Aug. 20 - Ferry to Yarmouth, NS

“Dance with the waves, move with the sea, let the rhythm of the water set your soul free.” –Christy Ann Martine 

We drove from Rockport to Bar Harbor and had a chance to catch up with cruising friends we haven't seen since the spring of 2021. We had enough time to enjoy walking along the shore path before lunch at The Terrace Grille at the Bar Harbor Inn. It was so much fun catching up with Burt and Prue. They spend the summer on their boat in Maine and know all the great things to do and good places to eat.

The Bar Harbor Inn

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch. Great weather, great views, great food and great friends.

Views of the harbor in Bar Harbor.

Catching the ferry to Nova Scotia was very easy. Show up at the given time with the right documents and drive onto the ferry. We parked the car and enjoyed relaxing on the boat. The ferry has a lot of options of places to, some looked like airline seats, some areas where like being in a restaurant and other reminded us of a cruise ship.

The CAT is the fastest way to travel from Bar Harbor, Maine to Nova Scotia. The drive from Bar Harbor to Halifax is eight hours. The CAT travels at 35 knots (40 MPH) with top speed of 43 knots (51 MPH). It covers 112 miles across the Gulf of Maine in 3.5 hours. While onboard passengers can eat in three places, watch a movie, browse through a gift shop, play board games, and there is a play area for kids. Plus it offers great views of the ocean. The ferry is 349' long and carries 866 passengers and 200 cars.

The CAT coming into Bar Harbor

Leaving Bar Harbor. We had a beautiful day for the trip....sunny skies and smooth seas.

Our friend's sailboat is anchored in the harbor, right in the middle of the picture.

Leaving Maine.

Arriving in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Views at dinner from the Rudder's Seafood Restaurant in Yarmouth.

You can see the ferry in the background. We could hear the live music coming from the waterfront park right next to the restaurant.

This picture shows you where we crossed.

Nova Scotia Adventure

“What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame, but something wild to run with.” – Robert Brault 

We're hoping that the third time's the charm. We've tried to visit Nova Scotia twice before. In 2016 we wanted to take the boat to Nova Scotia while we were in Maine, but we ran out of time and never made it that far east. Our second attempt was in 2019. That year we planned a road trip to Nova Scotia, but Hurricane Dorian kept us away. Instead we had a wonderful trip discovering New Brunswick and the Bay of Fundy. This year our plan is taking the ferry from Bar Harbor over to Yarmouth, NS. The ferry will shorten the time it'll take us to get to Nova Scotia and give us more time to explore. 

History Lesson: Nova Scotia is a Canadian province located on the eastern seaboard, it's one of Canada’s Maritime Provinces, which also includes New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Nova Scotia's past and present are tied closely to the maritime life of fishing, shipbuilding and transatlantic shipping. It became the site of the first permanent European settlement in North America north of Florida when the French established a fur-trading post at Port Royal, which is near present-day Annapolis Royal in 1605. Early explorers gave the area the name Acadia, but the present name, which means “New Scotland” in Latin, was the result of a brief Scottish claim to the region in the 1620s.  

The province is roughly 360 miles long and 80 miles wide, it comprises the peninsula of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island and a number of small adjacent islands. The city of Halifax is the capital. 

Aug. 19 - Sailing on Penobscot Bay

"I sail not to escape life, but so life does not escape me.” –Unknown 

On our last full day with our family we went for a sail on the Schooner Surprise on Penobscot Bay. We couldn't have asked for a prettier day for a sail. It felt wonderful to be back on the water in Maine. It's one of my favorite places we've cruise.

The 57' long Schooner Surprise was built in Rockport, MA in 1918 for Martin Katternhorn. He used it as a racing and cruising yacht until his death in 1959. A series of owners continued to sail her throughout the East Coast and the Caribbean until she was purchased by Ed and Cindy Benedict who restored and certified her as a passenger vessel. She entered the passenger trade in Falmouth Harbor and was brought to Camden in 1986. In 1991, Surprise was entered on the National Register of Historic Places, which recognizes her as an important part of our country’s maritime heritage. 

Everyone had a chance to help raise the sails.

Enjoying the ride.

Curtis Island Lighthouse sets on Curtis Island at the entrance to Camden Harbor. We took our dinghy out to the island in 2016.

Stan and each of the grands had a chance to steer the boat. Actually Stan was at the helm for 20 minutes or more...I think he really enjoyed it.

Coming back into Camden Harbor.

The beautiful windjammers docked in Camden Harbor. We were here in 2016 for the Windjammer Festival. It was so fun.