DoryWoman Rowing

12/08/2025

This is the way to do a sunset in Maine!

Row + OYSTERS!

Freshly shucked and picked up dockside at Marshall Wharf Brewing Company

Row into the setting sun. Drink in Blue Hour Later, tacos from Dos Gatos Gastropub rising almost full 🌕 !!

These women really know how to do vacation in Maine!

Treat yourself to an adventure and culinary experience, all at the same time! Book a Sunset Row with me in August! Offering the special row into the 🍁

My guests found out about me through my listing on the Maine Oyster Trail which of course was the subject of a fantastic story in recently!

Photo of us under the full moon by Capt'n Brody!

11/08/2025

A tale of two Full Moon Rows

One out in the bay. The other upriver.

Sturgeon dreams. Dreaminess all around.

“Passagassawakeag” is a Wabanaki place name and has been understood to mean “place of spearing sturgeon by torchlight,” though there are other interpretations of the meaning of this river. “Place of darkly shaded waters” and “place where the gravel gathers” are other meanings I have heard.

Treats onboard from Vinolio. Delicious GF chexmix and watermelon balsamic spritzers (tasted like jolly rancher candies)!

Full 🌕 Rows are super popular. I offer these year-round. Sept & Oct are booked! I may be adding a second session for each of these months. DM me if you’re interested! Of course, there’s always November and December…🍁❄️



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08/08/2025

Cappuccinos & Seals

Paddleboards & Rowboats

The Barista of the Bay. Scarback!

Does it sound like a movie?

It felt like being in the Secret of the Roan Inish!

Just another day in Belfast Bay. You never know what’s going to happen out here. Come out for a row and find out for yourself!

Regular or decaf?



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02/08/2025

The feeling of seeing yourself, your boat, your guests and your beautiful harbor IN THE TRAVEL SECTION OF THE NY TIMES! 😱🤩

Totally surreal. Totally fabulous!

Pick up your own copy and check it out! I know so many people get their news digitally, myself included, but there’s really something about the tactile experience of reading newsprint. Especially when you’re printed in the news!

WOW!!

Thank you to Danielle Dowling for writing this terrific tale that features several small Maine businesses in the aquaculture & tourism industry. And to the for featuring this story in the section!
And for the stellar photography! She is a talent to behold.

There’s lots of summer left. Get it while it’s hot! Come out for a row. Support businesses on the learn about aquaculture and eat some oysters. Come out for a row with me WITH some oysters! See my Sunset Row on my DWR website for more details.

As if this wasn’t enough, we were surrounded on my row this morning by two porpoises! Maybe they were trying find out what all the hubbub was about? 😂

01/08/2025

August has begun with some exciting news! The article about the Maine Oyster Trail featuring yours truly and other wonderful small businesses in Maine will be featured in the TRAVEL SECTION OF THE NYT TOMORROW, SATURDAY 8/2!

I am SOO excited about this! Not every story gets published in their print edition. The story has been doing well online, I’m told, and it will be in the newspaper tomorrow!

Pick up your copy and spread the word! And support businesses both on and off that trail!

THANK YOU The New York Times and The New York Times - Travel for sharing this story!! And to staff writer Danielle Dowling for doing this story and photojournalist Greta Rybus for capturing such freakin’ awesome images!

That's Veronica and Todd of Vinolio in the photo montage, who were my guests on my Sunset Row that was photographed so beautifully by Greta. Thank you also to Mylisa Vowles for the wonderful capture of all of us in my dory!

31/07/2025

SEAL UPDATE! The young harbor seal that tried to jump in my boat two days ago has been hanging around the Belfast City public landing. It was seen on a float, the docks and yesterday, the beach next to the breakwater.

Several people have been keeping an eye on it and noticing that the seal looked like it was not thriving. They also noticed that there was something wrong with one of its eyes, possible sickness or blindness.

A friend of mine texted me a photo of the seal yesterday, at the docks that morning. So naturally, I went down to see if it was still there. It wasn’t. I reached out to Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic to check in. Other people had reported the seal.

