As soon as KATIE MACK was shipshape following her long haul from Everett, WA, we moved her to her mooring off the town landing in Falmouth. I was off doing something with the alpacas, so our neighbor, Brian, agreed to help Hugh “thread the needle” of the very narrow Royal River,
out past Littlejohn and Cousins Islands to the mooring field. Hugh had already arranged to have a much heavier mooring set to replace the one where we used to keep our 14′ North Haven sailing dinghy.
Every chance we got, we spent aboard KATIE MACK, cruising around Casco Bay, joined by friends and family.
With all the lobster pots to avoid, this is harder than it looks, but I am determined to learn how to safely handle KATIE MACK in all conditions and eventually earn my captain’s license.
Casco Bay is so different from the water! This is Fort Gorges, a former US military fort built on Hog Island Ledge in Casco Bay. A bit of history: it was built from 1858 to 1864. No battles were fought and no troops were stationed there. Advancing military technology, including iron clad ships and long range guns, made the fort obsolete before it could be used. The fort is now a park, accessible only by boat.
Our first dinner aboard.
And our first overnight. Hugh is washing up the dinner dishes, while Annie looks on hopefully. The next morning, Hugh caught (and released) a mackerel on his fourth cast.
Later that morning we joined several friends for lunch at the Chebeague Inn.
On many different occasions, we enjoyed the view from the deck of the Cockeyed Gull, a restaurant on Peak’s Island,
as well as trips out to Eagle Island, the former home of Admiral Peary. It is now a park, and well worth a trip out.