Round Pond: an ambition fulfilled

This morning, Thursday 23 August, we had a wildlife treat: not only seals, ospreys and bald eagles fishing around our boat but also a multitude of fishes jumping in the water all round Follyfin and further out. The surface of the sea was literally boiling, and this phenomenon was not a temporary thing as it continued before, during and after our breakfast right up until we weighed anchor at 10:30. Perhaps the name of the cove in which we had dropped anchor last evening provides the clue: Fish House Cove.

A different kind of treat came on Monday evening when Follyfin sailed into Round Pond, a full 35 years after that ambition was born. In 1983 we visited friends Vic and Midge in their very small recently acquired ‘cottage’ here. It had no electricity and was really very basic. In the intervening years they completely renovated and extended this cottage and made it into a wonderful family home to where they retired about 30 years ago. 

The wind and the weather the next day cooperated fully for our planned excursion on the water with Midge, her daughter Linda and her friend Laura (unfortunately Vic was not well enough to join us). After transferring them all to Follyfin by dinghy, we enjoyed a leisurely downwind sail in sunshine from Round Pond north up Muscongus Sound to Greenland Cove. The anchor was dropped and lunch was served on board. A good time was had by all until, just before the return passage back to Round Pond, Linda accidentally tripped and fell in the saloon of the boat (that b@#£*y step!). Despite hurting considerably we are sure, she put on a brave face once safely back on land. Hopefully her bruises will not entirely expunge any good memories of her excursion on the water.

A small beach near Greenland Cove had been the scene of Follyfin’s long awaited beaching the day before. After the 6 weeks she spent in the water in Boston, we wanted to check the underside of the hull and especially the propellor. Just as well we did!

Before (left) and after (right) cleaning

We had checked out the beach on land the day before, when we arrived in the area, to ensure there were no rocks that would damage Follyfin’s hull when the tide went down and left her on the beach. Skipper got up to his old beach combing tricks whilst I found some fascinating evidence of non-human visitors to this beach.

Now Follyfin is back on a mooring at the Dolphin Marina, near Harpswell, for another couple of nights on a mooring to allow us a final visit to our old friends Vic and Midge. Sparky the cat is entertaining us.