Rockport, Maine

We decided to spend the day in Rockland, but we headed to Rockport to find a more serene anchorage. Rockport has a small, beautiful harbor that exceeded our expectations. During the 19^th century, this was the heart of the midcoast lime industry. The kilms are still visible on the waterfront, but it is no longer a busy harbor (see below).

The anchorage is a great place to see animals; we saw many cormorants and dolphins.

This is also a typical working town full of lobster boats and traps.

This small town has a statue commemorating Andre the Seal, whose story is now told in an illustrated children’s book. The plaque reads, “Abandoned at birth, he was found, befriended, raised and trained by Harry Goodridge of Rockport, Maine. Andre is honorary Harbormaster of Rockport Harbor and is a celebrity of more than local renown. His antics have delighted people far and wide. Andre is a harbor seal, the only species that occurs regularly in New England waters.” At the age of 25, Andre disappeared during the summer of 1986. His body washed up in the Rockland Harbor in July, and many people mourned this lovable animal. Therefore, his life-size statue remains in the park for children to sit on and hug (or for me to take pictures of Jared and Morgan).

Here's a picture of our sailboat at the anchorage: