PeterB Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Our 3 day trip to Casco Bay and Jewell Island began on Friday with the initial gloomy weather report taking a fair turn and the original ten participants swelling to twelve (two late additions). I doubt it would be misrepresenting anyone to say that we all had a good time. The trip began in two pods , one launching from Cousins Island (NW of Jewell) the other from Orrs Island (NE of Jewell), converging on Bangs Island for lunch time. Bangs , it turned out, was closed, so we reconvened on tiny Crow Island, about a half mile to the west of there .With twelve boats lined up on the tiny beach (three Explorers; (one strip -built), two Outer Islands, three Avocets, one Force 3, one strip -built Guillemot , one Ikkuma , and one Argonaut) day hatches disgorged a variety of culinary goodies that set the tone for the weekend: Lots of food. Once suitably gorged, we launched and threaded our way southwest, past Stave and Cliff Islands, spreading out into roughly two pods; the go-fast, point-A-to-point-B’ers followed by the dawdler/explorer/rock gardeners , making our way to the familiar camp site on the west side of Jewell Island, just south of Cocktail Cove. There was virtually no boat traffic the entire weekend, A few working boats and a sailboat or two passed in the distance, and two powerboats were moored in Cocktail Cove , but we had Casco Bay more or less to ourselves, and had the luxury to spread out a bit while paddling, in contrast to the tighter pods that will be in order when boat traffic increases after Memorial Day. After swiftly turning our campsite into a cluster of tents, tarps and camp kitchens, four of us went for a pre-supper look-see paddle around Jewell, with some fun rockplay along the craggy eastern coast, including a few unplanned rolls in some churning rock gardens. Leave No Trace: “Take only photographs. Leave only gelcoat” A nearly obscene amount of food and drink appeared for Friday's potluck around the campfire : lentil soup, exotic cheeses, vegetable curry,pulled pork, single malt , Shiraz, and so on. The next morning, we agreed upon a common adventure to the north, with Middle Bay and the islands just west of Harpswell Peninsula as a general destination. So we made a long crossing from Bates Island to the southern tip of Whaleboat Island , which is about a mile offshore of the western prong of Harpswell Peninsula. After a fairly quick lunch stop, we dispersed along Whaleboat, some staying close by, some doing a counterclock cirmumnav. of the island and some crossing a half mile over to Little Whaleboat, a pretty little island with a shallow lagoon on the north end, and a maze of ledges and lagoons on the south end, with more than a few seals and their pups , playing in the water. After we four Little Whaleboaters crossed back to Whaleboat, a lone seal pup bobbed right up to our boats, sad and inquisitive, eliciting the inevitable urge to adopt the poor adorable little thing. Hoping that we had not just left behind an orphan, we reluctantly departed to join the others who by now had gathered on a small island just south from Harpswell , a mile away, signaling us with mirrors. Along the way , appetites had been rumbling, and conversation became more and more culinary in nature, so we stopped at a fine little restaurant at Basin Cove Marina on Harpswell , made ourselves as presentable as possible, (despite drysuits pulled to the waist, revealing rumpled fleecy torsos , the hostess and wait staff were most gracious) ,and had a nice meal. Saddling up once again at about 7 PM, we departed for a wonderful 4 NM early evening return to Jewell. Along the way, seas turned choppier, the wind had picked up and was now from the south, the nearly full moon was rising in the east ,and finally the sun set, blood orange, behind Ministerial Island . A splendid time. Sunday dawned bright and clear after a quick pre-dawn drizzle, and after breakfast, boats were loaded, and we departed for the mainland a little before 11AM, with the larger pod heading off around the southern tip of Cliff for the return trip to Cousins, and two of us heading northeast past Broken Cove and Eagle Island, back to Cribstone Bridge and Orrs Island . The return paddle, about 6 1/2 NM , was leisurely and most enjoyable, with 2+ foot seas , a nice brisk wind from the southwest, and clear blue skies. At Broken Cove, we passed along the lee of rock ledges the size of school buses as they were pummeled by waves from the other side , with spray erupting over the top. That’s a spot definitely worth a return visit. All in all, a fine weekend with unexpected good weather, and a wonderfully motley array of paddlers, each bringing their own recipes, gear and kit variations, paddling quirks,and personalities. An uncommonly fine common adventure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin B (RPS Coach) Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Our 3 day trip to Casco Bay and Jewell Island began on Friday with the initial gloomy weather report taking a fair turn and the original ten participants swelling to twelve (two late additions). I doubt it would be misrepresenting anyone to say that we all had a good time. The trip began in two pods , one launching from Cousins Island (NW of Jewell) the other from Orrs Island (NE of