Final Post of the Season

     How quickly the season changed.
     "One hour after the pirate festival ends in Eastport, you could shoot a cannon down the main street and not hit a soul." commented Bob the owner of the Eastport Chowder House.
 As I looked down the hill leading to the breakwater it was obvious that the town had emptied.  Oh, there were still a few tourists and the local lobstermen were still moving boats around the harbour, plying their trade but there was a definite chill in the air and you could easily wander down the center of the street and not worry about the occasional car that would creep up behind you. They would smile, wave and likely stop beside you to talk.
     It was time to put Doc's Holiday in dry dock for the winter.  At $4.00 a gallon for fuel it would be more expensive to take her to Florida for the winter than to put her into winter storage.  Besides, there were other places like Grand Mannan Island, the Saint John river (through the 22 foot reversing falls), Casco Bay, Penobscot Bay, and many islands with their unique flora and fauna that would be interesting to explore. In particular Machias Seal Island has a population of arctic puffins that really are a must see.  They have blinds set up that you can enter and get pictures of puffins landing and strutting not more than 10 feet away from the viewing windows.

                                                            Sail Rock and Quoddy Light

     An intrepid crew including my step son Nicholas, my brother-in-law Danny Kennedy, and my good friend Marshall Lucas set off with a very narrow weather window of one day.  For a few weeks now there had been a noticeable change in the weather.  Temperatures had dropped down to the high 30's at night and 50's to 70's during the day, not cold for a Canadian but the rains were more frequent and of most concern, the winds were increasing.
     When we set out from Eastport it was a sunny cool morning, comfortable to navigate from the upper helm. We cruised by the Eastport and Lubec docks and throttled up a little to push against the easing but incoming tide in the Lubec narrows. We passed seals and dolphins as we rounded Sail Rock and turned the boat south into the slow incoming swells from the Atlantic. The winds were predicted to change to the southwest later and this would make the multitude of lobster floats in Southwest Harbor difficult to see, so I decided to bring the Detroit Diesels up to full speed and temperature. It was full throttle ahead....  14 knots against the tide, 16 knots with the tide.  We were flying down the coast.  Even though we spotted dolphins and one whale, there was no time to stop.  The weather forecast had changed and bad weather would be hitting us earlier than predicted.
      I was only going to keep the boat up on plane to cut down a couple of hours running time but the motors stabilized at their operating temperatures of 185 degrees on the port motor and 190 degrees on the starboard motor and the boat hummed along without a hiccup.  We turned what would be a 10 hour trip into a 5 hour trip and entered Southwest Harbor just before the wind turned the waves into a chop that would have made the lobster floats difficult to avoid.

                                                                          On  Plane

                                                                             

     Hinckley Yachts in Southwest Harbor was anxious to expand the service side of their business and they had indoor heated storage large enough to accommodate many yachts the size of Doc's Holiday.  I wouldn't have to worry about snow freezing, piling up and possibly sinking the boat.  I wouldn't have to worry about water lines freezing, and I would be able to get the necessary service of the motors and systems so that the boat would be ready to cruise next summer.  If you have ever seen the wood work on a Hinckley yacht you would understand why I wanted them to varnish the wood during her lay up.  They would have all winter to touch up the flaking non-skid paint on the decks and bring the wood to that foot deep shine they are  noted for putting on their yachts.

 

                                                            Hinckley can handle Big Yachts

                                                                                    

                                                                    salt  eats zincs!                                                                                                                                                                 


    We watched anxiously as they lifted Doc's Holiday up into the sling.  It was obvious they were very experienced with larger yachts.  As soon as they had her out,  I inspected the bottom. " Not a ding on either prop!" I exclaimed.  Maybe I had finally learned to avoid the obstacles below the water...at least for this season!  My jaw dropped when I checked the zincs.  One on the shaft was almost gone and the zincs on the back of the boat were very thin, even though they were new in January when we left Galveston.  In Beaumont these zincs lasted at least 3 years, probably because we were in fresh water.  Obviously in the warm salt water of the southeast these would have to be replaced yearly.

