Day sail and picnic

The heat wave has broken, and the days have been gloriously clear and warm with cool breezes and the nighttime temps dipping into the upper 40s.

We collared my stepfather and made him come sailing with us today.

Guy Talk

Actually we didn't have to twist his arm too hard.

Wilson the Agoraphobic Goldendoodle was happy for the extra company.













Through the Muscle Ridge Channel, past Owl's Head...

Owl's Head

...is the cluster of Dix, High and Birch islands - this spot is perfect (IMHO).  Birch Island is small, edged with smooth granite and sandy beaches, low and treeless, mounded with scrub and rugosa roses.  High Island, just a stone's throw away, is an abandoned quarry, covered in spruce, pocked with old foundations and jutting granite piers.

Honestly, we enjoy High and Birch so much we've never gotten around to visiting Dix, which is supposed to be nice, too, though it's inhabited.

This day we opted for Birch's sand beach for our picnic lunch.

Wilson likes the sand too... easier to get in and out of the water.  He spent most of the day playing Stick.

In the background of that shot above is High Island, with one of the granite piers toward the left.

From among the tiny periwinkle, ladyslipper and clam shells Thing Two found the makings of a Mussel Manicure.

Perfect sailing, too; steady breezes and following seas.

One wonders why anyone would want to live anywhere else.