Salem to Freeport

It's Tuesday, August the 21st. and we have been enjoying the waters and islands of the Maine coastlines in Casco Bay the past week . This Bay and area being one of the most famous sailing areas of the world. On August 8 our sons, Ian and Tim drove us to Buffalo . This is where we were able to take our rental car back to Salem and to Adriana 1.She was waiting for us on her mooring.The next morning we were able to reprovision before returning the rental car.Now it was time to explore Salem. The author, Nathaniel Hawthorne certainly was instrumental in putting this town on the map.We toured the Custom House. Hawthorne had worked here..Salem had been a bustling merchant shipping harbour in this time with ships trading in many ports of the world and America.His book 'The House with Seven Gables' brings many tourists here to see this house and grounds. We toured the Liberty, a reproduction of Samuel Adam's ship .. Salem was also known for the prosecution of people considered to be witches in 1692 .A sad part of their history. The next day we took the ferry to Boston and took in a walking tour that certainly imformed us of the inside and true story as to what happened with the Boston tea party and the instigators of the uprisings resulting in the American Revolution and ultimately their independendence .Boston has a beautiful reconstructed waterfront. We enjoyed this city. From Salem we made our way to Gloucester, still Massachusets. And still the town that the fisherman lost their lives at sea about 20 years ago and a film was made about this'The Perfect Storm' The marina sure didn't meet up to the fancy advertisement . We tied up to an old barge there. No electricity at first,but an electrian came to our rescue. Sunday we took a taxi to a neighbouring town, Ipswich and were thankful for a wonderful Sunday shared at First Presbyterian OP church. The Cook family took us under their wing and made the day very special.Thank you Kevin and Katheryn and family. Portsmouth, N.H.marina is part of the" Wentworth by the Sea"resort. What a contrast to the barge tie up. Beautifully groomed grounds, Lots of flowers everywhere. A swimming pool that we enjoyed.A courtesy car that helped us get groceries. After this we anchored out in 3 places-- Biddford Pool and Bay, Jewel Is., and Chebeague Is. before going to Portland, Maine .Since this was an anniversary week,[we left our home port on August 15 last year] we had a lovely lobster dinner at the Chebeague Inn. We also hiked Jewel Is.and found a concrete tower that was still there since WW2 along with ruins of tunnels and barracks . The tower offered panoramic views of the amazing waters and islands of Casco Bay, Maine.It was in this bay that we saw seals and also porposes while sailing. We spent the weekend in Portland,Maine. This town has been nicely restored and every other store is a restaurant..This is also where we could spend a blessed Sunday with the OPC congregation in Portland. A short trip brought us to South Freeport harbour. Pulling into the marina we were hailed by Jim and Christine our friends on ULLR who we hadn't seen since Marathon , Florida.That was January. While sharing lunch we could reminisce over our past experiences and places we'd both been.They had been as far as Eastport near our New Brunswick border and were heading south. We in turn are heading north to our Canadian waters.It was so good to see them again. Today we spent shopping in Freeport[LLBeans] Tomorrow we continue our way north. ( Pictures to follow)