We and the cats had a long day today. We got up at 6 to finish packing and close the the keeper’s house. I got Shirley into her carrier when I spotted Loki outside. He saw me with the towel I use to get him in his carrier and bolted to the bushes. There are acres of bushes to hide in. Then thunderstorms barrelled through and he was gone. He’s the biggest chicken.

We gave up trying to catch him and brought our stuff off the island and loaded the car. We returned to the island in nice weather and he was out and easily captured.

Then they went for rides in a dinghy, boston whaler (they really howled during this one), three hour car ride. They were lowered off a pier by boat hook to Capt Ethan’s new lobster boat, took a ride in it and another dinghy and up the path to the keeper’s quarters on Seguin. We are all tired and happy now that we are back. We have a dismal internet connection but we have hot running water and a freezer!

There was a flurry of activity on the island yesterday as islanders closed houses for the season. We brought a boat load of our stuff ashore (including Tim’s rowing machine). We did a final load of laundry and brought the rugs back to dry.

The Friendship motored by in the late afternoon. Our meals are interesting as we clean the pantry and refrigerator. Today we will finish packing, drain the pipes and winterize the house.
Tomorrow we head for our next adventure in Maine.

There are a few things I am paranoid about. Two are swimming with fish and bacteria on prepared food. Tim decided to expose me to both this week.

We traveled this weekend, which invariably includes eating fast food. I am partial to McD’s kid’s meal and I (usually) give away the toy. Tim is a Wendy’s man because he loves their shakes and salads. I hate fast food salad because I envision all the microscopic nasties hiding there so I ordered a baked potato with chives. However, they held the chives.  Tim advocated for me at the counter because he really wants me to like Wendy’s, when he saw the server carrying my little cup of chives with her finger in it. He looked amused but self satisfied during lunch but then could barely contain himself when he revealed the risk I had been exposed to. So much for safe food.

Today he chartered my favorite daysailor boat, a pearson ensign, as a surprise. The sail began with a nice breeze but then it died out and it became hot and still. He dove in for a swim but I hesitated. I envision all the unseen fish swimming below me, waiting to eat me. I know they are there. I watch the fisherman fish these same waters every day. But it was hot and I eventually jumped in. It was then I noticed my silver ankle bracelet that shimmers just like the lures the fisherman use. I tried to swim with my ankle out of the water before I was mistaken for fish bait.

We were able to go ashore today to do laundry and buy some provisions. A three day nor’easter helped us find all the leaks in the houses. I bought a glass cutter, some glass and glazier points.

I was one for three with glass cutting. The trick is not to cut the glass too big. Whenever I tried to break off excess I cracked it.

While we were unloading the whaler in town, I heard a screech and crash. When we got ashore, there was a one car accident where the silver car in the photo  ended up caught between a tree and road barrier. A team of tow trucks arrived and cleared things up in no time.

I heard some old men commenting on female drivers. They didn’t say anything about the female tow truck driver though.

We have taken our energy source, the sun, for granted this year. With so many sunny days, I haven’t been down to the dank, dark, gloomy basement for a month to check on the batteries. We have 2 solar panels that charge a bank of six batteries (3 sets of two 12 v batteries connected in series to make 24v, then connected in parallel, for you physics buffs). Last year we only had 4 batteries and lots of rainy days and we had to conserve. The only things we power are our well pump (very important for the flush toilet), 3x3x3 foot refrigerator (mildly important if we must eat) and our phones and computers. We have a couple of LED lights scattered through the house,which hardly draw any power. For the most part we wear camping headlamps when the sun sets.

We use a solar shower (a bag of water set in the sun to get warm). Today I had to heat water on the propane stove since the solar shower never warmed up. So far the 2 new batteries are storing more than we need. Where’s the blender?

The wine glass in the photo poses a dilemma for us. At this point, we are not exactly a welcome presence on this private island. Yet a neighbor gave us two glasses emblazoned with the island logo. Should they stay or should they go…home with us?
It doesn’t look like we can get off the island today so we are going to miss the Red Sox game. Maybe it will be rained out.

This is one of Tim’s favorite boat names in Salem harbor. The boat itself looks like it has been through some rough times. Last year it was in a slip but this year it is at a mooring. Maybe the owner is weathering his/her own storms of life. I’ve had a few myself.