AW said the seal was now on the beach and a concerned person was keeping watch. I was asked if I could help load the seal in a carrier into the car of a staff member of Marine Mammals of Maine who was headed to Belfast. Of course, I would help!

I went to the beach and the seal wasn’t there. We looked around for the seal together and then saw it return to the beach.

The tide was coming in and the beach was disappearing. Even still, the little seal settled in for a nap. It turned on its side and then belly up while it rested. Concerns were expressed that the seal’s condition was worsening. It’s not normal for a young seal to be out of the water so much and in such a public place. Or to try and jump in a boat!

The tide kept coming in. We kept waiting. The seal woke up and slipped back in the water. We looked around for it but couldn’t find it. I informed AW and were told that they were standing down until the seal reappeared. Waiting for seals takes patience!

My sense was the seal might head upriver. The tide was still coming in. I walked down to my dock. I had a feeling the seal was around there somewhere. I looked around, but didn’t see it.

It was a hot day so I headed out to my favorite swim spot. On my way there, I heard from Allied Whale that the seal been been picked up by MMoME. It was at Front Street Shipyard, on the shore, near my boat!

I’m so glad this little seal is now being cared for by people who know seals! Watch this space for updates and follow MMoME!



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29/07/2025

We had a visitor today on my workout row!

A very young harbor seal approached my dory and then, tried to jump in!

As much as I may have wanted to help this adorable young seal, the right thing to do was to row away from it.

If it had succeeded in jumping in the boat on its own, I would’ve let it rest, which is likely what it was trying to do.

When I got back to shore, I contacted the good people at Allied Whale at the College of the Atlantic who manage seal strandings in this region, north of Rockland and up the coast. I shared photos and these video clips with them. They confirmed it was not a baby but rather a weanling and that it looked healthy. They said all young seals are generally weaned by this time in the summer. The seal was swimming and likely looking for a place to rest!

They said seals at the age are like teenagers and they’re trying to figure out a lot, including when and where to haul out. This one seemed to think my dory was a good spot!

I went out again later and looked for that little seal and did not find it. I also informed a friend who lives along that shoreline to be on the watch out for it. She did not see it either.

I hope that little seal is finding its way in its watery world.

I’ve had something like this happen only one other time before, two years ago, where a young weanling harbor seal approached my boat and swam under it. It popped up on the other side, looked at us and then swam away. But nothing like this!

This experience was extraordinary, beautiful and slightly heart-wrenching. But isn’t that how it is, watching young ones make their way in the world?

It’s important to keep your distance from seals, at least 150 ft. It’s against federal law to touch or harm seals or other marine mammals in any way. If you’re in Maine and happen to see a seal that looks ill, thin or wounded contact Marine Mammals of Maine or Allied Whale, depending on your region! They are wonderful, skilled and caring folks. I’m grateful for the work they do, along with their insights and guidance. Consider making a donation to these organizations to help support this important work!



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28/07/2025

The week before last was all about the fog but this week…all about the 🌞

Perfect start to and the 🦁 New Moon!

The 3rd week of July was full of sparkly water, sparkly people, pogies popping, perfect sunsets and a pup in the boat!

We’re at the midpoint of summer. Lots of good days left! Lots of good times to be had in my dory. Book your row TODAY! www.dorywomanrowing.com



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23/07/2025

Holy Hera! That that’s me and my dory featured in The New York Times - Travel😮

So honored to be part of this wonderful story about the Maine Oyster Traill along with some terrific other Maine businesses!

The story was published online on July 4 and is now featured in NYT Travel! The amazing photos are by the SO talented Greta Rybus

Will it be in print? I hope so! Stay tuned.

Who's with me in the boat? Todd & Veronica Sazera of Vinolio. Check out their wonderful shop in downtown Belfast. AND they offer oyster tastings on Thursday nights!

Summer’s in full swing! 🌞 Experience the delights of the season by supporting small businesses in Maine ➡️ Visit an oyster farm, sample delicious oysters and row a dory in Penobscot Bay! DID YOU KNOW oysters are available on my Sunset Row 🦪😋🌅!!

Thank you to journalist Danielle Dowling and NYT Travel for this feature! Read the story here: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/04/travel/maine-oyster-trail.html