Beat the heat in Maine?

[bob budd]

No chance. Last weekend we camped on Thief Island in Muscongus Bay in what correctly forecast as a rather hot weekend. While we were on the island's northern tip we sometimes needed to slip out onto the rocky beach to catch the scant breeze. Wet suits didn't go on until we were ready to depart, where the cool water held off the sweat.

A three hour drive from Beverly, for camping this destination is a good tradeoff between drive time and on-the-water traffic during the summer holidays (Casco Bay being somewhat like spring break in Florida). Thief and Black Islands are an easy trip from Menomak Marina, where parking is available. Earlier in the year one can use these islands to make a relatively easy trip of Eastern Egg Rock to see the puffins, sticking to the inner islands if conditions chasten one's open water desires. Thief has a picnic table, several tent-sized sites, and one site looking out to the ocean. Black has a few sites with more room in the trees. The bay, at least this weekend, had little traffic being mostly a working "port".

Saturday found us hitting the beach at Thief around noon, dropping gear and having lunch, then off toward a few southerly islands at the southeast end of the bay. Sunday found us on a longer tour around Thompson and McGee islands. Monday found us behind Hog Island enroute to the marina. Each day there were eider and other ducks, a few geese, and osprey nests. Where the inland waters often supply platforms on day markers and docks, the birds obviously found ample nesting sites among the trees in the bay and outer islands. The young are rather vocal when their bellies are empty and competed with the lobster boats to wake us up in the morning.

Sunrise and sunset, though offering a wide expanse, were disappointing. Most notable was how the ample lobster buoys would glow in the retreating light. We never saw a seal, though a few bald eagles were about.

We'll just have to see what all the buzz on Vinalhaven is about.