A successful day working on the boat!

 We woke around 08:00 hrs to a sunny day with good wind to sail. After breakfast Brec made various phone calls to get advice from more knowledgeable people than us. Few if any were home so he left messages on their answering machines. Eventually John rang back and gave Brechen something to think about! Brec also looked at YouTube videos to get more ideas and inspiration. 

Brec made a couple tests and then came to the conclusion that the problem lay in the wiring between the ignition key and the starter motor! Problem solved, now to work out the repair solution. Alan made fish cakes for lunch and then Brec began to fit new wiring. Sounds easy, but as we explained yesterday on a boat these things are more complex and require more time. It all went well and at approximately 16:30hrs Brec started the engine! 

It was decided to go ashore and celebrate with a beer and a bite to eat. Brec tidied the boat back to where it was a fine sailboat again! 

Ashore they sat outside and watched the world go bye until Alan got the sad news of a friend who had suddenly died! “You can literally be here today and gone tomorrow, so be grateful, be humble, be appreciative, be kind, be loving!”

Two deaf old men on a boat!

On Thursday night because the two men had been listening to Al Pacino recount his life and how he come to act in the Godfather, Brec decided they should watch it after dinner. Our BBF, Alan could hardly remember any of the detail. He and Brec had memories of Godfather One Two and Three which they had mixed up in their minds as one film! They both enjoyed the film and then retired to bed.

In the morning (Friday 29th) it had been decided to set sail! However, there was much to do first. Brec needed to clean and tidy up, while we bears needed to catch up on the Blog to keep our readers informed and up to date. 

When the work had been done the men had showers and packed. Alan had made a Menu list and rifled through Sandy’s freezer and fridge. The men loaded the truck and then drove to a supermarket to get the rest of the victuals for the voyage. 

They unloaded the truck into Trollies at the yacht club, and threw it all on the boat. Alan went to get ice, Brec parked the truck and Alan set to, to put all the victuals away! In the meantime Brec threw off all the lines and cast off at approx 14:00hrs.  Solo sailers can do this at the drop of a hat. Alan, once he had stowed everything away went on deck and took over the steering while Brec hoisted sail and then they were off and you could visibly see the stress fall of the males once the sails were set!

We found our usual place on Otter, with Brec’s Pugsy in the salon. 

It was a fine day and before the sun set we got as far Milford where the skipper wanted to anchor off Silver Sands Beach! We anchored close to shore and after checking the charts our humans realised that at low tide we would be hard aground! So Brec hauled up the anchor and Alan motored round to a deeper spot. After two more failed attempts they gave up and motored over to Bay View Beach which is just about 100 meters from Brec and Sandy’s house! Alan did remark that they could go row ashore to get hot showers at home and watch Godfather II! They never did. They had a meal chatted a bit and went to bed tired but happy. 

We bears as well as the humans slept well and deeply, but some sailors instinct had the humans up before dawn! They threw on some clothes and Brec began hauling the anchor up before Alan was dressed. When Alan got on deck he started the engine and motored slowly forward to assist. Once the anchor was up we motored out of the bay in what the Army calls “first light”. 

Once clear of all obstacles Alan went below to make tea and put something warmer on as it was quite chilly. The dawn when it came was beautiful as was the rest of the day. There was not a cloud in the sky and with a light breeze and a fair tide we had a great sail to Block Island which we reached at around 18:00hrs having sailed without the engine for two hours at least and motor sailed the rest when the wind died and the tide turned! Brec did mention that it was the first time he had made it from Milford in one go. He has normally anchored for the night in West Harbour on Fisher’s Island!  Alan made chilli and rice for dinner which they washed down with their Anchor beer! We all retired around 22:00 hrs tired but happy and with a great sense of achievement! 

The next morning (Sunday 31st Aug) after breakfast Brec took a shower on the foredeck while Alan had a flannel wash inside. All scrubbed up the men took their rubbish with them in the water taxi which took them ashore to meet Sandy off the ferry. The sun was shining as they walked into town. It promised to be a fine day. 