                                                                                     
                                                  Magnesium anodes on stabilizers

     As they placed Doc's Holiday on stands a feeling of anguish swept over me. My boat, my home , my party place for the last decade,  my focus, was ending. Every change in the weather, a tropical depression as far away as the mid-Atlantic, the direction of the wind, the height of the tide,  all caused me to direct my attention and care to my boat.  An era was ending.!  Now, I  personally would not be able to keep her safe for the next 6 months.  I am trusting Hinckley Yachts to nurture her the way I have done in the past,  through 4 hurricanes and numerous thunder storms.

                                                                                  

     My major goals, getting the boat home to down east Maine to take my grandson Blake and my aging best friend Jay Hinson for a cruise were accomplished.
     My retirement goal is not accomplished.  Maybe, I'm just not ready for retirement.  Maybe, it's my love of learning and teaching and keeping up with advancements in my field.  Maybe it's my "type A" personality,  but I am feeling non-productive, somewhat aimless, and now wanting to pay for the upgrades to the boat without having to dip into savings,  I am searching for a seasonal job in Naples, Florida. 
    The cruise has been a significant learning experience,  much more difficult than I had envisioned, mainly ( I think) because of the pressures due to the goals I had set (getting here before anything untoward happened to Blake or Jay). The trip turned more into a "delivery", than a cruise.  Pushing to get here has soured Beth on cruising to the point that she refused to join me in taking the boat south this winter.  Even when I threatened to get a bikini clad crew the response was, "Go for it!"
     Maybe next season I can slow down and "stop to smell the roses".
     What does the future hold?  There is an ember of an idea starting to glow in my alleged brain. (Oh! Ralphie! not Cape Breton and the Bras d'or Lakes!)  What kind of adventures, imbroglios, vicissitudes are in store for Doc's Holiday next season??
      This is the final blog entry for 2012.
       I hope y'all have had a few laughs and enjoyed the adventure. If so, please feel free to leave your comments for all to enjoy.
    
    

Eastport Pirate Festival-not for the faint of heart!

     This would be the 7th year for this growing event and it would start with a bang! We were going to raid, plunder and pillage the nearby coastal village,  Lubec. This was already part of the pirate festival tradition. As a gathering crew of suitably dressed pirates, ships and motorcycles steeled their courage with morning "Mimosas" at the Chowder House restaurant, the inhabitants of Lubec were priming their water pistols and filling their water balloons in anticipation of the impending raid.  Little did they know, new and experienced pirates were in town, and we would have a surprise for them.. Yes, Doc's Holiday would be bringing their own version of a pirate raid to Lubec. With the experience of attending "Contraband Days" (the inhabitants of Louisiana celebrate the days when our brother pirate Jean Lafitte raided, plundered and pillaged  the then village of Lake Charles, Louisiana)  we would wind up winning first place (and $100) in the best dressed  pirate ship.  Let me not get ahead of myself.  Argggh! First the raid on Lubec!

