I Like The Night Life

I still haven't purchased a Flickr professional account so that I can post photos of all of the awesome adventures I've been on this summer in and around Maine but, as on this most recent adventure I forgot my camera, there's nothing to miss.

When we first moved to Maine, I read Elizabeth Peavey's book Maine & Me and even posted about it before. After reading it, I forwarded some links to my husband with birthday wishes and he listened, signing us up for a nighttime sea kayaking adventure where we would be able to see bioluminescent dinoflagellates.

As it turned out, he was able to book the last one of the year just a few days before my birthday through the same company that Elizabeth used, Castine Kayak. We were instructed to get there at 6pm so that we could get suited up before dark. We planned to leave Portland around 2pm so we could get there with enough time to spare.

As is usual, we were late. Although, this time, our lateness was epic. Read: ONE HOUR LATE. Needless to say, by the time we arrived, I felt like the world's biggest asshole, making us so late that we likely missed the departure of the entire group. With Castine in sight, we flew through the small roads into town and frantically tried to find the wharf where the tour was located. When we walked into the office on Eaton's Wharf, tears threatening to spring forth from my eyes, we were met by an extremely forgiving woman named Karen who was still willing to take us out despite the fact that we were tardy beyond belief.

After getting us suited up in waterproof windbreakers, water resistant kayak skirts and life jackets, Karen took us out to the pier and taught us how to get into the double boat, how to get out of a capsize, and how to move through the water. And then we were off, out into the open water, the stars above us, the lights of the dock and the houses on the shore disappearing behind us. Once we made it out to the dark pocket of Hatch's Cove, we could see exploding around our oars small, bright white flecks that looked like sparklers under the water. Occasionally, they would cling to our oars or our hands or light up in the wake of our boats. There, in the darkness and stillness of the bay, with the water aglow and the moon low in the sky behind us, was such a magical experience, one of those once-in-a-lifetime kind of adventure that I will remember forever.

Neither of us had any real kayak experience but Karen made us completely comfortable and, despite the harsh winds that day, the harbor was smooth and easy. We used red lights on our boats so that we could find one another in the dark, though she never ventured very far from us and even managed to avoid us deftly when we seemed hell-bent on hitting her. After two hours, neither of us felt tired or sore and we came out of the boat completely dry. I only wish we had more time to explore Castine, perhaps have stayed at one of the bed and breakfasts in town and spent some time on the water during the day. Castine Kayak provides more extensive sea kayaking training as well as overnights and half-day trips, all of which would have been wonderful to try. Castine is also home to two museums: Castine Historical Society and the Wilson Museum. It is also the home to the Maine Maritime Academy which appeared to have a beautiful campus as we whizzed past it in our frenzy to find the tour company.

I am so thankful that I have a husband who wanted to do something wonderful for me for my birthday and even more thankful that Karen was so gracious and accommodating. I certainly didn't deserve it but it was perfect. I wish everyone could have the same wonderful experience, adrift on the ocean under the cloak of darkness with electrifying single-celled organisms for the most excellent of company.

Read more after the jump.