As usual, there were kerosene lanterns, which I didn’t attempt to photograph.
And this time, phosphorescence in the water itself. Ditto.
But, as I noted:
unseen, the moon grows more luminus
in night shrinking from day
Tag: Fun
Small-town festivities reminder
Eastport’s big homecoming week and Fourth of July celebrations are just ahead. We face a long list of events.
The annual all-ages cod relay race, using salmon, is zany fun.
And people turn out for parades.
We don’t know if it really is the world’s largest or even legal, it’s still a good gag.
As well as a few surprises.
A schooner is not a sloop, pay attention
A sloop has only one mast, for starters.
There’s a whole new vocabulary to learn.
It’s a way of looking through the eyes of others.
Those things on the ropes, er, lines are called baggy wrinkles. They protect the lines and sheets, i.e. sails, from harmful rubbing. That is, they’re a furry cover for rope sphering.
Deck prism is another term. It’s a small round window. Here’s how it looked from my bunk. Overhead, people were walking on it.
Hatch is the opening between the deck and the hold below. This one connects by a ladder (not stairs) to cabins (aka staterooms).
Another leads to the galley, which includes what others would call a kitchen.
In passing, with time and the wind
the Stephen Tabor carried
64 cords of firewood at a time
back in the day
oh, look, another damn lighthouse
okey dokey
“ready about!”
Preparing to tack
“press it off!”
“well, that’s backwards”
Food along the way
Every night, the canopy is spread
every morning, stowed away
how he manages a wood cookstove
eludes me
the galley’s tight and must be a hot space
on a hot or humid day
regardless, he starts at 3 a.m.
and there’s coffee by 6:30 all the same
blueberry pancakes, slice of melon
cod chowder, a biscuit
roasted chicken drumstick, asparagus,
a risotto, Boston cream cake
lunch an excellent beef stew
and a great, crunchy sourdough bread
feeling like I’ve been here forever
in a good way
knowing it’s rarely this perfect
“no matter how much I eat
I keep losing weight on this ship”
sez male crew member
the cook’s apron
a variation on his overalls
the cook never learned wood-stove cookery
in culinary school
‘cuz he never attended one
in lighting a cook fire
the secret’s you have to stack
the firewood in tight
the galley’s quite crowded
the French burns four cords in a season in summer
Zen temple abbot and head cook
two most important personages
the cook also helps with the crew
mans an oar
hauls line, as needed
Guest at the helm
Tom, an E.R.
surgeon grew up in Camden
southern California now
capable of handling the helm
the concept of “running
the rail down”
meaning skimming the water
yes, surf
I even got a spree there
where he is
Foggy island with swimmer
how would square-riggers look on these waters?
Lost behind a small island
finally, a shadow
and a tinge of warmth
What to pack for the trip
brought latest Paris Review and Harper’s
as reading along with Vincent Katz pages
maybe stimulation
didn’t read anything, really, apart from some entries
in the free guide to lighthouses I had picked up
nearly a decade earlier
So here’s the official advice before setting forth:
We are very relaxed and informal on board, so bring comfortable outdoor clothes. If possible, use a duffel or collapsible bag to pack your gear. Hard suitcases are sometimes difficult to store in the cabins.
The weather may be cool or warm, so include pants, shorts, long and short sleeve shirts, a sweater or sweatshirt and a jacket. When the wind picks up, things cool off, so think layers when you pack.
Don’t forget your bathing suit, either for sunbathing or a quick plunge in the ocean.
Soft soled shoes are best, and an extra pair may come in handy. Sandals also work well on board or on the beaches we visit.
If you have a rain slicker, bring it along just in case. We do have extra rain gear on board if you can’t bring your own.
Also, if you can, check the weather for Camden, Maine online before you pack. It may give you an idea of the specific weather for your trip. But remember that it is always slightly cooler out on the water.
We provide towels, linens, blankets, pillows, and all the food and non-alcoholic drinks. We have an icebox on board for passengers to use if they would like to bring along their own beer, wine, etc.
Bring a camera with extra batteries, sunglasses, lots of sunscreen, a good book, binoculars, a journal, and your musical talents/instruments (if they are transportable!). If you want to sleep on deck under the stars, bring along a sleeping bag. Some folks bring charts or GPS’s to keep up with our route.
Once we leave the dock, we operate on 12 volt DC power. There are USB outlets for charging phones – please bring your own USB cord. We do have limited 110 volt AC power (like in your house) that can be used for medical machines and for occasional charging of batteries. Please let us know when you book if you will be needing 110 volt AC power to operate a medical machine.
Mark Island light
do Fresnel lenses ratings run
up (from lowest)
to top, five (for highest)
or the other way around?
Turn’s out 1 is the strongest
5, the least
what are the others really thinking
or observing under their cheerful banter?
Knock before entering the ‘head’
Working the toilet is an art … as for showers?
I’m getting the swing of it.
Last leg, motoring toward Camden
the cabbage with the corned beef last night
has done a number on me
we’re all in the same boat
for now
Jnana's Red Barn 