Thursday, September, 25, 2008 - Painting and Paddling in Penobscot

I awoke this morning early and once again, caught fog lifting off of the water. I grabbed my traveling watercolor set and block and did a quick sketch from inside the glass door. It was just a bit too brisk to be outdoors. My host Lisa and I made a fabulous baked french toast dish with carmelized apples for breakfast. YUM!! After, I set up for oils on the deck as the sun shone across the water. I almost completed a painting by the time we set off for the days events. The plan was to meet a friend and kayak to the two islands that Lisa is the steward. The names are Sellers Island and Little Hog. We put in near Harbor Island set off. The islands were not far off the coast, but we were out for the entire afternoon. Lisa checks for litter left from campers, damage from camp fires, and dismantles any cairn that was left behind, etc. The rule is to leave no evidence after visiting the island. She enters her observations in a log book that is placed and protected in a tupperware container tacked to a tree. She does this on a volunteer basis because she cares and it is also a great excuse to get out on the open water. We packed a lunch and I brought painting supplies. I did a small watercolor while on Little Hog of Sellers Island across the way. We walked on the rocks around each of the islands because of the low tide. This has been, for me, the best representation of the Maine coast so far. Experiencing the coast by kayak is like riding a bike through beautiful landscapes. All the senses are awake and stimulated. The sights, sounds, smells and feel of the sun and breeze on the skin all combine to create a whole experience. The slower pace enables every experience to have a lasting and memorable impression.