Day 14, 31 May

5 visitors

New Hampshire visitor helping his wife onto the Guppy

Another busy day here on the island. We had two visitors in the morning – a cute couple from New Hampshire who came over on Ethan’s ferry. Ethan’s brother Anthony was also on board.  We gave the couple a nice tour and they made my first visitor sale! While Anthony was rowing the dingy to put Ethan on his boat, the weakened-previously damaged oar broke with a load snap. Ethan then brought his boat, the Guppy, up onto the sand to retrieve the couple. The chivalrous gentleman visitor carried his dear wife to the ferry so she wouldn’t get her feet wet.  After a breakfast of bacon, egg and cheese on English muffin Fred installed the new kitchen faucet with a little assistance from me. How nice to have a non-leaking, high spigot faucet with a pullout hand rinser! Fred then sprayed some young poison ivy

New faucet!

areas and started to work on clearing my garden area, that had weeds, chives and mint growing in it while I cleaned the upper part of the great lens. The chives will be transplanted somewhere else. I have been eating them fresh in salads and cooking with them. The clearing of the garden is back breaking work and I am thankful that he is doing that for me. I used the new plastic, two-step-stool to reach the upper prisms of the lens. I was very careful, each “step” of the way, to carefully clean with some new micro fiber cloths that worked great on the hand reachable prisms. Then I used a Swiffer on the upper ones, reaching them all, except for the last row on the top. I’m a little too short for the highest prisms. If there was bird poop on the Swiffer areas, I would spray a bit of vinegar/water mixture on the Swiffer and wipe it on the spot

Cynthia very carefully cleaning the 157 year old lens

otherwise would use the Swiffer dry. The poop areas would clean up but be kind of smeared till I could wipe it more when the Swiffer dried off a bit. So I did the painstaking cleaning all afternoon carefully moving the stepstool and cleaning supplies around the big lens. It was quite warm in the lantern room with the lens since the day was sunny and the wind was still. I was in shorts and tank top. I must say she looks even prettier now that her top is clean!  We were both tired as usual from our chores and relaxed a bit with some wine and watched the glow of sunset. We had just returned to the house at about 8:20 PM when we saw some people on the grass! We ran out to greet three Dutch gentlemen from a sailboat that was moored in the cove for the evening. We gave them a gorgeous late sunset tour of the lighthouse and they looked about

Garden about half tilled and cleaned up

the museum before leaving to get back to their boat before it got too dark. So back to relaxing with knitting and Fred on the computer. I made us salads and took a shower before cooking some scallops that I got at Gilmore’s. I used a recipe in one of the cookbooks and just poached them in a wine, water, butter, chives and spices mixture. They turned out pretty good and Sac got one for a treat. Fred used the mixture to cook a salmon fillet, which tasted yummy. I got more knitting done before being too tired to continue. The stars the past few nights have been very nice especially with the beautiful sparkling lens shining in the night and the great dark spokes from the “umbrella” effect of the lantern room. Ah the evening respite with a lighthouse, what could be better.

Day 13, 30 May

0 visitors

A sunny cool morning to wake up to today. After a leisurely breakfast Fred took off to weed whack the North trail again particularly the end loop which he didn’t get to before. He also brought a hammer and some trail signs to hammer into the ground at appropriate places. I fielded some emails, looked out for visitors and finally after a shower got out onto the North trail to do some clipping, retrieve a small gas can and move a trail sign. The North trail is the longest and most strenuous trail on the island with lots of steep ups and downs to get to the northern most part of Seguin Island. There is a good sized loop at the end that winds itself through a small bog. I met Fred as he was nearly back and he was quite exhausted. I went clipping down the trail and at one ridge point saw the two Canadian geese off to the left. I ducked down and tried to not disturb them as I continued to the spot where a vista trail veers off and the main trail loops to the right. I went down to the vista point along the rock cliffs where I saw a large brown bird with her 3 brown fuzzy babies waddling to hide from me in the distance. I took 3 quick photos and retreated quickly back up the trail. I saw the mama jump in the ocean but not the babies. I didn’t want to disturb them any further. I hope the babies stayed safely hidden while mama came back.