                                                                            
                               " HMS Bounty" at the dock in Eastport for Pirate Festival

     At 7:30 am we docked at the wharf in front of the Chowder House restaurant with the anticipation of taking on crew. Instead, we joined others on a smaller quicker vessel that could lead the raid into the  Lubec dock.  As the barrels of water balloons were placed on the "Bob" boat the ice chest was filled with essentials...beer, wine and of course mimosas. Beth and I stealthily hid our surprise in anticipation of all the little children waiting with their tiny water pistols and balloons. We heard the motorcycle raiders fire up the Harley's and squeal their tires leaving the dock, as we launched our ships.  We would be the first foray to distract the inhabitants while the pirate bikers entered the town from the rear.
     Arrrgh! a beautiful day for a raid but our pulses began to race when we saw the throng of residents awaiting our arrival at the town dock.  The first pass, we softened them up with  well placed water balloons and we were met with a barrage of balloons in return, that nigh on almost sunk our boat.  We turned and instead of sailing by for a second pass our devious captain flung us into the dock and all hands poured over the side as water balloon after water balloon took its toll on some of the mates.  The children obviously having partaken of too much grog forged toward us with their puny water pistols until we pulled out our surprise weapons.....Water Cannons!...Ya! Water Cannons!....these weapons would shoot up to 60 feet... almost a half gallon at a push....the little ones looked like they just stepped out of the shower!!! Argggh! They fell back as we advanced and made sure we hit some of their guardians as well!  We had to turn and run back to the ocean to refill the cannons and just as the crowd thought, that's it, that's as far as they can go.....our biker contingent roared in through the throng, smoking up the whole village with hand held flares and fireworks thick enough to darken the sky. With all the bike noise even some of the raiding party got confused and wound up terrorizing the local drinking establishments instead of pillaging the village!   Arggh! What's a good pirate to do.....the only thing we could do...we joined in devouring the towns victuals and grog!

                                                                         
                                                          Ralph, Beth and John  

       It would seem that some of us had more grog then victuals as I was informed later that my wife had ridden off with a motorcycle pirate, and his wife would now become one of the wenches on the return ship! Arrgh! I don't remember this happening at Contraband!  Oh well!  different pirate war! As long as there is grog, a good pirate knows what to do! Like the t-shirt said, "Rum is the answer!...What was the question?"
     The sail back was filled with merriment, more grog and an occasional water balloon between pirate ships (never trust a pirate!) until the captain decided to play in the spinning eddies of the whirlpool "Old Sow". The wench I was given, got light headed supposedly from Old Sow but likely from the grog. 
     The captain returned us to the chowder house dock where I learned that some hour before, other wenches had made use of the swim platform on my boat. Arrgh!  I missed it! Four of them decided to show their fortitude by jumping into the frigid water....one fully clothed, one lightly clothed, one bare chested and one with just her bikini thongs on!  Arrgh! I wasn't their to prevent their scurrilous act and so far no one has come forth with pictures!   Arrgh!  Next year!

                                                                          
 The Harlots Patty and Wendy, the Fledgling child pirate Faith, the Jackal Nick, the Pirate Captain Ralph and the Scurvy Dog Dan assembling for the parade.     

     The merriment continued for the next week and the following weekend was the big festival: many displays and pirates demonstrating cutlass sword fighting, riotous dancing moves, best looking pirate and best looking wenches contest, plays about the trials of female pirates, and pirates wandering around everywhere.  When I saw one with a sign saying "SELL YOUR CHILDREN!" I quickly grabbed our grandaughter Faith by the hand and tried to strike a true pirates deal.
 "Lets get a couple of gold doubloons for you, than I will steal you back and we will split the booty!" but she was having none of it and quickly ran to hug the leg of that snivelling jackal... Nick,.her father! Arggh! He later tried to do it for himself...only stopped by the glare of his harlot wife ...the child's mother, Wendy!  Well it was good pirate fun....the air was filled with Argggh's!... most of them emanating from that scurvy  brother-in-law of mine Dangerous Dan Kennedy and his cold hearted harlot  wife Patty....cut you to the quick in a second, she will! Arggh!
   Sunday was the pirate boat parade that I am proud to say Doc's Holiday won hands down....or should I say "Hands Up" because as we made our pass across the front of the wharf in our full pirate battle dress we loaded up the water cannons to make sure the gawkers got a taste of what we delivered to Lubec....but...this is apparently not why we won the contest!  "Twas the little girl!! I was told. Yes, she was so cute sitting on the sun pads and waving her little cutlass in the air and screaming... Arggh!

