TOOTHACHER BAY — Tuesday aboard Mary Day was welcomed with blueberry pancakes and crispy bacon, and word that a saw-whet owl had called nearly all night Monday from the shore of Marshall Island.

Monday's day-long sail took the schooner Mary Day across 51 nautical miles of ocean, southeast out of Camden, south of Isle au Haut and then northeast to Marshall Island, west of Swans Island.

The guests and crew aboard the schooner spent Monday night anchored off Marshall Island, to which many of the passengers were taken ashore after breakfast.

Maine Coast Heritage Trust's Ed Woodsum Preserve encompasses the island, which also offers two-night campsites by reservation. The Preserve includes all 985-acres of the island, and is one of the largest undeveloped islands on America's eastern seaboard, according to the MCHT.

Since acquiring the island, through funding from private donors and the Land for Maine's Future program, MCHT has developed 10 miles of hiking trails through and around the island. In addition to the trails, which wind through the woods and meadows and around the rocky shoreline, the southeastern shore offers a beach within Sand Cove, which is popular for both recreational boaters and residents of nearby communities.

The island is predominantly covered with spruce species, and is home to numerous bird species, including migratory visitors, resident songbirds and an active bald eagle nest.

Marshall Island also has a network of interconnected wetlands, offering nature lovers the chance to see a variety of flora.

With their need to stretch their legs and capture some more photographs satiated, the island visitors were delivered back to the Mary Day, sails were set and the anchor lifted for more sailing.

The destination would ultimately be the southwest side of Mt. Desert Island, which also provided views of Blue Hill and Cadillac Mountain.

As the sun began to set, the aroma of the evening's family style dinner wafted to the deck and encouraged the hungry masses below into the main salon.

This six-day sailing excursion includes featured guests Jim Dugan of Rockland, a professional photographer, and Erika Carlson-Rhile of Cape Elizabeth, a Maine Master Naturalist.

After leading a group of hikers around Marshall Island late Tuesday morning, Carlson-Rhile gave a talk and PowerPoint presentation about Maine's plants, birds and sealife.

Having a naturalist on board offers opportunities to learn and ask many questions, and get clarification on things like whether barnacles move and relocate like hermit crabs and the differences between the species of seaweed seen.

Tuesday's sail took the Mary Day past Long Island and close to Sedgwick, before the schooner turned around and headed back east toward MDI and Sawyer Cove for the night's anchorage.

Where will we end up Wednesday? Nobody knows, but we're always assured that Capt. Barry King knows how to get there.

Related story:

Day 1
• Sailing aboard schooner Mary Day: Puffins, baggywrinkle and Mary Barney’s Parmesan haddock

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or 706-6655.