The Schoodic Penninsula

The picture below has nothing to do with this post.  It is here for the web address needed to insert the picture into another post - but that's a whole other deal so forget about it!  Pretty isn't it?  Actually it does have a bearing on this post - it is an "extension" for our Sprint Air card.  The air card is plugged into the USB extension cable and is atop the mast inside a plastic storage bag. The extra 10' elevation did the trick.  We are parked at the bottom of a slope down to Frenchman's bay - the RV park rises from water's edge up perhaps 50' to Hwy 3.  Before concocting this "aerial", trying to do anything on the Internet was near impossible.  Now we have reasonable Internet service... and away I go!

We returned to The Schoodic Peninsula for another picnic.  I described the peninsula in a previous post so I won't go there here.  I love the English language - love to slaughter it as I do and there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about it!  On the far shore is what looks like a white house - not The White House, just a white house. 

Well actually, now that I see the picture in the post, I can hardly see the stupid house at all.  I don't know how many times I have apologized for my very poor visuals.  Come to think of it..now that we have decent band with  to work with, maybe I can increase the quality on the camera.

If you're been to Maine, seen many coastal pictures, or have heard those that have, you'll know that much of the coast line is cliffy (I also like to make word up.. works for me!).  Here on the Schoodic Peninsula there's a six mile loop road much of which is lower elevation. 

Becky caught me sticking my toes in the water.. down there by that tallest boulder of granite.  Just after snapping that picture, a wave, funneled onto shore drenched me.  Felt pretty damn good - it was a sweltering 85 degrees that day.

We've been in Maine for 3 months already and are beginning to make plans to depart around the middle of October.  Going to the South and West to meet up with some friends of ours that are RV'ing their way down to Dallas from Montana.  From there we plan to RVathan to the left coast and up through Oregon and Washington.  I am sure we will discuss headed up the Alaskan Highway next Spring / Summer.   In any case... later!

Thinking of Uncle Henry - Again and Still

You'd have to go back through my posts to get a full flavor of Uncle Henry.  I won't try to summarize why he was always "the character" in the family.  This little, and rarely true gag was inspired by "Hank".  It occured in 1982 more or less....

Becky and I had been going together for a few years.  We were both living in California at the time and Becky had never met my folks, nor any of my family - all back in Massachusetts.  We decided that year to fly to the East Coast, rent a car, and drive the coast from Rhode Island, up to Southern Maine, then inland and South a bit to my home town, Pittsfield, MA.

It was a great trip, Becky met my folks, my Brothers and my Sister, a couple Cousins, Aunts... generally, a good sampling of the Sacchettis'.  While in Pittsfield on a drive to one of my Aunt's home we were stopped at a redlight. 

"See that gas station and the phone booth on the corner over there?  Back about 30 years ago, late at night, my Uncle "Peanuts" was making a call from that booth when a long black cadillac limosene intentionally ran him, and the booth over.  The lady that lives in that house saw the whole thing.  Peanuts ran a newspaper and cigar store on North Street downtown and everyone, including the police, knew it was nothing more than a front for a Mafia Bookie operation.  Peanuts treated the police right - and they didn't bother him... he was just "small peanuts" to them."

Becky's mouth was wide open and judging by her repeated "Ohh my God" comments, she had swallowed it hook, line, and well, you know.  And that was all there was to it.  Years, decades passed and nothing more was said of it.  Nothing more until another visit back home for a Sacchetti family picnic.  With more than 100 of us gathered, there were all sorts of stories flying around the pavilion and Becky decided to join in - she told the story I had told her years and years ago.  I had completely forgotten having made it up.  Well... when she found out that it was a fabrication she called me names I am too much a gentleman to repeat in print.

I guess it was a year of so ago, we were sitting at home and she brought it up - "remember when you told me your Uncle........".   We laughed like fools.  Truth be known, Peanuts was a real character, not an Uncle, but just as good - a good friend of the family.  And Peanuts (the only name I know for him) did own a newspaper and cigar store up on North Street.  So that's the only truth of it - the rest is blamed on that  Uncle Henry Gene in me!