As they passed the National Hotel although it was not yet lunchtime the terrace looked full. Alan suggested they book a table for later, this they did and then walked on to a small Deli called Old Harbour View overlooking the ferry terminal where they were able to sit and watch the ferry arrivals and departures!  

The sun was warming them as they sat,  drank iced coffee and Brec had a soft ice waiting to see who would spot Sandy first as she came off the boat! As it was neither of them did! Sandy had walked right on bye and to the National Hotel which was the original RV ! She came up on the two deaf old men from behind and surprised them. 

Reunited the three friends went to the National Hotel for lunch. It is a Brec Tradition since his circumnavigation to drink a Guiness on the terrace of the hotel. They ordered lunch and the beers and toasted to sailing and friendship! The plan for the afternoon was for Brec to hire a bike and go to Southeast Light to sketch and paint, while Sandy and our BBF went shopping. 

Sandy and Alan were disappointed with the shopping as many if not most of the Stores they remembered were gone and many of the new had just tourists tat of T-Shirts and sweat-shirts. Gone were the boutique stores that offered refined products! 

Alan bought a couple of things Sandy nothing so when they were shopped out they headed for the Mohegan Bar and restaurant where they sat at the bar and drank G+ Ts. Sandy informed Brec where they were so that he knew where to find them for dinner. 

There is no available Internet for us here, so we started to write the Blog at the bar offline with no photos! We saved it after each paragraph to ensure we lost nothing and will upload it without photos when we can. Once that works we will add the photos one by one to the online version! So far this idea, which was Sandy’s is working well! 

Brec surprised the two friends by arriving early and sneaking up from behind. When he poked  Sandy from behind she gave such a loud squeak that woke up all at the bar. Two men kindly moved over to allow Brec in to sit with us. Brec showed us his artist’s notebook where he had a fine sketch and painting of the area around Northeast Light which one day he may turn into a full sized painting. He had clearly had the more productive afternoon than our two shoppers. 

They went to eat and Sandy and Alan had fish and chips which were excellent. Brec had a pizza. After dinner they took a taxi back to the Salt Lake Harbour. It was a fair wait till the ferry came. The Salt Lake is full of boats which is why we are anchored so far out! It was cold now the sun had set and once back on the boat they hunkered down and read and told stories till it was time for bed.

The humans were all awake by 08:00 hrs. Alan, as he is sleeping in the saloon was quickly up to stow his bed and put the table back up. When the others were up he made tea and crêpes for breakfast. Brec then decided to start the engine to charge the batteries. There was no noise when he pushed the starter button except the ticking of the fuel pump! The starter motor is only a year old as last year when on their annual sailing holiday, the old starter motor broke and Brec and Sandy had a week in a marina until a new one could be sourced and fitted! At the end of all that time was up and they had to return home! Were the Gremlins back to haunt us again?

 

Brec now opened up the engine hatches and started to look for the fault. Alan was of no help as firstly there is not enough room for two to work on the engine and secondly because he was as clueless as Brec as to what the problem could be! When working on boats you have to realise that there is no such thing as a ten minute job! Ten minute jobs can take an hour or more and 30 minute jobs take all day! Then there is the fact that before you can do one thing you have to do four other things! To get at the starter motor Brec had to take off the air filter and the alternator for example! But before that he checked that the power was getting there from the batteries through the control panel starter button to the motor! 

While all this was going on Sandy and Alan sat and read, they were clearly going nowhere today! Occasionally Alan was helpful in passing tools or whatever to the real worker on the boat! By afternoon Brec had determined that power was getting to all parts of the engine that needed it. But still had no idea why it wouldn’t work!

Alan made salad with shrimps for lunch which all enjoyed! He then cleaned away the dishes while Brec went back to work putting it all back together again.

