Sugarloaves
Fox Islands Thorougfare
North Haven, Maine
November 20, 2004 | 3:15 p.m.

I was headed back to the city after Memorial Day in Maine when the contrails of jets headed to New York and Boson made the perfect contrast to this decidely unspoiled, remote scene.

The most impressive mid-channel obstacle on the ferry route from North Haven to Rockland on the mainland is the Sugarloaves, pictured here. I'm not sure the etymology -- if that's even the right word in this instance -- of the big rock formations, but I do know they've been used by kids every summer as an exotic spot to motor out to and climb around for a while. I myself have never been on them; they've always held some great intrigue for me, but it's a scary sort of mystery that has kept me away.