Saturday, June 20

A gray day. No sun. The fog came and went and we made ourselves busy around the house and shop.

After breakfast we went to the cove and cleaned things up, made sure the restroom was presentable and well stocked.

Brenda took inventory of the store merchandise and put it in an Excel spreadsheet. I went to the shop and built a lumber rack. Just another step in my organizing and cleaning process. I also drew the first gallon of “drinking” water out of the new filtration system. We’ll let it sit until tomorrow and give it a try. This is a huge advantage to carrying water from shore. We hope it is good!

At 1000 I noticed a large ship in the east. I got out the binoculars and saw a two masted sailboat that was made of wood. The gaff rigged main topsail was the only piece of canvas showing. It took a few seconds and then I realized I was looking at the Harvey Gamage . The Harvey Gamage is a 131 foot wooden sailboat that was built in 1973 on the banks of the Damariscotta River in South Bristol, Maine. She is owned by a non-profit educational organization in Bath, Maine. Harvey Gamage is now devoted exclusively to sea education programming, while still following her traditional route between New England and the Caribbean.

For those of you that have asked, here is a copy of the ad I that was posted in the Caretaker Gazette:

WANTED: A COMPATIBLE COUPLE to live on Seguin Island, Maine for the summer of 2008 to caretake our majestic lighthouse and surrounding 64 acres of grounds, 2.5 miles off shore from the mouth of the Kennebec River. Stewardship includes guiding visitors through the museum and lighthouse as well as maintenance of grounds and buildings. Duties are assumed Memorial Day weekend and run through Labor Day, with one weekday ashore to take care of personal needs. Qualified applicants will possess outstanding public relations skills, good work ethics, maritime experience, complete with a sense of adventure and humor. Weekly stipend of $75.00 per person may be available. Please send a resume and letter of introduction to keeper@seguinisland.org or to Caretaker Selection Committee, Friends of Seguin Island, PO Box 866, Bath, ME 04530

I responded to the ad and Brenda and I along with friends Dennis and Margie Phillips took a tour of the lighthouse in August 2007. The next day Brenda and I interviewed with the selection committee and a few weeks later we were asked if we would accept the position for 2009….. and here we are!