Day 83, 8 Aug

45 Visitors

A sunny warm morning arrived again to welcome our friends and guests that are to arrive on the ferry and on their boat. We had breakfast even though a few early visitors showed up for tours and got things all ready for our guests. I had hoped to meet Tom and Julie at the cove when they arrived on the ferry but there were so many visitors that showed up on their private boats that I had to stay at the house and start tours. After awhile I was able to break free of the tours and gift shop with a lull and get over to our quarters to finally get great big hugs from Tom and Julie who I found in the kitchen making ginger, chocolate brownies. It had been too many years since I had seen them and here they were with us on a tiny spec of an island off the coast of Maine! I managed to chat with them a little and grab a seltzer water before going back to my visitor duties once again. There was a steady stream of visitors including our 4 overnight guests and their cute little dog Sam. We brought up their stuff on the tram with me giving hand signals at the stopping point, which is now the walkway to the steps of the house. Fred had cleared the area down below as a new safety procedure and we had clear voice communication established prior to running the tram.

Their stuff was retrieved off of the tram and brought piece by piece to the house so they could get all settled in. Tom and Julie packed very light and were able to carry all their stuff in backpacks with a few items in their hands.

After the ferry left with its full load we were able to make some turkey and roast beef sandwiches for lunch and finally get to sit together and chat. It was funny all 4 of us packed around the tiny white table that looks out the kitchen window. For dessert we had the rich delectable ginger brownies that Julie had made earlier. Lunch was all too brief before we had to resume tours and gift shop duty to the visitors that trickled in steadily. On one tour I gave in the lighthouse I remember a young mother with an adorable little ginger haired boy with big blue eyes strapped to her back. She carefully squeezed through the little door to the catwalk and we protected the little lads noggin with our hands. They marveled at the sights from the catwalk. When she returned to go back in, we again protected the little guy’s precious cranial with our hands. They then proceeded to go down the winding spiral staircase and ginger boy looked up at me with those cute blue eyes and rewarded me with smiles as I wiggled my fingers and smiled down on him. His dad shot back a smile to us when he saw our encounter. The entire time he never made a peep, he just looked all around with those curious blue eyes with keen interest. That beautiful, quiet angel made up for all the obnoxious ones we have had to deal with.

Tom Down at Cobblestone Beach

At around low tide and finally no visitors we all went down to the cove to relax and look for sea glass. We spent about an hour poking along our little beach and into the water searching for our glass treasures. A couple of roguish waves splashed on us and gave us a refreshing rinse. Fred and Julie went back up to the house and Tom and I proceeded to hike down the Cove trail going out on the rock cliffs at the bench and to the point. I pointed out all the crazy rock patterns including the fat curling dike that is so unique. We continued around to Cobblestone along the rock cliffs that I have come to know so well. Tom must of thought where was I dragging him up and down through the conglomerate of wildly patterned rocks many of them covered in bird crap. He was a good sport following me like a good puppy, stopping to admire the classic Maine coastline, jumbled rock patterns, seagulls screaming and ocean waves splashing.  We tried to kill him years ago with a trans-sierra hike and a hike up Mt. Whitney so this day hike was a piece of cake. We got back to the Cobblestone trail and then back up to the main trail to the house. By this time it was time for happy hour and we enjoyed some of the good wine that they brought. The sunset was gorgeous with the clouds lit up in another infinite collection of sunsets.

Sunset, Beautiful as Always

Our overnight guests had grilled dinner outside and were enjoying the sunset also. I cooked up some potatoes with chives and Tom finished grilling them to slight crunchy perfection. We had steamed green beans with just a touch of butter and Fred grilled up the salmon fillets. Earlier Tom and I made a mango salsa with bottled mango and mandarin oranges, fresh tomato, onion, cilantro, carrots, lime, salt, pepper and a bit of spicy seasoning that Tom made up and brought out. The salsa was just perfect with the salmon and we had a scrumptious dinner to finish our busy and happy day with our dear long awaited friends.

We were all pretty tired and didn’t last long before sleep invaded our senses. Dreams of spicy salsa and ginger chocolate goodness waiving across my tongue.