July 25-30, 2012

Patronus moored off Reed’s Island

We did it!  We managed to time our stops to make it to Boothbay when our friends from Ho-Ho-Kus would be there!  After an easy, leisurely sail to Boothbay Harbor from Five Islands, we encountered a bit of a mooring debacle.  I had reserved a mooring at the Tug Boat Inn the week before, knowing that there aren’t many moorings available in the “Inner Harbor”.  I knew our boat size might pose a problem if we didn’t get one of the few moorings available for boats over 45 feet.  When I hailed the Inn on the VHF, the dockmaster confirmed my mooring number and we went in search for it.  As usual, we motored slowly through the mooring field, looking at the numbers on all of the empty moorings.  After going through the mooring field twice, I hailed the dockmaster again.  He described the location of the mooring to me and we found it.  Except that there was another boat attached to it.  Super.

So I hailed the dockmaster AGAIN.  He apologized and explained that someone had given our mooring away the night before, but that we could pick up any mooring that was labeled “Tug Boat Inn” (other moorings are maintained and rented through other marinas).  We searched, but could not find a suitable mooring that wouldn’t place our boat much too close to other boats, especially if our boat or the other boat started swinging out of line with the fleet.  After about an hour of all this nonsense, the dockmaster miraculously “found” a mooring for us way over to the side, where we had ample room to swing about.

Our mooring secured, we were ready to meet up with the Edelsons, a family from Ho-Ho-Kus who were on their way up from New Jersey to visit their parents.  When they got to the harbor, they walked down to the end of one of the docks and simply had to yell to us to come over in the dinghy (it’s a very small harbor).  Good thing, because we have officially entered the technology-free world: no cell service, no 4G, no email, no internet, no WiFi, no nothin’.  We threw connectivity to the wind and enjoyed dinner at the Lobster Dock restaurant.

Erica gets a Gold Medal in Laundry (hey, it’s tougher than that ribbon twirling thing, right?)

The next day, Vance and Jennifer’s daughter, Kimmie, came to spend the day on the boat with us and Jennifer drove me to the laundromat, where I discovered the Olympic sport of cleaning clothes.  She dropped me off at 0945 and in two hours, I had done 5 enormous loads of laundry (their commercial-sized machines are like three of ours at home.  One load was 3 queen-sized blankets and 5 towels!).  I was drenched in sweat and breathing hard by the time she came to drive me back to the boat.  With the varying wash cycles and dryers that finished at all different times, I never stopped running back and forth through the place for two hours straight.  It was a lot of fun and I wouldn’t mind working in a laundromat doing laundry for the people who drop it off.  It was a great workout, I love folding clothes, and there is something lovely about the warm heat of the dryers and the smell of detergent.

Back at the boat, we found the kids playing, kayaking, and paddle boarding all over the harbor.  They never stopped all day and had a great time exploring the beaches and bridges throughout Boothbay.  That night, Reese went back to the Edelson’s home for a sleepover.

Vance and Chris

On Friday, we took the Edelsons, including Vance’s father, for a ride on Patronus to get her from Boothbay Harbor to East Boothbay.  Mr. Edelson had invited us to his biannual company lobster bake and graciously offered us use of their mooring.  Vance’s parents live on Reed’s Island, which is a 10-acre natural haven.  They have a main house that used to be the Ocean Island Inn and a guest house overlooking the harbor.  It is a magical place, with unparalleled views, nature in the wild, an osprey nest, and a great history to boot.

Vance guided us through the tricky harbor entrance like a pro.  The guidebooks had warned not to attempt this harbor without local knowledge, but here we were, with Local Knowledge himself!  More kayaking and paddling ensued, followed by another great dinner out, ice cream (in the Middle of Nowhere at a place that defies all economic planning, the tenets of supply and demand, and the old adage of Location, Location, Location).  They apparently get by with their friendliness and their great ice cream.  But what more do you need, really?

eating, eating, and more eating…

Saturday’s party at Harry and Jonelle Edelson’s home was met with perfect weather, lots of lobster, and over 150 people who arrived ready to enjoy the day.  We met many lovely people, all of whom do business with Mr. Edelson in some way.  We were particularly taken with Phil and Julie Scanlon, who are the Australian consulates to the U.S.  They lead an incredibly exciting, generous, and ambitious life, while keeping their large family of seven children close.  They agreed to come out to see Patronus and chat for a bit, which we enjoyed immensely.

Yup. That’s the Australian Consulate General on Patronus.

Jen and I with our matching shirts and blueberry cake.

Enjoying the afternoon with the Scanlons

Reese and Kimmie

The weekend at the Edelson’s was lovely in so many ways.  The kids got to play with their Ho-Ho-Kus friends, we got to meet Vance’s parents and enjoy their hospitality, and Jennifer, Vance, Chris, and I got to spend time together enjoying the beauty of this lovely area.  We even got our first 2 hours of television in, getting to see the opening ceremonies for the Olympics!

Jennifer and Peter on Patronus

Porter claims Kimmie is his new “Number One Girlfriend”

Jen and I at dinner

The view from the main house on Reed’s Island