Jewell), converging on Bangs Island for lunch time. Bangs , it tumed out, was closed , so we reconvened on tiny Crow Island, about a half mile to the west of there .With twelve boats lined up on the tiny beach (three Explorers; (one strip -built), two Outer Islands, three Avocets, one Force 3, one strip -built Guillemot , one Ikkuma , and one Argonaut) day hatches disgorged a variety of culinary goodies that set the tone for the weekend: Lots of food. Once suitably gorged, we launched and threaded our way southwest , past Stave and Cliff Islands, spreading out into roughly two pods; the go-fast, point-A- to- point-B’ers followed by the dawdler/explorer/rock gardeners , making our way to the familiar camp site on the east side of Jewell Island , just south of Cocktail Cove. There was virtually no boat traffic the entire weekend, A few working boats and a sailboat or two passed in the distance, and two powerboats were moored in Cocktail Cove , but we had Casco Bay more or less to ourselves, and had the luxury to spread out a bit while paddling , in contrast to the tighter pods that will be in order when boat traffic increases after Memorial Day . After swiftly turning our campsite into a cluster of tents, tarps and camp kitchens, four of us went for a re-supper look-see paddle around Jewell, with some fun rockplay along the craggy eastern coast, including a few unplanned rolls in some churning rock gardens. Leave No Trace: “Take only photographs. Leave only gelcoat” A nearly obscene amount of food and drink appeared for Friday's potluck around the campfire : lentil soup, exotic cheeses, vegetable curry,pulled pork, single malt , Shiraz, and so on. The next morning, we agreed upon a common adventure to the north, with Middle Bay and the islands just west of Harpswell Peninsula as a general destination. So we made a long crossing from Bates Island to the southern tip of Whaleboat Island , which is about a mile offshore of the western prong of Harpswell Peninsula. After a fairly quick lunch stop , we dispersed along Whaleboat, some staying close by, some doing a counterclock cirmumnav. of the island and some crossing a half mile over to Little Whaleboat, a pretty little island with a shallow lagoon on the north end, and a maze of ledges and lagoons on the south end, with more than a few seals and their pups , playing the water. After we four little Whaleboaters crossed back to Whaleboat, a lone seal pup bobbed right up to our boats, sad and inquisitive, eliciting the inevitable urge to adopt the poor adorable little thing. Hoping that we had not just left behind an orphan, we reluctantly departed to join the others who by now had gathered on a small island just south from Harpswell , a mile away, signaling us with mirrors. Along the way , appetites had been rumbling, and conversation became more and more culinary in nature, so we stopped at a fine little restaurant at Basin Cove Marina on Harpswell , made ourselves as presentable as possible, (despite drysuits pulled to the waist, revealing rumpled fleecy torsos , the hostess and wait staff were most gracious) ,and had a nice meal. Saddling up once again up at about 7 PM, we departed for a wonderful 4 NM early evening return to Jewell. Along the way, , seas turned choppier, the wind had picked up and was now from the south, the nearly full moon was rising in the east ,and finally the sun set, blood orange, behind Ministerial Island . A splendid time. Sunday dawned bright and clear after a quick pre-dawn drizzle, and after breakfast, boats were loaded, and we departed for the mainland a little before 11AM, with the larger pod heading off around the southern tip of Cliff for the return trip to Cousins, and two of us heading northeast past Broken Cove and Eagle Island, back to Cribstone Bridge and Orrs Island . The return paddle, about 6 1/2 NM , was leisurely and most enjoyable, with 2+ foot seas , a nice brisk wind from the southwest, and clear blue skies. At Broken Cove, we passed along the lee of rock ledges the size of school buses as they were pummeled by waves from the other side , with spray erupting over the top. That’s a spot definitely worth a return visit. All in all, a fine weekend with unexpected good weather, and a wonderfully motley array of paddlers, each bringing their own recipes, gear and kit variations, paddling quirks,and personalities. An uncommonly fine common adventure. Peter, Wonderful report. Sorry we had to miss it, but it sounds like you guys had a great time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyork Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 I doubt it would be misrepresenting anyone to say that we all had a good time. And here's the proof: http://community.webshots.com/album/563500834lwcyeI?start=24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEL Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 So what is the date for 2009? I believe tradition status exists and if not, it will be. Must have been a great time. Glad to see that orange Avocet out and about. Ed Lawson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyork Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 So what is the date for 2009? May 15-17 for the third ANNUAL trip to Jewell-mark your calendars now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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