_MG_7194  Captain Bob

                                                                                                                                        

On our first full day at the Nonantum resort in Kennebunkport we decided to take advantage of the opportunity to spend 90 minutes on a New England wooden lobster boat known as The Rugosa, which was docked in the Kennubunk River right by our hotel.  The Rugosa travels out of the Kennebunk River, past our resort, and into the open sea...even giving passengers a glimpse of Former President Bush's compound just outside of town.

_MG_7255                           The Nonantum Resort from the river.		_MG_7250                Our room is the last one bottom right-great view!
_MG_7240                    Looking back towards the mouth of the river.		_MG_7213             George H. W. Bush's compound outside Kennebunkport.

On our way to the open sea, we passed some fishermen on the banks of the river...at this point, it didn't look like this guy had been very successful.  I love the way he is silhouetted with the sun behind him.

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During our trip Captain Bob and his crew mate, Matt, gave us the short-course on lobsters:  life cycle, molting, size limits, banding, telling a male from a female, and what it's like to live the life of a lobster fisherman.  The Captain pulled in traps from three different locations, taught us how to band the claws to avoid getting pinched, let us hold the lobsters, and eventually threw them back in the water. It was interesting to learn that for the past couple of years there has been an over-abundance of lobsters, causing the price to drop so much that many lobstermen cannot afford the fuel to go out and fish.  A good thing for the consumer, but tough for those making a living from the lobsters.

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It was a beautiful day to be out on the water, and we saw several other boats taking advantage of the calm, sunny weather.

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