Sandy was leaving on the 5 o-clock ferry so Alan went ashore with her while Brec continued the work! The water taxi was called to get them and ashore they took a land taxi into town! As they had some time before the ferry departed they went into the Mohegan Bar for a G+T. 

When it was time to leave they walked to the ferry terminal where Sandy now could not find her ticket! She had a moment of panic as she knew that the ferry ticket was together with the car park ticket! How would she get her car out of the car park? Eventually the tickets were found in the pocket of the jacket she was wearing when she came yesterday and had been packed deep into her rucksack! 

Alan and Sandy hugged goodbye and our BBF watched Sandy shuffle forward in the long queue till she disappeared! He then went and sat on a bench until the ferry left. He had time before Brec arrived so he looked in the shops and bought himself a polo shirt! He then went to the National Hotel and sat on the terrace until Brec arrived. They then had a light evening meal and chatted amiably while eating. After their meal they left the hotel and bought themselves a coffee, Brec a cappuccino and Alan a double espresso and sat on a bench in front of the hotel. 

They walked back to the Great Salt Pond and the water taxi to the boat. There was a great sunset. Now that the Labour Day holiday is over many yachts have left and the place seems empty. The water taxi service will end next weekend on 7th September. 

On the boat the men chatted a bit in the growing darkness and used as little light as possible to preserve the batteries. Eventually they went to bed! 

Bailey Island in Maine.

 On the Monday morning 25th August the men were up early. Brec to get breakfast from Dunkin Doughnuts, Alan to make coffee. After breakfast  they packed, cleaned up and loaded the truck. Then went and said their farewells to all those still on the Lane. 

The drive to Maine was largely uneventful and not worthy of mention, except that the two human friends shared the driving.

We all arrived around 18:00 hrs. Sandy and her cousin  Mardis were pleased to see us.

We were now living in a beautiful old house, built in the 1800s perched on a small cliff overlooking the Sea.

The view were fabulous. And we occupied a bed room with a large bay window overlooking the bay.

It was foggy on arrival so the views only really came to light in the morning.

We shared the room with a Gruffalo and Tweety Pie!

Mardis, whom we had met years before when we visited an American Indian Pow Wow which was also known as a Schemitzun, made us all a lobster dinner. Sandy did admit when here on Bailey Island they ate lobster every night! To think years ago Lobster, Oysters and Clams were a poor mans meal, today certainly in Europe only the rich can fund it to eat. Suitably fed the humans sat and chatted and read before retiring to bed.

The views from our window in the morning were stunning.

As were they from the rear porch where Alan found Brec, Sandy and Mardis. Needless to say Brec was sketching.

After breakfast Shopping was on the agenda. Brec went to visit a school friend and Mardis took the other two to Freeport’s and LL Bean. The shopping was largely disappointing as our BBF did not find the trousers he was looking for and indeed bought very little. The humans had a light lunch and returned to the house on the hill.

Mardis made lobster again and also she makes the best coleslaw our human had ever eaten.

After dinner the humans sat reading again.

The dawn came up like thunder….. across the Bay.

Mardis took Alan to Land’s End, the very end of the island, but the souvenir shop there was shut.

But there is a fine statue of a Lobsterman there. They returned to collect Brec and then go to the Giants’ Steps. 

The rock formation is such that there are large ledges that look like steps going down to the sea.

The view over the Bay were of course spectacular.

Back at the house our male friends made their farewell to Mardis and Sandy then turned the truck for home and Milford. Again they shared the driving and listened to the book of Al Pacino’s life. They were so taken with it that they watched the Godfather film the following night of arrival. They are now getting ready to set sail for a few days. Where the winds will take them and us we will report in the next Blog.

The Annual Family Reunion on the Lane!

 If you have reread our Blog from 23 August 2023 as we asked you to in our last Blog, you will have a rough idea of the family reunion on the lane. 

