Even though we hardly had any wind, we raised the sails and managed a leisurely sail from Portland to The Goslings. The Goslings are made up of three islands — Irony Island, East Gosling, and West Gosling — and are maintained by the Maine Coast Heritage Trust. Primitive campsites on East and West Gosling make the islands a popular weekend destination for boaters, and since it was Labor Day weekend, the anchorage was already busy when we arrived. Fortunately, we were still able to find a good spot to anchor clear of the private moorings.
At low tide, seals congregate on the small, rocky island at the north end of the anchorage, and we took Williwaw for a closer view. We also drifted past Irony Island, where rich iron deposits give the rocky shoreline its varied coloration. The island is home to a pair of osprey, while herring gulls, laughing gulls, and cormorants congregate among the seaweed-draped rocks. As we drifted, a curious seal kept tabs on our whereabouts.
There was a large group staying on East Gosling, so we dinghied to West Gosling where we chatted with a woman camping for the night and her father, who had brought her out by boat.
Somewhere along the lines, I lost the hearty New Englander of my youth, but I mustered up the courage to go wading just after low tide. Really, it was more like standing in one spot and letting the tide rise around me – but it still counts, right?
I finally got to break out my hammock and spend some time reading and relaxing, and I really need to do that more often. We also added the connecting panel between the bimini and dodger which made the cockpit noticeably warmer at night while helping keep some of the bugs at bay. I finally found the perfect way to string up the solar lights, and with a cup of hot chocolate, the cockpit feels so cozy. We even broke out the travel cribbage board and reminded ourselves how to play.
As the long weekend wound down, most of the boats left, leaving us a peaceful anchorage. On our morning walk, we explored East Gosling and followed the trail down to the southern campsite. Birdsong filled the air while lobster boats rumbled in the distance and waves lapped gently along the rocky shoreline, and it was hard to pull ourselves away.
Before heading back to begin our workday, we wandered up to the north end of the island where a massive driftwood log rests among dew-covered grass. This is such an idyllic spot, and I’m thankful for the time we’ve gotten to relax here.