                                                                              

                                                                                 
     Blimey! I guess the family that pirates together: stays together.  Arggh!
     The boat parade was followed by the lobster boat races.  The pirates were thrilled to see a super alcohol driven lobster boat explode with a rush of blue smoke from the over revved engine.  When they called for all diesel boats for the final race I turned Doc's Holiday toward the start line but with a cutlass held to my throat the wench Beth nixed the plan.   Oh well.....next year!

                                                                                                                                             
                                                            Lobster Boat Races                                      

The Kids are Grown? and Back Home!

     During the entire cruise from Texas I had visualized the scenes of coming home: my grandson Blake sitting on my knee driving the boat; my dear friends Jay Hinson and Marshall Lucas beside me at the helm listening to the stereo that is so exquisite, "we could hear the saliva dripping from the jazz saxophone!"; the giggling, squeeling and laughter from our grandchildren Faith, Kathleen, Blake and Joey; inhaling the cool fresh healing salt air from Passamaquoddy Bay; and revelling in the majesty of the most amazing tapestry of colour, as the thick sea smoke retreated back out to the ocean when the sun rose in the morning; but what I hadn't imagined, was the impact of the beauty of down east Maine on our children, now grown and returning with their loved ones who had never seen this part of the world before.

                                                                           
                                                               RJ and Alisa  

                                                            Nick and Wendy    

                                                                                                                                                                   

     Alisa, RJ's wife was at times solemn, pensive and enthralled by the beauty and power of the water and islands of Passamaquoddy Bay.  She relayed to us that she had a "moment" (an epiphany) during our passage through Little Letitte Passage on our way to Pendleton Island. She described it as a feeling of complete calmness, oneness, of feeling and being in the moment.  She could now understand why people went boating...it was just so... relaxing...so beautiful.  To this successful and accomplished physician with a career in Dermatopathology, used to making, explaining and teaching about the diagnosis and treatment of life threatening skin cancers and dealing with the hospital related pressures of her work world, this excursion into the beauty and calm of a down east Maine summer was a true mental panacea.
     As for her husband, our son......it was a return to the wholesomeness of his youth.  His brother Nick quickly challenged him to a jump off the top of the boat into the frigid 50 degree water ("only that warm on the top!" according to a squeeling RJ).  RJ was quick to respond with a challenge of "Oh Ya! all the way to the beach and back!"....their squeeling and cursing had all of us on the boat crying with laughter...especially when they realized they had to swim back to the boat!...see video!

                                                                                     
                      RJ and Nick swim to Pendleton Island Beach....blast from the past!!!

                                                                  
         As if they did not have enough.....now from the fly bridge.... only 25 years later!              

     Although their stay was short, they got to spend time with their nieces and nephews and even ran into some old friends as they strolled through the Calais downtown street fair.  The visit left them with a taste for more; so we hope they will be able to find more time in their heavy professional schedule to visit soon.  RJ and Alisa we all miss you and hope you can start "coming home" more often.  

                                                                                
                                                               A Moment.......

cruising the St. Croix River Valley

     It has been difficult to keep up with the blog while entertaining friends and family, not only whale watching, but relearning the waters of passamaquoddy bay.What a treat reliving our younger days cruising the St. Croix river from Calais, Me {St. Stephen, N.B.} to Eastport, Me.  In the 22 foot cruiser with which we used to ply these waters, the currents were easy to handle, but now are an issue, especially when trying to dock. 