We all, that is us Bears, Brec and our BBF arrived on the Lane on Friday afternoon. What has changed since we last wrote about the Lane is that Brec and Sandy hoped to acquire the big house at the end. They are in contact with the cousins that own it and consequently have taken possession of  it and we must say worked really hard to bring out it’s best character. 

The photo does to do justice to the house which extends behind. We realise now that our BBF did not take any pictures of other angles or of the inside, except this one:

Out side the room Alan occupied was a bench with a couple of new friends for us Bears.

When they arrived Brec’s younger brother John was talking to neighbours, having just mowed the lawn.

John is the brother who maintains the whole family tree which each year he pins on his shed for all to see.

After  catching up with cousins who lived in the Lane Alan and Brec need to find somewhere to eat. On the way they found John digging a whole on the family grave plot for the ashes of Mildred (103) who had passed away recently. Aunt Mildred was Bruce’s mother and that side of the family had decided to scatter part of her ashes in the sea at the end of the Lane at Dawn on Saturday and to bury the rest on the family plot. 

The ground was rock hard so John was having a tough time of it, but none of the Morgans ever give up so he managed it eventually. Our humans left him to it and went to a local diner for a meal.

At 10:00hrs the next morning the whole family met in the Funeral Parlour to say farewell to Dan one of the Cousins whom we Bears sat with when we were here last. (See our Blog of 23 Aug 2023)! It was a very moving service and many members of the family got up to say how they remembered him and how they would miss him. Thereafter they drove in procession with four way flashers flashing through red lights even to the cemetery where a small internment ceremony took place.

Afterwards everyone was invited to a wake in a hostilely near by.

Duty done our humans returned to the Lane to change and to prepare for the family picnic the next day. Because of the two internments this year promised to be a full house.

Sandy was on the Lane when they returned. She like us had not seen the house since two years ago and was also pleased at how nice it now looked after having been empty and neglected for so many years.

Sandy went and chatted to her sister-in-law and while Alan sat on Laura’s ( Brec’s daughter’s) back porch and emailed. Brec worked in the yard and cleared out the shed. Our humans now went to have chilli dinner on Laura’s front porch together with John and his wife Barbara who had made the meal.

 

On the Saturday before the Sunday Reunion  there is always a bonfire for those that arrive early. This year it was really well attended due to the various funerals. Thanks to Cousin Julie who kept stoking the fire and John who brought the logs it was the best bonfire for sometime. It was a nice warm evening as they all chatted about Don, no longer with us, but the memories were bright and fresh. Bruce, in whose yard the fire was provided the forks and marshmallows, biscuits and chocolates to make “s’mores” as well as a non alcoholic punch which he said would put hairs on your chest! As the stars came out and the fire died down people began to drift off for the night.

Sunday morning our BBF was up early to make coffee and Brec was up early to drive to Dunkin’ Doughnuts for Boston Cream doughnuts which our BBF loves.

By the time our BBF got to the breakfast on the beach a few had already left. Alan had his Boston Cream and enjoyed the view and company.

The actual picnic always takes place in front of Laura’s house where we all stayed two years ago. Like last time John hung up the huge family tree and gave out the name badges. Once everyone had arrived Bruce rang the cow bell to call all to order Roy said a prayer and led the Doxology after which the buffet was open.

 

Friendships between distant cousins were renewed and family happenings since the last picnic shared. Later when everybody had eaten enough they adjourned to the beach. As in 2018 when we were here Alan had the use of a blow up dinghy. Mark helped him carry it to the beach. 

Roy had stated that he wanted to swim to Grass Rock this year as well. Most people were concerned for his safety as he is now 92 years young. 

Here you see the swimmers and a couple of them had rubber rings for safety. One woman had a ring she could sit in which was the blue one you see in the photo.

Alan was the major safety person  and wore a life jacket in the dinghy as per regulations.

