Sunrise on Webb Cove

I have been lucky enough to see many parts of the world. Beautiful locations all across our country and around the globe. Nonetheless,  my favorite environment is that of Webb Cove at a high tide and a sunset. It could be due to me constantly exploring every corner of Webb Cove as a youth and even still today with 5 years of guiding experience. Or it could be because of how sheltered the cove is. With reflecting glass waters on most evenings, I am able to see a mirror of the beautiful sunsets. Or it could be the rich wildlife that greets me on the kayak and the shore. Or the quiet aspects of the evening. The rich history and stories that have evolved in this cove. Or perhaps it is all of these components combined?

I grew up visiting Deer Isle as young as I can remember. So yes I am “from away” like anyone who hasn’t grown up on the island. That’s okay – it doesn’t diminish my love for this place, and I even think many of the locals respect that. I always loved taking the kayaks out to explore Webb Cove. In essence it was my learning ground for kayaking. The sheltered inlets allowed me to explore what I loved about paddling. I quickly learned of the tides after getting stuck in the mudflats once or twice. I would “guide” my friends around the cove to explore different inlets, not yet realizing that later these areas would be my working place. For example, paddling around the abandoned Granite Crane and Kiahs island was always a favorite for me. Sound familiar to others who have joined me in Webb Cove? 

One of the biggest highlights of Webb Cove is how sheltered we are from the elements. Sea kayaking is all about reading the elements of the ocean and learning how to use it to our advantage. We need to know how to shelter and realize you can’t avoid mother nature, you need to appreciate and embrace her.  Webb Cove and our company site at 35 Big Pond Road (Osprey’s Echo Sea Kayaking) – are beautifully placed on the Eastern side of Stonington. We are just outside the Stonington Harbor avoiding the boat traffic just a mile west of us. We are still within a short paddling distance of many of the islands which we visit every day. We are sheltered from the dominant southwest wind in our area. If you get an accumulation of wind and water it creates something called Fetch. These are waves that accumulate with winds. That is why we tend to have our calm scenic evenings on Webb Cove. 

This past September one of our frequent customers had been out paddling on his own after his tour. He had been camping in the archipelago for multiple days and came back every once in a while to resupply at our location. I remember paddling by one time and just seeing him sitting in our cove, waiting patiently, just seemingly enamored by the environment. He later came back to shore where he met with Mike and told him that he had been all over the archipelago and found that the best wildlife spotting was in fact in this cove. As he phrased it: 

“I have been all over the archipelago, you guys have no idea how lucky you are! I have seen more wildlife here, than the rest of my days out there!”

When I returned from leading my tour Mike told me about this conversation.  I was not really surprised to hear it; I always figured we had a hotspot for wildlife. Yet it is nice to hear the wonder and appreciation from our customers. Location is everything and we are lucky. We are operating in an unspoiled environment with little to spoil it. We have mudflats and intertidal zones that provide habitats for many key intertidal species. We have salt marshes that allow smaller fish and birds to flourish. For bird life we have 3-4 osprey nests and a bald eagle’s nest right near us. I have found that sunset tours with the tide receding just after high tide had brought excellent wildlife. On one particular peaceful sunset tour I remember seeing: pogies swarming, seals jumping for fish, osprey’s diving, and porpoises swimming. This was all during a two-hour sunset tour. 

Osprey Diving on Webb Cove

A bit about the history of this area: This past October we had a mother and her son join us for a tour of the cove. Her last name was Webb. She was a descendant of Seth Webb, after whom the cove is named. For those who don’t know, long lineages can be common on this island with many locals counting many generations back. Many islander have ties to the first European settlers on the island. This is a small example of the unique history of Webb Cove. In a way the cove represents many aspects of Deer Isle history. There are fascinating Native American stories in the cove and the area, such as the famous Penobscot Chief Orono who made peace with Seth Webb. The granite industry was dominant in the early days of the island (hence the name Stonington).  The current economic contributions to the area have changed to bait fishing & digging for Mussels and Clams and now to the lobster industry.  

“Location, Location, Location” is a common phrase by our guide trainer Taino Grosjean. Our location on Webb Cove is key in so many ways but of course there are some obstacles. We are not located in a town and so don’t get the advantages of walk-up traffic. Visitors require navigation to find us (we provide multiple texts and emails to make sure our customers have the info they need to prepare for their tours). 

I remember one customer telling me that when they drove down that dirt road they felt nervous as well as excited, never having gone sea kayaking before.   Here’s where we rely on our secret weapon:  

Surrey greets every customer with enthusiasm and communicates clearly the company vibe.  She sets many at ease and gets many others excited for what’s to come.  That’s why Surrey was voted most valuable employee last year (again).

This cove has a rich history. It’s a cove that shows a peaceful setting and relaxed  wildlife even before we set foot in the boat. Webb Cove is sheltered and affords paddlers the opportunity to get comfortable and ready before they head out into the archipelago. It provides me with my favorite environment during sunsets.  

Want to see and learn more about Webb Cove? Book an Eco-tour here.

Sunset over Webb Cove