I've never driven to Deer Isle. Like so many square miles of the coast of Maine, Deer Isle is off the 'beaten' path that runs inland from Acadia to Portland.
I know quite a bit of the coast and islands that ring big Deer Isle from sailing in Western Penobscot Bay.
I've probably been under the Deer Isle Bridge 10 times in 20 years of sailing in Penobscot Bay.
Cheeziss, the approach to that bridge is a fright. You swear it's a draw bridge - and it's going up. Photo's don't do it justice. With our highway budget, I was checking the nuts and bolts along the way.
Once safely on Deer Isle, you've still got a half and hour or so driving to Stonington, the far end of the island.
Traffic free but pothole speed regulated, the 80 mi drive to Stonington takes about 2 hours from our house.
Stonington can be reached (literally), under sail, threading your way through islands and thoroughfares, in as little as 5 hours, maybe less in good winds (or a faster boat).
But there's never been any desire to shorten that trip.
This spot, just a few miles off Stonington in the Merchant Islands, is 17NM from my house. You can't drive here.
I know quite a bit of the coast and islands that ring big Deer Isle from sailing in Western Penobscot Bay.
I've probably been under the Deer Isle Bridge 10 times in 20 years of sailing in Penobscot Bay.
Cheeziss, the approach to that bridge is a fright. You swear it's a draw bridge - and it's going up. Photo's don't do it justice. With our highway budget, I was checking the nuts and bolts along the way.
Once safely on Deer Isle, you've still got a half and hour or so driving to Stonington, the far end of the island.
Traffic free but pothole speed regulated, the 80 mi drive to Stonington takes about 2 hours from our house.
Stonington can be reached (literally), under sail, threading your way through islands and thoroughfares, in as little as 5 hours, maybe less in good winds (or a faster boat).
But there's never been any desire to shorten that trip.
This spot, just a few miles off Stonington in the Merchant Islands, is 17NM from my house. You can't drive here.