Having said that, further recollections do seem to bear the bookie part of the story out.  I definately do remember my Grandma giving me a brown paper bag to deliver to Uncle Peanuts at his store, and a whole dollar when I got back - I did this quite often!

Only believe half of what comes out of my mouth (fingers).  That's easy, the hard part is knowing which half to believe!  Some or all of this little story is true - I've been making stuff up for so long now, not even I can tell you what is gospel.

Those Pesty Tourists

Becky and I have been here, Down East Maine Coastal area, for 2-1/2 months already.  Early on we found "Otter Point" on Mt Desert Island, aka Acadia National Park and have been back four times already - this is our official #1 most favorite picnic spot.

During the months of May and June we had  the coastline completely to ourselves.  We could look forever in either direction and see nothing but the sky, the trees, rocky cliffs, the surf, lobster boats and Frenchman's Bay.

But now, as you can plainly see in the picture above, "THE TOURISTS" have invaded the coastline.  Well, I guess it's not a plain to see as all that!  If you look in the far rocks you'll see a small bush on the very top, then an short downward incline.  Right at the bottom of that incline, you'll see a very small outcropping on the flat area.  That my friends is not an outcropping - it is a TOURIST invading our coastline!  No more than 300 feet away, plopped right down there as if she owned the place.  She is only one of a group of four invaders, the other three had the decency to remain out of sight.  OK OK so I am putting you on.  Point is, here on the Maine coast, even at the peak of "the season", it's really easy to find solitude.

Easy to stake out a length of shoreline if you don't include the local residents who are always ready to share your picnic with you.  You'll note the fog bank in the background.  This day it advanced in to cover the far hill and then retreat again out to sea.  Back and forth, probably three times in the time it took to eat a sandwich.

Maine.. try it, you'll like it!

Black Dikes

The tip of the Schoodic Peninsula is actually DOWN EAST from Bar Harbor, but the only way to get to it on land is by driving NORTH and EAST and then SOUTH.  Giving, or getting directions around here is enough to drive a sane man crazy and the Schoodic Peninsula is a good example of it. 

This is a typical scene on the Schoodic Peninsula which is blessed with at least five harbors - Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor, Prospect Harbor and although it doesn't have harbor in its name, Corea (pronounced like where the war was - the one that came between WWII and Viet Nam).  But that was only four (you win a prize of you picked up on that).  Actually, the picture of the water front building is what's left of Wonsquirt Harbor.  Pictured below is Birch Harbor.  You won't find many quaint tourist shops or attractions on the peninsula, just hard working folks.  Judging by the number of lobster boats in the harbors, lobster traps on the docks, and in front of folks homes, my guess is the Maine (if not only) industry is "lobstering".   The lack of tourist trappings only serves to make these towns all the more quaint - if quaint were a liquid, it would be oozing from every crack in the road.

The Schoodic Bay Acadia National Park is down (no kidding) on the southern most tip, and the scenic drive is absolutely breathtaking.  Most of the 10(?) mile loop along the coast is one way traffic and what a great idea that is.  I am more than sure if it were two way traffic, there would be countless "head on" accidents

Now then, if I were Red Foxx (for those of you that remember who he was), the title I gave to this post might have an entirely different meaning!  Black Dikes are actually

formations of lava rock. 

Through subsurface pressures, magma flowed into the cracks in the granite.  The pressure and temperature pushed the granite cracks wider and the molten magma made its way to the surface, cooled, solidified, and formed these streaks of black lava rock, some more than a mile wide.

I guess I have said it ad nausium.. but I have to say it again.   The Maine coastline is absolutely heart stoppingly beautiful, rugged, and largely (and thankfully) unspoiled by human intrusions.  The state posts small signs every so often, signs to the effect "leave no trace" and "do not remove any rocks or pebbles".  Becky and I love this state (hummm... bet I've said that once or twice as well) and our impression of it has to be a very popular one judging by its pristine, uncluttered geology.  "pristine, unaltered" I was redundant there I know, simply a case of moving fingers before engaging brain but it does serve to dredge up a old memory - of one of my favorite brothers.

