The May Mystery Harbor is Bass Harbor in Tremont, Maine! If there ever was a place to be on Mount Desert Island during even the crowded summer season, this is it. The yellow roof on the right marks Thurston’s Lobster, my favorite place on the island to get a seafood lunch with a view. Just out of frame on either side is the busy working waterfront of Bernard, and across the harbor is the ferry terminal to Swans Island and Frenchboro, both great day trips.
Ryan Bassett
Colorado Springs, Colo.
It’s on my walk
The yellow awning of Thurston’s Lobster Pound, which leads to their dock out back, is the first clue as to the identity of this location: It’s Bass Harbor. You can see the ferry terminal that goes to Swans Island in the distance. I recognize it because I live in the area and frequently walk around the harbor and go to Thurston’s when they are open during the “season.”
Debra Spressart
The last primarily fishing harbor in all of MDI
I may be late to the party, but wanted to tell you about good ol’ Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island, my former homeport. It’s the last primarily fishing harbor in all of MDI. Pleasure boaters may be tolerated depending on the style of boat and captain’s attitude.
Here we’re looking east from the shore of Bernard, one of the town of Tremont’s four villages. (The old families here would claim there are more than that.) The Swans Island and Frenchboro ferry dock on the opposite shore is getting some crane work done.
The yellow awning is part of the great Thurston’s restaurant (a real throw-back to old-school Maine “lobster pound” restos), which shares space with one of the harbor’s two lobster wholesalers. A small part of the lobster boat fleet is off the float with many more up-harbor.
On the opposite shore to far left is the rebuilt version of the former Underwood cannery wharf. The massive brick building reminds many of the historic Maine sardine fishery, re-done some years ago as condos for summer people.
The Bernard shore, along with so much of the coast, took a helluva beating in this winter’s three serious windstorms. Lots of work still to do. That’s extra reason to appreciate fine summer days around truly salty harbors.
Best regards from MDI,
Mark Sullivan
Southwest Harbor, Maine