A Tale of Two Chemists

Seguin Island ..... Wed-Thur 22nd-23rd August

It seems that stress rarely brings out the best in people and so it was as we arrived at Seguin Island. Situated about 10 miles to the south West of Boothbay Harbor this small island has a beautiful lighthouse and is a conspicuous landmark for mariners. It also has a tiny cove that provides some shelter from west or southwesterly winds. The wind was barely blowing when we arrived, but the swell from the southeast was breaking on the rocks at the edge of the cove and making things very bumpy. The two courtesy moorings were already taken, we weren't sure we could tie up to the lighthouse/coastguard mooring, and just as we were setting anchor we noticed that this was prohibited due to underwater cables! Tempers were fraught and the best course of action seemed far from clear. We were just about to give up and head for the mainland when one of the two moorings became free. Another boat that was also looking for a space took the lighthouse mooring and we grabbed the recently vacated spot. A hastily prepared cup of tea, a few quiet moments fishing, and the prospects of marital meltdown retreated! We rowed ashore and walked up to the lighthouse and enjoyed walking round the island. Great views of the coastline and we also saw quite a few birds - red breasted nuthatch, cedar waxwings, sharp shinned hawk, common yellow throat … loads of gulls.

About 25 years ago, shortly after we were married, Gloria and I were camping in Yellowstone and were invited for breakfast by an elderly couple in a camper. Feeling self sufficient and perhaps shy, we politely declined. It's interesting that we both remember this experience so many years later and that we both look back on it as a lost opportunity. As we rowed back to "Cotinga", the owner the power boat tied up to the lighthouse mooring, called over to us to join him for a cocktail. Our immediate inclination was to say no thanks, but we didn't. We went back to our boat, grabbed a couple of beers and joined John and his son William on the fly deck of "Renegade". It was a real pleasure to chat and share our experiences. After drinks Mike rowed back to shore to take some evening photos. Once back on the boat we realized that our hopes that a falling tide would reduce the rocking and rolling were not to be. We had a quick dinner and took some more sea sickness pills and passed the night in a pleasant drug induced coma! In the morning, with the boat still bumpy, we ate a quick breakfast and headed out early for the short journey to Boothbay Harbor, where we took mooring at the local yacht club. We walked in to town, had a fine lunch (blackened salmon sandwich), and spent the late afternoon doing laundry and sorting through and making an inventory of the spares we have for the engine. As the sun set we saw and heard a pair of ospreys in arial battle with a bald eagle. Showers at the club house and dinner back on the boat finished up a fine day.

p.s. We have had a request to show some pictures of the inside of the boat. I've taken some photos and will post over the next couple of days.

Mike