David was only about seven (a guess) when he became very well known in our home town.  His teacher had given the class an assignment of some sort, one involving government, politics or the like.  Brother David decided he wanted to include a picture of the president (then Dwight D Eisenhower) - so he wrote the White House a letter which went something like this...

Dear Mr. President

 

My name is David Sacchetti and I am doing a class project.  Please send me an autographed picture, signed by you, with your name on it.

A few weeks later an autographed picture of Eisenhower appeared.  The story appeared in our local newspaper and like I said - at the tender age of seven, he became my famous brother.

The New Shells Are In... The New Shells Are In....

While in Maine I have had to rename a day of the week - sort of a reminder that too much of a good thing is bad for you.  So this year I only have lobster one day a week - on Lobstaday.  Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Lobstaday Saturday Sunday....

These two guys are the first I have seen of New Shell Lobsters.  And now that they are showing up in the pounds, they will continue to be plentiful throughout summer.  Matter of fact, up here in Maine, unless you specifically ask for Hard Shell Lobsters, this is what you will get.  And as far as I am concerned, there is NO need to order hard shells.

The soft shell is exactly what it sounds like - a lobster with a soft shell.  Once a year between May and as late as August, all lobsters will "shed" their shells.  In fact "shedders" are what the lobster men (OK... lobster people) call them.  In order to grow, they have to get rid of their smaller shell in order to grow into a larger one.  Lobsters have a subtle line that runs along the top of the carapace from the head to the back of the carapace.  They lose up to 50% of their weight in body, claw, knuckle and abdomen (tail)meat.  During the molting process they position themselves head down on the bottom and their carapace (body) splits down that longitudinal line.  Once split they literally pull themselves out of the shell.  I guess it's pretty easy to see how they can pull their abdomen and tail fins out of the old shell but the real magic is in the claws. 

If you look at the first picture, you can see that there are two "knuckles" between each claw and the abdomen (that section between the tail fins and the carapace).  And as you can see, the knuckles are considerably smaller than the claws.  So imagine the struggle trying to pull all that claw meat out of those tiny openings in the knuckles.  Some trick ehh?  Occasionally their claw meat is just too massive to pull it through so they instinctively break that claw off.  By the way, a lobster with only one claw is called a "cull".  Not to worry though, if the lobster isn't caught for three or four years, it will actually grow a new claw. 

Once the shedding is completed, they hide away in the rocks on the bottom and limit their movement because of their vulnerability due to the soft shell.  But they still have to eat and that's why lobstering produces a very high percentage of shedders.  The traps lay on the bottom, in rocky areas and the newly shed lobsters smell an easy meal with a minimum of exposure in the water column. 

Shedders in their new shell have far less meat than a hard shell of the same size but actually will weigh more.  That's because as the new shell is forming, a considerable amount of seawater is trapped inside the claws, knuckles, carapace and abdomen.   They cook up the same as a hard shell in a bit less time but I am here to tell ya - they are far easier to eat, the meat is much sweeter, more tender, and the seawater is absolutely delicious.   And as you undoubtedly know from a previous post, they are natures perfect food.  Just learn to enjoy them with a squirt of fresh lemon juice in lieu of melted butter.  Personally, I save the butter dipping for the first and last bites only.

Lulu

If you ever find yourself in Bar Harbor on a nice day, and have a few hours to kill... go for a ride with Captain John on the (modified for passengers) Lulu.  Here's a link to learn more about their schedule, rates, etc.  Lulu Tours ..  Try it, you'll like it!  As a matter of fact, this was our #1 most favorite paid attraction in Maine to date.  If you were able to go to a dictionary and look up the definition of "an ambassador to the Maine Lobster Industry"  - you'd see a picture of Captain John.

The standard tour takes you out of Bar Harbor from the Public pier, through the breakwater, and a few miles out to Egg Island and the Egg Island Light.  You will spend some time viewing bald eagles, puffins, several species of gulls, and the main attraction, harbor seals.  The captain gives the island and the wildlife a wide berth.

