Catalina Sunshine: Boothbay

July and August, 2015. We spent one night at the Hodgdon Yachts Dock on the Damariscotta River at East Boothbay. Shortly after arrival we were able to tour this oldest family owned boat builder in the U.S., which has been in continuous operation for over 200 years. We were able to see the carbon fiber ovens that have allowed this builder to be a leader in high tech composite construction. After our tour we visited beautiful Christmas Cove across the River on Rutherford Island, by dingy.

The most substantial and visible structure overlooking Boothbay from the hillside behind the inner Harbor, is a Wooden white painted Catholic Church with two gold crosses, one on top of its gable roof and the other on top its steeple. The Harbor is surrounded by marine businesses along the waterfront with homes on the hillside overlooking.

The small town charm of Boothbay with its boutique shops in its historic, and newer historic looking buildings, is felt when you turn on the main street at the top of the hill leading from the dingy dock in the inter Harbor. Among other shops visited was a saltwater taffy company who manufactured their taffy behind a glass wall with 100 year old equipment.

We had lunch on the wooden patio of a country store which shared an old building with a rural post office on Knickerkane Island overlooking an inlet to the Sheepscot River.

Catherine drove to pick out lobster for a lobster Feast on our aft deck.