Day 5
I was up with the sun and it was quite a morning. Remembering my thoughts of a swim, I jumped in the water, taking care to set my camera's self-timer first. Then did the same before brushing my teeth.

Breakfast, then explore the island. There are trails here and the owners are having large parts of the island cleared to restore sheep pastures. I took the trail to a cleared hilltop with a spectacular view.

Then back to camp, packed up and back in the boat.

My destination was home: Rockland, about 10 miles across Penobscot Bay. I headed out onto glassy water that stayed glassy as I passed Great Spruce Head Island, then crossed to Islesboro and a private island to its south, where I pulled out onto a beach for lunch.

I was ready to go back to civilization but still relishing the wilderness, the solitude, the self-reliance.

Back on the water, I came around the south side of the island and saw Camden and her hills across the water. The waves were up again, about two feet, and wind was blowing in my face. I crossed toward Camden, then turned south as I got close to shore. I was tired and considered going straight to Camden or Rockport, finding a friend who would drive me home to Rockland for my car. But I fought that off.

By the time I got to Rockland Light, my hands were shrivelled and waterlogged and beginning to cramp up. But the waves once again subsided as I came into the harbor. I was home.