The rocky shore is lined with harbor seals and their pups.  Once again, I am hoping for a little better digital camera for Christmas (that's a link to the one hint hint).  In this picture you can actually see some of the harbor seals hangin' out on the rocks.  Some appear light brown in color while others seem to melt into the rocks around them.  There are probably a dozen of so of them in this picture.

If you happen to be on the tour in the May / June time frame you will also be privileged to see the harbor seal pups hanging out with their Mom.  Pictured here are two Moms with their pups except one of the Moms disappeared when I said "SMILE".   Afterwards,  you motor back into and behind Bar Island where the captain pulls up numerous lobster traps from 50 feet of water. 

 Here, Captain John pulls up a trap with 3 lobsters "in the parlor".  A trap consists of two heads (ports of entry - where the lobsters first enter the trap), a kitchen (which is where the lobsters enter and where the bait bag is), a parlor (the apparent exit after eating), and a juvenile escape port.  By law, the traps must also have a larger escape port should the pot be lost at sea - typically a stick of wood which holds a trap door closed will rot and the trap door opens.

Captain John is using the lobster gauge.  You can see the notched area which measures the minimum length of the carapace (3.5 inches).  In this case the lobster is too small by about 1/8th of an inch.  The other side of the gauge is the notch to measure the maximum length of the carapace (5").  Any lobster with a body over 5" in length (that would be a lobster weighing 4 to 5 pounds) must be returned to the sea.

Here's a borrowed picture to illustrate the main parts of a lobster.  I assure you, the captain goes much deeper into the biology.

 Lobster men and the state of Maine do an excellent job self regulating / regulating the industry which is why they are able to supply 90% of the lobster sold in the USA without endangering the numbers of lobsters in their territorial waters.  It's an education the entire trip out, while at and behind the islands, and on the way back in - the captain is wired!  That is, he wears and amplified remote microphone and uses it ever minute you're on the boat.  He has been a licenced captain for 30 years and has mastered boats (ships) up to 100 tons.  Needless to say he knows ever inch of the water and the area land masses.  He was the most upbeat, knowledgeable person (well, at least in this element) I have met to date.  And do NOT try to match wits with him - his mind processes information faster than a speeding bullet.

Thanks to the folks at  the Lobster Institute for letting me use this picture.  The web page for the picture is  http://www.lobsterinstitute.org/media/172.jpg

Vengence Is Mine....

You'll see this guy in the parking lot of Ruth &Wimpy's Restaurant on Route 1 in Hancock, Maine.  Before we arrived in Maine this year, I promised myself that I would "slow down" in the consumption of these wonderful crustaceans and have been doing what I consider a really good job.  Two a week is very reasonable! 

Now then, normally if you were to see a 10' high plastic lobster in front of a restaurant your common sense would tell you to beware the tourist trap - right?  Becky and I passed the place by a number of times but finally were persuaded to stop by a sign outside - Lobster and Potato $8.95, Crab Roll $5.99.  And so we did and were both surprised and amazed to see a dining room slam full of Mainers!  Both our meals were delicious and all the plates that passed by us on their way to other customers looked equally a good. 

And if I were a better photographer, or had a better camera which ever applies to the picture to the left, you'd be able to see the benefits of consuming Maine lobster.  They are "highly nutritious and are a dieter's dream.  They are low in fat, calories and cholesterol lower than lean ground beef of skinless chicken or turkey.  Lobsters contain Omega-3 fatty acids which reduces hardening of the arteries and decreases the risk of heart attack.  Lobsters are also high in amino acids, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B12.  They also contain Calcium, Zinc and Vitamin A.  My God!  Lobsters are God's answer to the perfect food - forget all the hype about eggs - except those found in female Lobsters.  Did I fail to mention that their taste is right out of this world?   Aside from all of that.... if you can't believe a paper place mat, just what source of information would you trust?

So... how many folks do you think posed for a picture as I did in this one?   It must be in the tens of thousands and I would guess the vast majority would have been kids - or old farts like myself that haven't learned the technique of "growing up".   After a day trip on  The Lulu with Captain John, I noticed an anatomical anomaly on this creature... it has two "crusher" claws instead of one crusher and one "shreader" - oh well.  By the way, more on Capt. John and The Lulu later.