                                                                 Calais low tide
                                                                            

Calais High Tide

St. Stephen  low tide

St. Stephen, High Tide

     Marshall Lucas and I had all the bumpers and lines placed as we approached the Calais dock with trepidation.  Beth was waiting to insure the lines were quickly wrapped around the cleats, but I had miscalculated the tide and instead of arriving at full slack tide we were late by about 45 minutes and the tide and current were running at least 8 knots! Beth deftly wrapped the spring line but  without bow and  stern thrusters and the wind and current  pushing us hard away from the dock, it was all I could do to get the aft and nose 4 feet from the dock! The floating dock was actually cross ways to the constant 4 knot current and the tide was running at at least 4 knots!  Three of us could only pull Doc's Holiday to within 3 feet of the dock, but we were tied in. We patiently waited until  low slack tide and with the strength added by a few celebratory cocktails, we easily pulled the boat up  tight to the dock.
     Calais is worth the effort to visit.  The free floating dock is handy to several small parks, the down town park has a free concert every Tuesday evening, there is a "Heritage Centre" run by the Passamaquoddy Indians. several eateries and pubs and a local Nappa store (for those who need parts or repairs) are all within a 3 block radius. On top of that the bridge to Canada is within walking distance, giving one access to all the Canadian shops, souvenirs and for those of you who love chocolate, Ganongs chocolate factory. Just remember to bring your passport so you can walk back into the good ole u.s.a.
     On talking with the Calais city manager Diane Barnes, and her assistant Jim Porter, it was obvious that they see the water front and  attracting cruising boats as something worth developing.  My suggestion was to add a source of water, 50 amp electric, place a few stout moorings, and cruisers will come. Yes it is a challenge to time the tide, narrows and current, but that really is even more reason for them to head up to what is essentially a unique down home safe protected destination point.

                                                                 Hands across the Border
                                                                 ( click on pic to enlarge)

     International Festival officially started with a ceremony in the middle of Ferry Point Bridge with the pomp and pageantry of flags and the official hand shake across the border between the two mayors.  We joined in with a loud blast from Doc's Holidays' air horns.  You can find a list of all the activities scheduled for the next two weeks on Google- Calais International Homecoming Festival, but I want to mention one we attended. A Celtic music group called "Ashlin".... a group of 5 girls from St. John's Newfoundland  aged 17 to 24 who by the way, still live in the same house to which they were born (with one bathroom! one of the girls quipped).  They just returned from a tour in Ireland and had one more stop before they were to return to school in Newfoundland.  The youngest was still in High School and  the others were enrolled in business degree and music degree courses at Memorial University in St. John's.  This is a talented up and coming group that you will no doubt hear about in the future and is indicative of the  unique quality entertainment Calais and the International Festival is acquiring.
   Many friends dropped in to say hello and take pictures of the boat. A visit from my former employee, Tammy Davis, was especially appreciated as we relived fun and challenging times we had during our very busy office medical practice.
   Knowing that more family would be arriving from Montana and will want to go whale watching off  Campobello, we decided to take the boat back to Eastport to await their arrival.  Brother in law Danny Collins and his daughters Emma and Molly thought this would be a great time to try some Mackerel fishing but the fog closed in before we could get to try, so we quickly tied up and headed to the wharf where Molly and I caught our first fish...ever!  In fact we caught three at the same time.  For those of you who haven't fished for Mackerel  all it takes is rigging up three colorful hooks on the same line...they will bite at anything that moves!  Fun and very tasty if cooked right, but Danny was going to use them for baiting bear this season!

                                                                       Four at a time

The Reason for Coming Home Now

                         
                                      3300 miles... and....this one moment.....made it all 
                                                              worthwhile!
                     
    One of the major reasons for bringing the boat home is my grandson, Blake.   At age 5 Blake was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a particularly nasty form of brain cancer.  He underwent 12 hours of brain surgery and over the last two years has withstood the horrors of full spinal cord radiation treatment, full course chemotherapy, a centrally placed venous access device and a peg tube (a feeding tube place directly through his abdominal wall into his stomach). He has overcome his post surgical imbalance and incooridantion  and though frail is still able to laugh and joke and sit on his Pappa's knee and drive the boat. Two years ago when I was holding him he asked if he could go for a ride on my boat...I promised him yes..... we went for that ride this weekend.