Mama Duck with three chicks

So back to the junction I went and this is where I realize that the vista sign should be placed and I saw it way back on the trail where I had hiked down from. I called Fred on the radio and verified. I decided to move the sign later and continued back around with the gas can I located and continued clipping. I got near the place where Fred had placed the vista sign when I noticed the geese walking in the trail ahead of me with their 4 fuzzy babies! What a sight, mama and papa between the chicks waddling down the trail. I didn’t want to get too close to frighten them so I kept my distance and carried the shears and gas can. I got to the sign and removed it and left the can and shears to hike back around to the spot where the sign should go. Again strenuous up and down for a second time and I located the spot and pounded in the sign securing it with some rocks. So back up the trail again for a 3^rd time to go back home retrieving the shears and can and now the heavy hammer. So merrily I am making my way back when I see the geese again coming back down the trail toward me with their little ones. This time I want to get pictures. They honk and turn around to go back up the trail and I gingerly follow them trying to keep out of sight. I periodically drop the gear so I can use my camera to get some shots. The geese stop in the trail with the babies instinctively between them and hiding underneath them. I followed behind them for a bit but eventually wanted to get by them. There was finally a spot where they went off the trail a bit on a little rock rise. So I gathered my gear and very quickly went right by them – they standing guard over and between the babies. The papa came a little forward hissing at me as I hurried by. He was rightfully protecting his precious family and mama stood silent guard over her brood. I got a little ways away down the trail and dropped the gear and got my camera out to get a few more pictures. So I snuck back laying low and got a few more good shots as they went back on the trail and going away from me. I apologized and thanked them for their patience and wished them well. What a neat experience to see them so close, hopefully I didn’t terrorize them too bad.

Mama Canadian Goose with 4 chicks, dad was nearby

I finally got back to the house with all the gear to see Fred up in the tower on the outer and upper catwalk. I told him by radio of my goose encounter. Even though tired, I went up in the tower and joined Fred for a relaxing view of our island kingdom in the warm sunshine and admired our beautiful lens and light and views. We were starving and Fred cooked up cheeseburgers on the outside grill while I made a big salad. We watched the news and I knit on my dress for about an hour before I took Sac for her evening walk around the whistle house. After getting her back inside I went back down to the whistle house to return the gas can and just enjoyed the 360 degree views as I walked back to the tower and one more visit to the light. Back down to enjoy the rest of the evening. Fred went to bed early and Sac and I stayed up to surf the web and write this blog. Maybe a few more rows of knitting before retiring. Good night little goslings and chicks – stay safe on your island home.

Day 12, 29 May

12 visitors

Usually Cynthia writes the blog entry, but this time, I thought I would. This morning we left the Island at 0700. Normally this would happen Wednesday, but due to small craft warnings yesterday it was delayed till today. We moved our empty water and gas containers as well as other stuff down to the cove the night before, only taking our laundry, trash and small stuff down in the morning. We were lucky that the tide was low so we didn't need to use the dingy and Ethan could gently put the bow of his boat on the sandy beach. Once he does this starts the frantic transfer. Four people came over in the morning to spell us and perform a bunch of work on the Island; hence they are called Wednesday warriors. They quickly jump off the boat in the knee deep cold water and unload their stuff. Simultaneously we load our stuff and awkwardly get in the boat. Ethan wants to minimize the time his boat touches the beach. And off we go on the 25-min ride back to Popham beach. We both wear lightweight shorts and water shoes. On the way back I changed my clothes into Jeans and flannel shirt. The brisk breeze feels good. The swells were still pretty big from the day before. 

Diesel Tram Engine, I was being taught by Cyndy

It’s easier at Popham with small dock to unload. One of us goes and gets the car, we load up and off we go. We have 7 hours, which seems like all the time we would need. But it is very rushed. We briefly stop at Cyndy's home to fill our water jug and hug her big dog Hinckley. Cyndy, is on the island as a Wednesday Warrior and we saw her briefly during the transfer. She lives in a neat 200-year-old home. We then stop to have a coffee in Bath while we wait for the lighthouse office to open. At the office we take care of business (donations, gift shop receipts, get mail and other stuff). This time Cyn wanted to buy a few T-shirts and gifts for both us and to use as gifts. While she is doing that I run to the bank a block away and introduce myself to the organizations treasurer. She is going to get me a credit card reader for my iPhone to use in the gift shop. We went to Reny's (a really cool old fashion general store in an old building in downtown Bath) to purchase some throw rugs for the lighthouse and step stool. I bought some Crocs which everyone seems to wear at the lighthouse. Since Cyn's birthday was the day before, I droped her off at the Halcyon Yarn store. It is a very nice very large yarn store in Bath. She is in heaven. Some of the pictures for their very colorful and lengthy catalog were taken at the lighthouse!  I then take off for the laundry mat. Oh boy!  Start the laundry and head over to Roger’s ACE hardware, pick up a few items the lighthouse needs. Back to the Laundry to put stuff in the dryer, back to ACE to get a new air filter for the riding mower, the gas station to fill the gas cans, Walgreens to get a prescription (they didn't have it, will have to wait a week) and back to laundry to fold clothes. Cyn calls me that she is done at the Yarn store. She bought yarn for two sweaters and ordered yarn for a third. Pretty good timing. I pick her up and we get a few more items at Reny's. Then we had lunch at the Thai restaurant in town (Cyn loves Thai food and this was her Birthday lunch). Veggie Pad Thai noodles, spring rolls and Coconut soup with chicken. Very good food!  I then drop her off at the farmers market and Gilmore's Seafood where she buys supplies, I head back to the bank to take care of more business, pick up Cynthia and off we go to Shaw's Grocery store to get food. Pack up our food containers in the parking lot for transport to the island and then race to the dock at Popham beach. We get there minutes before Ethan shows up for our 1500 crossing.

