a few rocks into the water,  walk some more, eat lunch, talk and be.    Isle au Haut is a bit more distant, but also would provide the same sorts of feelings and experience.

Maine kayaking, an added adventure for your vacation in Bar Harbor.   Getting out on the water gives you a very special perspective of the ocean.   You are part of it.  You see what those gulls see, you feel the ocean tides and currents, get followed by a curious seal.   It’s not to be missed. The smells, the sounds, the feelings all are unique in a small quiet boat.   No motor, no fumes, no noise.   Just the quiet splash as your paddle enters and exits the water.

Kayaking Jordon Pond

It took me years to get excited about going out in a kayak.   I remember that my mother had a friend that was always bringing her kayak with her to the lake, and inviting everyone to try it.    Having experienced canoeing at a young age, I remembered the “tippiness”;   I didn’t like it much.   I always felt that the canoe was going to tip over and dunk me in the cold water.   So I didn’t want to try kayaking.

Boy was I wrong.   Kayaks are nothing like canoes.   You are sitting just at the water’s surface, down low and right at the water’s interface with the sky.   While the kayak moves a bit as you shift your weight, it’s not going to flip as easily as a canoe.   Don’t get me wrong, you can flip a kayak, it just isn’t very easy to do.   You need high waves, or reaching way beyond your center of gravity to tip the kayak.   If that scares you, start your experience in a warm pond (Blunt’s Pond is just up the road from us), not a cold body of water. Always wear a life jacket – we offer 4 sizes here at SeaCat’s Rest – and I mean wear it, not just have it in the boat.

Kids Kayaking on Blunt's Pond, Lamoine

Kayaks are also for all ages – at least if kids can follow directions – I would say from 6 years old to 80 years young.   You do need to be flexible – that is, able to get up and out of the boat.   Other than that – it’s a sport for those who need not be very fit.    Of course, you start slow and go slow, but you can paddle without much effort having little arm strength (I know from experience);  I can paddle 3 miles without any issues.

You do need a boat that fits you.   We have two sizes of boats, one for light weight folks (weight limit under 130 pounds) or 65 kgs.  If you are a taller person, you need a long kayak for lake or ocean adventures.    Ocean kayaks are long and lean, they don’t turn fast, but they go straight easily and can accommodate 6 foot 5 inches tall folks.    Of course they are not good at stream and river riding, so stay in open water.    If you have waves in a kayak, you will get wet.   So don’t go out among whitecaps.    Here at Frenchman Bay, we only get wind generated waves on our bay, no big ocean swells.   This makes kayaking possible most days in the spring, summer and fall.

Also there is a big difference between paddling a canoe and a kayak.   With a canoe, you are sitting high and paddle goes low into the water, after a while, you might switch to the other side because your arms and back ache.   With a kayak, you have a different situation.   First of all, you are just paddling your own weight, the kayak is supported by the water and becomes weightless.   Second, you are working both sides of your body at the same time, alternating sides that you paddle.   Third, you can go fast, rest or go slow, your choice.   And fourth, you have your back braced in a triangle with your knees up against the sides of the kayak – making a strong supported base to paddle from.

Kayaking on a large calm bay or lake is the way to start.   No current to manage, no obstacles to avoid.    It’s easy, it’s exercise without the sweat.     Now, if you want it can be an exertion, you can go out in demanding weather, or waves, or in a spring fed stream and rush along with the water in a whitewater situation.   In fact, it can be quite challenging.  Kayaks have built-in floatation for edgy uses.   The point is, the challenge is your choice, and here at Frenchman Bay it’s your choice and your decision.

You have a range of choices when it comes to kayaking.   A guided tour in Bar Harbor, rent kayaks on your own, bring your own or borrow our kayaks for free while you rent from us.

Our oceanside vacation apartment is a great home base for an affordable Maine whitewater adventure. Only 2-1/2 hours away, Maine’s wild rivers offer a change of pace from the typical coastal fun.  This is the sort of experience that makes Maine  the “Wild West of the East”. There are at least ten companies which offer this adventure and it pays to reserve early.  The trips are all in western and northern parts of Maine on the Kennebec, Penobscot, and Dead Rivers  All Maine river rafting trips are regulated by dam releases, so there’s guaranteed whitewater! Timed release also means that there are times on these rivers when the flow is much gentler, so if you are less adventurous or have small children, schedule one of these trips.  Of course, there is still seasonal variability; May promises more excitement (and colder water!) than August. The season is from April to October, though some open in May. Wetsuits are available for extra charge.

Trip operators will offer a package including the river trip and usually a cookout at the end. Other activities are sometimes featured for the non rafting members of your group (that’s where I’d be). Prices range from $60 and up per person, with discounts for kids.  Some trips require a minimum age of 10, others 16 depending on the river and the type of release.  There is usually no upper age limit. Wildlife viewing during the trip is an added benefit (if you have time!).  Photos of your trip are offered at the end. Dam releases  are scheduled 6 months in advance so it is easy to plan for the trip you want, though don’t expect your group to wait for you and don’t expect a refund if you’re late!

Ask the tour operator what river rating to expect. The rating starts at the calmest at class 1 to the death defying 6. You will not be taken on any class 6 whitewater! Class 2 requires basic paddling skill. Real whitewater starts at class 3 but will involve no real danger. Class 4 presents white water, drops, rocks and waves. This will be the highest class rating you will encounter in Maine trips. While class 4 is considered for “experienced paddlers” trip operators generally emphasize no experience is required.