As it is he found  the dinghy difficult to row as it had no keel. Close to Grass Rock it was clear that Roy was pooped and he said he was going to swim back. He refused to get in the dinghy with our BBF and now had difficulty swimming in the right direction. Brec became consequently the main life saver holding Roy to his cheat while Roy had one hand on the bow of the dinghy and the other on large rubber ring. Other swimmers stayed nearby. Even so it was difficult maintaining direction, but with Alan paddling they finally managed to get Roy on to the beach.

 Alan now slowly rowed back to the main beach where the old codger had great difficulty getting out of the beached dinghy. He fell out into the water rather than stepping out and one of the family helped him stand up. Mark then was there to help our BBF carry the dinghy back to where it belonged. Brec once Roy was safe and well with another family member swam back out and finally stood on Grass Rock.

 

Sandy had left early to drive to Maine. The men on returning had showers and threw their wet things in the washer and dryer. For an evening meal they drove out to Niantic and had fish at Skippers Restaurant. They returned to the house on the Lane and sat for a while before going to bed. Tomorrow would be another day.

A visit from Germany!

 On Monday 18th August Sandy took Brec’s old car to JFK Airport to collect two young women visiting from Germany. 

Caroline the daughter of Anja a member of the Phileas Fogg Club who is also a friend of Brec and Sandy, visited three years ago and now has come back for a week with a student friend, Emilia.

Our BBF cooked the welcome meal of chicken Piccata and lemon risotto washed down with Prosecco. Brec produced an outline plan of activity for us all. So as Caroline said she was keen to go for a sail. Brec had taken her out for a short one last time she was here, it was decided to go for a day sail to Port Jefferson on Tuesday.

The weather was kind to us, it was sunny and there was a fair wind to sail on.

Sadly Emilia felt queasy and Caroline as she had much empathy for her friend also in sympathy felt queasy by the end.

Once anchored the seasickness went away and they had the excellent shrimp salad Sandy had prepared for them. After lunch Brec went for swim and a walk ashore while our BBF had a nap and the girls sunned themselves on deck.

The humans then decided to motor into town to have an ice cream before sailing back. When they got there the two girls decided to take the ferry back.

Brec and Alan after eating an ice sailed back. Our BBF told us afterwards that it was a cracking sail back which the girls would not have enjoyed.

On Wednesday 20th August early in the morning Sandy too the two young women to the station to take the train into New York for site seeing. Sandy and Alan went later.

As it was nearly lunchtime they had a NY Hotdog before continuing the walk from Grand Central Station to the MOMA(Museum of Modern Art).

Sandy, who has an annual membership of the MOMA, kindly agree to get all three visitors in for $5 each, so at 13:00hrs Caroline and Emilia met them at the entrance. Once inside they all did their own thing.

Our BBF told us that he thoroughly enjoyed the visit though the MOMA was crowded. 

Once our two humans had seen enough of Matisse, Picasso, Monet and other famous artists they needed some shopping therapy to recover.

On the walk back to Grand Central they browsed a number of the shops and our BBF bought a few things along the way.

The two your women arrived back much later than expected because they initially took the wrong train. Brec kindly picked them up late at night and they were given some left overs to assuage their hunger.

On Thursday 21st August Sandy took the two young women back to the Station so they could do more site seeing and shopping in NY. After a leisurely breakfast Alan and Sandy went shopping locally and Brec went to work on his boat and in his studio. 

The next day, Friday, Sandy and the two young women had a girls shopping trip planed while we and the two males went to Waterford and the family Lane. (See our Blog from 23rd August 2023) Before departing though Alan quickly took a car back to one of the shops he was at on Thursday to exchange a shirt he had bought. He had picked up a large size as in Germany he needs a large to go round his fat belly. Here in America where every thing is bigger, he could have fitted two of him into the large.  He tried on a small and that fitted much better!!

On Saturday Sandy would be taking the two young women to the station again in the morning as they were leaving to stay over night in New York before returning to Germany on the Sunday. She would then come and join us all on the Lane.