Day 13 – 6/2/2019 – Portland (the other one)

This morning we breakfasted and loaded the car for our day’s adventure. Brooke arrived (having spent the night with a friend in the area) and we took off for a drive down the coast to Portland (about 20 minutes). I’m told the views along this stretch of the drive were amazing. Personally I couldn’t see much because of the thick layer of fog blanketing the coast.

Arriving in Portland we found parking and checked in with our tour operator Luchy Catch. Deciding to forgo our intended walk along the harbor street in favor of retiring the Starbucks across the street to warm our cockles, use the restroom, and wait for boarding time.

At the appointed hour we reported to our boat

Where we were greeted by our captain Michael

Michael is a real lobster fisherman, but during the months of April-July it is illegal to harvest lobsters on Sundays in Maine, so he kills time with us and today is catch and release.

As we left the dock and headed out to Michael’s traps we donned our protective gear.

And got ready to have some hands-on fun.

Arriving at the fist trap Michael selected one of the (volunteer) workers to hoist up the trap.

When he’s actually working this is done with a winch, but with a supply of free labor at hand…

He used the lobsters in each of three traps to talk about/demonstrate size limits, sexing, and breeding characteristics

Jesse is measuring to determine if this is a “keeper” before throwing it back (Sunday rules)

Jesse getting ready to say good-bye to his new friend

Papa is demonstrating his prowess in identifying sex

I also learned that if you blow on a claw the lobster will clamp it shut.

Before the trap is retuned to the deep the bait (dead mackerel) is refreshed.

Along the way our first mate described the historical and noteworthy sights that we could barely see thru the fog.

One of the traps had caught a small stone crab. Michael showed us the eggs this mother was carrying before returning her to the deep.

While Jesse had a great time, Spencer and Nana huddled in the cabin keeping warm.

Eventually Jesse, too, hit the fun barrier…

…which allowed Nana to don an apron and participate in the fun and games.

On the way back to the dock we passed the Portland Head lighthouse

And the fog lifted almost enough for a good picture.

Back at the dock some of us availed ourselves of the opportunity to purchase lobsters from yesterday’s catch.

Which we took next door

To be cooked and served with all the trimmin’s

Following lunch the group split up. Nana and Papa took the kids and found a quiet side street where Spencer had a 2 1/2 hour nap while Jesse read and the old folks joined in the fun – both napping and reading. Eventually we all turned up awake at the same time so we walked around the corner to the Portland Discovery Center. This is one of the more highly rated centers of its kind in New England and the kids had a good time romping from experience to exhibit.

Juggling is easy with the support of directed air currents.

Sawing down a tree (Why? – because you have a tree and a saw, of course!)

Eventually it was time to leave so we packed up and headed back to Yarmouth to the house. We got here before Mommy and Daddy and Brooke who had spent the afternoon…

They arrived home not long after we did and Kim threw together a mess of tacos (complete with guacamole) for dinner. Then it was on to the evening’s activities – games and videos for the kids, laundry and blogging for the adults, baths for the kids, and sadly good bye to Brooke. As we turn south tomorrow it’s time to thank her for being a part of this adventure. The fact that S refused to hug her (OK, he eventually relented) is testimony to how much he will miss her. The fact that J reacted in much the same way is testimony to the fact that he’s 10. We all enjoyed her company and we’re glad she could share this adventure with us.

Nite all, R

Traveling Light

Day 13 – 6/2/2019 – Portland (the other one)

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