Re: [Paddlewise] owls head - was Maine Symposium

From: Kirk Olsen <kork4_at_cluemail.com>
Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:53:36 -0400
On Tue, 09 Jun 2009 06:31:21 -0400, "John Fereira" <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
said:

> I'm going to be just across the bay (in Owls Head) for a weeks vacation 
> at the end of the month.  We may head over to Castine for a day trip.

The islands off Owls head are fascinating.  My father's extended family
summers in owls head.  Many a week have I spent lying on the cobbles, or
paddling to spruce head/rockland and out to the mussel ridge islands. 
This is a great spot to paddle as it's a terrible place to sail ;-)  A
friend on the wooden sailboat racing circuit says he usually sails the
whole coast - except mussel ridge where he needs to motor.

Dix Island used to have the biggest dance floor north of either portland
or Boston.  Wandering around the islands can yield some interesting
remnants of yesteryear.  Underground hallways with rooms off the side, a
marble fireplace in a field...

If you happen to be there during one of the Owls head transportation
museum event weekends it can be fascinating to see what's in the air,
http://www.othm.org.  Floating along, then looking up and seeing a stunt
plane in a death spiral, or lying on the beach having your solitude
interrupted by a WWII japanese zero with a Mustang P50 in pursuit - both
only a 100+ feet above the treeline...  The museum is highly unusual in
that it's in the charter that all vehicles, and planes, in the
collection get used "regularly".  This can result in visitors getting to
see things in use that most museums would only ever have as static
displays.

If you are paddling in South Thomaston or spruce head be sure to stop by
waterman's beach, paddle right up to the dock.  Marvelous pie for
dessert.  It's a lobster shack with a James Beard cooking award.. 
http://www.hollyeats.com/WatermansBeach.htm  Go early.  The restaurant
is run by the wives of a couple of fishermen.  They sell what their
spouses and families catch.  When it runs out it's gone.  They don't
have a fryer or a much of a stove.  If you can't steam it they don't
have it.  Except the pies, which they walk across the street - from
where they live....

-- 
  Kirk Olsen
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Received on Tue Jun 09 2009 - 10:53:43 PDT

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