In starting the planning for a Maine cruise this fall I want to go North of the Maine cruising mecca from Penobscot Bay to Mt Desert Island. East of Mt Desert Island you are in the true down east Maine. The following are exerpts from the Maine cruising guide for the area. I thought they might let you take a little mental mini vacation in mid-winter. "As you pass Schoodic Point heading east, civilization falls behind and you enter a more primitive world... all of the coves are working harbors filled with lobster boats and trawlers. Yachts are rare and the facilities for them are almost nonexistent. The last big marina until Eastport lies astern so now you must depend on your own resources more than ever. As you head east you will get progressively out of VHF range both for marine operators and the NOAA weather forcasts and don't expect coverage for your cell phones. Fuel for recreational boating is not readily available along this coast as the working boats buy thier gas on account and the no other means is provided. This is a land of weirs and bleberry barrens, of uninhabited islands, narrow bays and countless estuaries. Wildlife is abundant here including eagles, seals, ospreys, puffins and razor billed auks. This is also a region of dense fog, strong currents and steadily higher tides as you go east, approaching 20 or more." A challenging place to cruise small boats :-). Much like the area north of Vancover I presume. Doug Kelch M15 "Seas the Day"