Tram looking up

Reverse the process at the lighthouse unloading our now heavy containers and loading up the Wednesday Warriors. When we arrive there were 12 very colorful ocean kayaks on the beach. They were getting ready to leave. Cyn ran to the lighthouse to see if anyone needed a tour, I carried all our stuff off the beach to the base of the tram and then fired up the 2-cylinder Donkey engine, loaded the tram with our stuff and started it up the hill. Takes about 8 minutes to get to the top. Cyn stands at the stop and, using hand singles, tells me when to stop the tram. This was the first time we ran it by ourselves!  We carry everything

Irish Death Beer

from the top of the tram to the house, unpack and put stuff away. It is now 1800 and we are are exhausted. We watched the sun go down and had a nice relaxing evening with Sacatar at our feet. Cynthia finally got to enjoy her "Irish Death," a very dark beer Drew and Cathy gave her at the Dungeness Spit lighthouse which got dragged home to California and all the way to Maine.  Cyn started to knit a dress while I surfed the net. Watched the news at 2200 and then called it a day.

Day 11, 28 May

0 visitors

Today is my birthday – a cold nasty windy day much like yesterday. The wind must have been strong since the two teak benches were blown over and the hummingbird feeder was blown down. Will have to fix it with duct tape and a washer. Spent the morning catching up on emails and yesterdays blog and starting this one. It remained cold and windy most of the day – we being desert rats are used to 90’s to 100’s temps this time of year. We stayed warm with more wooly clothes and the heater running. I worked on finishing the last sleeve of my current sweater. We fixed the hummingbird feeder and put it in a less windy place. By 4 Pm the weather began to get sunny so we headed out for some hiking. It was neat to see the ocean water turn blue as the sky turned blue overhead. There was still some grey in the areas the blue sky hadn’t reached yet – interesting to see that first hand.  I got a phone call from Cyndy singing to me Happy Birthday – how thoughtful and nice.

We hiked down the South trail in our Bogs boots which were great in the sometimes soggy trail. We poked around the rock cliffs and sat and had apples for snacks. We then went to the Cobblestone trail and hiked around the scenic rock cliffs, to the Cove trail poking and exploring in the warm sunshine. It took lots of pictures – especially art shots of the twisted and wondrous patterned rocks. It was so nice just to take our time and explore to our hearts content.

Cyn at south end of island, note very old twisted rocks

We got back home and watched the evening news and took Sacatar for her afternoon walk around the Whistle House in the CALM glorious sunshine. There is nothing better than experiencing the calm after a storm. I worked on sewing the sleeve seams and one sleeve on the sweater body. I then felt guilty about not practicing my violin in the tower and some ballet. It was too cold to play in the tower but I did put my point shoes on and work out gingerly and carefully on the wooden floor in the kitchen and dining room. It has been a month since dancing – way too long for my old feet to be subjected to en pointe – but I had to. I did feel very fragile and weak in the ankles but carefully kept working them till the toes went a bit numb and finally began to feel ok about moving in the shoes. I hung onto the chair in the dining room and the fridge in the kitchen for a bit till I felt comfortable in the center floor of the dining room . Sacatar kept wanting to be near and I guided her to the living room. I cleared some of the carpets in the dining room so I could do some single pirouettes and bourres and arabesques.  Some other exercises on my tippy toes and after about ½ an hour thought it wise to stop and continue another day to get my feet back in shape. I was glad my feet began to respond properly without too much pain.

Sacatar enjoying the late sun at the lighthouse

I’m itching to play my violin in the tower below the lantern room and lens to hear what it sounds like. Perhaps the ghost of the pianist will want to do a duet – that would be nice. Though I heard she liked to play a ragtime tune over and over again. Maybe I can convince her to do more classical – HA! I hope the grand dame lens will like my playing. We shall see. I finished sewing the other sleeve on and single button – it fits! I’ll wear it tomorrow around town.

Tomorrow we catch the ferry into town to do our errands and finally celebrate my birthday with Thai food and shopping at FOSILS and the yarn store I’ve heard so much about.

So I need to wrap this up and take a shower and get to bed! Gutes Nacht!