                                                                                   
                                                                                  

                                                                             

                                                                                  
    I honestly didn't think I would be able to fulfil that promise, but as I cuddled him in my arms and sat him on my knee to drive the boat this weekend, I felt extremely fortunate to be able to be with him and thankful for the Canadian Medical System that achieved such a great result.
   As the grandchildren, Kathleen, Joey and little Miss Faith tore through the boat giggling, laughing and wowing at the seals, porpoises and one whale they saw blowing, their parents kept their promise to not get sea sick and seemed equally thrilled to see the bay of Fundy from a boat perspective.
     We anchored off of Pendleton Island for a barbecue of hot dogs, red snappers (a distinctly down east form of hot dog) and hamburgers. The boys, Nick and Geordie, recalled former days when we would bring them here to swim in the warm salt water swimming pools formed with the right tide, on the inside of Pendleton Island.  One challenge lead to another and before we knew it they jumped off the boat into the frigid (52 deg!) ocean water...not quite how they remembered it from their youth! Both appeared to be talking in high squeaky voices after the event!

                                                                                   

     We broke out the fishing poles but the kids were not lucky enough to catch anything, even though we tried their idea of putting pieces of hot dogs on the hooks.
      As the temperature started to drop with the lowering sun, we cruised back to the dock, tired and thrilled that we could spend a day with family.

                                                                               

                                                              Everyone was tired!!

                                                                                    

We are looking forward to future family trips  into the Saint Croix River Valley and along the Fundy coast this summer.

The Canadians

     Its been a long time since we got to party with our Canadian friends Joan and Brian Narrowmore.

                                                                  Joan and Brian
                                                                                   
      We introduced them many years ago and wound up at a party at my then residence ...a camp on the ledge in St Stephen's N. B.  That introduction culminated in them forming a long term relationship doing something we all swore we wouldn't do again....get married!
   We met at the boat in Eastport along with Marshall and Ruth Lucas, Joe and Cindy McMahon . and Brian's daughter and husband, Frank McCallum and Staci. They brought salads, vegetables,cheese and fruit platters and of course adult beverages and we supplied the hamburgers, hot dogs and barbecue.
    The sun was bright and warm as we left the dock at Seaview campground but the air chilled as we entered the open water to Passamaquoddy Bay and got down right cold as we exited into the Atlantic past Head Harbour Light House. This didn't deter the Canadians who sat openly on the sun pads out front, braving the chilly breeze to try and spot a whale. We glided past harbour seals, cormorants and lots of porpoise as we entered Head Harbour.

                                The Canadians!!!! Stacey, Brian, Joe, Frank, Cindy and Joan.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

                                            Head Harbour Lighthouse and "The Wolves"

                                                                               
                                                                     Harbour Seals

     Head Harbour is a scenic working (fishing/lobstering) harbour that is very secluded and protected from the wind.  We quickly warmed up and they got the photo op of a lifetime as we exited with Head Harbour Light House standing proudly at the entrance to the bay. Joe actually knew a girl who lived at the lighthouse when she was young.  Her father was the light house keeper during the early years, before things became computerized.

                                                                                
                                                                          Joe

     We meandered through the islands around Deer Island, avoiding the ferries and struggling somewhat against the tidal currents to enter Little Letete Passage.  Rocky granite and sandstone cliffs were topped with towering evergreen trees that added an extra fragrance to the pure smelling salty sea air. The passage is narrow and though not a fiord, gives one the  uneasy feeling of being up close and personal with the towering cliffs.  We rounded the point and easily glided into an anchorage off of Pendelton Island. 
     The party began in earnest, after an impressively rapid consumption of Black Velvet Whiskey and Beer. The occasional roll of the boat from passing whale watching cruises didn't deter the dancing and frivolity on deck.  There were a few stumbles, but no significant injury and everyone was enjoying the music when Stacey decided to relive her youth and go for a swim in the frigid water of the Atlantic.  Now we are not talking a quick jump in jump out dip.....no, a true down home Canadian is much heartier...she went for a 20 minute swim around the boat.

