When you’re in Maine, life just feels right.
People are kind and look out for each other. The scenery is breathtaking. There’s a strong sense of community unlike many places where it feels more like people are only looking out for themselves. State and local government is focused on public service rather than divisive power mongering. Wildlife is pervasive. And the coast offers sailing second to none. Some sailors don’t like Maine because of the fog and ubiquitous lobster traps. This sailor says these are a small price to pay for what this fantastic place has to offer.
Maine remains somewhat independent and is wary of too much outside influence. This applies to politics as well as daily life. An example of this is how Mainers refer to people from out of state as those “from away”.
Another example is the lobster industry, responsible for around $400M of the state’s economy. Some years ago, the federal government tried to impose regulations to purportedly protect the diminishing stock. The lobstermmen and women found the regulations to be faulty, written by people with little practical knowledge of the trade. So rather than adopt them, they got together and wrote their own regulations. They also chose to self-enforce the rules, rather than rely on an outside enforcement agency. Years later, the stock has been replenished and the industry is thriving, with record-breaking yields over the last few years.
I’ve always been interested in anthropology, understanding the cultural, social, linguisitic and physical characteristics of people from different regions. This is probably inherited from my mother who studied anthropology at university. As part of this, I’ve always been obsessed with the symbols people choose to represent themselves, such as flags and even license plates (I know… weird, right?). Interestingly, Maine voted on a referendum last November to change the state flag. The current flag is a state seal on a blue field. This was thought to be complex, and too similar to the flags of at least 15 other states. There was a contest to pick an alternative. The pine tree and star flag, Maine’s flag in the early 20th century, was chosen as the contender. The results were 55% in favor of keeping the old flag and 45% for changing.
However, the state recently issued a new license plate design featuring the same pine tree and star, replacing the chickadee design used during the last 20 years.
Yet, remaining true to an independent spirit, for those who don’t want the standard license plate, there are a variety of specialty choices featuring agriculture, conservation, lobsters, wildlife, breast cancer detection, the University of Maine, purple heart, prisoner of war, veterans, and more!
It’s early Friday morning, and I’m excited to be heading down to Portland (by road) to pick up Admiral Sandy!
13 Responses
Hope everything is shipshape before Admirals inspection.
Curious – I have never heard of an engine eating dipsticks but am glad to hear that the problem has been resolved. Did the yard ever figure out what was going on?
Canicule in full swing here with temps mid to high 30s in the valley so have retreated to the mountains.
All best
Well you’ll appreciate the 12º nights and 18º days we’re enjoying, although it will be warmer when you get here. Regarding dipsticks, the generator is a small diesel engine encased in a housing. The manufacturer extended the dipstick tube to be accessible from the outer housing. To achieve this, it makes twists and turns in every direction. The original dipstick design was a flat blade that likes to pend one way only, making it hard to insert. So the hypothesis is that all the twisting and turning caused the metal to fatigue. The other hypothesis is that the dipsticks were diverted into the crank case before reaching the oil pan and got chewed up by the gears. We’ll never know for sure, but we now have a more pliable dipstick, and we removed the access from the outer casing. Instead, we open the front panel of the casing and insert the dipstick directly into the diesel engine part of the system.
Thank you for the memories of schooner sailing in Maine, it’s what inspired me to become a captain.
It’s amazing how many windjammers are still plying the waters here. You should come back some time!
Admiral aboard!
Yes where folks need one another they become a community that by nature respect each other.
We have loved our trips to Maine.
Again may the seas be friendly, winds be steady, and your decks be washed in sun light.
Yes, like Clover Estates!
Maine, home of two of the best punchlines ever….”you Kan’t get there from heah” and “was they high boots or low boots”….classics from 1972!
“Come to think of it, they was high boots turned down low.” “Well, t’weren’t me then.” Ask me about any Bert & I story. I’ll recite it from memory!
Deal….i still laugh at those memories with you!
How about?
“Which way to East Vassalboro?” “Come to think of it, you can’t get theyuh’ from heuh’.”
or
“Mistah, you can keep youah’ nickel. It’s worth moah’ for my moose to see youah’ family, than it is for youah’ family to see my moose!”
I saw the Admiral at the fitness center this week getting in shape for the voyage.
Based on your description of Maine independent nature perhaps they will vote to be a Canadian Province.
Great update! Thanks.
Honestly, Tony, Maine joining Canada would make sense to me. There’s even a small population in Northern Maine that is French speaking.
Great to see you under way for the summer. Here’s to great sailing. Looking forward to seeing you in August.