Skip to main content

Other Plans

Image
By

Good morning everyone, We are anchored up here in Mackerel Cove,
Swan's I for the first time this year. We arrived to see the "Earl
of Swan's" standing on his porch waving. I had sent him a packet
this winter and never heard back so I was a little nervous about the
possibilities. Just 26 days shy of his 91st birthday I don't believe
Earl plans very far ahead. He was quite pleased to see us and
granted his permission to let us anchor in his sunset view. He sent
a very full bouquet of lilacs back for Mary. Guests that visited
Earl with me found him as charming as could be and left him with big
hugs from the ladies. Earl just grinned.

So this is a lighthouse cruise short though it may be. With a toad
soaker of a forecast for Wednesday we were very surprised to see the
wall of rain pass north and south but leave us largely alone until
the days end. With the wind easterly all this time we have been
hard pressed to see too many lighthouses. Curtis, Eagle, Pumpkin,
Blue Hill and a distant glimpse of Bass Harbor Head are all that we
have noted. Tomorrow we will set out in earnest to bag a whole bunch
more. Seems as though the wind has had other plans for us. I used
to fight the wind more than I do these days. It is sometimes
difficult for this captain to appreciate the mystery. I can only say
that we are delivering exactly what we advertised..."see lighthouses
from the decks of a traditional schooner just as they would have many
years ago". Well the wind was no more or less "cooperative" then
than it is now.

Yesterday was also a big day as we made our first transit under the
Deer Isle bridge and the crew was some impressive. We cleared with
inches to spare on the top of a spring tide. Molly and Rob rode the
mastheads. A big cheer for the crew. Sara says.. hey Mama! She is
doing a great job as chief mate.

Have a great day. Be well. Do good.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Mama says -----Hey Sara!
June 7, 2008 at 4:32 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hail Mary

By
My heart is heavy with sadness as I write this particular blog. Since the beginning of August our dear friend and cook for the last 12 years, Mary Barney, had been struggling with cancer. I have intentionally respected Mary’s privacy and I apologize to you for not sharing any news about Mary’s health sooner. On Monday afternoon Mary passed away very peacefully at home, surrounded by friends and “family”. Her departure was as graceful as the rest of her life. Many people, including Jen, have been doing heroic work to support Mary these last few weeks. Oddly enough Mary was never very excited about transitions though this was about the fastest transition she ever made. And as I struggle to let go of Mary I realize I am terrible with transitions as well. We used to joke about how we liked things just the way they are, thank you very much, so why change what is working already even if it might be less labor intensive. Hard works is its own reward. I used to joke about getting Mary a Cui...
28 comments
Read more

Swimming Anyone?

By
Good morning everyone. Winter is still here in New England though it seems to be taking a rest these days. We have enjoyed a little bit of a thaw. We still have snow covering our field but it is thinning out in the sunny patches. Mary Day rests comfortably in the harbor, bilges dry, cover intact, waiting for the crew to return. Another busy week has passed so I will get you up to speed on everything that is happening here at the global headquarters. Jen is putting the finishing touches on year end taxes. Blockfest 2008 is finally finished. The blocks have received quite the massaging. And while we have the off-white paint out we are starting in on the lifeline stanchions, the davits, and a few other miscellaneous parts. Alex asked me last night how we were doing with our pace. We are doing great but in the back of my mind I know that there is never enough time to do it all. Having perfectionist tendencies is a curse. I want to do it all and know we will never have enough time. There se...
6 comments
Read more

Fall Maintenance

By
Good morning everyone. The sun has been kind to us these past few days and the crew has been spending much time aloft prepping and painting the mast heads and tarring the rig as part of our annual fall maintenance schedule. They were a little silly on tar fumes by the end of the day hence the rat board dance moves. Am I the only one who is reminded of Willy Wonka's little friends at the sight of the crew in their tyvek suits? Schoona-loompas? The smell of tar, after all, is what we sailors live for. Extracted from the stumps and roots of pine trees through dry distillation pine tar will cure what ails you especially some skin conditions and any emotional maladies from being too long away from the sea. All we know for sure is that Mary Day’s rigging is kept hail and hearty by coats of tar mixed with boiled linseed oil. Notice that I specified boiled linseed oil and not raw linseed oil. Tar mix with raw linseed oil will not “kick”. Don’t ask me how I know this… just take my wo...
5 comments
Read more