                                                                                      

                                                                                  
     As the sun sank in the western sky we turned on Jimmy Buffett and watched from the upper deck as Joan and Brian and company danced most of the way back to dock.

                                                                                     

      They had drivers waiting for them at the dock knowing that they probably wouldn't be able to navigate their car safely home. With hugs and kisses we said goodbye as they playfully laughed and giggled there way up the hilly driveway to head home.
 Beth and I looked knowingly at each other as she commented,"I bet there will be some headaches in the morning!"
      "Probably not." I replied. "After all, they are Canadians."

Best Friends

     I have known Jay and Karyn Hinson for over 30 years and they have been special to me since day one.  Sitting in my newly acquired family practice office one cold, blustery winter morning in 1983, I received an urgent call from Karyn requesting I make a house call, since Jay was having significant difficulty with depression and would not come in to town to visit a physician. They were not patients of mine at the time, but it sounded serious enough that I acquiesced and found myself trudging through hip level snow into a home Jay had designed and built, known throughout the area as "the tower". We immediately became friends and eventually I wound up living with them when I went through my divorce.
     The tower was octagonally shaped and 3 floors high with sliding glass doors that opened on to balconies on the river side, allowing expansive view of Devil's Head and the Saint Croix River. The third floor which had soft carpet covered stadium seating, opened to a balcony that had a ladder leading to the roof.  The roof had a railing on which one side had a green navigation light and the other a red.  From the river this gave the appearance that the tower was a huge ship coming across the cliff to the river.
     Music was piped in to all the floors with a stereo system that Jay would claim was so exquisite "you can hear the saliva dripping from the french horns!" The second floor had a player piano which accompanied many a hoarsed voiced singer into the wee hours of the morning. Fun, romance (I treated a few rug burned knees from the 3rd floor) and drama, all combined to make this a secure refuge from the work world, but the biggest attraction was Jay, himself.
     Jay was the owner and publisher of not one but two newspapers, the Calais Advertiser and the Machias Daily News.  He is known for his articulately written cutting editorials, his intriguing photography and his love for music, jokes and storytelling. It was he who in fact sealed my fate for the love of boating. He once told me a story that put an image of boating in my mind that still fills me with the romance of boating in down east Maine.  At the time his son Eric was just a small child.  Jay, after putting up with the pressures involved with running two newspapers would come home late, bundle up his sleeping boy, and take him to the boat, "Page One".  After Eric was placed in a warm comfortable and secure spot, jay would start the motors.
 "Ralph. You have never seen anything quite as beautiful as the sparkle of the moonlight off of the splashing sea drops as you throw off the mooring line.  Its serene and liberating at the same time." he reflected.  He would then mix a cocktail, put the boat on automatic pilot, turn Frank Sinatra on the stereo and glide along the smooth moonlit water arriving at Eastport as day was dawning.
     Together we survived divorces, child rearing problems and the vicissitudes of politics in town and at the local hospital.  I have only been able to see Jay and Karyn intermittently over the last years because of my working in Texas, but at age 90 talking to Jay is as easy as when he was in his 60's.  He is still quick with a joke, a friendly smile and hug, and it is as if there is no time between our conversations...we just pick up where we left off.  I have been promising him that I would get the boat home and take him for a cruise, and last week we did .   It was thrilling to have him name and describe the islands with their own unique beaches and stories, and even though we have heard most of the jokes before...he still tells them with a flourish.

                                                                                 
                                           30 year conversation continues                                                    
                          

                                                               
                                                          Marshall, Ruth and Karyn       
                                                                                      

                                                                                       
                                                                Head Harbour Marina

                                                               
                                                             What do you see????
                

Most photographed Lighthouse....Head Harbour

                                                                                    
      Jay, getting you out on Doc's Holiday has allowed me to accomplish one of my goals in coming home....Thank you and Karyn.  Don't worry I will do the night trip without you.....but I have an exquisite sounding stereo system and all the music you want to hear...just in case you want to come along!
 

