Hi All:

I wasn’t able to join in on Saturday’s adventure to Harbor Island (I couldn’t be a derelict sister and miss my brother’s engagement party!) so LAC member Meredith Wood-Masteka wrote this recap in my stead. Sounds like it was a fabulous day. Big thanks to the hosts, Megan and Lev.

From Meredith:

13 Adventurers started the day at the Muscongus Bay Lobster Co-op in Round Pond on Saturday, where we enjoyed beautiful views of sailboats and other sea vessels in the harbor while waiting for our group to arrive. When the group assembled, we climbed aboard a lobster boat and headed for Harbor Island, a 30 minute ride past Hog Island, Pemaquid Point, and several other islands and ledges in the Muscongus Sound.

Harbor Island, home of Lev and Megan Davis, has been in the family since 1950. It houses only one structure (a single family home with an attached shop) built in 1850. We started the day with a tour of this beautiful home. Megan explained that it does not have electricity, but there is a propane generator that allows the family to cook food on the stove, and keep things cold in the fridge; otherwise, candles are used for light. There is a fresh water spring that provides clean water to the home, as well as a two hole golf course created when her children were young and looking for things to do on this remote island! Many of us commented that the island and home looked like they were straight out of the pages of Miss Rumphius, a children’s book by Maine author, Barbara Cooney. As it turns out, Ms. Cooney had seen the island, and the home was the inspiration for her book, Island Boy.

After our house tour, we all took a hike around the island. We started in the woods, which led to a cluster of rocks forming a cave. Some ladies chose to walk through the cave, while other chose to climb around the cave down toward the beach. Once on the beach, we were rewarded with homemade chocolate chip cookies while we sat on the rocky shoreline. The second leg of the hike offered two options – both excellent ones! You could continue to walk on the rocks around the island, or you could follow the trails in the woods to the other side of the island. I chose the beach. This path was filled with wayward buoys, sea urchins, periwinkle shells, and beautiful stones.

Back at the beach, we all joined together for a picnic on the shore. This was a time for laughing, story telling, and taking snoozes in the sunshine. I heard many women discussing the restorative power of the sea. Finally, just before what looked like a storm was coming, we signed the guest book of this storied home, and waved goodbye to our warm, kind, and gracious hosts, Lev and Megan.

But, we still had one adventure in store! On the boat ride back to the harbor, the captain of the lobster boat took a pit-stop to pull up a few of his traps. He taught us how to measure the lobster, how to determine if it were legal to keep, how to cut a notch in the tail of a female lobster, and how he sells his catch each day. This impromptu adventure was such an unexpected treat!

At the harbor, we made our way back to our cars, and waved good bye until the next amazing day!

Happy adventuring,