Chandler Cove, Chebeague Island, Casco Bay, Maine

Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Tue 4 Sep 2007 15:43
43:43.020N  70.07.792W
 
On Saturday (9/1) we sailed (again!) from The Basin to Chandler Cove on Chebeague Island in Casco Bay.  Our original intention was to anchor in a highly acclaimed cove on Jewell Island in Casco Bay, but when we got there and attempted to squeeze in with the existing 10 or more other anchored boats, we decided it maybe wasn't the most brilliant idea.  The cove was really narrow, so even at mid-tide if we turned sideways in the cove, we just about stretched from edge to edge (my impression anyway, Don would say it wasn't that bad).  Also, the depth under our keel at mid-tide was about 2 meters, and given that the tide range is about 10-11 feet, it was very possible that we would have run out of water at low tide (not completely, but enough so that the boat would have been firmly planted on the ground). 
 
So, we moved on to Cliff Island, but didn't like the looks of that option either.  Next was Chebeague Island, and although we had no idea how to pronounce it (and still don't), Chebeague looked good to us.  This must be how the kids that backpack around Europe must feel when they go from hostel to hostel looking for a cheap place to sleep for the night and find that their first couple of stops don't have room, or have bed bugs or something else they don't like.  We are not so different when we go from possible anchoring place to possible anchoring place looking for a cheap place to sleep for the night.  It's just that we have a whole lot more baggage.
 
Once we got settled in at Chandler Cove, it was very agreeable.  See the 'Happy Don' picture below.  Doesn't he look agreeable?
 
Chandler Cove attracted a few other sailboats after we arrived there, and one in particular happened to anchor fairly close to us so that we could easily glance over and see what was going on over there.  This is another boating thing....when you are anchored in a crowded cove, everyone pretends not to stare at the people on the other boats and watch what they do, but we all do it, we just try not to be obvious about it.  Anyway, this other boat had four older adults on it, and around dinner time, one of the men walked up the deck on the port (left) side of the boat, which happened to be the side closest to us, and in full view and with no other fanfare, started pulling off his clothes.  He got down to his boxer shorts and we got a little worried, but he stopped there and proceeded to bathe on deck, in full view, for our pleasure while dining.  We didn't stare (not obviously anyway).
 
The second picture is yet another sunset (sorry, can't help myself with the sunsets, but they are always so cool).
 
The third picture is of a rock.  Don's new rock.  When he pulled up the anchor the next morning (ok, Don doesn't pull up the anchor, the windlass pulls it up and he watches carefully), this nicely rounded hunk of granite came up with it.  It was like the rock was begging to come along for the ride.  So, our first souvenir has arrived.  I included it here, because I felt the occasion needed to be documented.
 
Anne
 

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