Getting situated down home

     Its hard to believe that we have been here only 2 weeks.  It seems we have done so much, so I will try and give you a quick update.

Seaview Campground

                                                                                  

                                                                                
     First we had difficulties with the batteries, they just wouldn't hold a charge for 24 hours.  When first installed the 8D (read huge 150lb truck size batteries) would allow me to anchor out for 2 days without running the generator to recharge them.  This was all important for someone who wants to listen to their stereo all day, keep the beer in both refrigerators cold and make and enjoy coffee in the mornings without the sound of a generator drowning out the morning bird songs. Now I had to run the generator every morning as the voltage was dropping below 11 volts overnight.
     Marshall Lucas, a very practical and mechanically adept person pointed out the obvious and said, "Just change them out.  Put in all new batteries. We can get them from Nappa and have it done in a day!"  Well, it would solve one problem...I had 3 gel cell batteries (which weigh 30 lbs more than the wet cell!)  Apparently it is a no no to have gel and wet cells in the same system and may be part of the reason we were having problems now. The other reason was likely that the batteries were 5 to 7 years old.  Given that I could buy 4 wet cells for the price of one gel cell ($760.00) we sent for the wet cells and with a great deal of exertion, we dove in to the challenge. (let me see....150 to 180 lbs lifted at least 8 batteries X 10 times each....I figure 1300 lbs we lifted that day! At least that's what I'm going to tell the grandchildren...along with when I was a child I didn't get a car ride to school... I had to walk to school in the wind and snow... uphill.... both ways!) Marshall and I both took 2 days to recover but I say, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger!" so I guess we are a little bit stronger, ugh!
     Why didn't I just plug the boat in to power?  This is true down east Maine.  There are no full service marinas, but there are some very resourceful people and Basil Pottle is one of them. Basil owns and operates Seaview Campground in Eastport, Maine.
 "No problem Ralph, I've got a dock and we will just run you some water and power right to your boat." he said.  It took a few days but he was true to his word and now I don't have to visit the boat daily to charge the batteries and my beer stays cold. 
     Basil is a true "down homer" and really deserves to have a whole book written about him.  He has been a fisherman/lobsterman most of his life and has successfully built a campground and, along with his son, is in the process of completing what will be the largest lobster pound on the coast of Maine.  Energetic, resourceful, a reputation for treating people fairly and a hard worker, Basil can be found each evening in the kitchen preparing superb down east seafood, served well and fairly priced.

                                                                               Basil                                                                           

     Frank has been a fixture of the Seaview scene. His home is Fort Lauderdale in the winter and has helped Basil with the cooking, building and bar tendering ever since his first visit 14 years ago.  Friendly, informative, helpful and makes a cocktail that is worth the price. Together they organize weekend "all you can eat buffets, parties with  either a band or DJ, Luaus, and dances.  It is a fun place to be.
     

                                                                               
                                                                              Frank 

      It's rustic, scenic, and I can only describe the air as something you have to experience to appreciate.  If there is a healing power to the smell of sea air, this is the place you will heal. The air has a refreshing, clean, cool scent that is totally different from anything we experienced in our 3,300 miles of cruising.  Temperatures in the 80's and 90's during the day felt cool with the constant ocean breeze and no air conditioning required with temps in the 60's at night.

                                                                                     

                                                                       
                                                   Seaview Campground Sunset   

      A slight morning chill demanded a wrap with a blanket as we sat with  steaming cups of hot coffee watching the morning mist rise from the calm sea water.  Peaceful, serene views of Deer Island, Eastport and Campobello Island reminded me of the reasons I call this home.
     For you cruisers following this blog, I hesitate to tell you to head this way because I enjoy the solitude, the remoteness, and the feeling that I have this mostly to myself...but I would feel selfish and remiss in not advising you stalwart cruisers to come on....come enjoy the scenery and and pure down home friendliness of the Saint Croix River Valley and Passamaquoddy Bay.