Friday, June 26

Well, we got ashore today!

When we got up, at 0500, it was foggy out and the ocean looked calm. But from our vantage point of 130 feet it is hard to really see what the waves are like. Brenda and I got our stuff ready and made our way down to the cove. We had faith in Ethan and (at least I) had faith that he would show up. In fact I was so confident that we dragged the inflatable down to the beach, loaded up our stuff and I rowed us out to the mooring in anticipation of his arrival. This would have made a good picture. Brenda and I sitting in a eight foot inflatable boat with our dirty laundry in a WalMart plastic container, tied to a buoy, rolling over four foot seas and searching the mist for a boat to show up.

And here he comes! Right on time. We transferred to his boat and we were off. Ethan warned us that the waves were still high and our trip might be a little dicey. Not only were the waves high, but the place was living up to its name! High waves, combined with maximum river outflow because of all the rain in the watershed, with a strong tide running and logs and all kind of crap in the water. It was a fun ride in.

Breakfast at Percy’s and off to see Bob at the Post Office. Lots of mail today. To the laundromat, hardware store, hairdresser for Brenda, barber for me, Big Lots, Burger King and, of course, WalMart. We wanted to get back early today and catch the slack tide at high. There was a continuing concern about weather and water conditions.

Back aboard the boat at 1430 and over to see Brent for some lobsters. Didn’t know if he would have any or not. The rough seas and low salinity from all the fresh water coming down the river are not conducive to a good lobster catch. Once again Brent welcomed us into his home and we had to try the new Blueberry wine. Now, I am not usual a wine drinker, but this stuff was good. Brent said he had some lobsters set aside and all we had to do was go get ‘em. We snuck behind Stage Island to the secret cache off of Salter Island. We got two lobsters out and were once again on our way home.

The ride out was fine. Fog was beginning to roll in again and we passed a small flotilla of sailboats making their way up the coast,

Getting us and all our stuff ashore is another story. Too bad we didn’t have a camera for this one either. Now, remember I said this was high tide. Not a normal high tide, but HIGH tide. Which meant our landing would be on the rocks, with waves crashing, food, laundry, lobsters, light bulbs, electrical supplies (for my work in the shop), mail, brooms and us to get off.

Are we having fun yet?

Actually it was kind of fun. First I took Brenda in. Remember she has the lower cut boots that fill up with water. I need mine to row the boat. Anyway I got Brenda off (she would say I pushed her, but that isn’t true). Once off she had to grab the bags out of the inflatable while I held it to shore with the waves moving the whole mess around. Yeah, fun. We had to be careful and be aware of every wave. I didn’t want her foot or leg getting caught between rocks and the boat. That could have spelled disaster.

I left Brenda on shore and rowed back out for the second load. We got everything else in the inflatable and I bid Ethan and his girlfriend goodbye. Now, here I was again with a boat full of supplies, in the ocean with rolling waves. Now, since stuff was loaded both in the bow and in the stern I had to maneuver the boat both ways for Brenda to lift the stuff out. It worked pretty well. We made a good team, got everything ashore and Brenda didn’t even get water in her boots!

Then everything gets carries up the steps, up the ramp to the tram, off the tram at the top and to the house. We had everything in the house by 1600. Not bad.

We enjoyed another lobster dinner, watched some TV and then, to bed.

Weather for the next few days does not look promising, but not much we can do about that!