Sea kayaking

On a brilliantly gorgeous day, we headed to the ocean for a guided kayak tour.    Altho we have kayaked before, we've only enjoyed it in placid rivers or broad lakes.   There was a stiff breeze with some white caps on the bay and we set out with 6 others and a guide.    The young couple who own this enterprise are enthusiastic and helpful and we wish them well in their 15 year old business......try Machias Bay Kayak Tours if you're in the area.    

After battling the wind and sea spray for longer than my arms wanted, about 70 min or so (time has no meaning when the wind and waves seem endless).....we came to a beach on Hog Island.      I had hoped to 

take pictures as we skimmed along the bay but my camera stayed safely dry in a bag and we got pretty soaked....we did have the kayak skirts on and that helped to keep us dry on the lower half.   In this picture below, you can see the distant hills....this is where we started.  In this bay, the US Navy began with the first naval battle of the Revolution.   This area is rich with Revolutionary History....from houses, to taverns, to ships to trails.  

These rust colored areas look like painted rocks......on closer examination are these petroglyphs.  

This one is a man with an antler head dress of sorts.   Various experts have examined them but there is no definitive on who or when.....sometime after the Ice Age they say which is a pretty broad time frame.    There were others scattered about as well.

After a nice break and a snack, we got ready to depart when an eagle dropped out of the sky onto a nearby pine.    It was quite stunning.

I didn't get a good shot of it flying off but the wing span was impressive.  

Along the route, we skirted rock islands with seals lounging in the sun....not having a camera, I have no proof of that......until this one popped up his head near the shore while we relaxed.  

 It was a fun trip and a highlight of our time on the coast.....today we are feeling fine with no residual aches in case you were wondering.   But next time, I might check the wind and the whitecaps before I head out into it.   And yes, the return trip was much smoother, MUCH faster and much drier.      And more lobster awaited us at the end of the day.....

Today, we load up the wagon and  reluctantly leave this scenic area and head farther northeast into Canada.